Hi there! You are currently browsing as a guest. Why not create an account? Then you get less ads, can thank creators, post feedback, keep a list of your favourites, and more!
Mad Poster
#51 Old 15th Sep 2012 at 2:59 PM
I found out about the Sims when a friend of mine, whose son was the same age as mine, told us about it. That was around 2000. It sounded very interesting and we wanted to try it, but we didn't have a computer that was strong enough to support it. How weird was that, considering that my ex was in the technology/programming industry? When we finally got a new computer, getting The Sims became a priority. My son and I loved it from the word, "go", and as soon as we could afford it, we got Living Large and House Party. I started visiting the social boards at the official site and was very aware of each expansion as it was being released. I remember running into a store at the mall one time with a bunch of other middle aged ladies, in the middle of a school day, as the amused store clerk quipped to his coworker about Sim's fans.

It was natural to be curious about the next generation of Sims games as they were released. I found out about them from EA, from game reviews, and from fellow fans. As Sims 3 expansions have been released, I've been checking the boards here for comments and also what The Lazy Game Reviewer has to say.

Addicted to The Sims since 2000.
Advertisement
Top Secret Researcher
#52 Old 15th Sep 2012 at 4:28 PM
I had already played the first Sims so it was something I've always kept updated about But I remember I couldn't afford the Sims2 when it first came out but I would look at the game every time I went to Wal Mart and think 'WOW! It looks amazing I want it soooo bad!' One day a good friend of mine let me borrow it and I remember thinking how cool that little game was when you were installing everything, but then it wouldn't load because my computer was sooo old TOTAL BUMMER! I think I took it over to my cousins and played it there and the rest if history!!! :D
Theorist
#53 Old 15th Sep 2012 at 7:40 PM
I found out from an ad in the gaming magazine, they were advertising the Uni EP, and it drew my attention. I've never played life simulations before that, so I decided it should be exciting to try. And I still love any life simulations I can get my hands on, even though they lack the scope of TS2, they're nice to play.

So I'd say that main advertising point of TS2 was that it simulated life so well.

P.S.
How my mom found out: she watched TV and there was an ad. Her reaction: That's so interesting! I'm sure the reason was the same, as she never saw a life simulation before that.
Instructor
#54 Old 15th Sep 2012 at 7:49 PM Last edited by The SimWhisperer : 15th Sep 2012 at 8:48 PM.
I was aware of Sims 1, but I didn't have a computer to play it. However, once I got one, my Simming days began! I don't remember how I found out about Sims 2, because I never really went to any forums for Sims1. I had a friend at the time that was into the original game, so maybe she told me? All I know is that I got Sims 2 in September of 2004! As for Sims 3, I was now on the forums, and heard all the rumours from mostly the EA site. I do recall that I couldn't wait for Sims 2 to come out, however, because I spent so much money on that series. I wasn't ready to start the Sims 3 series. And when I finally thought I'd like to play it, I went around the forums to get an idea of what it was all about. And based on opinions, and game style. I didn't think Sims 3 and I were a right fit. I like control, I like building everything from scratch, I like playing mulitple families, and the thought that households continue on without me at the head of the helm, was a giant no no!

So, I'm hoping Sims 4 at least brings back control to the players ( among other things). That's why I think one of the reasons the Sims is so popular, not everybody's game is the same!
Scholar
#55 Old 15th Sep 2012 at 8:30 PM
I first learned about the Sims from a PC magazine, they did games' reviews on the last pages. I was interested but wasn't brave enough to buy a game yet - I just got my first PC, was a complete newbie to anything PC related, installing a game for me was the same as putting a rocket together to fly to the Moon..

A couple of years later I got more confident and looked for the game at the local stores. Found one that offered the game cheaper than others. Bought it but failed to install! I don't know what was wrong, either my PC wasn't built for the games (I'm absolutely sure I had an in-built video chip only) or the fact, the one I became to strongly suspect later, the game was actually an illegally made copy! But sold at the store, and not just at that one I bought it, other stores were selling exactly the same looking disks. Scammers..

Another couple of years went by, it was Christmas 2006 and the Sims were nowhere to find, 'cos it was time for The Sims 2! I was wiser already, did my research, knew how legal copy should look like and bought it at the best store in the city that deals with all kind of PC stuff. I bought it, again problems with installation! Several trips to the store, disks' exchange, useless advices from the sale clerks, etc etc.

Finally I found a solution myself on Internet, the problem was that my PC couldn't read some files with umlauts in their names! I renamed those files to plain Latin letters and installed the Sims 2.

