The Sims™ Spark’d is now live! Episode 1 premiered today, and we’re getting an inside scoop from the minds of Team Gnome. Be warned: there are spoilers ahead. If you missed the episode, you can catch it BuzzFeed Multiplayer on July 20!

During the Skill Challenge, Team Gnome won an advantage that ultimately led them to victory.

When judge Ravyon Owen tossed in a challenge twist that threw the players for a loop, Team Gnome was given the opportunity to choose not only their own neighborhood but their opponents’ neighborhoods as well. 

This gave Team Gnome the competitive edge that drove them to victory! We talked to Team Gnome to break down their win.

How advantageous was it for you to pick the neighborhoods as winners of the Skills Challenge?

Simproved: For us, it was very advantageous. We started with a very rural lot in Willow Creek and built it so it is a small Fortune Teller Wagon and lake and farm. So we could choose San Myshuno as the complete opposite for the "Rivalring family," who are metropolitan, urban yuppie Sims. So the setting of these two families was already quite distinct and oppositional.

EnglishSimmer: Extremely! It was fun to think about what the other teams would enjoy for their challenges.

Did the twist throw you off your strategy? What did you change from your original plan to move forward?

Simproved: No, it didn't. We knew right away what kind of Sims would fit and could select the perfect neighborhood.

EnglishSimmer: The twist definitely threw us off in the beginning because we already had our story set out so clearly. But luckily, we could just add a more in-depth backstory to the Sims we already had in mind, so we added a family that brought along a difficult decision and tension between the two families.

What was the thought process behind picking the neighborhoods for your team and for the other teams?

Simproved: Mainly Plumbella and The English Simmer knew what the other teams were working on. I haven't been that attentive. Since we didn't want to be mean or really hinder the others in their story-making, we all decided which neighborhood would fit best the narrative of the other teams. So Plumbella, in the end, picked the neighborhoods that would help the other teams as well. I am happy we were nice to them—maybe in the next challenge, we won't get that much of a big curveball from the others.

What is your favorite neighborhood in the game in general and why?

Simproved: Windenburg. I am German, and Windenburg hits close to home. I like how diverse it is. The modern town with the bayside is gorgeous, but I also love the old town and more rural forest areas of it.

Inspired by Team Gnome? Join the community Spark’d Challenge to share your creativity for a chance to be on a future season of Spark’d!

Want to relive the moment when Team Gnome made their key decisions? Watch Episode 1 on BuzzFeed Multiplayer starting July 20 at 8 a.m. PT! And make sure you keep up with Team Gnome and the other players to see who will be named the Season 1 winners of The Sims Spark’d. See you next episode!

Who do you think will win next week? Share your theories with your fellow players on The Sims Forums; learn more about the Spark’d show on our site; catch up with us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok; like us on Facebook; and subscribe to our YouTube channel. You can also sign up for The Sims 4 newsletter to get all the latest news as soon as it’s announced!