The 12 Days of Simsmas: 2024 Edition
Sul Sul! It's time to kick off the 12 Days of Simsmas, and once again we're giving you a chance to win your choice of Kit, Stuff Pack, Game Pack, or Expansion Pack for The Sims™ 4! For this giveaway, players on PC, Mac, Xbox and PlayStation will have until the 12 Days of Simsmas ends (December 31, 2024 at 11:59 PM PT) to comment on this post with what you love most about The Sims 4; make sure you also include the hashtag #TheSimsGiveaway to be considered! 2 winners will be contacted via EA Forums Private Message, so make sure you have them enabled! Full contest rules including how to enter, how winners will be selected, and eligible countries can be found in the spoiler tag below 👇
The Return of Friday Highlights
Sul sul everyone! Happy Friday! Now that we're finally at home on our new and improved forums, I thought it was time to bring back our favorite weekly tradition- The Friday Highlights 🌸 If you're new to these highlights, here's a quick rundown: each week we'll be recapping all the exciting updates and highlighting the top discussions, gameplay challenges, stories, builds and more all created by you! So make sure you stop by every Friday to join in on the fun 🙂 Now let's get started, shall we? So what happened this week? Plumbob Green is now an official custom color developed by Pantone, and to celebrate, a new shell challenge is available in the official Sims Discord! You can download the lot here and share your build in Discord for a chance to win your very own Plumbob pin. For more details, check out the Discord announcement here! A second build challenge is available in Discord for Businesses and Hobbies- your goal is to transform New Harbor Park in Iverstad into a thriving and bustling business, and share the story of how you turned this vacant lot into a flourishing establishment. Check out the Discord announcement here for more info! Have you been wondering which MySim character to befriend? You can take the quiz available in Discord here to find out, and to enter for a chance to win a copy of MySims: Cozy Bundle! The quiz will be available through next week, be sure to check it out and let us know who you got! Morning fishing trip in Sulani, posted here, by lanlynk Let's see what we can fish up with this week's highlights! Spring is officially here, and with this season symbolizing rebirth, what better way to celebrate than with this Life & Death Rebirth Saga Challenge, created by nastyjman. For this challenge, you'll play through various reincarnations of your Sim while working towards specific aspirations with each rebirth- you'll begin as a deviant and evil Sim and will slowly blossom and grow into a creative and good spirit. Each reincarnation has a set of rules, like various traits and income restrictions to make this challenge a little more difficult. So if you've been looking for a fun gameplay challenge to start the season with, be sure to check this one out and let us know how far you get! With Businesses and Hobbies now in full swing, AidenNite10 is asking the question we've all been wondering- What's the best way for your Sims to earn money? While it may be a slow process, my personal favorite is knitting, cross stitching and candle making to sell in my small business. But what's your favorite way to make extra money- are you a bulk dragon fruit farmer, or a lucrative art dealer? Do you sell your goods in your small business like me, or do you prefer Plopsy? Let us know all your best money making secrets! With summer just around the corner, I've been looking for the perfect vacation home to escape the hot weather, and this elegant Mediterranean château, Villa Harmonia, built by imoger checks all the boxes- it includes 5 full size bedrooms with timeless exposed brick walls, a private art studio for painting and woodwork, and lush outdoor living space with a garden style pool and shaded pergola. If you're in need of a relaxing and scenic new home, you'll definitely want to check this one out! Season 29 of The Bachelor may have ended on Monday, but don't worry, we've still got plenty of roses to hand out with this gameplay story, The Bachelor Challenge, by QuinShay5. Our Bachelor for this story is Eric Nash, a young and creative romantic looking for his perfect soul mate. This week's episode brought us elimination #2 and things got s p i c e y as one of the girls decided to pop off on Eric, thus resulting in her removal from the house. So which of the remaining girls are you rooting for? My personal favorite is Zuri, mostly because her hair is 🔥 If you need some extra drama in your life, be sure to tune into this hilarious story, and let us know who you think will win the final rose! And finally, for our very talented Sims 3 builders soocoolsim has created a New Orleans inspired world collaboration, Bayou Bijou. This week, a big milestone was hit as Map C of this world has been completed! A total of 54 lots for this world have already been created, but don't worry, plenty more lots are available to claim if you want to participate! The next lot claiming period will begin Monday, April 1st, so be sure to head over, claim your lots and show off all your best building skills. And that will wrap us up for this week! I hope you all stay safe, have a wonderful weekend, and happy Simming 💚 Till next time! -EA_Solaire
