Episode 3: The Tutorial Tasks of "The Sims Freeplay"

My first 3 Sims gardening for XP and money

Welcome to Episode 3 of my blog about EA's, "The Sims Freeplay".  The game begins with tutorial tasks and the purpose of this episode is to provide you with a step-by-step guide for completing each of the 68 tasks.  Completing tutorial tasks and quests will earn you simoleons, XP and LP. 

I have a few tips for you to keep in mind while you complete these tasks. 

• When a task calls for you to use multiple Sims to perform tasks simultaneously, such as gardening, watching TV, etc., you will get credit for completing the task as soon as you have all of the requested number of Sims performing the task.  Refer to step 56.  You can cancel the task so that you can use those Sims on other tasks.  On the same note, if you get a task that instructs you to do something for a certain timeframe, for instance, "watch TV between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m.), once you start the task within the allotted timeframe, you will get credit for completing it, so you can cancel the task if you want.
• Many of the objects you use have ratings of 1 star, 2 star or 3 star.  The higher the rating, the faster you can perform a task.  Initially, you will not be able to buy a lot of 3-star items, but as you start accumulating higher-rated items, use those to complete your tasks.
• To add a Sim to the game, you need to have an available house.  Eventually, you will be able to move Sims in with each other (once you do the "Love is in the Air" quest, which is available at level 6), but initially, you will need to have a house for every Sim.  By step 51, you will be required to have 5 Sims.  As you level up, you will unlock the ability to add more houses and Sims.  I recommend adding a new house, each time you level up, so that you can add new Sims and have them available for the tasks that require multiple Sims.
• While you are completing tasks, don't leave your Sims idle.  Always have them gardening or performing a hobby like fashion design or fishing (once they are unlocked).  An idle Sim cannot earn you money and XP.  If you are actively playing the game, put your Sims on shorter tasks and have them repeat them over and over again.  When you are away from the game, try to put them on tasks that will keep them busy until you return to the game.

Now, lets get started on the actual tasks:

1. Move in first Sim:  The game starts you with one house, stocked with the basics.  You will see a green icon over the house, tap on it. Now, the "Create-a-Sim" menu pops open.  In this menu, you can customize the name, clothes and features of your Sim.  Or if you prefer, you can select one of the game's random Sims.  Create your Sim and tap on the green check mark when you are done and select "yes" when you get the pop-up "Start a game with this Sim?".  Your Sim will be placed in your new home.  Once you complete the "Life Dreams" quest at level 24, you will be able to add a personality.  Note:  Once you choose a name for your Sim, you cannot change it, so choose wisely.
2. Shake hands with a dog (5 seconds):  You will see a dog in your yard, tap on it and select the "shake hands" option. 
3. Make the dog dig for treasure:  Just keep an eye on your dog.  Dogs regularly dig up treasures (simoleons and occasional LP).  When you see the "shovel" icon pop up over your dog's head tap on it and he will uncover the treasure. 
4. Buy a toilet:  To buy items, you will go to your home store while you are at a house, which is represented by the "chair" icon.  Tap on it and the bathroom tab of the furniture category opens up.  At this point, you can only afford a 1-star toilet.  Tap on the toilet and it will be placed in your house.  Drag it into position and you can change the direction that it is facing by tapping on the gray "rotate" icon.  Once you have it in the desired location, tap the checkmark to add it.  Use the "red" x icon to delete an item if you change your mind about adding it or to sell it for 10% of its value if you already have purchased it.
5. Use the toilet:  Tap on the toilet and select the "use toilet" option. (15 seconds for 1-star toilet)
6. At this point, the "Sims Have Needs" chart pops up on your screen.  It explains the Sims' 6 basic needs and that inspired Sims earn more XP.  The 6 needs are hunger, bladder, energy, hygiene, social and fun.  Review the chart
7. Wash hands in sink (15 seconds for 1-star sink):  Your house already has a sink and washing hands fulfills your hygiene need.  Tap on the sink and select the "wash hands" option.