And fell in love... which lasts ever since :lovestruc

The Sims 3 - I learned from this very site! But there's nothing exciting to write about my road to obtaining the games last winter. Or was it this year? I don't even remember! Says alot about my interest in TS3
Theorist
#56 Old 15th Sep 2012 at 8:38 PM
I never heard of the Sims but my husband brought home the Sims Complete Collection for me from a clearance bin because I loved those tycoon games. I thought it was awesome but insanely hard (my sim would not stop crying, was miserable and the only people she knew (the Goths) hated her so wouldn't talk to her lol). I went online looking for some cheat codes or a walkthrough and found rosebud (awesome) and that there was a newer version of the game. I ordered the Sims Deluxe that came bundled with Bon Voyage, loved it even more and I've been a fan ever since. I was part of the Sims community by the time Sims 3 was announced so was eagerly awaiting its launch like everyone else.
Needs Coffee
retired moderator
#57 Old 15th Sep 2012 at 10:26 PM
Well the question didn't ask about Sims 1, but It all ties in. I think I found out about Sims 1 from playing Sim City 2000. It might have been an advertisement sheet or an online add from looking up things for that game. I really can't remember except I saw it advertised and jumped on it. Then when I was playing Sims 1 I knew Sims 2 was coming although at that point I didn't give it a lot of thought as I planned on getting all the EP's first and figured I'd wait a bit on 2. I didn't go on simming board at all back then and didn't even look at custom content. DH brought Sims 2 home though and I had to try it. Of course then I was immediately hooked and uninstalled all my Sims 1 EP's and didn't look back until about a year ago when I tried to install Sims 1 again but it won't install on this computer. With Sims 3 it was hard to miss all the hype, as it was talked about endlessly all over every Sims message board I visited. So of course I was going to give it a try. Again DH brought home the base game for me and I installed it immediately. From what I had seen online I was a bit dubious of how the sims looked and they were exactly as I thought-nasty squidgy puddings. Apart from that I didn't mind playing it except I soon found it made me really sick-as in I feel like I want to chuck up-I'm going to go lie down sick. If that isn't enough to put you off playing a game I don't know what else would. I've learnt to close my eyes and I have gotten more used to it, but I've been rather dissatisfied with the Sims 3 as a social sand box type game as it just doesn't have that same feeling as Sims 2. Now we have talk of Sims 4, so who knows what that will be. If it's an online game like I've seen sugested then I don't think I'll even bother.

"I dream of a better tomorrow, where chickens can cross the road and not be questioned about their motives." - Unknown
~Call me Jo~
Field Researcher
#58 Old 16th Sep 2012 at 12:02 AM
browsing for porn, im not even kidding
Lab Assistant
#59 Old 16th Sep 2012 at 12:14 AM
Default My life with Sims!
It all started when I was in early elementary school. So, somewhere between 1998 - 2000 (the ages of 6 - 8). My parents both worked, so I was placed in after school care. My favorite thing about this is that we had access to the computer lab, where I played my first Sims game ever, Sim Town (which came out in 1995) and I LOVED it! I played other computer games too, Chess, Daisy Quest, I Spy Spooky house, and some game I can only remember you drive a truck, But Sim Town was my favorite, and where my love of 'Sim' and Time Management games began. I started to beg my parents for a computer, because we didn't have one in the house. They said no. I was determined to buy one myself.

One morning in the summer of 2002 (I was almost 10) I saw a yard sale at the end of the street. I LOVE yard sales, but never got to go to them because I always ended up wanting what my parents classified as 'useless junk'. So while my parents were still asleep I 'found' some money, got on my bike and snuck down the street to the yard sale. And then I saw it! A computer! It looked ok, but the best part was the price. Instead of a price sticker, a piece of paper was just taped to it. 'Make Best offer' it said. So I did. "Can I have this computer? I have $5." The older gentleman who owned the place stalled. "Uhhmm.." He looked to his wife for a response. She echoed him "uhhmm.." I could tell they wanted more than 5 dollars for it, but it was almost noon by this time and probably wanted to be rid of it because they agreed.

Excited, to have gotten the computer for so cheap, I finally hit the wall in my amazing previously thought fool proof plan. How was I going to get it home? This computer was pretty bulky. It was one of those old whitish grey block-y Windows computers running windows 95 or 98, I can't remember which, and I'm a 10 year old little girl on a bicycle. I knew I was in trouble, because I realized I would have to ask my mom for help. She was going to be furious, I just knew it, so I told the couple I'd be right back, to get my mom to pick it up for me. So I quickly peddled home, worrying about the explosion of anger that awaited me.

