When creating a new world, you can now select from 4 different size worlds (Sim City 4 only allowed you to use one size). The smallest world is 256x256 & the largest is 2048x2048. You can choose from Lush or Desert & you can also set the maximum height of the world (100,200 or 300), to allow for huge mountains or a more modest height elevation.

You can also select from a range of Pre-made Terrains as your base or you can import an image to use as a texture map. The tech team showed us an image of a flower which they then turned into a terrain. You could use this option to build on a face or a favourite painting – you’re only limited by your imagination!

TERRAIN EDITING TOOLS

*PAINT*

Select a paint colour to automatically shade hills & mountains

Beaches can be painted along any shoreline, so you no longer have to worry about getting the exact height right for the beaches to show up. BUT... at this stage you can't build along the beach, so lots can’t be built on the water’s edge.

You can now Import paints & textures, so you could have dirt or cobblestone roads if you want a themed neighbourood.

*SCULPT* 

Allows you to change the shape of the terrain (similar to"God Mode" in Sim City 4). Unlike SC4, you can vary the strength & intensity of the "Brush" while using the following Modifiers:

- Flatten - Gentle

- Flatten Terrain

- Hill – Steep

- Hill – Gentle

- Mountain

- Smooth

- Smooth – Gentle

- Sheer Cliff

- Valley – Steep

- Valley – Gentle

*ROUTING* 

- Where the camera can see – so you can hide the edges of the map if you want to

- Determines where your Sims can go/walk

- Although you can place lots anywhere, the tech team recommended making the lots near roads, as sims will have to walk to a road in order to get into their car. They also recommended making the lots flat so that if they are shared, they won’t distorting the surrounding terrain.

*EFFECTS* 

-birdsflock

-geeseflying

-hotairballoon

-jettrailfx

-meteorshower

-oceansurf

-oceansurfreduced

-oceansurfsimple

-oceansurfsplash

-oceansurfsplashsmall

-rainbow

-rapidsnorock

-rapidsrock

-rapidswaternarrow

-rapidswaterwide

-sailboat

-seagullsfx

-waterbuoy

-waterfall_1_med

-waterfall_1_medsplash

-waterfall_1_short

-waterfall_1_shortsplash

-waterfall_1_tall

-waterfall_1_tallsplash

-waterfall_1_med

-waterfall_2_med

-waterfall_2_medsplash

-waterfall_2_short

-waterfall_2_shortsplash

-waterfall_2_tall

-waterfall_2_tallsplash

-waterfall_2_med

-waterfall_3_med

-waterfall_3_medsplash

-waterfall_3_short

-waterfall_3_shortsplash

-waterfall_3_tall

-waterfall_3_tallsplash

-waterfall_3_med

*TREES* 

When placing Trees & other objects like rocks, it’s important to create individual layers, so all the trees are placed on one layer. This enables the game to run much faster as you can "cache the trees" together.

I placed trees on "Layer 1" & the rocks on "Layer 2"

*OBJECTS* 

You can move objects once placed along their axis, which means you can turn them in their current position. This is very useful for placing intersections on curved roads! This feature also enables you to move objects up in the air, so you could have a group of floating rocks, if you wanted to build an alien world. You can also bury rocks or other objects in the landscape so they blend in with the environment for a realistic feel.

You will need to place the objects – like trees & rocks – on the one layer

Spawn collectibles – fish in ocean/river, seeds etc.

*LOTS* 

Lot size – max 64x64

Lots can be placed anywhere – but it's best to place them near the road, as sims will have to walk to a road in order to get into their car.

You can increase an area's property value – so they show up with a "beautiful vista" moodlet

*ROADS & SIDEWALKS* 

Unlike The Sims 2, sidewalks are not automatically placed along the roads, however this tool allows you to place them wherever you like. You can link communities with intersecting sidewalks & that should make for some great visuals, as sims hike across the landscape.

Roads can now be curved & can be moved after placing them, as can sidewalks & if placed over a hill, the hill can be flattened to stop their being unrealistic road angles.

Can add "Sidewalks" now as a separate way of linking lots. Like the roads, they can be curved & can moved after placing them.

"Intersections" can be placed on connecting roads

As you can Import terrain paints & textures – you could have dirt or cobblestone roads – perfect for themed worlds, such as a Medieval Village 

*OTHER* 

Available to download for FREE in December from TheSims.com

Can upload/share via the exchange

Has an "Undo" option which was not available when creating neighbourhoods in Sims City 4

Downside – Bridges must be place in the Sims 3 – can’t automatically stretch a road over a body of water to create a bridge.

Able to move between Sims 3 & Create a World to make changes (no more having to make .png or .sc4 files to import into game)

*CONCLUSION* 

Tutorials will definitely be needed, as the Beta Version we tested was tricky to use. Although the actual sculpting of the terrain was pretty straight forward, I wouldn’t recommend this tool for beginners – at least not until tutorials become available. I admit I found moving roads after placing them & getting intersections lined up correctly a finicky task. For those who love to spend time making sure every detail is just right, there is lots to love...