8. Grow some bell peppers (30 seconds and fulfills fun need):  To garden, you need to have a garden patch, which you can purchase from the home store's outdoor section, "flowers, trees, plants" tab for $20.  Buy the garden patch and place it in your yard. Note: if the item you are placing flashes red, you cannot place it in that spot, continue moving it until it stops flashing red. Since it is an outdoors item, it needs to be placed outside, but within the white gridlines that appear when you are placing items.  Once your garden patch is successfully placed, tap on it and select the "bell peppers".  Once you are done growing the peppers, tap on the peppers' icons to collect your money and XP.
9. Buy a stereo:  You will find the stereos under the "electronics" tab of the "furniture" section of your home store.  Tap on the home store, tap on the furniture section, and then tap on the electronics tab.  Scroll through the stereos and select the one you want.  I recommend buying the cheapest stereo to conserve your money. Eventually, you will want to upgrade your 1-star purchases to 3-star items, because you complete tasks faster with higher-quality items, but initially, stick with low-end purchases or you will run out of money.
10. Add a Sim:  You get to add your second Sim.  To add a Sim, you need an empty house, so first you will need to build a house.  You will need to go to the town map. To do so, click on the icon of the buildings, which is next to the home store icon.  Now, you will see all of the available lots for building.  Currently, you have access to standard lots.  Tap on an icon of a blue house and pick the type of house you want to build.  At this point, you can build an "unfurnished studio" for free.  Tap on this option and it will take 5 minutes to build it.  Once the house is finished, you will get a pop-up, "A new house is finished".  The finished house's icon has turned green and is flashing.  Tap on the icon and select the "add a Sim" option.  Now, add your Sim like you did in step 1.  Note:  I find it helpful to keep an even number of female and male Sims, so you may want to do so as well. 
11. Spend $600 on walls and floors:  Floors and walls tabs can be found in the "house" section of the home store.  Tap on the home store icon and the game will take you to the floors tab of the "house" section.  Choose your flooring.  The price listed is the price per square, so the total cost will vary depending on the size of the room.  Tap on the flooring you like and then tap the room where you want to place it.  A total cost will appear.  If you want to keep this flooring, tap the checkmark, if you want to try another kind, tap the red x. Note:  You need to spend a total of $600, so if you spend $200 on flooring for your first room, you will need to spend an additional $400 on walls and flooring in other rooms.  I recommend keeping a tally of how much you are spending and to try to keep the cost as close to $600 as possible.  If you are unable to add flooring and walls to all the rooms, just leave them unfinished at this time.  You can finish them later when you have more money.
12. Choose a fridge from the home store:  You will find the refrigerators under the "kitchen appliance" tab in the furniture section of the home store.  At this point, I recommend adding the cheapest fridge, which has a 1-star rating for $100.  There is still plenty you need to buy to complete the tutorial and conserving your money is key.
13. Choose a shower:  The showers can be found under the "bathroom" tab in the furniture section of the home store.  Tap on the home store, tap on the "furniture" section, and tap on the "bathroom tab".  Select the cheapest shower (1-star for $100) and place it in your bathroom.
14. Choose a lounge:  You will need to add a couch, which is under the "living room" tab in the furniture section of the home store.  Buy the cheapest 1-star couch for $150.
15. Choose a TV:  The TVs are under the electronics tab of the furniture section in the home store.  Pick the cheapest 1-star TV, which is $50.
16. Add or expand a room:  The bigger the room or the larger the expansion, the greater the cost.  At this point, I recommend expanding an already existing room by moving a short wall out one set of blocks.  To do so, tap on the home store and tap on the "house" section.  When in the house section, you can change or add rooms.  Simply drag a yellow wall, which are the moveable ones, out to make the room bigger (or in, when you want to make it smaller).  The cost of the expansion will be displayed.  Tap the checkmark to accept the change, or tap the x to redo it.  I expanded the short wall of a bathroom for a cost of $145.
