MaxisAndrea says, The chat will begin in a few minutes. MaxisAndrea says, You're in the event room for the live chat event -- it's normal if you can't see any other chatters in the room MaxisAndrea says, Welcome to the Artist and Animator Chat. MaxisAndrea says, Today our guests are Bob King, Animator, Sebastian Hyde, Artist & Robert Kosai, Animator MaxisSebastian says, Houdy boys and girls. MaxisBob says, Cheers MaxisAndrea says, Robert are you there? MaxisRobert says, Greetings MaxisAndrea says, yea we are all here! MaxisAndrea says, Just a quick reminder before we begin, the Fan Event is on March 17th from 6pm to 10pm PST at Backflip in San Francisco. MaxisBob says, wheeee! MaxisAndrea says, And away we go! MaxisRobert says, Yipeeee MaxisBob says, wheeee! again MaxisAndrea presents the speaker with question #64 from bopbob: What exactly do you do for The Sims? MaxisSebastian says, Eep MaxisRobert says, Ummmmmmm MaxisBob says, I do a lot of the character animation for the Sims line of products MaxisRobert says, I was recently hired to do character animation for the Sims MaxisSebastian says, I am an artist, specializing in UI and skins at the moment, but I have also worked on objects for the game as well. MaxisBob says, I'm not really an animator, but I play one online MaxisAndrea presents the speaker with question #132 from DianaDee: What is your favorite part of your job? MaxisSebastian says, Makin' art! MaxisBob says, We have happy hour on Fridays. That rocks MaxisRobert says, I think it is either the wonderful relationship I have with my fellow artists or it's the 25 cent vending machine. MaxisBob says, oh, and the animation stuff, too MaxisSebastian says, Besides making art I actually enjoy the problem solving parts of making art for video games. That and the 25 cent vending machines MaxisBob says, actually, for Robert, it's his wonderful relationship WITH the vending machine MaxisAndrea presents the speaker with question #137 from DianaDee: What did you contribute so far to HP? MaxisRobert says, Hey, let's keep the personal stuff offline.... MaxisSebastian says, I didn't work on HP much. Just for 2 weeks. I made some skins, bodies and heads. Some fun stuff. MaxisBob says, I contributed with the new neutral idle system that the characters use. I found that staying out of the way was the most helpful thing I could do. MaxisRobert says, I worked on it night and day and it was all animation. MaxisAndrea says, Robert was here on the weekends too! MaxisSebastian says, Robert does his best work after 2:00 am MaxisBob says, Robert doesn't know what a weekend is, anymore MaxisAndrea presents the speaker with question #153 from elmo00: what's the best new animated object? MaxisRobert says, I wasn't working, just pretending to be useful. MaxisBob says, the one with the best animation MaxisSebastian says, His apartment didn't recognize him when he finally got to go home. MaxisRobert says, The dance floor...it is a uniter, not a divider. MaxisSebastian says, I like the country dances MaxisBob says, The music really rocks in HP. No pun intended MaxisRobert says, It's just fun to see all your Sims having a good time together MaxisRobert says, Yeah, the music is really great!!! MaxisAndrea presents the speaker with question #181 from pbadger: will there be a bond fire in the game, does everybody sing kumbaya and say scary stories MaxisBob says, it's more of a campfire actually. guitars, stories, and I hope you all like s'mores MaxisRobert says, but you can make a bonfire out of some nearby objects... MaxisBob says, yee haw! MaxisRobert says, not that I promote arson. MaxisSebastian says, I didn't do any work for the campfire so I cannot really contribute anything there.... MaxisBob says, he just lives it MaxisAndrea presents the speaker with question #83 from mr_male_man: can u teach your sim to be a dj in the house party?? MaxisSebastian says, arson already takes place in the game! All you have to do is get up for a cup of coffie. You come back to find everything on fire! MaxisBob says, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't teach a dj to scratch.... or can you? MaxisRobert says, You definitely can DJ and some of the skins Seb made are a perfect complement. MaxisBob says, The work on the dj object is the tops MaxisSebastian says, Hey I was going to mention that! MaxisSebastian says, He is avaliable through a download, I think. MaxisRobert says, We know you are too modest Seb. MaxisRobert says, Well, maybe