THE SIMS 2 FREE TIME HOBBY

written by Paperpin

It's now time to discover the features of this 7th expansion pack! EA Games, in fact, created a new magazine, called Hobby Magazines, where every Thursday, for ten weeks, they publish an article about each one of the ten hobbies featured in the EP.
FreeTime's biggest feature is, in fact, the introduction of ten hobbies that will characterise and enrich our Sim's personality, and allow to unlock several features such as secret lots, interactions and career rewards.

Moreover, on 16th January 2008 Eden, Edenstyle.it webmaster and The Sims Community Manager for Italy, interviewed Bim Majekodunmi, FreeTime producer, who has answered to player's questions and described the new features of the game.

As her report states, Sims can now enjoy 10 new activities: cuisine, film and literature, games, tinkering, science, arts and crafts, sport, nature, fitness and music and dance. Sims can earn Enthusiasm points, that will sum in the Enthusiasm window, by practising their hobbies. These points will allow Sims to unlock objects and interactions, such as the enrolment in a secret club, the possibility to choose a secondary life aspiration among all the ones present in the game or get life benefits. There are also five new job careers, a new neighbourhood called Desiderata Valley, with six new families.
Magic lovers will enjoy the introduction of a new NPC: the genie of the lamp, who can fill up to three desires.

..but let's take a closer look to the hobbies published until now!

Tinkering
Do-It-Yourself lovers have the possibility to earn skill points and be able to repair broken appliances, build a model train set, enjoy the new remote control helicopter and restoring a car! This is probably the most interesting activity, since you can buy a real wreck and turn it into a high performance car by sanding, buffing and painting it and even choose to sell it!
	There are six shades to choose from, including green, yellow and black. We're sure that our teenagers will toil to get their first car!
Sports
There are three new sports: football, soccer and basketball. Even children can enjoy these activities, but, however, it will not be possible to have real matches; Sims can organize little challenges with up to two participants.
Games
Sims will enjoy spending their nights playing with family and friends, thanks to the new interactions introduced in the game: a pool table, beyond the dart board and the chessboard, and a lot of new EA videogames, such as SPORE, Fifa08, MySims, Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars. Sims can even have challenges and win some money!
Arts and crafts
One of the most expected activities of this EP is the introduction of new working spaces, similar to Open for Business ones, for sewing, pottery and painting. Sims can create clothes, teddy-bears, curtains and aprons, whose quality depends on every Sim's practice and experience. As the magazine says, “without the appropriate practice, you just might end up with slouchy pots, uneven curtains, or patched up teddy bears.
The new pottery wheel allows to create plates, vases, pots, and tea sets, that can even be sold to earn some money. Children and toddlers can now approach to arts thanks to the Teeny Tikes Activity Table,where they can play with blocks and learn to draw, and even hang their works on the wall! There are also two new badges, for sewing and pottery. Sims can also be invited to enroll in a secret club, where they can meet other Sims and share their interests.
Science
Scientific interests can be cultivated from children too, thanks to the new Formidable Formicarium ant habitat, from which ants can even escape! Sims can also discover new stars and earn money for that, and be kidnapped by aliens. There is also a new career reward that allows them to be kidnapped any time they want, and a new Oceanographer career with a brand new reward.
Nature
Sims can now birdwatch and collect bugs to display at home; they can also go hiking and have some inconveniences like stumbling into a patch of poison ivy. They can even blog about their experiences, by earning enthusiasm points and unlock this function!
Music
Music lovers can choose among three instruments: piano, violin and a synthesizer! It will even be possible to compose songs and perform in front of an audience; by practising and gaining enthusiasm points, Sims can also get into the Zone: this means that they can completely  dedicate to their hobbies and feel no needs!
Gym
Sims have no excuse for not exercising anymore! FreeTime, in fact, brings new fitness equipment, such as an exer-cycle and a weight machine, and also the possibility to enroll in a gym club, where they can meet other Sims with the same interests. Beginners can also get advice and tips from experienced trainers. Moreover, fitness fanatics can unlock a new protein shake, that improves their training for a few hours. There are also new training suits, so let's stand up and go for a run!
Cuisine
If cooking is your secret passion, then you will enjoy FreeTime's new features! This EP, in fact, allows you to cook three new meals (cheese, chips and dip, appetizers) and have cooking competition! There are special lots where you can challenge your rivals and even win prizes! Furthermore, cooking enthusiast can even become critics for a new restaurant guide! Are you ready to take fork and knife?
Films and literature
The last category of hobbies is about movies and literature; Sims can join a club and share their interests with other fanatics, analyzing films and reading every kind of book. Movie fans can even buy memorabilia of their favourite movies and show their friends how passionate they are. There is also a new job career in Entertainment, that can lead you to get a star on the Walk of Fame! What else can we say? Enjoy this new expansion pack!
That's all folks!