The Romeo & Juliette Story

(Year 235, Summer) You probably heard about this couple and their romance. But do you actually know how the story goes? Why they ran away, where they went - and not the least - why did they return to the neighborhood they once escaped from to protect their true love? It's time for an update!

Juliette (Capp) Monty (58) and Romeo Monty (58) arranged a chat session with us in their lovely home at Bellacorde, region Tredony. Back then, this house was the home of House de Monty, while Juliette grew up not so far away.

- House de Monty is just a bit more than a century old, not as old as House de Capp, and we never held a barony, Romeo explains. - My older brother Mercutio was raised to lead the House into the future. Our father was long gone, so Mr Mercutio actually took over at the young age of 16, probably assisted by our mother.

WORLD party claiming changes

(Year 235, Spring) For the first time in history, the new WORLD party holds a seat at People Chamber. They control only 1 out of 21 votes, meaning the impact might not be enormous, but it is a start. The party's Leader, Roger Mistfield (70) is a member of Ministry of Culture & Entertainment, but that doesn't seem to stop him from getting involved in all kinds of fields.

Yesterday he hold a brief pressmeeting in the Council House's press area to inform about where the WORLD party is currently trying to make a change.

Effects of the Year 235 Election

(Year 235, Spring) These days all 4 political parties arranges their annual party get togethers. That's where they discuss their future politics, and this year they obviously take a step back evaluating the election  results, as well. The election was won by the RIGHT party (9 People Chamber seats). LEFT party also won 9 seats, but RIGHT formed an alliance with MIDDLE party (1 seat) and Church of Similius (1 seat), and by this got 11 seats whic h is enough to win the Prime Minister an the Cabinet.

Anyways, the resilts of any election will impact the many regions, so let's take a look on how this recent election will actually hit residents of Mazaloom!

Yellow Pages getting an Upgrade

(Year 235, Spring) Our Yellow Pages has been around for years, and with a growing number of companies and organizations, last year this feature was further developed. Each registered company has now got their own page with even more detailed information.

While the upgrade was introduced last year, it is the newly elected Minister of Trades & Taxes, Henrik Kraft, who will stay in charge of the final steps.

Year 235 Election - TV Special

(Year 235, Spring) Voting is closing and in a few we will get the Year 235 Election results! This time the  TV special is hosted by Paulo Caliente and Cassandre (Goth) Mux-Raisser.

This time 4 political parties fought over the 20 seats at People Chamber, making it harder than ever to predict a winner. So, who is our next Prime Minister?

Full TV special is below (14 minutes). Be warned - it's all a bit on the nerdy side...

A detailed blog article will follow shortly, but in order to avoid video spoilers, you'll get a couple days to watch the TV special first. 

Mazaloom NEWS - Year 234

(Year 234, Winter) Finally! Year 234 - most likely the longest lasting year ever - now belongs to the past! It means there is a fresh Mazaloom NEWS video up, covering a lot of what took place in Mazaloom kingdom.

This time the video format is slightly adjusted, but Paulo Caliente is still your host. It also gets easier editing the project on a new editor, after taking some time to learn the basic features. This video is the first to be saved in the format that might be the very best option for the Youtube channel.

The 4 Political Parties - What if they Win the Election?

(Year 234, Winter) While Year 234 feels like the longest lasting year ever, Winter will soon be gone and on 1st day of Spring we'll see the five years election for People Chamber, as well as district Mayors and regional Councilors! This election has been long awaited as the routine is slightly adjusted. For the first time four different parties will fight over the Mayor and Councilor positions and 22 seats of the chamber, but how are the parties different? What happens if the monarchy unfriendly party wins? Or if the green environment enthusiasts are to fill the Cabinet? What changes will possibly come our way?

RIGHT party sails up as the favorite to win the upcoming election. Here is the core group debating their strategy. Mr Charloman C. Dougham (PM candidate), C ato Wugger (hidden), Henrik Kraft, Lord Bennet Ross, and Emma R. Golden.

These questions might be even more actual this time, because it feels like everything will be new! This is of course not true. Hood Contacts will no longer be elected, but instead, we'll have the district Mayors as the most local position. People Chamber will have 22 seats instead of 21, and just 1 seat will be reserved Church of Similius, representing our stately religion (used to be 2 seats). None of these are seen as big changes, though.