not MaxisBob says, yeah, like me MaxisSebastian says, I know I suck, just don't let our art director know! MaxisAndrea presents the speaker with question #189 from MeanandNastyOldSimMaster: are there more furniture in House Party? MaxisSebastian says, I based the DJ on a kid I know in New York. My sister in laws younger brother. MaxisBob says, gotta have a place to sit! MaxisRobert says, The group did a great job with all the new furniture. It matches and comes in various themes MaxisRobert says, It's nothing you can find at Ikea though MaxisAndrea presents the speaker with question #219 from boko71: What art programs do you use. Photoshop 6.0 and 3d studio max or what? MaxisBob says, I can never find anything at IKEA, anyway MaxisSebastian says, Does IKEA carry adobe products now? MaxisBob says, Yeah, we use #DSMax and Character Studio quite a bit. The home grid is burned on my retinae MaxisSebastian says, Can I get the official swedish edition? MaxisRobert says, I use 3D Studio Max for all the animation. I doodle a lot too, but don't mention that to the boss MaxisBob says, this space for doodling MaxisSebastian says, I am using photoshop 5 and 6, Max and outlook! MaxisSebastian says, Oh yeah, with a graphics tablet! MaxisRobert says, Gee, why don't I get a tablet???? MaxisSebastian says, Don't try to make art on your computer with out a graphics tablet! There is nothing worse than trying to draw with a mouse, it's like drawing with a bar of soap! MaxisBob says, Got to go to the top of Mt Sinai. I hear some guy is handing them out there MaxisRobert says, Maybe they have one at Ikea MaxisAndrea presents the speaker with question #258 from General_Calico: Is your job fun? MaxisSebastian says, You don't need one Bob, your an animator! You don't count! MaxisBob says, Yes. MaxisRobert says, Yes. MaxisSebastian says, Yes, it can be a lot of fun. Unless your Robert and doing 24 hour shifts. MaxisRobert says, Wooohooo!!! MaxisSebastian says, It beats pouring coffee MaxisBob says, He's nevr not having fun MaxisRobert says, It beats my old job MaxisSebastian says, It beats pumping gasoline too! MaxisAndrea presents the speaker with question #20 from Stk992: How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Pop? MaxisRobert says, I remember but I can't say MaxisBob says, Depends on whom you ask. Mr Owl says 3, but with all of the current advancements in tongue technology these days, I think they have it down to 2.7 MaxisRobert says, Gag order from the Tootsie Corporation MaxisSebastian says, Oh man, not that question again! For once an for all....5! The owl was too quick! MaxisSebastian says, You can always use the "Lick tootsie pop" filter in P-Shop 6 MaxisRobert says, I say we beat that owl up MaxisSebastian says, He's flyin' away as we speak MaxisBob says, nice. PETA's gonna cream you. MaxisAndrea presents the speaker with question #159 from thesimdaytimes: I think I'll follow Live Sims Chat tradition and ask something completely irrelevant. What are all of your hobbies? MaxisSebastian says, I brew Beer ocassionally. MaxisRobert says, Bicycling and sleep MaxisBob says, ice hockey and not being at work MaxisSebastian says, But I'm also doing a lot of my own art outside of work. Figurative drawing and painting. Some landscape. MaxisSebastian says, I'll go out to cafe's and sketch people. MaxisBob says, I envy Seb MaxisSebastian says, Don't envy me, come over and draw! MaxisRobert says, I am a wanna be Seb, although I do occasionally draw at his place MaxisAndrea presents the speaker with question #403 from Dron_Smith: How long does it take MaxisSebastian to make a skin, or color a new object? MaxisRobert says, Before or after brewing his beer? MaxisBob says, He's made 17 skins just since we've been chatting MaxisSebastian says, I also have a house with a great big backyard that, come summertime, will be my only hobby for a while MaxisAndrea presents the speaker with question #401 from Joanna_john: Is it true there is a Teleporter? If so what is it? MaxisSebastian says, Hmm, it depends on the skin. Most of the skins I made for house Party were with a pretty severe deadline. Each one took a day or so. I prefer to have 2 or 3 days but what are you gunna do? MaxisBob says, TYes, Virginia, there is a teleporter. It gets lazy people from one place to another. MaxisRobert says, Where can I buy one then? MaxisSebastian says, The last skin I did, which was the DJ, took a day and a half for both his body and