The Sims Series
Whenever we talk about video games, people/gamers are reluctant in playing simulation games. Many people prefer games like League of Legends, Skyrim and many FPS games. But there is one simulation game that can help you fall in love with the simulation genre. The game series is called “The Sims”.
In playing simulation games, “The Sims” frequently comes to our mind. The premise of the game involves players developing simulated characters and controlling and manipulating their life. The Sims pretty much epitomize the life simulation genre and it pretty much takes playing house to the ultimate level. The main series of the game includes “The Sims”, the sequels “The Sims 2”, “The Sims 3” and “The Sims 4.
The Sims
This is where it all started, The Sims is about creating, managing, and controlling the lives of virtual people called “sims”. This game is isometric perspective with 2D objects and some 3D objects .The inner structure of the game is actually an agent based artificial life program. The presentation of the game’s artificial intelligence is advanced, and the Sims will respond to outside conditions independently, although often the player/controller’s intervention is necessary to keep them on the right track. The Sims technically has unlimited replay value, in that there is no way to win the game, and the player can play on indefinitely. It has been described as more like a toy than a game. The Sims’ actual gameplay is rather limited in some aspects like inconsistencies or by actual restrictions placed on your actions. But to the game’s credit, the most objectionable thing about these occasional limits is how downright they contrast with the freedom you have to lead your Sims’ lives.
The Sims 2
The Sims 2, like The Sims before it, lets you create one or more “sims”. The game is now fully 3D. The significant additions in the game are the enhancements made to the sims and the ways they act. Sims now have some notable major new features (some of which are more important than others), like memories, customized appearances, genetics, aging, and the new aspiration/fear system. Memories are generated by important events that occur in sims’ lives, like getting married, having a child, or having a loved one pass away. Memories can affect your sims’ behavior and they can also be used to build out a highly customized neighborhood with its own background story and photo, though they don’t add much more to the basic game. It also features enhanced appearance editing tools that let you customize your sims’ clothing, hairstyle and hair color, and also let you make many adjustments to their facial features. Oddly, the editor doesn’t let you adjust your sims’ height or their build (beyond making them “normal” or “fat”), but it, along with the “body shop” utility, should let most players basically re-create whatever characters they want to from their favorite TV shows or movies. The game has now 6 life stages: baby, toddler, child, teen, adult, elder(the prequel has only 3 life stages). The game also lets you create aliens from outer space that you can marry off to humans. The Sims 2’s most significant gameplay addition, the aspiration/fear system, can actually help your sims stave off old age. This new game system gives your sims one of five aspirations from which to choose (in addition to their personalities, memories, and personal relationships), including building a family, earning money, seeking knowledge, experiencing romance, or being popular. These aspirations comes with four simpler goals that are displayed onscreen, as well as three basic “fears.” Each sim has an “aspiration meter” that fills up whenever you complete a goal and empties out whenever your sims’ worst fears are realized. These goals can be as immediate as throwing a party where everyone enjoys themselves, or as long term as eventually winning another sim over as a best friend or spouse. These fears can be comparably straightforward or long term, such as being rejected from trying to make a romantic advance or getting fired from work. The Sims 2 is one best sequels of all time because of the great significant additions to the game.
The Sims 3
The Sims 3 has the same game concept as its predecessors. The games’ most significant change is that the game is now open world. Aspirations are replaced with Lifetime Wishes and Lifetime Happiness Points. Wishes and promises are replaced with wants and fears. Sims 3 is more addictive than its predecessors mainly because of the new open world system.
The Sims 4
The games’ changes is that now lifespan, aging, and age duration can be customized in game options. Aspirations return: teens and older can choose one of ten aspirations, most of which have two or three variations that act like a Lifetime Wish. Children have four aspirations, with only one variation each. Toddlers don’t have aspirations. Whims and Goals replaced Wishes/Wants. Whims are short-term and may disappear or be cancelled by the player. Goals are linked to Aspiration and remain until they are fulfilled. All NPCs are now interactive. The Sims 4 feels less compared to even the vanilla version of The Sims 3, mainly because the open-world system is removed.
Overall, The Sims series is a very successful game. The franchise has sold nearly 200 million copies worldwide and it is one of the best-selling video games series of all time. I fell in love with the simulation genre because of this game.
