|
 Often
folks turn to computer games for some much-needed escapism from
real world concerns. With The Sims, players immerse
themselves in a simulation that is not hugely unlike...the real
world! The key here, though, is that players take on the role of
director as they play a part in the orchestration of the lives of
miniature people-like Sims. This program is a most innovative simulation game based on
a rather, well, commonplace concept.
Players begin by creating families of
"Sims", build their
homes, then play a part in the direction (or misdirection) of
their lives. Players must define each gibberish-spouting Sim’s
personality by carefully weighting the given personality traits (including
such things as), choose their "skins", and then proceed
to build a home for their new family with a basic start-up pool of
funds. Making more money is crucial for survival, naturally, and though players won’t
ever get to peek into the workplace of their employed Sim, they’ll take
care of those who stay at home during their working Sim’s
absence. All of the mundane tasks of everyday living must be dealt
with – guiding Sims to bathe, go potty, prepare food, establish
friendships, watch TV, take out the garbage, go to bed, and the like. Sounds too close to
reality to be entertainment? Guess again. This simulation is oddly
compelling and quite engrossing. Watching
what players choose to do with their Sims is a psychologist's
field day – players can assume their role of director taking on a relatively passive role, or
actively work to pave the way for their Sims to thrive...or self-destruct.
Those players with a tendency to philosophize might enjoy
analyzing the parallels between human lives and those of The Sims
-- whether or not it was intended as a "sim"plistic and satirical
snapshot of our own lives -- reduced to a few simple formulas --
it can be fun to compare and contrast.
One particularly humanitarian kid
tester never once felt the need to experiment with his newfound
power by exploiting his Sims or havoc-wreaking. However, we can expect that most
will want to do at least a little damage. In the long run, though,
the greatest challenge lies in managing and maintaining success in
the lives of their virtual pets.
Controversial issues that earn this title a teen rating by the
ESRB include
the potential for Sims to die (and come back as ghosts), and to engage
in same-sex relationships. Another issue is the materialistic
theme of the game, as there is no doubt that the more things Sims
have, the happier they are – Spartan living simply won’t
do in the world of the Sims. You won't find a Sim living on bread
and water without watching him/her fall into depression. Sims' happiness is very dependent
upon the amount of "things" they’ve accumulated.
Pros:
- surprisingly engrossing
- some strategy required
- endless possibilities
and combinations
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Cons:
- some parents will find
themes questionable
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UPDATE 2003: This original
Sims title is now available in a super-value pack, The Sims: Double Deluxe,
which includes the original The Sims game,
The Sims Livin' Large expansion pack, and The Sims House Party
expansion pack.
| For Win/Mac |
By: Maxis |
Ages 4-7 |
Published: 2000 |
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