Friday Highlights - April 4th
Sul sul simmers! The sun is bright, spring has arrived and Friday Highlights are back, what more can we ask? 🌞 Based from the very warm reactions to EA_Solaire's return of Friday Highlights last week, I can tell I'm not the only one who missed those! We hope everyone is accustomed to our shiny new forums by now and we can't wait to see everything you will share with us. ✨ A quick recap of this week's news: ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜 Have you seen the Pride Every Day Collection that dropped on April 2nd? Check the fabulous outfits and items and more information! We can't wait to see how you will incorporate these in your games! ⚙️ This week, there was another patch for The Sims Legacy Edition. Make sure you check out all the details here ! 🌲 There is one more week left to the Plumbob Green Challenge on Discord, make sure to participate if you'd like a chance to win a Plumbob pin! ❓ Finally, we have a poll of the utmost importance on Discord: Who is your favorite mascot? Don't forget to cast your vote and let us know here who is your preferred mascot (which should be Yamachan, obviously)! Let's celebrate Spring by visiting the community garden greenhouse! posted here, by ManicPot8to Now, let's move on to the highlights... Let's kick off those highlights with the mention of everybody's favourite angry old lady, Miss Crumplebottom 👵👜. It looks like drkangl7690 has been very patient so far, but everyone eventually hits their limits: she got turned into a vampire after another instance of public rude behaviour! 🧛♀️ And since she still wouldn't behave, she even got frozen by a freeze ray so she could be taught a lesson (and we got a really funny screenshot out of that, which I encourage you to see!). Has Miss Crumplebottom interacted with your sims before? Have you integrated her into your games? Apparently she can become sweet and teach your sims knitting, but she has never grown out of the grumpy phase in my games! 😅 If you are in a reading mood, texansky added a new chapter to the Fields of Gold story. Jade Fields has come a long way, from Bidgeport to an old lodge in Alryne Valley. Her hard work has paid off and she is settling well into the house that is slowly getting lest rusty and renovated. She has found a friend in Elijah the local cat and she has also found love with Shaun, and things are looking very well! 💍 If you want a nice cosy, slice of life story with a Spring vibe, then this story is made for you! We have the perfect place for your sims to enjoy the nice Spring weather with Cevans1962's Jackdaws house, located in San Sequoia. It's very luminous, it includes a spacious kitchen and living room, three bedrooms, a study and a gym. There is a cute patio for your family barbecues, a playground for children, and an adorable front garden that is beautifuly decorated 🌷 Everyone in the household will find what they need, so you should definitely take a look! If you are up for a challenge this week, have a look at what AidenNite10 is proposing: The Sims 4 Restaurant Build Challenge. 🍽️ The rules are simple and allow you to bring out your creativity as long as you don't use any mods or custom content. You don't even need any specific pack such as Dine Out, so I'm curious to see everyone's builds because I'm sure they are all going to look different from each other yet amazing! Finally, vickyloo shares some insight about the game: did you know that when your sim gets hurt, they will end up with a bandage that stays on until the injury is healed? 🤕That's a neat little detail that adds more realism! It's so subtle that you would barely notice it, but it's so rewarding when you do - especially when you've been playing for years! What are other things that you never knew and discovered after a long time? It's a known fact by now but I discovered pretty late and randomly that cats can sit on the roombas and have a little wander in the house. 😻 This is it for the week folks! I hope you and your sims have a nice weekend, and we'll see you very soon! Dag dag 👋 EA_Cath ✌️Friday Highlights - April 18th
Sul sul friends! I hope the start of spring is treating you well! Do you have any plans for Easter weekend? 🐣 Are you sims ready to welcome the Flower Bunny? 🐰 If you celebrate Easter, what do you usually eat or cook? Let us know below! First, here’s what you may have missed this week: 📑 There was a new patch for MySims™: Cozy Bundle on Monday, make sure to check that your game is up to date! Bear and Barry enjoying some of that nice fresh air, posted here by Tomsde And with this quick update, let’s dive into the highlights! Your sims and their family might want to enjoy the brighter and longer days, and ManicPot8to just got the perfect build for that in Meadow Loop Play Park This build is ideal for everyone: children will love playing with the treehouse, swings and other amenities built for them, couples will enjoy the relaxing environment, pet owners can bring their furry friends for a nice stroll , and there is a community garden for our fellow botanists. 