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Working out how to build a pond in The Sims 4 isn’t quite as straightforward as building a pool, so here’s how to get started. Coming up we cover all the things you need to do to actually build a pond, as well how to accessorize it, add fish to it, as well as catch fish, and more.

How to build a pond in The Sims 4

How to add fish to ponds in The Sims 4

To turn your beautiful new pond into a fisherman’s paradise, you’ll need to first add the “Fishing Allowed Sign” to your pond from the “Pond Objects” section of the “Outdoor Water Decor”. Selecting the sign in Live Mode will allow your sims to add fish, and also see which fish are available to catch in each pond. 

However, in order to add fish to a pond your sims will have to have already registered some fish in their notebook – you can’t just buy them from a catalogue or anything. There are two easy ways to do this though:

For more Sims guides, check out these below:

Sims 4 cheats | Best Sims 4 mods | How to fill out reports in The Sims 4 | How to turn furniture in The Sims 4 | How to age up a toddler in The Sims 4 | How to get more money in The Sims 4 | Sims 4 multiplayer | Sims 4 skill cheats | Sims 4 relationship cheats | Sims 4 career cheats | Sims 4 debug cheat | Sims 4 free build cheat | How to get started in The Sims 4

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How to enable The Sims 4 debug cheat

Before you can use The Sims 4 debug cheat, you’ll need to open the cheat console and enable cheats following the simple rules below:

• The Sims 4 PC cheats: Hold Ctrl and Shift, then press c
• The Sims 4 Mac cheats: Hold Command (⌘) and Shift, then press c
• The Sims 4 PS4 cheats: Hold down all the four shoulder buttons at once
• The Sims 4 Xbox One cheats: Hold down all four shoulder buttons at once

A text box should appear across the top of the screen where you can enter your cheat codes.

The Sims 4 debug cheat

The Sims 4 debug cheat allows players to access a whole new series of objects that wouldn’t normally be available in Build Mode. This is your red pill, blue pill moment. Do you want to unleash the secret hidden objects? Well, here’s how. 

Once you’ve enabled cheats, you must type testingCheats true into the console. Then, there are two codes to use:

• bb.showHiddenObjects
• bb.showLiveEditObjects

bb.showHiddenObjects activates the ‘Buy Debug Mode’ meaning players can access hidden, playable objects like collectibles, rocks, trees, bushes and more. 

While bb.showLiveEditObjects allows players to access an even wider range of objects totaling over 1200 and including items such as decor, trees, and even cars.

Importantly, you must enter bb.showHiddenObjects before you can use bb.showLiveEditObjects though, so make sure you enter them in that specific order and you must be in Build Mode.

Once you’ve entered them, go to the Build Mode search bar in the bottom left corner of the screen and type in debug. Select one of the **DEBUG** options to access all the new items. 

And that’s it for this one. It’s time to enjoy trying out all the new items that The Sims 4 debug cheat has to offer. If you want to try out any more The Sims 4 cheats, we’ve got a lot more to offer you.

Sims 4 cheats | Best Sims 4 mods | How to fill out reports in The Sims 4 | How to turn furniture in The Sims 4 | How to age up a toddler in The Sims 4 | How to get more money in The Sims 4 | Sims 4 multiplayer | Sims 4 skill cheats | Sims 4 relationship cheats | Sims 4 career cheats | Sims 4 free build cheat | How to get started in The Sims 4

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The best games like The Sims…

My Time at Portia 

Developer: Pathea
Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, Nintendo Switch

Instead of taking up residence in Oasis Springs or Willow Creek, why not move into Portia? Pathea’s cutesy open-world life sim has so much to offer fans of the genre, with a whole mish-mash of occupations to keep you busy. As the new resident in town who inherits a workshop from their relative, you can earn money by crafting all manner of gadgets of gizmos to fulfill commissions. But it doesn’t stop there. With mining, fishing, farming, crafting, cooking and so much more besides, there’s no end of ways to making a living. The true heart of Portia lies in its thriving community and the many, many residents you can form friendships and romantic relationships with. Just like the Sims, you can get married, have children, decorate your house, and customize the look of your character. There’s so much to do in My Time at Portia, it’ll certainly keep you busy. 