17. Choose a bed:  The beds can be found under the "bedroom" tab of the furniture section of the home store.  Tap on the home store, tap on the furniture section, and tap on the bedroom tab.  Select the cheapest 1-star bed for $600.
18. Use Sim Tracker:  The Sim Tracker helps you keep track of your Sims tasks, hobbies, relationships, careers, life dreams (future), and age controller (future).  To open the Sim Tracker, tap on the folder icon (on the left of your screen for Android users).  Review the tutorial information displayed and tap continue.  In summary, tap on the Sim's portrait to go to that Sim, tap the house icon to send your Sim home, tap on the whistle icon to call a Sim to you.  Tap on your first Sim's picture.
19. Make a Sim be funny:  Being funny is a relationship option.  So, open your Sim tracker and call your second Sim to you by tapping on the whistle.  Note: If your second Sim is busy doing a task, you cannot call him over.  You will need to go to that Sim and complete his task first.  Once your Sims are together, tap on the second Sim (the one without the plumbob) and select the "Be Funny" option (10 seconds).  Your Sims are on their way to becoming friends.
20. Get two Sims acquainted:  Being acquainted is the first relationship status on the "friend" path.  Simply keep having your Sims "be funny" to one another until your relationship bar fills and you become acquaintances.  You can also select the "be nice" option for 1 minute to accomplish this goal.
21. Inspire your Sims:  To inspire your Sims you need to satisfy their 6 needs.  Here are the ways you can do so, with the objects you have currently available in your house:  for energy - tap on a couch and select the "daydream" option (1 min, 30 sec for 2-star couch); for bladder - tap on the toilet and select the "use toilet" option (15 seconds for 1-star toilet); for hygiene - tap on the sink and select the "wash hands" option (15 seconds for 1-star sink); for fun - tap on a garden patch and grow bell peppers (30 seconds); for social - tap on your second Sim and select the "be funny" option (10 seconds); and for hunger - tap on the fridge and select the "turbo snack" option (20 seconds with 2-star fridge).
22. Have 2 Sims garden:  To complete this task, you will need both your Sims gardening at the same time.  If you have only one garden patch, you will need to buy a second one, do so (see step 8).  Tap on the first garden patch and select "bell peppers".  Your first Sim will begin gardening. Now, the plumbob will be over your second Sim.  Tap on the second garden patch and select "bell peppers".  Once your second Sim starts gardening, you will get a pop-up showing that you completed the task.
23. Collect revenue on town map:  You will regularly earn revenue from your homes and businesses on your town map.  You will see a flashing money icon over your "building" icon that takes you to the town map.  Tap on this icon.  You will see the money icon flashing over your two houses.  Collect the money by tapping on it.  In addition, you will see a counter over each building showing you when the next opportunity to collect revenue from that property will be.  Also, at this point you can start visiting your party boat to collect daily prizes. The party boat is in the river to the right of your first house. Tap in the "gift" icon over the boat and you will be able collect gifts depending on how many neighbor's you have.  See episodes 1 and 2 of this blog series for more information about the party boat. 
24. Check your mailbox:  In the front yard of every house is a mailbox.  You will receive daily rewards in your mailbox, see keep your eyes open for the "envelope" icon.  Tap the icon and your daily reward amount will appear on the screen.  The higher your town value, the greater your reward.  My first reward was $73.
25. Have a power snooze (4 minutes for a 2-star bed):  Tap on a bed and select the "power snooze" option.
26. Have a turbo snack from the fridge (20 second for 2-star fridge):  Tap on the fridge and select the "turbo snack" option.