🌾 The park looks so pretty at daytime and night time, so make sure to have a look! If you’d like to add a bit of magic to your daily life, jazzyrocksoul88 has the perfect story for you as they are taking on the "Llamas and Legends" challenge originally created by Rishella, on the basis of a very popular game involving rolling dices to make decisions 🐉. Olorra Ilianath, a mysterious character, suddenly appears on the former estate of the controversial Jacques Villareal. Olorra is a very stylish human bard with a passion for arts, and she is already doing pretty good for herself as she’s had times to practice her craft and make some friends 🎨. So if you’d like to see how jazzyrocksoul88 and Olorra are going to tackle this challenge, keep an eye out! EA_Solaire mentioned the awesome Bayou Bijou World Collaboration in The Sims 3, and this is still going on! There are many new additions to the world and all the builds are very creative. But today, let’s focus on @HidehiHidehi2’s Club Fais Do-Do which looks like the perfect holiday resort for your sims: with bars, dance floors, hot tubs on the roof top, and live music, your sims won’t have time to get bored 💃🎶. It looks stunning and even more impressive at night time with all the lights illuminating the building! 🌃(Your fun language fact of the day: Fais Do-Do in Cajun language refers to a Cajun Dance Party. But in French, it has a completely different meaning: Fais Do-Do means: Go to sleep!) If you need some inspiration to play with the Business & Hobbies pack, BreeMiles may have had the greatest idea of all time with the Pet Hangout Business 🐶🐱. It is not only great for the pets and stray animals roaming around, but also for pet owners who can now enjoy the hangout club in the latest addition! They can share their love of animals and receive help with caring for their friends or getting them cleaned up. I strongly encourage you to check out the thread from the beginning just for a bit of cuteness overload 💖Would that be something you would like to reproduce in your game? Finally, let’s talk gameplay: are there any game mechanics you would like more insight on? If so, then Intern_Waffle_64 has the perfect curated guide for you, and is willing to add more topics! 🤓 So go and let us know what gameplay logistics are giving you trouble! Help your sims getting out of burnout, prevent potential electrocutions and become a weather expert, among other topics. Each article is very easy to understand but they still contain a lot of information and details. They definitely go into my bookmarks “How to play Sims 4 for Dummies”! 📑 And that's it for this week! As always, have a lovely weekend and make sure not to eat too many sweets 🍫 (saying this, as I'm devouring a giant chocolate egg 🤭). Dag Dag! EA_Cath ✌️
EA Forums Online Security Newsletter - Volume 5
Welcome to all our readers - whether you're a long-time subscriber or joining us for the first time—for the latest edition of our newsletter! This month, we invite you to engage in a conversation about security, our featured topic, and much more. Each edition is an opportunity to share your security tips, experiences, or insights with us. In last month’s edition, we explored the critical topic of safe online transactions. With the summer promotions season fast approaching, now is the perfect time to refresh your knowledge or check out our tips if you haven’t already. We also introduced the latest updates to EA’s flagship anti-cheat system, EA Javelin. If you’re unfamiliar with EA Javelin, we encourage you to revisit last month’s newsletter to learn more. This month, we’re exploring the fascinating topic of passwords from a psychological perspective. Why do we choose certain passwords over others? What motivates our choices? And what strategies can help you create strong, secure passwords? You’ll find answers to these questions and more in the Security Focus section. As always, your participation in the newsletter—whether through comments, quizzes, or sharing your experiences—earns you a participation token: a unique badge on the forum. Don’t miss out! We would also like to highlight recent software blocks in EA Javelin. AntiCheatWard from EA's anti-cheat team shared that the Disc-Soft block was implemented due to cheat-like scripts circulating in the ReWASD community, which automate actions like recoil control and skill-based challenges in games. While EA Javelin Anticheat supports legitimate remapping tools like Steam Input and Microsoft's Keyboard Manager, Disc-Soft's attempts to bypass anti-cheat checks and its tolerance of these scripts led to blocking their virtual hardware and drivers. We encourage you to uninstall the software and provide feedback to the vendor, with hopes that changes in their practices could allow for more targeted blocks in the future. You'll find the link to the full article in the InfoHub Section. Stay safe! The Psychology of Password Creation In today's digital age, passwords are crucial for safeguarding our personal and professional information. Yet many people struggle with creating and remembering secure passwords. This challenge is deeply rooted in human psychology and impacts how we choose and manage our passwords. Cognitive Load and Memory It is human nature to simplify complex tasks, which leads to choosing passwords that are easy to remember. As a result, simple choices can be made, such as using sequential numbers, common words, or birthdays. These elements reduce cognitive load, but at the same time, they