Stardew Valley

Developer: ConcernedApe
Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, Nintendo Switch

Ah, Stardew Valley. As another time stealer with oodles of heart, this charming farming sim is like The Sims 3 if you were a farmer in the pixelated countryside. Going at your own pace, you can build up your farm, decorate your house and get engrossed in Stardew Valley’s endlessly interesting community. Just like the Sims, you can form relationships with every character in each household of the Valley, and all the residents have a their own unique story and background. There’s so much more than meets the eye to this delightful RPG. Fishing, mining, cooking, farming and raising farm animals are just a handful of ways to keep yourself occupied. From its relatable characters to its hidden secrets, playing one in-game day’s worth won’t be enough. Before you know it, you’ll sink hours upon hours into making your farm just right without realising how much time has past you by. 

Two Point Hospital

Developer: Two Point Studios
Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, Nintendo Switch

In the Sims 4 Careers expansion, being a doctor is arguably one of the most entertaining jobs to do because you actually get to control your sim and treat patients. If managing a little sim hospital ticked all the right boxes for you, Two Point Hospital will scratch that itch and then some. The endlessly fun management sim lets you design your hospital from start to finish and the mechanics aren’t a million miles away from building rooms in the Sims. You’ll also be tasked with managing your staff, improving the hospital’s reputation, and making sure everything runs smoothly. With its own unique blend of humor and its tongue and cheek representation of running a healthcare system, it’ll keep you playing just as long as any hearty Simming session. 

Cities: Skylines

Developer: Colossal Order
Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, Nintendo Switch

Who doesn’t love being able to decide the fate of Sims? Whether you want to help them fulfil their dreams, or be the cause of their untimely demise by trapping them in a pool or setting a stove on fire, having all the power is what makes it so much fun. If this is why you love to get stuck into the Sims world, Paradox’s Cities: Skylines will feed your desire to be a virtual god even more. Instead of just managing a household, you manage an entire city, with all manner of ways to help it thrive or cause chaos. And if building and designing is your bag, you’ll be glad to know you get to design and build up your city however you wish. All jokes aside, if you thought managing a big family household or town was a challenge, managing a city takes it to a whole other level. Contending with natural disasters, pollution, and traffic jams are just some the problems a city can encounter, and you can deal with it in whatever way you want.  

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Developer: Nintendo
Platforms: Nintendo Switch

We waited so long for Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and it was worth every second. The game doesn’t just let you build and decorate your own home, but a whole island. All the best features are there – designing your own clothes, sending letters and gifts to friends, and collecting adorable home furnishings – but now you can also travel to other islands courtesy of Dodo Airlines, and even indulge in a spot of terraforming to create ponds, rivers, and cliffs wherever you want.  Its never-ending gameplay loop of fishing, catching bugs, improving your home, and making friends with an ever-increasing cast of quirky critters is incredibly comforting, and if you’re looking for thrills there are always tarantulas to stalk and the turnip stock market to play.

Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles

Developer: Prideful Sloth
Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, Nintendo Switch

Ever wondered what lies beyond a Sim’s town? If you long for something with more exploration, Yonder’s world of Gemea might just be for you. In the shoes of a hero, the gentle open-world RPG lets you explore all that Gemea has to offer at your own pace. With some similar elements to the Sims – such as different jobs and skills to try out, tons of character customisations options, residents to meet, and friends to make – it’s a great option for anyone who’s are after a more laid-back experience. Those who loved befriending animals in the Sims Pets will undoubtedly enjoy befriending and adopting Yonder’s adorable creatures. And if you want to take a break from exploring, you can build up your very own farms across the various different landscapes – from tropical beaches to forested areas.  

