"The Sims" 101

An Introduction

"The Sims" is simply a stroke of genius. In this game, you are responsible for creating, controling, and maintaining the life of a Sim, a computerized version of a person. The life of a Sim is not an easy one. They need to socialize, eat, work sleep, and of course have lots of fun. You'll build a home for your Sim family, and make sure they get a job, and make lots of friends. The possibilities are endless with this game. Many people have become "addicted" to this game. Control freaks will love this game. Those who never really played a simulation game before have fallen in love with the genre.

Who could resist a game that allows you to design a home, and then decorate it with any style of wallpaper, flooring, or furniture that you want. Watching the Sims interact with each other is humorous. And you'll feel sadness when your Sim dies in a fire or drowns in a pool. You can dress in your Sims in a variety of clothing, and keep them up all night if you desire so.

Since the release of "The Sims," Maxis has put out two expansion packs, and another is on its way. The first one is the Living Large Expansion Pack (Living It Up in Europe). This expansion pack includes new career tracks, objects (mostly castle and goth), and multiple neighborhoods. New non-player characters (NPCs) were also introduced. House Party is the second expansion pack. You guessed it, it's all about partying. House Party gives you the tools and resources to throw the biggest and greatest bash your Sims have ever seen. The pack includes lots of new objects, more NPCs players (caterer is one), easier method to changing clothes, and new body language for the Sims.

For those of you new to "The Sims," you are in for hours of playing enjoyment. There is more to The Sims than meets the eye. There are tons of fan sites out there, offering downloads, such as skins and objects, for you to use in your own game. There are groups out there dedicated to chatting and talking about "The Sims." You'll meet lots of great people in forums, groups, and newsgroups. Sim fans are special indeed.

This article is the first in a series of articles about "The Sims." Future articles will cover installation of "The Sims" and expansion pack, tips and hints, downloading help, programs you should have, and much more. Next time, I'll talk about installing the original and the expansion packs.

Related Links:

Newbies Guide to "The Sims"
"The Sims House Party" Expansion Pack Review
Fan Sites
Are you addicted to "The Sims?" Quiz
"The Sims" Shopping Guide