The Urbz: Sims in the City

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The Urbz: Sims in the City
Box art of the North American version for GameCube
Developer(s) Maxis (GC, Xbox, PS2)
Griptonite Games (GBA, DS)
Publisher(s) Electronic Arts
Release date(s) Japan January 13, 2005
United States of America November 9, 2004
European Union November 12th, 2004
Genre(s) Simulation, God game
Mode(s) Single player, multiplayer
Rating(s) ESRB: Teen
OFLC:
• Consoles: M
• Nintendo DS: G
Platform(s) GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS

The Urbz: Sims in the City is a video game for the GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Xbox consoles, as well as the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS portable systems. It is the third Sims game for video game consoles. The next release for consoles and handhelds was the console port of The Sims 2.

The goals of the GameCube, Playstation 2, and Xbox games of The Urbz: Sims in the City involve becoming popular with the Urbz (Sims in the game) living in nine different neighborhoods of SimCity. To achieve this, a player must buy and wear the right clothing, and learn social interactions by completing quests.

Hip hop group The Black Eyed Peas provided several music scores for the game, which have also been translated into Simlish. Members of the group would also appear as guest Urbz in the game.

Contents

[edit] Gameplay

[edit] Goal

The objective of the GameCube, Playstation 2, and Xbox games are to go to each of nine neighborhoods and gain "Rep", reputation in short. Rep is a measure of how popular a character is; as a character gains more reputation, they gain access to larger apartments and different neighborhoods. In the end, the character will have the largest apartment and be able to visit any of the neighborhoods.

In addition to gaining Rep, the player must also make sure that his or her character has its needs fulfilled, and to increase the character's skills by playing mini-games. Money can also be earned through these mini-games.

[edit] Basic controls

The player controls a cursor. Using this cursor, the player may select objects or other Urbz for their character to interact with. The floor or ground may also be selected to move to a specific area.

[edit] Tasks

The player will be given different tasks depending on the neighborhood they he or she is in. The tasks are varied in nature, but most fall into a certain category:

  • Needs – The first task that the player will have to perform and will continue performing throughout the game is fulfilling his or her character's needs. The needs are hunger, bladder, fun, hygiene, and energy. As time goes by, each of those needs starts to fall. They can be restored by performing specific tasks (e.g., eating to reduce hunger or sleeping to increase energy). If the player's Urb falls asleep in public on the floor, the policeman will fine them or even start a fight; the same applies when the Urb urinates on the floor.
  • Adding Furniture – At each apartment, the player will be asked to spend a certain amount of money on furniture in order to unlock a different pet animal to live with them. The pet has needs like the Urbz and requires care.
  • Build Reputation – In each neighborhood, the character will need to build up their reputation meter. First, the character needs enough Rep to get into the neighborhood's club. Then, by increasing the character's reputation further, the character can gain access to a new neighborhood.
  • Master a Job – There's a different job to master in each neighborhood. Each job has three levels to complete, each of which requires a certain amount of skill to unlock. Upon completion of a goal in a job, the character may earn money to buy items and learn a new social interaction. The job consists of completing a mini-game that involves pushing buttons in a certain sequence or repeatedly pushing the same buttons.
  • Make Friends – The player is required to establish friendships with the residents of each neighborhood. By interacting socially, one can increase the relationship between the player's Urbz and an NPC Urb. If the player builds a certain amount of rep, they may also have other Urbz to join their crew, allowing the player to switch between their Urb and its friends.
  • Use a Powersocial – As one makes friends, the character will earn powersocials. Powersocials are unlockable actions that Urbz can use when socializing with other Urbz. Each one is unique to a certain neighborhood. As the game progresses, it becomes necessary to use powersocials on certain computer characters.
  • Tag an Object – After becoming friends with a certain character, one is required to tag certain objects, which includes spraying graffiti on walls. Graffiti tags include the "Kicktail Park tag", among others.

[edit] Neighborhoods

  • Skyline Beach – Skyline beach is a hip-hop and gangsta-themed area of the game. The area consists of a group of skyscraper roof tops. This is where Isis Ice, S.A. Loco, Ridiculous D.O.G., Lil Bit and Toot Sweet hang out. The criminal here is Harry Snivel.
  • Gasoline Row – A biker's hangout, where motorcycles, a pool hall, and a juke box can be found. This is where Duke Headbutt, Pork Chop, Sharkey Spitz, Jet Rockit and Suzie Mack hang out. The criminal here is Harry Snivel.
  • Central Station – A subway station where Emo, punks and goths hang out. Here you can have a job of being a piercer and or join in on the "Fight Cage". This is where Scary Mary, Beezlebob Jones, Frag Girl, Kidd Chaos and Genghis Lincoln hang out. The criminal here is Urangoo McBain.
  • Kicktail Park – A skatepark, where skateboarders hang out. This is where String Bean, Trang Hang, Rolanda Skye, Alley Stile and Skid Mark hang out. The criminal here is Kiki Blunt.
  • The Foundry – A frequented area for artsy bohemians and beatniks, The Foundry includes an art gallery and a foundry. This is where Crispin Black, Bella Ciao, Neo Flange, Roxanna Hardplace and Arthur Pop hang out. The criminal here is Kiki Blunt.
  • Neon East – Neon East is home to the technophiles, who like bright colors and Japanese culture. Be a Sushi Chef here! This is where Professor Chewy, Venus Moonflower, Loop D. Loop, Sara Tonin and Mazuiko Jackson hang out. The criminal here is Harry Snivel.
  • Cozmo Street – A hangout spot for jazz-loving hipsters. The area includes a bar. There's a club stage for open mike. This is where the sim versions of will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Taboo and Fergie of The Black Eyed Peas hang out, along with their manager Polo. The criminal here is Urangoo McBain.
  • Diamond Heights – An apartment complex where wealthy people live. Their source of entertainment includes classy music and television systems. Also includes a catwalk for your aspiring model Sim. This is where Diva Roma, Pootie Fads, Sophie Couture, Babbette Couture and Cash Monet hang out. The criminal here is Urangoo McBain.
  • Southside Bridge – An area possibly based on Brooklyn, Southside Bridge is home to residents involved in organized crime. This is where Louie Bricks, Babs Margarita, Luke Laruffle, Pamela Sneer and Jimmy Two-Shoes hang out. The criminal here is Kiki Blunt.

[edit] Characters

In each neighbourhood, there are five different Urbz to be found, along with some others that will pop up now and again.

[edit] Trivia

  • Interestingly, even though the songs from the Black Eyed Peas are supposed to translated into Simlish, they are not fully translated, as you can hear English words here and there. One of the songs heard in Cozmo Street says the lyric "Calm down (or come on) baby, I know you wanna, take me home I know you wanna", of course many real songs in one language feature a few lyrics in a different language for effect.

[edit] See also

A number of credible indie-comics artists created short comic strips for a web-marketing campaign for The Urbz. The list includes:


While the site overall suffers from an over-reliance on Flash, you can bypass that and go straight to the first comic here:

http://urbzsims.ea.com/comix/foundry/foundry1.php

[edit] External links

The Sims Livin' Large • House Party • Hot Date • Vacation • Unleashed • Superstar • Makin' Magic
The Sims 2 University • Nightlife • Open for Business • Pets • Seasons
Holiday Edition • Family Fun Stuff • Glamour Life Stuff • Happy Holiday Stuff Mini Pack • Celebration Stuff • H&M Stuff
The Sims Stories Life Stories  • Pet Stories • Castaway Stories
Online/Console The Sims Online • The Sims • The Sims Bustin' Out • The Urbz • The Sims 2 • Pets • MySims
Misc. Sim • Simlish
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