27. Add a Sim to town:  Time to add your third Sim, which means adding your third house if you haven't done so already.  Go to the town map by tapping on the "building" icon.  Once on the town map, tap on the blue icon of the house you wish to build and pick the house you want.  We are still in a conserve money mindset, so I recommend building the "unfurnished studio" for $500.  It will take 30 minutes to build.  While you are building this house, I recommend having your Sims planting carrots (unlocked at level 2) for 5 minutes at a time and collecting money and XP.  You'll need it.  Once the house is complete, tap on the flashing green icon and select the "add a Sim" option, customize your Sim, and add your Sim to the town.
28. Use a cupcake to inspire a Sim:  The "Cupcake Explanation Chart" pop-ups on the screen and it explains the purpose of the cupcakes, which instantly inspire your Sims, but for a cost.  The game will give you 5 LP to use on a cupcake.  Tap on the green "cupcake" icon on the Sim's status bar (on the bottom, left of your screen for Android users). Then, tap on "use" to instantly inspire your Sim.  Note: I recommend never using cupcakes during normal game play.  They use up your LP and you will find out that you can never have enough LP.
29. Build a workplace:  The workplaces for your Sims are scattered around the town map.  The first one will cost $500 to build and will take 1 hour.  Tapping on the flashing icon over the workplace will let you know what kind of workplace it is, the starting salary, and the daily work hours.  For the first workplace, I recommend building one where you will be available to send your Sim to work every day. Once you pick your workplace, start construction.  When it is finished, tap on the flashing icon to complete it.
30. Get 1 Sim a job:  Open the Sim Tracker folder and select the "briefcase" tab.  Tap "unemployed" on the Sim of your choice and a list of the careers will open.  All of them will be grayed out with the exception of the career for the workplace you built.  Choose the available career by tapping, "Accept this job".
31. Make 2 Sims friends:  You can use your first two Sims, who are already acquaintances if they are available.  Tap on second Sim and select positive relationship interactions, like "hand shake", "be nice" and "be funny", until they become friends.  
32. Use the home store to resize/add room:  At this point, I would make a room a little bigger to conserve money.  See step 16 for instructions.
33. Buy a lamp:  Tap home store icon, tap furniture section and tap the light bulb tab, representing lighting.  I recommend buying a cheap lamp (either the table lamp for $200 or the floor lamp for $250).  Make your selection, position it in your house, and tap the checkmark when finished.
34. Get 4 Sims for party:  At this point, you may only have 3 Sims, so it is time to build another house.  Again, I would build the cheapest house. This time an unfurnished studio costs $1,000 and takes 1 hour to build.  While your house is building, you can have your Sims planting repeatedly to make more money.  When your house is finished, tap the green house icon, select "add Sim", customize your Sim and add them to the town.  Then, call all 4 of your Sims to one house by opening the Sim Tracker and tapping the whistle icon to bring all of your Sims together.
35. Buy a 2-star radio:  Tap on the home store, tap on the furniture section, and tap on the electronics tab.  Select the cheapest 2-star radio ($1,500), place it in your house, and tap the checkmark when finished.
36. Make 4 Sims dance to the radio (2 minutes with 2-star radio):  Tap on the radio and select one of the 2-minute options, such as "pop".  Your first Sim will start dancing.  Tap on the radio 3 more times, each time selecting "join in".  Once all 4 of your Sims are dancing, you will get a pop-up showing that you completed the task.
37. Build a business (2 hours/$500):  Tap on one of the available businesses and select the "build" option.  It will cost $500 and will take 2 hours.  Some of the businesses will not be available until higher levels.  I recommend building the "Promotions R Us" store, so that you can start the "fashion design" hobby.  This store is to the right of the pet store on the town map.  Once you complete the store, I recommend buying a fashion design table, placing it in a house, and start designing fashion.  See step 65 for details. Note:  At this point, I am on level 6 and I start the "Love Is In the Air" quest, which is done simultaneously with the tutorial tasks.  My next blog will provide you with a step-by-step guide to the new quest.
38. Buy a stove:  Open the home store, tap on the furniture section, and tap on the appliance tab.  Pick a stove.  I recommend buying the cheapest one since cook times are the same for all stoves, regardless of the price.
