Sims Carnival: Making Intergalactic Toast a Reality

If you’re anything like me, then you’ve spent many sleepless nights pondering to yourself, “When will they ever make a video game about cats with laser beam eyes?” Sure, Halo’s okay, but I’m yearning for something with a little more substance. Well, all of you kindred spirits can rest easier now that I have discovered the wonders of Sims Carnival, which has pretty much allowed for all of my gaming dreams to come true, including (brace yourselves, people) “Lazer Cats.”

EA’s new brainchild allows for anyone, even people with no programming experience, to create their own video games. Contrary to what the name suggests, Sims Carnival bears little resemblance to a Sims game or even a carnival—aside from the fact that it has its occasional freak show. Overzealous game fanatics everywhere have been having a field day with this one. For some, it has tapped into a new vein of creativity; for others, this creative freedom has opened a floodgate of “wtf?”
The games range from adorable to deplorable. “Jellytris” makes me want to pet something cute and gelatinous, while “Gussie Granny Up” makes me wonder, “did they really have to go there?” There are certain games, like “My Vegetable Love,” that simply inspire a “huh?” in me, and there are others yet that ring a strangely familiar bell. Call it a hunch, but “Dance Dance Revolution” isn’t the most original title for a new Flash game when the sky’s the limit here. It’s more like “Dance Dance Revulsion,” if you ask me. Imitation might be the greatest form of flattery, but half-hearted imitation is a bit tacky.

With games like “Don’t Burn the Brulee” being made, I have become inspired to construct some fantastically silly games myself. The next time I have a spare moment, I fully intend on creating “Fling the Beef on the Taco,” “Space Antelope vs. Angry Unicorns,” and “Guns of Death.”

Online Flash games have had the reputation for being simple yet addictive, so it comes as no surprise that Sims Carnival follows suit. Many people do prefer the quick fixes that these casual games provide, and there are even people like me that are strangely entertained by their badness, in a similar way that one loves to laugh at the random videos on YouTube. The success of this venture so far proves that no matter how ridiculous, these homemade games seem to have their place in the gaming community, too, and I look forward to seeing how this will affect the future of online games.