She was still asleep when I got there. Whenever my mom could, she would sleep till at least noon. Back in the day my mom was a busy lady, almost every job I remember her having involved some type of manual labor. Hanging hurricane shutters, painting houses, laying tile, so she was pretty tired all the time. It was basically suicide to try and wake her up unless I was bleeding or dying. I remember her being angry when I woke her, but that much was expected. But I pleaded with her, telling her I bought 'something' at the yard sale and it was to heavy for me to carry. After having her morning cigarette and a Pepsi,
a tradition that continues to this day, she tried to get me to tell her what I bought, but I knew she would be even more angry once she found out it was a computer and would probably not go get it for me.

Once we drove to the yard sale and I sheepishly showed my mother what I bought, she gave me 'a look'. At the time I thought the look was because she was angry. Later I found out the look was because she knew this computer was a waste of money, even just $5. We got home and I eagerly asked her to set it up for me, but she wouldn't because my mom isn't technologically inclined, and there was no manual. So I would have to wait for my dad to get home. It took a few days for it to get set up because my parents were pretty angry I stole some of their money, went against their very words and bought a computer, and then was so excited about it I asked them every few minutes to set it up. But once it did get set up, I realized why the previous owners let it go for $5. The Disk drive was broken, like beyond repair broken. I was devastated. My visions of playing Sim Town and other fun games had vanished. and in it's place I had a huge $5 paperweight. My parents must have felt bad because one day I came home and they had somehow acquired a new tower, and some games with the word 'Sim' in it for me. (Since Sim Town was about 8 years old by this time, my parents had a hard time finding it, and decided anything with the word Sim in it was just as good.) That is how I got Sim City 3000 (1999), Sim Safari (1998), and Sim Golf (1996). To this day I've never played Sim Golf, Sim Safari was only mildly amusing, but Sim City 3000 was pretty cool. So when the following year SimCity4 was released, I bought the deluxe edition. Around this time I also acquired Sims 1 and the first 4 expansions. The rest I bought as they came out. The computer we had at the time couldn't handle all that, so we upgraded.

Around this time I saw things for the Sims 2. Commercials, posters in the Sims section at wal-mart, and I was ecstatic! The base game when if first came out was $60, which was to much for me, because I was only 11 and didn't have a job, so a month later when I got money for my birthday, even though it was still $60 I bought it with birthday money. Ever since then I bought each expansion when they came out, except for stuff packs, cause they were the same price as expansions but weren't as cool looking. As I started to acquire more expansion packs however, it severely slowed down the computer, because it wasn't only mine, my parents used it too. So for Christmas of 2005, my parents bought me my own computer! It was my 'Christmas Eve' Gift, and I remember wanting to set it up right then! But my parents didn't want to because it was late, and we had to bring a desk in from another room and set it up. So I waited till they were asleep, and did it myself. I remember dragging that heavy desk across carpet, and trying to set up the computer, even though I take after my mother, not good with technology. In the end, I couldn't get it to work, I was scared. I thought I broke it. But it turned out the computer had a faulty piece, so the company sent us a new piece.

I learned about Sims 3 by playing Sims 2. all the little hints and the 'new game' Rod Humbles computer had with it. I wanted it so bad! The Create a Sim seemed SO in depth and the graphics looked beautiful. But it was $60 and I had just gotten Apartment life a year previous. I wasn't ready to give up on Sims 2. I figured I would wait until it's discounted, maybe when Sims 4 came along. But I've gotten so much CC and spent so much time involved with Sims 2, I don't know if I ever will buy it. I still would like to at least try it out though.


And that brings me to today, still finding old CC files from sites long gone, and reaping their spoils. All in all I'm on computer number 6 in my life, this one is shared by my husband and he says with all the Sims stuff, it runs slower, even though this one is a gaming computer. I would say I'm sorry for such a long story, but it was fun for me to go down memory lane. And if you really have nothing better to do than ask others how they found out about Sims, you must either be procrastinating, or have A LOT of time on your hands. Either way, my story took up a chunk of that time

Just take each day 24 minutes at a time... Unless you hit pause, then you could be there for hours!