Fantasy Life

Developer: Level-5
Platforms: Nintendo 3DS

While it’s a little older than most on our list, Fantasy Life is one of the best 3DS offerings that’s in a similar vein. As the title suggest, it’s essentially like a fantasy version of the Sims where you can create and customize your own character and take on any one of the 12 lifestyles with different occupations. With everything from being a paladin to a tailor or chef, it lets you live a life of your own making. Alongside crafting, decorating your home, having pets, befriending the neighbors and potentially getting married, there’s a lot of cutesy fantasy fun on offer. 

Jurassic World Evolution 

Developer: Frontier Developments
Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, Nintendo Switch

No one ever said you couldn’t swap the Sims with dinosaurs, right? Jurassic World Evolution is a dinosaur theme park management sim that lets you unleash your designer streak by creating your very own park from scratch. You then manage and maintain the park, and make sure the T-Rex you just added doesn’t get break free and starting snacking on your visitors. Keeping your dinosaurs secure and your park visitors happy isn’t always the easiest task, but seeing a theme park of your own making rack in the big bucks and operate smoothly is just as satisfying as running a happy household. With lots of nods to the Jurassic series, and a great look and feel, this is a slightly different kind of sim that will bring out the budding dino park manager in you. 

Graveyard Keeper 

Developer: Lazy Bear Games
Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, Nintendo Switch

Where there is a life sim, death will inevitably follow. If you’re after something a bit darker in tone and a lot more morbid, Graveyard Keeper will hit all the right notes. Just as Death appears in the shape of the grim reaper in the Sims, here death becomes a prominent part of your livelihood as you become the new manager of a graveyard in a medieval town. You can even design the layout of the graveyard and craft items to help you please the locals and make life in the medieval world a bit easier. The darker side doesn’t just stem from the element of death though – plenty of questionable decisions will pop along the way that will make the choices you make in the Sims seem like a piece of cake. 

House Flipper

Developer: Frozen District
Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, Nintendo Switch

The Sims 4 truly perfected the house building system into a game of its own. Spending a good chunk of time creating a giant mansion plucked straight out of your imagination is incredibly satisfying and enjoyable. If building up towns and decorating homes is the main draw for you, House Flipper is the answer to all your prayers. Empyrean’s realistic house renovation sim lets you buy rundown houses off the market and fix up them to make a healthy profit from your efforts. Transforming a grimy, cockroach-infested kitchen into a sparkling, beautifully designed cooking haven makes you feel like a true DIY champion. All in first-person with some very fun building mechanics, you can let your creative juices flow and give some neglected houses a new lease of life in any style you want. 

Looking for more suggestions? Be sure to check out our list of games like Stardew Valley. 

The post 10 games like The Sims 4 appeared first on Game News.

Sole developer Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone is currently celebrating Stardew Valley crossing 20 million copies sold, and if it seems like that number has been growing faster and faster as of late, your eyes do not deceive you. Our pals at PC Gamer (opens in new tab) reached out to Barone via email to talk about Stardew Valley’s success in the wake of its latest sales achievement, and the developer confirmed that indeed, the game is selling more copies than it ever has, even at launch.

“The average daily sales of Stardew Valley are higher today than at any point,” Barone said. “I’m not exactly sure why that is. My hope is that the game is just continuing to spread via word of mouth, and the more people that are playing it, the more people will share the game with their friends. Regardless, I’m very happy that Stardew Valley is still so popular.”

Even as Stardew Valley shows no signs of slowing down, Barone announced a new game last year: Haunted Chocolatier, a cute and spooky chocolate shop sim that throws players into yet another highly cozy town to collect resources, meet people, and form relationships. Though you’ll undoubtedly be doing a lot of chilling out in Haunted Chocolatier, it seems to have a bigger focus on combat than Stardew Valley. You can check out “the bee boss” Barone showed off in a recent livestream.

Here’s why you should play Stardew Valley and join the ranks of its 20 million-large army.

The post Stardew Valleys average daily sales are higher than ever appeared first on Game News.

The context might be important for this one so if you’re new to Stardew Valley, this is basically what the Grandpa bed mods are all about. As soon as you boot up Stardew Valley for the first time, players are presented with an old guy lying in what looks like an incredibly cosy bed. It then turns out that this is actually Grandpa’s death bed as he gives the player a letter asking them to watch over their farm after they shuffle off this mortal coil, officially kicking off the farming sim.