Maz Bank reporting Successful Transfer

(Year 234, Winter) This Winter most Mazaloom citizens chose to move their financial deposits and loans from SimNation's stately bank Sim City First Trust Bank, to the new national bank serving our kingdom, Maz Bank. Now the latter reports that the transfer was successful, but that their full financial capacity was taken.

Mr Robert Sutton is CEO at Maz Babk, Inc.

Banks are basically companies running their profittable business, but when they are stately supported and proven to stay for years to come, they might obtain a touch of institution. SCFTB is such an institution for SimNation, founded nearly a century ago. Maz Bank, on the other hand is brand new, although breaking off from SCFTB's branch in Mazaloom. The total amount of Simoleons going through this sysem is surprisingly big numbers!

Nobility Reform: Dynasties

(Year 234, Winter) This morning the Royal Palace Office (RPO), on behalf of the Royal Chamber, announced upcoming adjustments to the set of rules for Houses of Aristocracy. Mazaloom kingdom had a well developed system for generations. This will continue, but as the global world adjusts to various expansions, the nations of Snorthia, Sea and Mazaloom have debated to find a common base for their aristocratic structures. This means, in all three nations some fine tuning will take place this coming Spring.

His Royal Majesty King Tarriot of Mazaloom is head of the Royal Chamber.

Before you read on - in all three nations the traditional culture will stand strong. While we will still have our national uniqueness, there are some fields where we can come up with common solutions. This should be possible for both the Dynasty system and Nobility (career). The idea is that if the three nations share bits of their aristocratic structure, it will be easier for all to relate, accross borders.

One reason for the adjustments is the implementation of Dynasties. This old community form with origin in the Empire of Snorthia, never established in the kingdoms of Mazaloom and Sea. However, while the main structure from Snorthia will now be used by all, there might be minor influences going the other way - such as Mazaloom's Houses having a focus skill, which will now be adapted by Snorthian dynasties, too.

So, what is new?

Prime Minister House Opened

(Year 234, Winter) Mazaloom kingdom got its own Prime Minister House! It was debated a couple years ago, and now the building is ready, just in time for the upcoming election.

Current Prime Minister, Mr Wilder, is too old for re-election, and he will not move in. But our future PM will stay here for as long as holding the PM position. The building is not exactly a castle, but provides good standard facilities for a Prime Minister's many working tasks, like meetings and receptions, and upstairs there is enough space for a small family to reside. Private needs will vary from period to period, and because most top politicians are quite old, children might have left the nest already.

This week there was a formal opening of Prime Minister House, that is located at Willow Field in Gloomville (Region Gloom).

Free Download: 12 new flag banner designs

It's been a while since I shared some CC. In my game there are numerous companies and organizations, and quite a few of them have a logo. When they are involved with an event or sell something at a market, it's quite useful to have a flag banner with their print on. It helps creating a good setting for your event.

You probably don't use those very same logos in your game, but as some of these banner prints are rather generic, and text is written in Simlish, anyway, I though maybe others would benefit from these designs as well. Honey produce, diving venue/contest, dancing ore a gym is just a few of the options.

Church of Similius Winter Meeting

(Year 234, Winter) This week the board of Church of Similius gathered for their annual Winter meeting. It traditionally takes place in High Priest's ofice at the Similius Cathedral in Windenburg. On the agenda were topics not yet leaked to the press, but some decissions were announced.

Left to right: Priest Antonius Dipperwell (66), Priest Fartain Booch (73), High Priest Ansgar Profedius (70), Priest Benjamin Rosa (67), Priest Ezais Porportoza (61).

According to Church of Similius' webpage, the bigger topics involved the change to their People Chamber seat, that Nestor of Similius Monastery shall no longe access the Winter meetings, and a few rules affecting female household members.

Trusts Restructured

(Year 234, Winter) This Fall People Chamber debated new restrictions to private trusts, initiated by Ministry of Trades & Taxes. Existing trust owners involve the royal House of Luxe-Hamper, as well as quite a few noble Houses. According to the revised restrictions, some of the latter will now lose their right to organize their possessions in a Trust.

Minister Fanny Silverbone, Ministry of Trades & Taxes. Here from the LEFT party's office at Council House.

Most trusts are very old and were originally introduced to serve a heritage mission: It was a logical way to secure that the new Head of House would keep the essential possessions without needing to buy out siblings and other heirs. To many main heirs this could only be done by taking up big loans or splitting up ownership. Trusts were originally invented by the royal House and before Year 50 it was common with the wealthiest Houses of aristocracy. Each trust functions like a small company with a Board of 3 persons, lead by Head of House with a double vote. The two other core members normally represent other family branches in order to protect the values on behalf of future generations.