Sims 2 Pinterest Profile: https://www.pinterest.com/tullulabell1894/
In the process of moving all Sims 2 pins from my personal Pinterest
Mad Poster
#60 Old 16th Sep 2012 at 12:18 AM Last edited by gazania : 17th Sep 2012 at 3:11 AM.
I probably posted this too often, so I'll try a shortened version:

1. 2006, January ... Discovered Sims 1 on Game Cube. (Bought it at a store closing sale.) Really liked the game, despite player's (my) boneheaded moments. Also enjoyed The Urbz, which I bought a month later. Yes, the Urbz. Tried DS version of Sims 2 before buying PC version .... HATED it. Nearly wound up discarding the idea of getting the PC version of Sims 2.
2. 2006, March ... Heard more about Sims 2. Read on the Internet through various sources that many players thought that the PC version of the Sims was so much better than a console's or a handheld's version, and that Sims 2 was far better than Sims 1. Coincidentally, we had to get a new computer that month, and I made sure the new one could handle Sims 2. Really, really liked the game, even without custom content.
3. 2006, June ... While I was on MySpace, a buddy PMd me about a great site called ModtheSims2, as well as another now-defunct site. I joined MTS2 that month. Downloaded custom content that summer ... would up with an addiction to the game. MTS still has me around .... six years later. Poor MTS.

As for Sims 3 ... I was interested at first, but then found that people with my video card reported graphics problems with the game, even though EA lists the card as being compatible. STILL don't know if that was ever resolved, and no amount of Googling has answered that question for me. But at this point, Sims 2 is fine for me, thanks. I DID get the PS3 version of Sims 3 in 2010. (Forgot to add ... I read about Sims 3 here as well.)

Thanks to ALL free-site creators, admins and mods.

RIP Sunni ... truly a ray of light.
Scholar
#61 Old 16th Sep 2012 at 12:36 AM
I bought Sims for playstation 2 just on a whim because I thought it would be interesting to be able to control your characters and make them do stuff you wanted them to do. Unfortunately, I didn't think the game was to great so I just stopped playing it. When Sims 2 came out I went ahead and bought that for playstation 2 thinking it would be better than the first Sims game. Once again I found myself not enjoying the game to much. After reading a few gaming message boards I found out that Sims 2 was available for PC and that it was tons better than the playstation version.

I figured I'd give the Sims one more shot and bought Sims 2 for the PC and fell in love with it. I found with the computer there was much more freedom to do things and more opportunities for my characters. Years later I discovered custom content and that just opened up my characters world even more.
Needs Coffee
retired moderator
#62 Old 16th Sep 2012 at 12:42 AM
Tullulabell- I loved reading all of that. Haha 10 years old and buying a $5 computer on a bicycle. I'd have had many, many words with my daughter is she ever did that! Of course my 10 year old is techo savy and already has my old computer.

"I dream of a better tomorrow, where chickens can cross the road and not be questioned about their motives." - Unknown
~Call me Jo~
Top Secret Researcher
#63 Old 16th Sep 2012 at 1:19 AM
When I was younger, late elementary school age or so, I often went to this at-home daycare. The daycare woman's son often played sims 1. I played the Sims on the computer there, until I got my own version of the game (Double Deluxe + Makin' Magic). Everything after that is a blur. My elementary years weren't the greatest.

A year or two later, and I saw someone playing Sims 2. That was only a brief exposure and didn't actually play the game until a long while after, since we were at a point in time where we couldn't afford the game. It would also be a bad idea.

Fast forward to the beginning of my Junior year of high school. Or something of that sort. I don't remember what happened. I think I found my old Sims 1 disk, and desired to play it again? I tried to download it, but it didn't want to work with my computer. I remembered there were sequels, and consulted the beautiful internet. I pulled out my cutlass, eyepatch, and parrot, and downloaded TS2. I quickly fell in love, even though I wasn't able to really get the hang of the game at first. Then I discovered there were EPs, so I downloaded those until Mr. SecuRom stomped on my foot. And here I am.

It's too expensive to buy TS3, and it takes way too long to download it, so I am not going to even try. Not to say I don't have an interest. I'm just impatient and frugal.

Simblr.
Asks are always open, even to anons. I will always reply to asks, and I do my best to be cordial/less snarky than usual.
Scholar
#64 Old 16th Sep 2012 at 6:32 AM Last edited by Simsica : 16th Sep 2012 at 6:44 AM.
Quote: Originally posted by joandsarah77
I've been rather dissatisfied with the Sims 3 as a social sand box type game as it just doesn't have that same feeling as Sims 2. Now we have talk of Sims 4, so who knows what that will be. If it's an online game like I've seen sugested then I don't think I'll even bother.


