Hot Date Gameplay FAQ

3. Q: How do you go on a date?
A: You either need to invite another Sim downtown with the "invite downtown" interaction, or you need to met a Sim downtown and ask them on a date. Downtown, use the Ask- Let's Hang Out? Or the Ask- Let's date? Interactions.

4. Q: How do you get someone to go home with you?
A: You need to use the "Invite Home" interaction on Sims you are dating. This interaction only appears once your Sim is in a good mood and you have a high relationship to the date.

5. Q: What is the new relationship bar and score all about?
A: The relationships now have a Daily bar and a Lifetime bar. The Daily bar is similar to the old relationship bar in that it moves quickly. The Lifetime bar moves slower and tracks your relationship over a long period. This way it is possible to have a couple Sims that are in love, but have been having relationship problems recently. This is how you get NAG to show up now.

6. Q: How do I cuddle in the booths?
A: The dining booth interactions are only available after cuddle has bee accepted. Invite another Sim downtown. Order dinner at a podium in a restaurant with dining booths. After the menus have been taken, but before dinner arrives, you can try and cuddle with your date. If they want to cuddle, you can then try the "embrace," "romantic kiss," "kiss," or "make out" interactions.

7. Q: How do I order a meal at a restaurant?
A: Click on the podiums.

8. Q: How do I order a drink?
A: Click on the bar, or sit down at a table and click on the barmaid.

9. Q: In bars, sometimes I see interactions without submenus. Why is that?
A: Those are special interactions only available on people who are drinking in bars. For some reason, the drinks make them respond better to advances social interactions…

10. Q: I spent a lot of time downtown, but when I got home, time did not seem to have passed. What is up with that?
A: This is just a limitation of going Downtown in Hot Date. We could not simulate the home lots and Downtown lots at the same time. If you play your cards right, you can use this to your advantage. :o)

11. Q: Why can't I get someone to date me and why do they refuse to come home with me when I finally do date them?
A: You probably stink! Sims will not go on dates or go home with you if your hygiene is low. Make sure you wash before going downtown so you are clean and fresh smelling for your date.

12. Q: How do I save my game downtown?
A: You can't save the game while your Sim is downtown. You need to either use the phone to go home and save your relationship information or hit the Options-Neighborhood button to cancel. Canceling this way will not save any relationship changes that have occurred downtown but the budget will be saved.

13. Q: Why do so many Sims have "Townies" as their last name?
A: That is the last name for any of the Sims that live downtown. If you marry them, they will take your last name.

14. Q: I have more than 12 Townie friends but I can't find them in the phone to call them. Where are they?
A: The phone can only hold 12 names in a pie menu, so just hit the TAB key when looking through the Townie names to get to the next 12 names in another pie menu.

15. Q: How do I make a store?
A: Go to the Downtown neighborhood and pick a lot to edit. A store needs cash registers for a salesperson to use, and gift displays, magazine stands or clothing racks to buy items from. All these items are available in the shop sort. Cash registers are in the electronics subsort of shopping.

16. Q: How do I make a restaurant?
A: Go to the Downtown neighborhood and pick a lot to edit. A restaurant needs tables and chairs so you can sit and eat, a waiter podium for the waiter and/or maitre 'd, a sink or dishwasher for the busboy, a fridge and some sort of stove for the cook. All these items are available in the dining sort. Podiums are in the miscellaneous subsort of dining.

17. Q: How do I make a park?
A: Parks don't require anything special, but if you want to let Sims use the pond for RC boats, feeding fish or want to picnic, you need to place a rental shack on the same lot with the pond. The pond and rental shack are located in the Outdoors- Miscellaneous sort of Downtown buy mode.

18. Q: How do I make a bar?
A: All you need for a bar is a bar station. These are available under the Dining- Appliances sort. It is much easier for Sims to order drinks if the bar has a lot of counters connected to it. Also, if you place tables in a bar, this will spawn a barmaid. Seated Sims can order drinks from the bar maid and drink sitting down.

19. What is the inventory area for on my Sim?
A: This is where you can see what gifts you have bought or made. If you go downtown, you can buy gifts in the stores. At home, you can use the Hot Date Canning Center to make home made preserves you can give as gifts. If you have Livin' Large, you can now add the lawn gnomes to your gift inventory and give them as gifts!

20. Q: What is the new interest panel all about?
A: Sims used to have eight interests that they would talk about. Now with Hot Date they have seven more interests to talk about. Plus, they can change their interests now by reading interest magazines. Just go downtown and find a store with a magazine rack. When you buy magazines they will appear in inventory until you get home. Sims automatically bring them inside once you get home. You can't give magazines as gifts.

21. Q: I bought clothes downtown, but they are not wearing them. How do I make them wear the clothes they bought? A: Sims can buy formalwear, swimwear and sleepwear downtown. Either use the outdoor dressing booth downtown to change clothes, or use the dressers at home to make them change clothes. They will change into their new clothes when they sleep, go swimming or get married as well. Your Sims will only change into the last outfit they bought.

22. Q: What is the Downtown Exchange?
A: The Downtown Exchange is just like the old Sims Exchange, except that you can view, download and upload Downtown lots.

23. Q: Are there special NPC's you can date?
A: Yes, there are some special Sims you might see downtown. There is a jock in a white baseball cap and letterman jacket, a red-headed party girl, a flirty girl in pink, a lounge lizard in a purple suit, a blonde bombshell, a femme fatale, a couple very well dressed Latin lovers, a wall flower, a nerd and a sort of moody romantic guy that is just misunderstood. There is also a party animal guy.