The Simful Life

by TRISHA RAI

FROM ISSUE # 200 (August 2012) | IN THIS ISSUE
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One of the things that I shamelessly confess to besides being a Gleek and a Potter nerd is that I am a huge fan of The Sims 3. And everyone I know knows that I am obsessed. How could they not? I talk about The Sims 3 to an extent that I have actually been told to shut up many times. Without sounding like a loser, my life revolves around the game and I find it ironic that when I'm bored, I spend hours playing a game about, well, life.

For those who don't have a clue about the commotion Sims 3 has created since its launch in 2009, I would like to tell them it ranks third in the top 10 best-selling PC games (a few notches above Diablo III and even World of Warcraft so beat that). Moreover, it managed to sell 1.4 million copies in just its first week. The Sims 3 was preceded by Sims 2, the best-selling computer game till date. To not know about the Sims series is an insult to the intelligent minds who created the game and of course, us, the Simmers.

ow the big question is, how do you play Sims 3? Don't worry, there is no "fire in the hole!" and you don't have to steal cars either. Does that mean it is a 'girly' game? Of course, not. It's not as high-action as Call of Duty, Uncharted or Max Payne, but there are still millions of male fans on Sims 3 Facebook page and on forums dedicated to the game.

Sims 3 is a strategic life simulation game, which simply means, that with a click of a mouse, a player has the power to live or control one or more virtual characters. Remember Tamagotchi? Although Sims 3 is built upon the same concept, it provides the best playing experience and the amazing graphics make the game very close to reality. In the beginning, one can create a customised Sim by altering appearance and fine-tuning body structures, enhancing muscles and even breasts. Most of the time, I create my Sim with my trademark mole and my personality traits: ambitious, flirty, charismatic, friendly and clumsy.

Once a Sim is born, he/she is ready to move into a new neighbourhood and mingle with other Sims. A Sim is also allowed 'lifetime wish' which is like 'dreams'. A lifetime wish is the ultimate factor in a Sim's life. It will strongly influence what direction the Sim will take when playing the game. For example, a Sim with a lifetime wish to be a world renowned surgeon can gain logic skills and apply for a medical career. But it isn't that simple. There are opportunities to complete to gain career rewards thus increasing chances of a promotion or a pay raise. Just like humans, Sims age over time too. Along the cycle, you can watch your infant Sim grow from a toddler who needs plenty of attention and potty training to a snooty teenager, to a young adult about to enter the real world, to an adult with a complete family and to elderly waiting for the Grim Reaper.

One of the best things about Sims 3 is that I am allowed to play God and tweak genetics and family dynamics. That's why I never allow my Sim to ever 'woo hoo' (have sex) with Hank Goddard. My Sim babies haven't turned out to be very good looking, so maybe I should give Mr Goddard a shot.

The latest version allows players to edit a Sim's appearance even after it's been created during play. With a career, come Simeleons (money) and then a beautiful dream home. There are 'buy and build' modes which let Simmers, well obviously, build and buy. The build feature has everything you need to build a house. You name it, they have it. Same goes for the buy mode: you can get your hands on beds, carpets, dishwashers and all sorts of household stuff.

Did I mention that a Sim speaks Simlish? Years of playing Sims 3 has given me the knowledge to understand when my Sim requires food or what she's bitching about to another Sim. A few people from the music industry like Lily Allen, Lady Antebellum and even John Mayer have lent their voices to Simlish versions of their songs. Over the years, the masterminds behind Sims 3 have brought out expansion packs such as World Adventures, Late Night, Pets, Showtime with Katy Perry as the face and the current Supernatural. And fans keep asking for more regardless of the many glitches the EPs have brought.

Will I continue playing Sims 3? Where else can I have the chance to be Trisha Almighty? I have a world that sits on the palm of my hand and anything I want to happen will happen, within the game's own boundaries. So as long as the makers bring out more, I'll continue downloading them off BitTorrent. Not that I condone piracy, but that would be another story.