head. MaxisBob says, Online, if you're really lazy, Robert MaxisAndrea presents the speaker with question #495 from General_Calico: Why do they have locks on the 24/7 mini mart? MaxisSebastian says, Ooooo, the teleporter! Be very carefu with that! Don't want to have any accidents... MaxisBob says, To keep the Jerky and 3 month old hot dogs from running away MaxisSebastian says, to torture the employees MaxisAndrea presents the speaker with question #513 from Ponyta1: What is your favorite computer game? MaxisBob says, pong MaxisRobert says, I was gonna say that MaxisSebastian says, Abe's Oddysee and it's sequel, Abe's Exxodus MaxisRobert says, Well, then Missile Command it is MaxisBob says, how did you know that my favorite game was pong? MaxisRobert says, You know that diary you leave on your desk every night MaxisBob says, oh. that explains it MaxisRobert says, I also have all your credit card info MaxisSebastian says, But my real favorite is an old Mac game, who's name I can't remember right now. It doesn't matter anyway, I use PC's MaxisBob says, that won't get you far, pal MaxisAndrea presents the speaker with question #460 from Ponyta1: Do you work with Will Wright? MaxisBob says, Yes MaxisSebastian says, Peg Leg! That's it! Any one know of a windows version anywhere? I'd love to have it. It would ruin my productivity! MaxisRobert says, I occasionally sit in meetings with him. MaxisBob says, Will's a great guy MaxisSebastian says, Yes. I was talking to Will about a UI thingy earlier. MaxisBob says, He was on BattleBots a few weeks ago Your buddy SimMasterFran has just logged off. MaxisAndrea presents the speaker with question #356 from Ponyta1: What does the dance floor do? Your buddy SimMasterFran is now online. MaxisBob says, it kind of just sits there and lights up MaxisSebastian says, He always want's the UI to be smaller, which is good for me because I tend to get a little carried away with stuff MaxisRobert says, It's like Saturday Night Fever. It lights up, people get on and boogie. MaxisAndrea presents the speaker with question #614 from General_Calico: How long have you been working for Maxis? MaxisSebastian says, Oh that dance floor...it's pretty MaxisRobert says, You definitely need to pair the dance floor with the DJ booth! MaxisBob says, They erase your memory when you sign on the dotted line. So, as far as I know.... all of my life MaxisRobert says, I have been at Maxis since Nov 13, but remember, it's not the years, it's the mileage MaxisSebastian says, I have been here for 10 months, I think. Close to that anyway...Um, what Bob said... MaxisBob says, so, what... about 12 miles? MaxisRobert says, Bob is our elder statesman MaxisBob says, it's not the elder, but the statesmanship MaxisRobert says, We like to call him old geezer MaxisSebastian says, But not to his face of course MaxisBob says, especially when I don't have my teeth in MaxisRobert says, No, Bob is a great guy, honest. MaxisAndrea presents the speaker with question #459 from pbadger: do u guys drink decaf or regular MaxisBob says, decaf or regular waht? MaxisSebastian says, REGULAR! With caffine sprinkles! MaxisRobert says, I am trying to kick the habit MaxisRobert says, What is the point of coffee without caffine? MaxisSebastian says, tooth stain MaxisBob says, coffee has a point? MaxisAndrea presents the speaker with question #416 from DeVann: how much will House Party help social and relationship scores? will group talk be more common? MaxisSebastian says, It helps carry us through looooong production meetings MaxisSebastian says, Lots! I think..... MaxisBob says, you mean in real life, or in the game? MaxisRobert says, Talk to one of the producers if you want anything factual MaxisRobert says, but I can spread a lot of rumors MaxisSebastian says, Yeah, we just make the stuff look good, we don't know how it works MaxisAndrea presents the speaker with question #234 from taekwondogirl: how do you determine what to make and what colors to use? MaxisRobert says, We have a wheel we spin MaxisBob says, design meetings decide what we make. The actual color depends on what looks good and/or matches the theme the best. MaxisRobert says, Maybe I should go to those meetings once in a while MaxisBob says, the design meetings are actually quite great. There's usually a representative member of each department in the meeting MaxisBob says, no design is dictated by any one person MaxisRobert says, Our elder statesman speaks MaxisSebastian