Ditto.
Online Simming?! C'mon! What about the mods? What about the cheats? What about the creativity and imagination?! Even if it succeeds as a business venture, it won't be anywhere close to what The Sims is all about.

The.Freedom.To.Play.As.I.Like.It.

Did you read that, EA CEOs? Did you? No. Okay. I can write it again.
The.Freedom.To.Play.As.I.Like.It.
The.Freedom.To.Play.As.I.Like.It.
The.Freedom.To.Play.As.I.Like.It.
This is where you should venture further, dear confuzzled, lost and deluded money-grabbing CEOs.

It's an intimate game - INTIMATE. Belonging to the players. We *love* to talk about it and we love sharing our creations - but we enjoy actually playing it all.by.ourselves. At our homes. In the privacy of our own worlds. Where no store advertising jumps up on us while we decide if our Sims are going to do this or that.

Privacy. Know that concept? It used to be huge in the society at large. Somehow, somewhere along this crazy path we've taken, we lost it. And now The Sims - even The Sims - are heading into the (so-called) "social" networking sink-hole.

Simsica
STATUS: crazed by social-networking freaks
MOOD: bites the heads off their necks ATM
MUSIC: no music; head biting is rich in sound effects - don't want to ruin it.

The best thing about a good thing is that it inspires a better thing. ♥ Receptacle Refugee ♥
Theorist
#65 Old 16th Sep 2012 at 11:56 AM
I have a Mac, and the Mac-compatible section of any computer game store is very small. (Smaller now than it used to be.) Sim games used to take up a large chunk of that section -- The Sims, SimCity, The Sims 2 -- and if it wasn't the Sims, it was a similar game like Age of Empires. In 2006, I won Neverwinter Nights (one of the only non-Sim-type games out there) and I was desperate, so I plunked down $50 on the basegame, sure it was going to be boring and that I had basically just flushed money down the toilet. I installed the game at about 7 am on a Sunday, and finally turned off the computer and went to bed at about 10 am on Monday. Thank goodness it was a holiday weekend!

The rest is history...

esmeiolanthe's Live Journal and Tumblr
Most recent story update: Fuchs That! on 2/21/15
Test Subject
#66 Old 17th Sep 2012 at 3:06 AM
The more appropriate question for me is how did I find out about ts1, which the first time I saw and knew I had to have that game was when I saw an ad in a magazine back in 2000. I learned about ts2 from playing ts1 and being active on tsr forums. And I learned about ts 3 from playing and going to sites which had ts2 content.
Mad Poster
#67 Old 17th Sep 2012 at 4:15 AM
Quote: Originally posted by Simsica
Ditto.
Online Simming?! C'mon! What about the mods? What about the cheats? What about the creativity and imagination?! Even if it succeeds as a business venture, it won't be anywhere close to what The Sims is all about.

The.Freedom.To.Play.As.I.Like.It.

Did you read that, EA CEOs? Did you? No. Okay. I can write it again.
The.Freedom.To.Play.As.I.Like.It.
The.Freedom.To.Play.As.I.Like.It.
The.Freedom.To.Play.As.I.Like.It.
This is where you should venture further, dear confuzzled, lost and deluded money-grabbing CEOs.

It's an intimate game - INTIMATE. Belonging to the players. We *love* to talk about it and we love sharing our creations - but we enjoy actually playing it all.by.ourselves. At our homes. In the privacy of our own worlds. Where no store advertising jumps up on us while we decide if our Sims are going to do this or that.

Privacy. Know that concept? It used to be huge in the society at large. Somehow, somewhere along this crazy path we've taken, we lost it. And now The Sims - even The Sims - are heading into the (so-called) "social" networking sink-hole.


I can't say "HEAR HEAR!!!" enough to this!!!
Lab Assistant
#68 Old 17th Sep 2012 at 10:09 PM
Quote: Originally posted by joandsarah77
Tullulabell- I loved reading all of that. Haha 10 years old and buying a $5 computer on a bicycle. I'd have had many, many words with my daughter is she ever did that! Of course my 10 year old is techo savy and already has my old computer.


Yea, thinking back on my life as an only child, I think I was spoiled quite a bit..

Just take each day 24 minutes at a time... Unless you hit pause, then you could be there for hours!

Sims 2 Pinterest Profile: https://www.pinterest.com/tullulabell1894/
In the process of moving all Sims 2 pins from my personal Pinterest
Lab Assistant
#69 Old 18th Sep 2012 at 4:33 PM
I remember seeing sims 1 expansions and stuff on sale at the game shop, i was about 6 or 7 and begged my mum for them. Instead I got some random resteraunt game....haha.

