Preview: 'The Sims 3: Late Night'

Unless you are a ghost-hunter, thief or computer hacker, Sims really can't get up to much in the evenings, and are more likely to opt for an early night over anything sociable. Late Night, the third expansion to The Sims 3, aims to change that by adding a city environment crammed with after-hours activities to play around with, as well as introducing blood-sucking vampires and showbiz careers.

As with any night out on the town, the focus is on clubs and bars. From dance floors to swanky bars and run-down dives, each location has its own look and feel. You'll find grungy urinals and cracked mirrors in pubs, while exclusive venues will be fleshed out with in-wall fish tanks and oxygen bars, and as with other expansions, many of these additions can be taken home and elsewhere. Those who choose to run their own club will appreciate the ability to smooth out corners and create half-step platforms in the editor to create more attractive venues, or take on serving drinks with the new mixology skill.

Those on the other side of the bar will see a wider range of drinks and dance moves at your Sims' disposal, as well as a tendency to keep their exhaustion at bay and willingness to take phone calls and invitations later than usual. Although there is a wide variety of venues to choose from, friends will often request certain places depending on events such as a band playing there, or most likely, whether it's a known haunt for famous people.

The city of Bridgeport is a stark contrast to the suburban neighbourhoods we've seen previously, with skyscrapers, high-rise penthouses and a vast hillside crammed with celebrity mansions. Popularity and social stature plays a big part in Late Night, with celebrities gliding straight past bouncers into the most high-profile bars and unknown Sims being rejected at the door. Reaching a high social status can be as simple as being good at your job, whether that's as an artist or athlete, although mingling with famous Sims and exaggerating about your talents will also do the trick. If all that fails, sneaking past the bouncer is an option too. Paparazzi will hound Sims outside clubs, and can be bribed to keep gossip at bay if caught in a spot of infidelity or embarrassment.

New career options in film such as acting or becoming a director fit perfectly with the celebrity lifestyle, as does the expansion in musical instruments. Sims can now take up the double bass, piano and drums to form a band and play in venues, either full-time or after hours. An agent will direct your band around the city as you improve your skills and creep towards the big time, but it can also be used as an extra source of income through busking on streets and in subways. The latter is a new means of transportation alongside elevators leading up to penthouse suites, and provides handy shortcuts around the city, although like many buildings you cannot actually see what's inside. Elsewhere in the city there's the usual array of hospitals, fire and police stations that cater for Sims with regular occupations.

The expansion also sees the franchise jump on to the vampire bandwagon with the ability to turn Sims into blood-sucking citizens. Darker skin shades and red eyes are a dead giveaway if you want to find them in clubs, and there are a number of benefits besides a more evil appearance. Vampires will move quicker than usual, leaving a blur on the screen as they travel, and skills will be developed at a much faster rate. On the flip side they're allergic to the sun, and while they can't die from overexposure, they'll enter a terrible mood until they're in the shade again. Hunger is replaced by a red Thirst gauge, which is topped up from blood juice boxes, home-grown plasma plants and other Sims. Interestingly, it was emphasised that Sims cannot become a vampire by accident; players were reportedly upset to come home from work to find their entire family had been turned in their absence, so permission is always required. And if you change your mind, a cure from the Science Labs is always available for a small fee.

To top it off, the showbiz lifestyle means there's a few additions to the Sim creation suite, with breast enlargements, improved muscle definition and more glamorous shoes and dresses to choose from. Late Night is set to be more like Ambitions in that it fleshes out underdeveloped parts of the game rather than inventing new ones, but with the addition of more careers, building types and an urban environment to explore, it will undoubtedly lead to all kinds of new escapades.

The Sims 3: Late Night will be available on PC and Mac from October 29.