compromise security. Familiarity Bias People tend to choose passwords that are familiar or meaningful to them. It can be the names of loved ones, favourite sports teams, or phrases that are familiar to you. While these choices make passwords easier to remember, they also make them easier to guess. Risk Perception Many users underestimate the risk of cyber threats, believing that they are unlikely targets. This perception leads to less rigorous password practices, such as using the same password across multiple accounts or opting for simple, easily cracked passwords. The Role of Emotion Emotional attachment can play a significant role in password creation. People often choose passwords that evoke positive feelings or memories, which makes them easier to recall. However, emotional passwords can be predictable for anyone familiar with the user. Social Influence Social factors, such as advice from friends or media, can impact password choices. Recommendations to use complex passwords might be acknowledged but not always implemented due to the inconvenience of remembering them. Strategies for Improvement Use Passphrases Combining unrelated words into a passphrase increases complexity while remaining memorable. Leverage Mnemonics Creating a mnemonic device can help recall complex passwords. Employ Password Managers These tools reduce the burden of remembering multiple passwords while ensuring they are strong and unique. Periodic Password Updates Changing passwords can mitigate risks associated with compromised credentials. But don't make it a burden, as accourding to NIST research over complicating the password changing process might have opposite effect. Online Security Newsletter - Feedback Form Online Security Newsletter - Challenge Creation Interest Form EA Javelin Anticheat & Recent Software Blocks Online Security Newsletter - Volume 5 Quiz
EA Forums Online Security Newsletter - July
We are excited to present the first edition of our newsletter on the new forum platform!🥳 Additionally, we have refreshed the appearance of our newsletter with new visuals 🌈, and re-branded our newsletter📛. In the future, we may expand the newsletter with new sections based on your feedback! ~How can this happen? At the end of the newsletter, you will find a new section called the Feedback Hub. Here, you can share your observations, ask questions, or share your stories via the form. Two new sections would be: Q&A: This section is for those who have long-awaited answers to their pressing questions but may now feel hesitant to ask. It’s also for questions about topics covered in previous editions. Questions must be related to the topic of the newsletters, and the answers to them may be included in future editions. Community Spotlight: This section is for sharing inspiring experiences in the field of security. Last month, thanks to the input from EA_Kalina, we focused on account security and explored the most important methods to prevent account takeovers. While this article provided information specific to your EA account, you can apply these guidelines to secure your other accounts as well. We hope you have followed all the instructions by now. If not, please do so as soon as possible. This month, we will explore the important topic of communication, in-game and beyond. As with every edition, each newsletter participant will receive a unique token of appreciation: a special badge on the forum. Now, without further ado, let's dive into this month's topic. ... Oh, I nearly forgot if you want to host the next challenge, you'll find the right form at the end of this post! Online Communication Look after your privacy Protect your privacy by reviewing and updating your privacy settings. Control what information is visible to other players or contacts you interact with. If too much personal information is visible on the internet, you might be vulnerable to spear phishing attacks. Spear phishing is a targeted attempt to steal your sensitive information by pretending to be a trustworthy entity. Keep your cool Try not to send messages under the influence of strong emotions. Playing online can be very challenging when it comes to keep your emotions cool. However, when you're emotionally charged this can lead to unintended consequences. You might say something you regret, and it could get you into more trouble. Remember, everything you say or post on the Internet can persist for a long time. This includes private information unintentionally shared during an argument or inappropriate remarks. Message with caution It is a good habit to be distrustful of unexpected messages or messages from people we do not know. In the context of online games and gaming communities, it is easy to make new contacts and interact. However, during these conversations, do not provide your private information and always verify the identity of the person you are talking to by checking their profile or asking for additional information. Report Inappropriate Content We use real-time moderation technology to ensure that all text entered in our games complies with the Positive Play Charter. Additionally, our automated system filters all images uploaded by users, which is further supported by manual reviews from our team. Recently, we introduced a pilot voice reporting system in Battlefield 2042, allowing you to report inappropriate content from other users during gameplay. Your submissions are crucial in improving these tools and creating a safe, welcoming environment for our community. If you encounter inappropriate content in the game, please report it. Positive Play Charter Report cheating, harassment, and illegal content Content Moderation and Enforcement What’s voice chat moderation in Battlefield 2042? EA Forums Online Security Newsletter - July Answers HQ Online Security Newsletter Feedback form (including Community Spotlight, and Q&A submissions) Answers HQ Online Security Newsletter - Challenge Creation Interest formEA Forums Online Security Newsletter - Volume 6
