Game Design, Gamer Culture, PC
What Is So Great About The Sims?
One of my dear friends, who I am now gravely worried about, recently purchased The Sims 3. When he told me the “great news,” I simply responded by telling him that I was unaware that he became a woman, excuse the politically incorrect metaphor.
But really, what is so great about The Sims?
Besides, once you played the first Sims, you’ve essentially played them all.
Decorating rooms, going to work, eating, taking a relaxing restroom break…uhh these are unexciting things you do in real life, not things you do in a game.
Games are meant to entertain you and offer some sort of escape from the stresses of the real world. They are not there so you can make virtual characters whose lives you eventually become envious of.
The Sims is a phenomenon in gaming, a virtual parallel to the pet rock. The premises are the same. You live out a virtual life in a game, and you have a pet that does nothing at all.
Okay, so maybe the premise isn’t exactly the same, but they are both an entertaining idea just because they seem so idiotic. One can say all they want about the game, in the end anyone that plays the game is playing real life on a computer, not to mention a fantasy version of it.
This argument can also be made to several other games, specifically in the RPG genre, but at least in an RPG there are clearly defined and exciting goals to reach. What goal is there in the Sims? Getting a new pool? Getting a new refrigerator? These goals pale in comparison to hitting that extra level, or getting that next item, or defeating that final boss.
I mean progress in the game is measured by sitting and watching a little bar go up just so you can wake up your virtual bastard to send him back off to work. Then you eagerly await his return like a happy house dog and serve him dinner. Repeat 365 times and your character survives for the year.
Am I severely oversimplifying the game? Maybe. But I also the game is not designed to be complex or enriching. To make a game about life itself is arrogant. To play it is sad.
Will Wright, though, must be some sort of genius because he has made millions off of this series. Still, I’m not sure whether or not I should simply applaud Wright, or smother my face with my palms to mask my disgust at the fans of his game.
Maybe someone can enlighten me.
Tags: The Sims
[...] your pitchforks and lighters ready, The Sims series is under attack. GotGame posted an article of their view on The Sims series, asking how the game managed to become so [...]
What you’re describing certainly IS Sims 1. Sims 3, however, has incorporated RPG elements and is absolutely addicting. The game is now all about reaching goals and the next level (if you choose to play that way, and I do). So go see your friend, try his game, and only then come back and tell us what a crushing bore it is.
First, your metaphor was not only politically incorrect, it was rude and unnecessary. If you haven’t played The Sims 3 yourself you are in no position to critique it or the people who play it. There is no maybe about it, you are severely over simplifying the game, one which you clearly have not played. Someone who is as obviously closed minded as you are and ready to judge something he has never experienced and people he does not know should keep his single minded opinions to himself. As Nancy suggests, you should visit your friend give the game an objective try with an open mind and then form your opinion. Since you clearly have not done that, reading this article was a waste of time.
The sims 3 is for creative, open minded people.
Sounds like you haven’t eveb played the game yet.
Go to your friends house and arrange a play date.