We've all been through this before.  That torturous period after you have explored all the awesome new stuff in the shiny new game, but before the first expansion pack is released.  It took seven months for the first expansion pack (Livin' Large) to be released for The Sims, and seven months again for the first expansion pack (University) to be released for The Sims 2.  By contrast, we have it good this time!  Only five months will elapse between the release of The Sims 3 base game and the first expansion pack (World Adventures, scheduled to drop on November 17th).

Even the most rabid Sims fans (I include myself with that description) readily admit that the base game itself can be a little dull.  A lot of the best parts of the game come with the expansion packs - new settings, new experiences, new careers, and so forth.  However, it does seem that the Sims 3 base game is a lot more rich than either The Sims or The Sims 2 base game.  After all, we have gardening, fishing, and collecting rocks and insects, all of which were introduced to The Sims 2 from expansion packs.  

That being said, the next month is going to be difficult for a lot of Sims players.  Here are some ideas on how to keep things fresh until you can get your hands on a copy of World Adventures.

1.    Start a challenge.  

Many Sims boards have challenges (most of which were designed for The Sims 2, but can still hold up under The Sims 3).  One of the basic types of challenges is a Legacy Challenge, with the goal of raising a certain number of generations (often ten) to adulthood.  Another is the Asylum Challenge, where you put a large number of Sims into a nearly-empty house, and watch the fireworks that ensue.

One of the most famous Sims challenges has been The Official Wacky BoolProp Challenge.  This challenge a legacy challenge (running several generations of Sims) with several other elements from the game to offer a seriously high difficulty level.

2.    Fill In The Gaps

Have you gotten a Sim to fulfill their Lifetime Want?  Have you pushed a Sim to Level 10 of their career?  Of every career?  Have you obtained every single Happiness Reward?  Caught every fish?  Maxed out every skill?  
The game lays out a lot of goals for your Sims, some of which we as players inevitably overlook.  I know for a fact that I have never gotten a Sim their Lifetime Want, and I have only gotten a few Sims to Level 10 on their career path.  Now is a great time to buckle down and go for the gold!

3.    Dig Deeper: Mini-Challenges

When you're on the Skills tab, click the Skill Journal icon (it looks like a little sheet of paper with notes on it).  You will get a big pop-up sub-panel with a ton of information about that Sim's history with that skill.  And best of all, mini-challenges!

For example, my Athletic Sim has reached Level 10 Athletic skill.  When I click on his skill journal, I can see that he has already jogged 268km in his lifetime.  To complete the Marathon Runner mini-challenge, he only needs to jog a total of 500km.