The Sims: Hot Date

The Sims: Hot Date is the third expansion pack released for the strategic life-simulation computer game The Sims developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. It was released on November 14, 2001 with overall positive reviews thanks to the addition of a downtown area outside the neighborhood, which became the set up for upcoming expansion packs in which new areas were added; it also served as the inspiration for later games including The Sims 2: Nightlife and The Sims 3: Late Night.

The Sims: Hot Date
Developer(s)Maxis
Publisher(s)EA Games (Windows)
Aspyr Media (Mac)
Designer(s)Sean Baity
Writer(s)Sean Baity
SeriesThe Sims
Platform(s)Windows, Mac OS X
ReleaseNovember 14, 2001
Genre(s)Life simulation, god game
Mode(s)Single-player

Gameplay

In addition to many new items for households, the new downtown area is Hot Date's most significant new addition to The Sims. Sims can now use their telephones to call a taxi that takes them to downtown SimCity, which is composed of lots such as shopping centers, recreation areas, restaurants, or nightclubs. While a Sim is on a date, the Sim can be controlled, but not actually give orders to their date. Downtown features many brand-new, downtown-only items, like food vendors, clothing stores, picnic areas, and duck ponds that Sim couples can use to keep themselves busy, and a few new items, like the restaurant booth seat, that will let them get to know each other better.

All the time spent downtown takes place independent of time at home; in other words, Sims will get hungry, tired, and bored as usual during the time they spend downtown, but once they get home, the clock will actually reset to the time when they left. This makes having both a relationship and a job (which still typically takes about six hours out of a Sim's day) not only possible, but a lot easier than before.[1]

The relationship bar with acquaintances the Sims know, now includes a daily bar at the top showing short-term trends with decay quickly and a long term bar showing long-term trends. This development was carried forward in later expansion packs for The Sims and later incorporated into The Sims 2.

Reception

Overall, the game was judged to be the most substantial of The Sims expansion packs at its point of release, and critics praised the new downtown area.[1][4][6]

Hot Date was received 86% and an 85% averages from aggregate sites GameRankings and Metacritic respectively.[3][2] The Armchair Empire gave the game 9.2/10 points saying "Where Livin' Large and House Party were basically enhancements to the original, Hot Date completely revamps the gameplay by making it possible to focus more on social and romantic relationships and for the first time get away from the Sims house.[7]

Hot Date was a nominee for Computer Gaming World's 2001 "Best Game Expansion" award, which ultimately went to Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal. The editors wrote, "Hot Date added the one thing The Sims players clamored for, which was the ability to actually leave the house."[8] Similarly, the editors of Computer Games Magazine nominated Hot Date as the best add-on of 2001, but ultimately gave the award to Diablo II: Lord of Destruction.[9]

The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated Hot Date for its 2001 "Innovation in Computer Gaming" award,[10] which ultimately went to Black & White.[11]

References
  1. Park, Andrew Seyoon (November 19, 2001). "The Sims: Hot Date for PC Review". GameSpot. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  2. "The Sims: Hot Date Reviews". GameRankings. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  3. "Sims: Hot Date, The (pc:2001): Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  4. Harker, Carla. "Reviews: The Sims: Hot Date (PC)". GameSpy. Archived from the original on September 5, 2008. Retrieved November 23, 2008.
  5. Davis, Susanne (November 13, 2001). "The Sims Hot Date Expansion Pack Review - PC". GameZone. Archived from the original on November 10, 2008. Retrieved November 23, 2008.
  6. Lopez, Vincent (December 6, 2001). "The Sims: Hot Date Review". IGN. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  7. Cieniawa, Lee. "Sims: Hot Date PC Review". armchairempire.com. Archived from the original on December 1, 2002. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  8. Editors of Computer Gaming World (April 2002). "Games of the Year; The Very Best of a (Sometimes) Great Year in Gaming". Computer Gaming World (213): 69–73, 76–84.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  9. Staff (March 2002). "11th Annual Computer Games Awards". Computer Games Magazine (136): 50–56.
  10. "Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences Announces Finalists for the 5th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards" (Press release). Los Angeles: Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. February 5, 2002. Archived from the original on June 2, 2002.
  11. "Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences Announces Recipients of Fifth Annual Interactive Achievement Awards" (Press release). Las Vegas: Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. March 1, 2002. Archived from the original on March 6, 2002.
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