says, I hope that does not mean that we "design by committee"! MaxisBob says, Usually, design boils down to how much time we have inthe schedule to create it MaxisAndrea presents the speaker with question #671 from Jedi_Matt: How long are the production meetings? MaxisBob says, again, it depends. I just got out of one that lasted an hour and a half, and we only talked about 2 objects. MaxisSebastian says, They vary, some last for just a few minutes, while others are on a more glacial time frame MaxisBob says, Sometimes we rattle off 3 or 4 in 30-45 minutes. MaxisBob says, it depends on the complexity MaxisAndrea presents the speaker with question #92 from acheeky: on a scale form one to ten, how much more is the new expansion turned out than what you expected it to be? MaxisBob says, wow. i'd say about a nine. MaxisBob says, the team really cranked out a ton of stuff for the fans in a very small amount of time. MaxisBob says, a lot of credit should go to Kana Ryan for that MaxisRobert says, I was pretty nervous with the short time frame, but the team work really well together MaxisBob says, Robert was exceptional MaxisRobert says, Give Tim LeTourneau credit too MaxisBob says, definitely. Kudos to Tim MaxisSebastian says, HP looks really great! It really is amazing what was done in a very short time! MaxisAndrea presents the speaker with question #199 from TwoBitThief: will the boy and girl bathroom doors actually do something specific or are the gender signs just decoration? MaxisBob says, try 'em and see MaxisSebastian says, The animations of the dances in perticuler I really liked, you do some of those Robert? MaxisRobert says, Yeah, that's me MaxisSebastian says, We have gender signs? MaxisBob says, we have bathrooms? MaxisAndrea presents the speaker with question #610 from tiny105206eve: what does the bubble maker do MaxisBob says, makes bubbles MaxisRobert says, Happy, happy, joy, joy... MaxisSebastian says, We have bubbles? MaxisAndrea presents the speaker with question #747 from cajuncook551: what is the COOLEST item that is new in HP? MaxisBob says, the cake. I can say no more. MaxisSebastian says, I was stummped there, but the cake..... MaxisRobert says, Lotsa stuff but maybe the music MaxisAndrea says, Bob what is your opinion on this next one? MaxisAndrea presents the speaker with question #172 from Stk992: Where the animations for HP harder than LL, vice-versa or the same? MaxisBob says, They are about the same. MaxisAndrea presents the speaker with question #363 from TwoBitThief: what new animation or object will be the most shocking or surprising to Sim fans? MaxisSebastian says, I really like the Bull ride, but it presented some pretty tough technical problems. Came out great in the end. MaxisBob says, We are still using the same animation style format and procedures, so in that way, not much has changed. MaxisRobert says, The cake has a few surprises MaxisBob says, since I have come on the project, I have made it a goal to improve the overall look of the animations as a whole MaxisBob says, I think some of the new stuff is far superior to some of our previous work MaxisSebastian says, And you have! I really like the new idles MaxisBob says, Robert is an ace with the character work MaxisRobert says, Actually, there are a lot of neat things tucked away in HP MaxisBob says, thanks! MaxisBob says, hopefully not tucked too far! MaxisRobert says, Robert is Bob and Eric's understudy MaxisAndrea presents the speaker with question #779 from Dron_Smith: who animated THE CAKE? MaxisBob says, he is very easy to overstudy.... is that a word? MaxisSebastian says, I have no idea, Robert? MaxisRobert says, Mr Eric Hedman, who is probably at home sleeping after working many hours on HP MaxisRobert says, The cake is a must see! MaxisBob says, He deserves it. What a Herculean effort that guy put in. MaxisAndrea presents the speaker with question #787 from Cravenator: Maxis Sebastian will the cake dancer interact with people? MaxisSebastian says, He even came in on his day off to attend a meeting! MaxisRobert says, The dancer does "interact", but we'll leave it at that. MaxisSebastian says, Yes, she/he will make the rounds... MaxisAndrea presents the speaker with question #819 from Elfboy88: Who actually thinks of the ideas of new items and do those people give you pictures of what they want the item to look like, or do you get to choose? MaxisBob says, It is a group job. MaxisSebastian says, The designers