The meme originally started in the Stardew Valley Reddit (opens in new tab) (as these things usually do) and we’ve now seen a number of reimaginings of the game’s intro which sees Grandpa in a number of different scenarios.

grandpas_intro_a_nexus_mod_saga from r/StardewValley

As you can see from the embedded posts below, we’ve got the likes of simple alterations made to Grandpa’s bed, Grandpa in the family guy death pose, a version of Grandpa without a bed who looks like he may have died a few days prior to the game’s intro, a version of Grandpa who has wet the bed, and even one where there’s no Grandpa at all. 

Modding is nothing new in the Stardew Valley community with players crafting so many clever, useful, and just downright weird mods for the farming sim. We recently discovered a visually impaired player who was able to enjoy Stardew Valley with a number of accessibility mods. There’s also a mod that leaves all the farming work to little robots, another that lets you take your NPC spouse on regular dates in the game, and one that turns Stardew Valley into Haunted Chocolatier – the developer’s upcoming game. 

Looking for other, not so dark, ways to spice up your farm? Take a look at our best Stardew Valley mods for inspiration. 

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As spotted by Destructoid (opens in new tab), Nintendo has launched a new website (opens in new tab) specifically for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. At the moment, there isn’t much on the site other than a newsletter sign-up to receive all the latest on the upcoming game. According to the website, inputting your email will guarantee you: “Emails about pre-orders and product news for Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet.”

This isn’t exactly a major development in terms of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, but what it does show is that Nintendo is quietly working away on promotion for the new game and that news could be on its way sooner than originally expected. 

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet aren’t expected until “late 2022” but considering we are already in April, it’s fair to assume we are looking at maybe an October – December release date. That means promotion and pre-orders could start being rolled-out as soon as this summer. Of course, this is just a hopeful guess on our part but who can blame us when Nintendo has already described the game as a “new evolutionary step” in the Pokemon series? 

If you’re wondering what else is known about the gen 9 Pokemon game, let us catch you up. Originally announced during the Pokemon Presents in February of this year, so far we’ve been introduced to our three new starters grass-type Sprigatito, fire-type Fuecoco, and water-type Quaxly. We also got our first look at where this Pokemon adventure will be taking place with many fans theorising that we’ll be heading to Spain in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. 

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet finally got another trailer and a release date!

The post More Pokemon Scarlet and Violet news could be coming soon via a new Nintendo mailing list appeared first on Game News.

Due out this summer, F1 Manager 2022 (opens in new tab) is a management sim where you’ll act as team principal of an F1 team. That means you’ll be top dog when it comes to directing drivers and the rest of a team competing in the FIA Formula 1 Drivers’ World Championship.

In addition to all of the day-to-day necessities that come with managing an F1 team, Frontier notes that you’ll need to hire drivers and engineers, upgrade cars and race facilities, balance budgets and driver demands, and more throughout your career. 

You’ll also need to make decisions once the races begin, though Frontier hasn’t divulged how involved you’ll be with that process. It’s possible you’ll have to make snap decisions as the cars whiz around the track, but with this being a sim rather than a racing game, it’ll likely be more granular stuff. 

In March 2020, Frontier announced it had an F1 management sim in the works. There have been no additional tidbits about what that sim might be or what it could include, however, until now. This is the first time the developer has managed an official sports license, so it should be interesting to see what it’s capable of now that it’s in the driver’s seat.

There’s no concrete release date for F1 Manager 2022 just yet, but you can pick it up for Xbox Series X|S, PS5, Xbox One, PS4, and PC when it drops this summer.

If you want to spend more time on the track, be sure to check out our guide to the best racing games available now.

The post Jurassic World Evolution studio announces new F1 management sim coming this summer appeared first on Game News.

