Let’s get a few things clear – Vampires in The Sims 3 Late Night do not twinkle, sparkle, or cry. Vampire men look like men and vampire women, well, they’re clearly girls. When in daylight they smolder with fire and are in deep trouble as they should be. They aren’t “beautiful” in the eyes of silly, adolescent girls.

Phew. I feel better now.

We designed vampires to be awesome, cunning, and incredibly powerful. We want vampires to provide an entirely new way to play as a Sim and to tell a compelling story of the night. We also wanted them to be, ahem, night and day different from the vampires of The Sims 2 Nightlife. Those vampires seemed like they belonged in a 1920s horror movie. The Sims 3 Late Night vampires bring the allure of the night into the 21^st century.

Vampires have several powers that set them apart from Sims. They are able to learn skills twice as quickly as normal Sims. They are stronger, smarter, and more creative—and it shows. Vampires also run incredibly quickly, so fast that it creates a blur effect. They can also read minds and force Sims to think of them which, when meeting new Sims,  helps them quickly build relationship levels.

But that’s not all!

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Vampires can drink from other Sims to replenish their thirst. This is a consensual act and so is less predatory than a vampire’s other abilities. If they don’t have anyone with whom they are close, they can grow Plasma Fruit, which vegetarian vampires prefer, or raid the hospital for plasma packs. Be wary of the law, however!

Assuming your vampire Sims wish to be prolific and spread the powers, other Sims throughout the neighborhood can be turned. After the transformation takes hold, new vampires become more pale, their eyes glow, sunlight will punish them, and their teeth grow noticeably sharper. A lot good, a little bad. Ultimately, it’s just the price you pay for a longer, more powerful life!

My favorite vampire ability is the hunt. Vampires can not only drink from other Sims, but they can scan their heat to find the Sims with the tastiest plasma. The best places to hunt are popular venues like the current hot spot nightclub as they are filled with potential targets.

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As your vampire begins the hunt, every Sim at the scene begins to glow, as if covered with a heat scanner. One by one your vampire narrows down the selection, choosing their victim. Once one is found, they are added to your vampire’s relationship panel and a Map Tag is added to them. This way, no matter where they go in town, your vampire can find them.

Then, the hunt is on! Using abilities like “Read Mind” and “Think of Me” your vampire is able to expedite the relationship gain. These are just a few tactics in a vampire’s arsenal.

What will you do with your vampires? Personally, I prefer the vampire bassist. The night definitely belongs to vampires in The Sims 3 Late Night and the possibilities are many. Go forth with fangs out and drink!