THE SIMS

 

 Bibliographic Information

Genre: Life Simulation

Name: The Sims, includes Sims 2, 3, and 4 as well as all the expansion packs

Publisher: Electronic Arts

Creator: Will Wright

Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Mac, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo DS, Xbox One, Game Cube, and on the phone.

First Day of Release: February 4,2000

Summary: The Sims is a life simulation video game. It can be played on various platforms including a computer, game console such as PlayStation or Xbox, and your phone. The object of the game is simply to live; there isn’t any way to really win or lose in this game. As technology has advanced, each series (which often has better graphics than the last) gives users more options for play mode and more realistic features to the sims that are created in the game. As the series progress, they each offer slightly different options. For example in Sim 3 the graphics as far as the facial characteristics of the sims aren’t nearly as advanced as Sims 4, but in Sims 3 social interactions are much more realistic such as cheating spouses gaining a bad reputation for their unfaithfulness. Also, Sims 3 gives users the ability to go to college and after graduating that particular sim is able to get certain jobs that are unavailable to those who didn’t go to college. Sims 1 and 2 aren’t that technologically advanced, and the sims don’t have too many distinct character traits yet. Users can create their own families, with specific traits and features, make them get a job, adopt a pet or child, fall in love, get married, divorced, achieve lifetime wants and more.

Critical Evaluation: As a sims user since 2000, I’d have to say overall this is a very good game. I can appreciate that the game provides so many realistic options for the sims to do and live their lives. My Dad used to joke that the sims can do just about everything except go to church, which I believe to be true. However, sometimes there will be very random unexplained glitches that affect the game in a negative way. One time every time I made a couple have a baby, only twins and triplets were born, and this went on for about two months. Another ongoing glitch that I have had while playing Sims 4 is that if I make a family and make them have a second generation, I can’t make another new family or else it will erase my second generation family, which I hate. Randomly sometimes the sims get stuck in one spot with an old action in their que that they completed right before the glitch. To fix that issue I have to just not save the game at that point because if I save it then it will stay stuck that way with the sim not responding to commands. I wish the creators or whoever was in charge would make more of an effort to fix these ongoing glitches.

Creator Information: Will Wright is a computer programmer and the co-founder of Maxis Software is known for his large role in the development of A-Life games. He has been developing games for a long time. Will developed the game Raid on Bungeling Bay in 1984. It was during that particular development, that he realized that he enjoyed developing games way more than actually playing them.

In 1987, Will and Jeff Braun cofounded Maxis and published the game SimCity. He was also instrumental in the development of the more updated versions of SimCity: SimCity 2000 and SimCity 3000. The idea behind the Sims was said to have come to him after his home was burned from a fire, and he had to start from scratch rebuilding his life and valuables. Maxis didn’t like the idea of the Sims, and refused to become a part of it. However, Maxis was taken over by Electronic Arts who were receptive to the idea and decided to take a risk on this game. Will wasn’t involved in the development of the Sims 2 or the other upgraded versions however he is given credit for his initial creation of the game.

https://sims.fandom.com/wiki/Will_Wright

  Genre- Life Simulation

Curriculum Ties: N/A

Book Talk ideas: N/A

Interest Age: 12 and older

Challenge Issues & Defense Preparation:

Challenge Issues: Mature Content

Rationale:

Product Reviews: https://www.amazon.com/Sims-4-PC-Mac/product-reviews/B00EFRN2IQ/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_show_all_btm?ie=UTF8&reviewerType=all_reviews

7 Reasons to Play Computer Games: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-mating-game/201603/7-reasons-play-computer-games

15 Surprising Benefits of Playing Video Games: http://mentalfloss.com/article/65008/15-surprising-benefits-playing-video-games

Sustainable Perspectives on Video Games: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTJUrJ44kew

Why Included: This game was a personal favorite for me growing up; I don’t think that I could have made it through my teen years without it. It is a great escape from the chaos of life to create different people and be able to control their interactions and watch them live. I would play for hours, and my friends would make fun of me all the time for it. However, when they came over my house then they wanted to play it for hours too. I’m sure teens today would still find this game both entertaining and fun. You get to explore your creative side as you create sims and their storylines.