The developers behind new PC game Palia call it a community sim, but the first thing your brain screams when you see it in action is Valheim meets Animal Crossing. Think all the social, homebuilding parts of an RPG MMO, but as wholesome as a puppy who has had sensitivity training. Your customizable character will build and decorate a home, farm and fish, befriend and even romance NPCs, and have the chance to do it all with your friends by your side. 

You play as a human – a race that is just starting to mysteriously return to the world of Valeria – who takes up residence in a small community by a lake. It’ll be up to you to discover more about humanity’s past and, of course, to help forge its future. The game’s creators promise a main story that will take years to reveal and lots of lore to uncover along the way. Creating the look of your human character will be one of your first tasks, and the developers are keen to give players as many options as possible. We got a quick look at some concept art showing a diverse range of face and skin tones, different hairstyles, clothing that can be customized with colors and patterns, and were told there would be a couple of different body types at launch. 

The sense from the developers is that they’re keen to react to what the community wants when it comes to these kinds of options. “One of the good things about the game as a service is that what we offer on day one is just the beginning,” says game director Aidan Karabaich, “and choice here is really core to our beliefs. So expect to see these options continue to robustly expand over time.”

It all looks gorgeous too, falling into that gap between realism and the bright colors of an animated movie, and everything in the trailer is either green or cozy, like a place you’d want to go for a weekend break if you were a Disney princess. The studio cites The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Studio Ghibli as influences, and it shows. 

Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

Palia really wants to be somewhere you find and meet with friends, and promises lots of opportunities to collaborate as you explore the world. You’ll be able to play with your nearest and dearest without worrying about what server they’re on, and there’ll be a social matchmaking system to make connection easier. Instead of guilds, you’ll be able to create neighborhoods or find those you want to join and earn rewards as a team. 

The creators likened these communities to Mr Rogers-style neighborhoods, which is a big hope for anyone who has ever spent any time on any part of the internet. Imagine heading over to a friend’s house to help them decorate, or to work on their garden together. Actually interacting with the world your friends have created is the next step beyond what current community games like Animal Crossing: New Horizons allow right now, and make it more likely that you’ll want to spend more time together, given that you can really achieve things as a team. It’s one of the secrets of the cult success of Valheim, a game packed with combat but where players have really spent time coming together to build impressive buildings and weird structures.  

Luckily the studio, Singularity 6, knows a thing or two about building a community. Two of the leads on the project used to work at Riot Games, and creating a safe world where you can connect with your friends, but also control what other players can see and do on your turf, is key to the project. They’re planning to have proximity voice chat, but only for people you’ve designated as friends. 

Meet the locals

Misanthropes like me will be pleased to know that if you can’t find any real friends to play with, Palia will have plenty of NPCs who, Karabaich promises, are more than just set dressing. “These characters are so much more than simple quest givers. We’ve developed a rich, deep set of characters and, as you play, you’ll have the opportunity to discover their hopes and dreams, their fears and challenges, and see how they evolve and react to a changing world, and to the actions you ultimately take as a player in our game.

We got a glimpse of Einar, the fishing mad golem – no, he can’t be romanced – and the innkeeper Shura who will help you settle into your new life. Like in Stardew Valley, gifting will be an important part of getting to know and wooing any potential Palia life partners. Some might like love poems, others will want you to hang out and share their hobbies. Gifting a particular flower to a romanceable character will start you on your path to love.

“Just like with real life, people, when you meet them, they reveal certain aspects of themselves. And as you increase that friendship, whether it is through doing quests for them, or gifting them items, they start revealing more about themselves,” says community lead Edaleen Cruz. “They also have a set of items that they like, they have items that they love, and then they have items that they absolutely dislike!”

The launch cast is “just the beginning” too, with new characters added as the game is updated and again, the studio promises to react to player feedback when it comes to romance and friendship options. 

Choices and charges

Throughout this first preview of Palia, Singularity 6 really wanted to highlight just how much choice players will have. Hate people? You can play solo. There is combat in the game, but it will be entirely optional and you won’t miss out on loot for skipping it. You’ll be able to make your home feel truly yours, at the time of launch there will be over 1000 items, each with its own customization options, available. Your character, meanwhile, can become a brilliant cook, or an elite gardener, or a hunter of big game or bugs.