Before we begin this issue’s regular sections, we want to thank everyone who participated in the discussion in the previous edition. Your shared experiences and kind words of appreciation mean a lot to us. 🥰 In this issue, we’ll again examine phishing methods from a psychological perspective, exploring why they are so effective and how we can better protect ourselves. Phishing isn't just about dodgy links; it's about exploiting fundamental human tendencies. Scammers are master manipulators, playing on our emotions, our desire for efficiency, and even our inherent trust. When you understand the psychological levers they pull, you gain a powerful advantage in spotting and avoiding their traps. 🤓 If you missed the previous edition, you can find it [here]. As always, joining the discussion or solving the quiz will earn you a token of participation in the form of a unique badge on the forum. 🤠 Stay safe! The Psychology of Phishing The Lure of Urgency and Scarcity, aka Fear of Missing Out Phishers often create a sense of immediate crisis or limited-time opportunity (e.g., "Your account will be suspended in 24 hours!" or "Exclusive limited-time skin unlock!"). This triggers our primal fight-or-flight response, bypassing rational thought and pushing us to act without deliberation. The fear of loss (of access, of a rare item) is a powerful motivator. When you feel a sudden surge of urgency or excitement from an unexpected message, stop and take a deep breath. A legitimate service will rarely demand immediate action without prior warning. Verify independently through official channels, not by clicking links in the suspicious message. Authority Bias Humans are conditioned to respect and obey authority figures. Phishers expertly mimic legitimate sources like game developers, platform support, or even government agencies. The use of familiar logos, official-sounding language, and seemingly authentic sender addresses exploits our tendency to trust perceived authority without question. Never assume legitimacy based solely on appearance. Always cross-reference. If you receive an unexpected email from "EA Support," don't click a link in the email. Instead, open your browser and manually navigate to EA's official support website to log in or check your account. The "Intriguing Mystery" Phishing Our brains are wired to seek out novelty and resolve unknowns. Phishers exploit this by sending messages that pique our curiosity (e.g., "See who's talking about you!" or "Your private photo has been leaked!"). The desire to know, to uncover the "secret," overrides caution, leading us to click. Before clicking on anything that triggers intense curiosity, engage your critical thinking. Is this too good to be true? Does it make sense that I would receive this message? If it sounds sensational or unbelievable, it likely is. Reward Phishing We often feel a subconscious obligation to repay a favor or respond positively to someone who has given us something. Phishers leverage this by offering enticing "rewards," "freebies," or "exclusive access" (e.g., "Claim your free legendary loot box!"). The desire to accept the perceived gift can blind us to the underlying danger. While it's nice to receive gifts, be highly suspicious of unsolicited windfalls, especially those requiring you to click a link or provide personal information. Legitimate giveaways from reputable companies will always direct you to their official website or have a clear, secure claiming process. If you didn't enter a contest, you didn't win. The "Everyone is doing it" Phishing Humans are social creatures, and we often look to the actions of others to determine what is correct or safe. Phishers can create a false sense of social proof by impersonating friends, guildmates, or popular streamers, often sending messages like "Hey, check out this amazing new game!" or "I just got this awesome item using this link, you should too!" This can lead us to believe that if others are clicking, it must be safe. Even if a message appears to come from a trusted friend, consider the context and how they usually communicate. If it seems out of character, or if the link is suspicious, contact your friend through a separate, verified channel (e.g., a direct message on a platform you know is secure, or even a quick call) to confirm. Stay vigilant! Pause, verify, and think critically before clicking on unexpected links or acting on urgent messages—protect yourself from phishing scams! How to avoid phishing Online Security Newsletter - Feedback Form Online Security Newsletter - Challenge Creation Interest Form Online Security Newsletter - Volume 6 Quiz