39. Practice baking (1 minute):  Tap on your stove and a list opens of available baking items.  You will unlock additional items as you reach new levels.  Tap on cookies.  Once your cookies are done, tap on the cookie icon over the stove to collect your money and XP from baking.
40. Buy a coffee machine:  Again, be conservative with your money.  If you can afford it, the 2-star coffee machine is a good buy, since you will utilize the machine frequently.
41. Bake a second batch of treats (1 minute):  Tap on the stove and select cookies.
42. Buy a coffee table:  Open the home store, tap on the furniture section, and tap on the living room tab.  I recommend buying the cheapest coffee table for $200.
43. Buy 2 lounge chairs:  Lounge chairs are 1-seat chairs that go with a couch and love seat.  Open the home store, tap on the furniture section, and tap on the living room tab.  The cheapest chairs are $80 each, buy 2 of them.  
44. Bake final batch of treats (1 minute):  Tap on the stove and select cookies.
45. Get 5 Sims in one house:  If you haven't done so yet, you will want to build a fifth house to add a fifth Sim.  Tap on an available house, select unfurnished studio for $2,000 and it will take 2 hours to build.  Once the house is complete, tap on the now green house icon, and select the "add Sim" option.  Create your Sim.  Then, using Sim Tracker, call 4 more Sims to your house.
46. Have 4 Sims gardening (30 seconds):  This task is easiest to accomplish if you have 4 garden patches at the same house.  Add garden patches until you have four by tapping on the home store, tapping the outdoors section and tapping on the plants, trees and flowers tab.  Buy the patches for $20 each and place them in your yard.  Tap on the patch and select bell peppers.  Repeat 3 more times.  Note:  All Sims need to be doing this at the same time, so make sure you have all of them on the task before your first Sim finishes it.
47. Build 2 workplaces (4 hours & costs $600):  The first workplace you built counts towards this goal, so you only have to build one more workplace at this point.  Tap on the workplace of your choice, and select "build".  When it is completed, you will get a pop-up to inform you that it is ready.
48. Make 2 Sims good friends (time varies):  If two of your Sims are already good friends, then this task will complete automatically.  If not, I recommend using the Sims you used in Step 31 (make 2 Sims friends) and have them become good friends, which is the next friendship level.  Choose, the "high five", "be nice" and "be funny" options until they are good friends.
49. Buy a TV:  Open your home store, tap on the furniture section, and tap on the electronics tab.  Pick your TV.  At this point, I selected a 2-star TV for $1,000.
50. Buy a phone:  Open your home store, tap on the furniture section, and tap on the electronics tab.  Pick your phone and place it on the wall.  At this point, I selected a 2-star phone for $350.  You still want to be conservative with your money.
51. Call a friend (3 minutes with 3-star phone): Tap on your phone, and select the "call a friend" option. 
52. Get 3 Sims in one house:  Open your "Sim Tracker" folder and tap on the whistle to call over available Sims.  If your Sims are busy on a task, you will have to complete the task before you can bring them to another location.
53. Buy a couch: Open your home store, tap on the furniture section, and tap on the living room tab.  Pick your couch.  I selected the cheapest couch for $150.
54. Get 3 Sims to watch a show (20 minutes with a 2-star TV):  Tap on a TV, and select the "watch show" option.  Once your first Sim is watching the show, tap on the TV two more times and select the "join in" option.
55. Make a double shot of coffee (45 seconds with a 2-star machine):  Tap on your coffee machine and select the "double shot of coffee" option.  Note:  If you see footprints over your Sim's head, it means that they cannot access the coffee machine.  It needs to face a certain way for the Sim to use.  Simply, open your home store and tap the furniture tab and then tap on your coffee machine.  Tap on the gray circle with the arrows to rotate it.  Keep rotating it until it works.  Also, you cannot access items that are placed in the corner of a countertop, so make sure your coffee machine is on the end of the counter or on a table.