Election - Predictions

(Year 234, Winter) As soon as the 4 political parties released their candidates, the predictions started to flood the media and online communities. Mazaloom's election routine, with its later adjustments, makes it possible to see some possible patterns. But can we predict the result? Not at all!

Sabrina Grossing has co-hosted several Election TV Specials for Simmerville Studio over the years.

SabrinaGrossing (84) is better qualified than most predictors. She is now retired, but previously she co-hosted many TV-reports covering our 5 years elections.

Royal Palace Staff - Adjustments and Job openings

(Year 234, Fall) Royal Palace Office (RPO) announces adjustments to their key staff. This happens regularly, but this time several job titles were modified. A chart showing the key functions was printed to decorate central spots in the staff sections of all royal estates. Palace Chief Attendant Ms Maiden said on this week's Monday press meeting, that RPO could not be prouder of their staff. Although some key functions rank higher due to level of responsibility and skill requirement, the daily efforts depend on every single employee.

The big news is that RPO will hire 2 more members of their staff, a 2nd Private Maid, who will work closely with the Crown Princess (23) - a position that might eventually qualify for the future Monarch's Private Attendant if you stay around long enough. The other position might seem less glamorous, but comes with plenty of possibilities for future promotions; 2nd Cook at the palace.

Maz Bank is coming

(Year 234, Fall) Kingdom of Mazaloom now gets its first national bank: Maz Bank. In the past, Sim City First Trust Bank (SimNation) operated our nation, with offices in most regions. But now their organization covering Mazaloom has been separated from the main consern, renamed and sold. Maz Bank is reality!

This means that changes are coming to residents having a bank account with Sim City First Trust Bank, but also those owning shares in the Sim City bank. Both bank accounts and ownership will be transferred to the new bank, Maz Bank. All affected were already informed and must take action to avoid the move.

Mr Robert Sutton (59) has been the CEO of Sim City First Trust Bank's affairs in Mazaloom up to now. He served the Magnolia Promenade office for two decades, but will now be CEO of Maz Bank instead. The office will be renamed, but most customers will not notice many changes beyond the new logo.

Who were the Best Payed Artists?

(Year 234, Fall) Now that we finally got a national Top 10 list for music albums, in addition to similar lists for film & TV and books, we might wonder what celebrity made the better bonus last year? The lists have multiple purposes. Yes, they list the most suiccessful releases of Year 233, but they are also used to pay out bonuses to those involved with the productions.

Pay checques are not always sparkling in the entertainment industry, but being involved with a successful production might assure a little exra. And it turns out that some celebrities actually got a lot of that little extra!

Mazaloom Media

(Year 234, Fall) Some residents are more into marketing than others. While most of us are happy with as little publicity as possible, most Movie stars, Musicians and Authors want their face on the wall to sell their name and perhaps also their latest product. So where do they go to arrange this extra marketing?

A company named Mazaloom Media has moved into the 2nd story of Gallery Ex-Po in Newcrest. There their Manager, Mrs Cassandra G. Mux-Raisser, has her office, a creative lab, and not to forget the show rooms where customers can explore already created designs, as well as find some inspiration.

Cassandra is rather new in her job, but she already enjoys her new role. She likes the challenge of matching the different celebrities with the different products and designs. Judith Ward is a costumer, and so is singer Olla Jones. But there are many more, including the Royal Palace Office.

Getaways

(Year 234, Summer) This Spring, our Ministery of Science & Education has debated how to implement getaways with the national educational program. But that is not all, our politicians also suggests ways to better encourage the establishing of local custom venues all over Mazaloom. Below there is a list of the 8 unique getaways that will now get stately support.

Today the best known getaways are located in the south. Gibbi Point is well known for their venues.  With the new political initiative, this will now change. Minister of Science & Education, Emma R. Golden (64, RIGHT party), explains why and how this is done.

New graves index

(Year 234, Summer) Church of Similius cordinates all of Mazaloom's graveyards, and today they made their grave index public to all. Wonder what funerals you missed recently? Or did you forget what graveyard to visit to tend your greatgranduncles grave?

A funeral service for Eleanor Elderberry, Britechester, took place this week.

The public index is still in beta, but except from a few images not showing and some text details that might be moved or adjusted in other ways, the index is fully operational. It is used by the five Undertakes to keep track on new graves and what temporary grave deco that needs attention.