The Sims 3

The Sims 3 is preparing for a new addition to it's ever increasing catalog of games.  The Sims 3 Outdoor Living module will be released in February 2011.  This new module shows me just what a huge impact outdoor living is having in our popular culture.  Lets take a look at this new Stuff Pack  from Maxis, but first, a little history.

Sims history


The Sims  is a strategic, life simulations computer game developed my Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. The game's creator, Will Wright, is also known for creating the wildly popular Sims City game.  The Sims was released in 2000 and within two years of being on the market had sold 6.3 million copies, making it the best selling PC game of all time.

Since the inception and release of the Sims in 2000, the company had added expansion packs to the game.  Each expansion pack give the player the ability to expand their Sims world.  Also, there have been two sequels to the original game.


The Sims 3 is the most interactive of the Sims to date with technology that allows the user to create Sims and homes that are pretty darn cool.


In February of this year, the Sims will launch a new Stuff Pack.

"A new what pack?", you ask.

The Sims Stuff Packs are filled with additional items you can use to decorate, dress and stage your Sims and their environment.  The Sims 3 Outdoor Living

Choose from two new styles: "Garden Terrace" features elegant wrought-iron pieces, while “Sunset on the Veranda” embraces the warmth of outdoors.








If you are wondering how I know so much about the Sims, well...I am an avid player.  I find a great deal of solace decorating and creating homes and spaces.  It's like paper dolls for grown-ups. However, don't think it is just a game as there are many people who are creating the future of design inside their Sim games by using the available modification packages and, in doing so, taking the Sims way beyond game play into a creative and expressive design world.

Play...

...with master of design, Philippe Starck and his partner Eugeni Quitllet. 

If you scan though my previous blog postings you will see my passion for Philippe Starck's Ghost Chair and other projects he has conceptualized.  Most people want to meet rock stars or athletes, I would stand on my head to meet Philippe Starck. 

This year Philippe Starck and Eugeni Quitllet have partnered with Dedon  to create Play.
  
Play is a broad collection allowing the customer to "play" with the materials until they find the chair table combination that will suite their needs.

Select your combination of wood, aluminum resin ... or.. select your wood aluminum ... or.. select your resin wood ... or ... Ok, I think you get it! :) The range of color and material choice is huge!

The Play dining table with or without a built in ice cooler.  This table is over 13 feet long, allowing for 12 people to be seated comfortably with arm chairs and 14 people with armless chairs.  How nice to see an outdoor table that allows for large gatherings!

The Play table also comes in three additional sizes. Both the two larger sizes come with or without the built in ice cooler 

Bistro? Of course!  They carry several sizes of bistro tables. These tables are perfect for a Saturday evening/ Sunday Morning Tet e Tete!

 I love this collection and will be adding it to my favorites for 2011!  That is, once I decide which chair and table combination to choose from.

I guess I need to "play" a little before I decide.

Koji Collection

Avante-garde... Organic...  Ethereal... 

What happens when you take a design company that has committed to making some of the most artistic furniture available and place it in the forefront of design with Mother Earth in mind?

You get a company named: Koji collection - A Miami based company that believes in using a resource that most companies would never consider using.

That resource is Liana (a vine). 

The volume of vines covering the floor of the rain forest is immense.  Unfortunately, these vines can prevent the seeds of potential saplings from falling into the soil to reproduce additional trees.  Koji uses the Liana to make their woven furniture and in doing so is helping to maintain a healthy and viable rain-forest by utilizing these vines in their creations.  Koji artfully integrates the Liana and manifests an exploration into nature though artistic vision. 

With over 250 pieces in their collection there is so much to look at!  Each collection has a theme encompassing the Earth, nature and beyond.

The Deco Drive Collection

Birdy A

Rattan, Liana, Polyurethane and Wood

Cloverleaf

Liana, Rattan and Wood

The Naturally D-Vine Collection

Windswept

Liana, Rattan and Stainless Steel

Abalone M

Rattan, Laina, Satin and Wood

The Intergalactic Fusion Collection

Space Crab A

   Rattan and Stainless Steel 

Space Crab B

Rattan, Liana and Stainless Steel