come up with the objects or skins they want but we generally decide what to make them look like. MaxisRobert says, It goes back to those design meetings.. MaxisBob says, Chris Trottier and Jenna Chalmers did most of the work on HP MaxisBob says, but a lot of people put intheir 2 cents. MaxisBob says, they had to to meet the deadline! MaxisSebastian says, Sometimes we are given specific scrap to work from but we have to make changes so they can become our own unique work. MaxisAndrea presents the speaker with question #827 from Mike17: what happens if a kid walks in when the dancer is there MaxisRobert says, I think we have that one covered. MaxisBob says, he/she gets and education! ...can I say that? MaxisRobert says, The dancer is actually a part time history teacher MaxisSebastian says, Does the baby sitter come in and cover their eyes? MaxisAndrea presents the speaker with question #856 from David_11_: What kind of experience or schooling do y'all have MaxisBob says, good idea MaxisBob says, I have a BFA and a degree in animation from Sheridan College MaxisSebastian says, I have a BFA in Illustration from the Academy of Art College. MaxisRobert says, I have a BS in computer science from USC and a diploma from Sheridan COllege in TOronto MaxisRobert says, I also took courses at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena MaxisBob says, Robert gets around MaxisSebastian says, I have also been taking art classes since Jr. high and continue to do as much painting as I can. MaxisRobert says, I was unemployed for 3 years. What else is a guy to do. MaxisRobert says, Seb can really paint! MaxisBob says, Seb is a fantastic painter MaxisSebastian says, College can be a great way to avoid work! MaxisAndrea presents the speaker with question #866 from TwoBitThief: Will the new phone actually have an action to go with it? Is it a pay phone? MaxisSebastian says, Thanks guys, I'm blushing MaxisBob says, Yeah, they yell at you if you DON'T make art MaxisRobert says, We do have a pay phone. MaxisAndrea presents the speaker with question #776 from ivey99: Can anyone go in the cages and dance? MaxisSebastian says, I think we need a "super hero" pay phone with a randomizer! MaxisBob says, no, but your sims can! MaxisSebastian says, Zing! MaxisRobert says, Yeah, kids can go in MaxisSebastian says, There you go again, locking up the kids! MaxisBob says, someone had to do it MaxisRobert says, My parenting training MaxisAndrea presents the speaker with question #742 from snowman2000: is there going to be a demo for the house party MaxisAndrea says, No Demo is planned MaxisAndrea says, Just a few House Party faq's to wrap things up. MaxisAndrea says, Look for The Sims: House Party in stores at the beginning of April. MaxisBob says, Don't boo andrea, folks. It wasn't her decision MaxisAndrea says, House Party is an add-on pack. You will still need The Sims to play. MaxisAndrea says, It will cost $29.95 in the United States. MaxisAndrea says, No cheat codes will be changed or removed. MaxisBob says, buy buy buy! MaxisAndrea says, Free House Party mix with purchase of the House Party Expansion Pack from EA.com Store. Listen to samples of the House Party mix and then pre-order your Expansion Pack today. MaxisSebastian says, She is just doing her job! And a well done one at that.. MaxisRobert says, She sure types fast MaxisBob says, buy one! I'm hungry! MaxisAndrea says, that about wraps it up MaxisSebastian says, Faster than me, by the time I answer there is another question! MaxisRobert says, My 3 kids won't make it to college without your support. MaxisSebastian says, bye MaxisAndrea says, Thanks everyone for coming and asking questions. MaxisSebastian says, Go look at art! MaxisRobert says, Thank you MayorRob says, bye Maxis, thankyou for taking the time to be here MaxisBob says, so long folks. Hope you like HP! MaxisRobert says, Glad to be here MayorRob says, thankyou all those users who asked questions too MayorShara says, Thank you Maxis. It was a great chat. Thanks for your time. MaxisAndrea says, Thanks guys you did a great job! MaxisBob says, Glad to be anywhere, actually MaxisSebastian says, Good. This was new to me MayorRob says, thankyou sim fans for watching, if you would like to get back to the chat rooms type /go thesims (for thesims chat) /go simcity (for simcity_classic) SimMasterFran says, hi everyone hope this works better hahahahahaha Connection error #10054; The connection is reset by remote side