These data are extracted straight from the XML in the game’s files, though I’ve stripped out some of the extraneous information and adjusted it a little where the ingame job title is different from the XML name. Feel free to copy this data and rewrite it into readable/meaningful form.

Note that:

• I can’t explain what the skill and mood Mappings mean.
• DayLength = the number of hours to work
• In DaysToWork, R means Thursday and U means Sunday

TS3 Careers (html)

TS3 Careers (xls)

What’s more, Story Progression is OFF and I’m using Awesomemod. Now, I did modify the “Demographics” XML in the game’s GameplayData.package to encourage households to get jobs…maybe this is how the game reacts. But it’s a frustrating mechanic.

I think in my last post I complained about Story Progression townies always being unemployed? If I didn’t, I’m complaining now. Well, now that I’m attempting a Prosperity playstyle the problem’s reversed. My Prosperity Sims keep getting high-level jobs at random places (and which don’t match up with their career LTW). *Sigh* EASS, what will you do next…

By the way, with this little Challenge I was trying the aging idea posted here by Rebeka. Thanks, Rebeka! Anyway the idea is to turn SP off (obviously) and leave aging off for all but one round (which I haven’t gotten to yet).

SimSocial, the so-called “free trial” of TS3 went live this weekend. I currently have horrendously slow internet but I did play it for about half an hour, and found the most interesting aspect of it the careers. We now have some information on career tracks that will probably make it into the final game! There’s probably a list elsewhere on the net, but here’s the one I’ve been compiling. As you may tell from the snarky comments, I’m not a big fan of them.

MEDICAL

Identical to TS3.

Organ Donor (ethics aside…)
Bedpan Cleaner
Paramedic
Medical Intern
Resident
Trauma Surgeon
Gene Therapist
Infectious Disease Researcher
Neurosurgeon
World Renowned Surgeon

POLITICS

Identical.

Podium Polisher
Ballot Counter (OK, it’s pedantic, but ballot counters aren’t permanent full-time positions.)
Campaign Intern
Yes-Man
City Council Member
Local Representative
Mayor
Governor
Vice President
Leader of Free World

JOURNALISM

Paper Child
Automated Spell Checker Checker (Ha ha. No.)
Freelance Writer (defeats the meaning of freelance if you ONLY work for one employer.)
Professional Blogger
Anonymous Source Handler
Investigative Reporter
Meteorologist – TS3: Weather-person
Lead Reporter
Editor-In-Chief
Star News Anchor

SCIENCE

Test Subject
Useless Contraption Manipulator
Lab Tech
Fertilizer Analyst
Carnivorous Plant Tender
Genetic Resequencer
Aquatic Ecosystem Tweaker
Top Secret Researcher
Animal Something Crossbreeder
Mad Scientist

CULINARY

Kitchen Scullion
Spice Runner
Vegetable Slicer
(none) - TS3: Ingredient Taster
(none) – TS3: Line Cook
Pastry Chef
Sous Chef
Line Cook
Executive Chef
Five-Star Chef

LAW ENFORCEMENT

Snitch
Desk Jockey (I don’t know what this means. What’s wrong with a real title?)
Traffic Cop
Patrol Officer
Lieutenant
Wiretap Reader
Crime Scene Technician
DNA Suspect Recon Simulator
(Forensic Analyst?)
(Intl Super Spy?)

MUSICAL

Music Fan (A paid one? SELLOUT!)
Roadie
Stagehand (isn’t that substantially the same thing as Roadie, except less music-specific?)
Band Manager
Talent Scout
Vocalist (because vocals < guitar)
Lead Guitarist
Pop Icon (because pop idolism < being a guitarist)
?
Rock Star (pop <rock. Value judgments!)

http://bbs.thesims2.ea.com/community/bbs/messages.php?threadID=1b3acec347263a40b763308c4af2d0a2&directoryID;=225&startRow;=1&openItemID;=item.225,item.43,item.61,item.104,item.41,item.127,item.23

*Sigh* Will they ever learn…

I don’t know if I’ve expressed it elsewhere on this site, but I don’t like the whimsical nature of the TS3 careers. They should at least pay heed to the notion that the workplaces are visible, that the setting is a medium-size town/city, and that people in the real world don’t get paid for jobs that employers aren’t willing to pay them for. At least in TS2 the action happened offscreen. They could be a bit more imaginative with the settings.

Anyway, here’s my take on what was revealed career-wise.

“Rise through the medical ranks from an Organ Donor to a World-Renowned Surgeon”

In the Sims world surgeons are always superior to physicians and this hasn’t changed. Paid organ donation is technically ILLEGAL.

“Propel your Sim’s career from Paper Boy to Star News Anchor”

Newspaper + TV Station in the same workplace? How will they pull that off?

“Skyrocket your Sim from Latrine Cleaner to Astronaut with the Military Career”

Latrine Cleaner could bear to be a little less specific. Plus if the top job is Astronaut, why not make it a Space career instead? I though

“Take your Sim from a Podium Polisher to the Leader of the Free World”

Ahem. Podium Polisher? There’s like six results for that phrase on Google. Must be a job in high demand if you can get paid for it now. Also, world leaders don’t live in two-bit towns.

“Choose your Sim’s career path! Become a legendary Rock Star or a famous Orchestra Conductor”

Well it seems OK enough, but TS3 still seems to have Rock Guitar-ist Syndrome seeing as there are no ‘classical’ instruments.

“Pursue a career in Science and take your Sim from Test Subject to Mad Scientist”

Wow, exactly the same.

“Choose your Sim’s career path! Will your Sim be a Special Agent of [sic] a Forensic Analyst?”

Law Enforcement? Forensic Analyst sounds like more of a Science job, if your whole career background is in the police force.

“Take your Sim from Rabid Fan to a Sports Legend”

Do Fans get paid to be fans now? Does it depend on how rich and crappy your team is?

“Move your Sim up the corporate ladder from Coffee Courier to Power Broker”

Vagueness, vagueness…bring back the actual positions EA.

“Does your Sim have what it takes to become a Super Villain or Master Thief?”

Super villains??

“Take your Sim from a Kitchen Scullion to a Five-Star Chef”

Scullion = “A servant employed to do menial tasks in a kitchen.” (American Heritage Dictionary). Yes, I had to look up the precise meaning which does not bode well. Less obscure career titles would be appreciated.

Finally, WHERE IS EDUCATION??? We have heard nothing about it. Is it cut or something?

Damn you EA! Always putting neat new objects into expansion packs I have no intention of buying!