Update: Singularity 6 has released a lengthy blog post (opens in new tab) to outline how Palia will launch as a free-to-play game. The studio is set to incorporate light microtransactions in as a result, which gets back to one of our original concerns. Thankfully, the studio is being transparent in its application of the F2P system, noting that Palia will monetize cosmetic items when it launches later this year but it won’t charge players for game-progressing items, and you won’t be able to purchase loot boxes either.

As outlined in that blog post, Palia is embracing free-to-play with a focus on respecting player’s time, choices, and trust. The entire thing is well worth a read on the link above.

It sounds like a willing compromise for such an inherently chilled out game. We look forward to learning more about Palia as it get closer towards release.

The post Why everybody is talking about Palia, the free-to-play community sim that looks like Valheim mixed with Animal Crossing appeared first on Game News.

As spotted by Sims Community (opens in new tab), the official EA Careers website is currently hiring for a storyboard artist to work at its Maxis Studio – developer of The Sims 4. A quick look at the job listing (opens in new tab) shows that the position is no longer available, but the job description is still available to view. 

What’s interesting about this job listing is that the successful applicant will be responsible for helping the studio to “visualize our designs, gameplay experiences, and technology solutions through animatics and storytelling.” This, as pointed out by Sims Community, makes it sound as if The Sims 4 is getting some kind of cinematic storytelling – potentially cutscenes – in an update sometime soon. 

Some of the scenarios that EA wants to see from successful applicants include: “a conversation between multiple characters”, “a dinner sequence involving an extended family”, and “a lively sidewalk scene outside a store.”

This new inclusion hasn’t been officially announced by Maxis or EA and is currently just speculation, but that doesn’t stop us from getting excited about the future of The Sims 4 as well as any future simulation games the studio may be developing. 

New content for The Sims 4 is still constantly being rolled out, with one of the more exciting drops recently being the reveal of The Sims 4 Scenarios – a series of goal-based story missions that will reward players for completing them – as well as the ongoing The Sims 4 kits, which are periodically sent out to players every few months with new items included in each mini download. 

Looking for a way to get into the Maxis simulation game? Take a look at our guide on how to get started in The Sims 4. 

The post The Sims 4 job listing hints at cinematic storytelling in the future appeared first on Game News.

Originally spotted by Nintendo Life (opens in new tab), the ‘diamond dust’ Easter egg was first revealed in the original games back in 2008. The idea is that this type of shimmering snow will only appear in the game on special occasions (eg: New Year’s Eve, the player’s birthday, etc.) however it does also appear on one other occasion, a day not every fan is aware of. 

Junichi Masuda, director and composer of Pokemon Diamond and Pearl as well as a host of other Pokemon titles, will be celebrating his birthday today (January 12), and to honor the video game icon, Diamond and Pearl’s Snowpoint City will be decorated with a flurry of diamond dust – giving the whole town a sparkly touch-up. 

Just like old times – visit Snowpoint City on Jan 12th in BD/SP to see some sparkling diamond dust fall to celebrate @Junichi_Masuda ‘s birthday! pic.twitter.com/10hjbQrhJeJanuary 12, 2022

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This Easter egg was first teased by Masuda back in January 2008 when he published a post on his own blog (opens in new tab) which read: “Here’s a little surprise for you. Please play Pokemon Diamond / Pearl on January 12th. You’ll find something different.” Despite Pokemon Diamond and Pearl releasing in 2006, the Easter egg didn’t appear until January 12, 2008, due to Masuda celebrating his 40th birthday that year. 

It’s nice that the new developer of Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, ILCA, decided to keep this in the games – especially considering the original titles were developed by Game Freak. It might not be too much of a surprise though considering Junichi Masuda did return to direct, compose, and work on the game’s overall concept and plot this time around too. We can’t blame him for wanting to celebrate his 54th birthday with players too. 

Wondering which Pokemon games you should revisit? Take a look at our best Pokemon games list for inspiration. 

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