56. Get 3 Sims to watch a movie (1 hour, 45 minutes with a 2-star TV):  Tap on a TV and select the "watch movie" option.  Tap on it 2 more times and select the "join in" option.  Note: As soon as the 3rd Sim joins in, you will get a pop-up showing that you completed the task.  At this point, there is no need to have your Sims finish watching the TV show.  Tap on each Sim, and tap on the red x to cancel the action. 
57. Be rude to another Sim (10 seconds):  Tap on a second Sim and select the "be rude" option.
58. Have a romantic relationship with a Sim:  Tap on a second Sim and select the "dance" or "be romantic" option, until your relationship level is "budding romance".  If you already have two Sims in a romantic relationship, this task will complete automatically.
59. Make 2 engaged Sims move in together:  If you don't already have 2 engaged Sims, you will have to get them engaged.  Have two Sims build their romance by selecting the romance options when they interact.  They will have to have a budding romance, date, and be partners.  Once their partners meter is filled, you will see an option to "get engaged".  Tap on "get engaged" and select your ring.  I recommend getting the most expensive ring, because the cheaper the ring, the more likely they will say "no".  Once they are engaged, tap on the fiancé of the Sim you are controlling and select the "move in" option.  Note: To move in a Sim, you have to be at the house where you want them to live.  Also, if you already did this task as part of the "Love is in the Air" quest available at level 6, the game will automatically skip this task.
60. Visit the party boat:  Tap on the party boat from the town map or tap on the globe icon when you are at a house and you will go to the party boat.  If you have already visited the party boat, this task will automatically complete.
61. Visit the salon on the town map:  The salon is south of the park and to the left of the pet store.  Tap on the salon icon to enter it.  You can purchase new hairstyles, makeup, tattoos and jewelry, but I recommend not spending any money yet.  To exit the salon, tap on the town icon and you will go back to the town map.
62. Purchase a basic home pack from the online store:  When you are at a house, tap on the purple shopping cart icon. You will get a pop-up "connecting to store".  The store is where you can spend real money to buy LP, SP, simoleons, and specialty packs and items.  The "basic pack" is free, tap on it and the items will be placed in the inventory section of your home store.
63. Place the new lamp in a house:  One of the items in the basic pack is a lamp.  Tap on the home store, tap on the furniture section, and tap on the lighting section.  Choose the lamp and place it in one of your homes.
64. Put an item into your inventory:  Open your home store, and tap on the furniture, outdoors or inventory section.  Once in one of these sections, you can move your furniture, rotate their positions, sell them, or put them in your inventory for later use.  Tap on any item, and select the suitcase, which represents the inventory.  Your item will now be in your inventory.
65. Design clothing (10 minutes):  If you haven't already done so, build your Promotions R Us store and once it is completed, tap on the store icon, to buy your fashion studio.  The fashion studio costs $2500.  Once you buy it, it will be in your inventory under the hobbies tab.  Go to the house where you want to place your studio.  Open your home store, tap on the inventory section, and tap on the hobbies tab.  Select the fashion studio and place it in your house.  Tap on the fashion studio and select the "design fashion" option.
66. Use a wardrobe to browse a Sims clothes:  A wardrobe is any clothes dresser or clothes cabinet.  There is one in the house the game starts you with.  Tap on the wardrobe and you can choose to change your Sims' clothes or you can leave them the same.  To exit, tap on the green checkmark.
67. Buy a progressive TV:  It is a 2-star TV and a tabletop TV.  If you bought this TV earlier, the task will automatically complete.
68. Visit the mystery box shop:  At this point, you have unlocked the weekly quest.  You will earn keys each week when you complete the assigned tasks.  Once you earn the keys, you can buy boxes filled with goodies from the "mystery box shop".  To visit the shop, tap on the flashing box wrapped like a present.

Congratulations!  You have completed all of the tutorial tasks.  You are well on your way to becoming an expert Simmer!