But when i was 8 my dad started letting me play on HIS sims 1 game, and I loved playing it. Until I had my first sim die. That was terrifying. And I also found it annoying how children went to school every day. But moving on...
I used to go round my best friends house alot, and one time she was playing sims 2, It was SO much better and more realistic that sims 1. I got it for christmas along with the seasons expansion pack when I was 9.

Sims 2 has caused me anger, rage quitting, glitches, and ALOT of crashing. But nearly 6 years on it has always been my favourite game ^_^

Guess what cheese
Scholar
#70 Old 19th Sep 2012 at 6:36 AM
Quote: Originally posted by MarylenaSTAR
Sims 2 has caused me anger, rage quitting, glitches, and ALOT of crashing. But nearly 6 years on it has always been my favourite game ^_^


Again, ditto. This is exactly how I see it.

Moreover-

Just these past weeks I've been helping to set up the entire game (all Eps and SPs) for my sister and my niece. No matter the hoops we had to jump to transfer my entire installation - with all the mods and changes to the installation files I've done over the years ("the same as yours - I want it to be just like that") - and make it work on her laptop that can barely run it, both she and her 6-year old showed remarkable patience.

She played TS3 before this. But that one has never fired up her imagination as this one does. She's atm running a flower shop out of her favorite Sims' house and is mesmerized by the game to the point of not hearing the outside world. And yelling those familiar things at the screen: "Look! Look where he's gone now when he needs to tend to the customers! I knew I should have made him less playful! No! No snow fights for you! To the register!" To me: "You said there was a "teleport here" action somewhere? How do I use it again?"

You'd need to know my sister to understand how amazing her patience and her new addiction is - she is *not* the gaming type, never was, unlike my other sister and me. She's younger than me, but she's always been more serious (which I assume is not that difficult, but that's besides the point...). Now she's literally begging me to come over and give her tutorials in TS2 gameplay, and not only the vanilla, but with use of all the mods and hacks and whatnot. She's even familiarized herself with the user start-up cheat shortcuts.

No matter the game bugs, the graphics card issues we had to deal with, the loading times - she's already a true Simmer. "I'm going to do the laundry while I wait for it to load."
But also: "Why didn't you fire it up to load while I was gone, if you've accidentally turned it off?!" (after I've shut it down on that single-click in W7 - the one that says shut down and then it does so without asking you if you're sure...)

And the niece patiently sits and watches and learns, waiting for the day when she'd be able to understand all the pie menus by herself. (The game is in English on purpose - to motivate her to learn the language. And she learns, slowly but surely.)

Since yesterday, the game is stable and running as smoothly as it can. Now we have to repeat the process for her PC - she just got it because that one won't overheat as easily (her words). All of a sudden, it's not "laptop is quite enough for me, thank you very much."

I'm still astonished. My serious sister - a gamer.

The best thing about a good thing is that it inspires a better thing. ♥ Receptacle Refugee ♥
Field Researcher
#71 Old 19th Sep 2012 at 12:31 PM Last edited by Rulue : 19th Sep 2012 at 1:14 PM.
Brace yourselves, nostalgia-ridden wall of text ahead!~

It is weird. I can't exactly remember how exactly I got into Sims. All I know is that, while I knew about it, it didn't interest me at all for a long time. When I was at school, a lot of people talked about it, played it. My first contact with Sims was at a friend's house when I was in fifth grade and Sims 2 had just been released. I remember finding it extremely boring. I made a random sim, but I just didn't see the big deal about a game where you control people and their lives at the time since "I could do it all in real life, what is the point?"). Dismissed it as a "dumb childish game". Some other time, my younger cousin who lived in another city and was obsessed with Sims came along for the holidays and brought a few Sim games for her to play in my PS2. I watched her playing and even tried my hand at it for a bit. Again, I found it pretty "silly and dumb". Now I realize that the console-versions are waaaaay different, but I didn't know it at the time.

Around three years later, I got a new cellphone(old for today's standards, of course, this was more than four years ago.A java, mobile version of "Sims 2" was included with it. I had nothing to do one day, and started messing with it. And I remember going "Hey, this Sim thingy is actually kinda fun". The game, looking in hindsight, was pretty much a even-more-stripped down version of Sims 1, I'm not even sure why they called it "Sims 2", but at the time it didn't exactly matter. That was the first time I actually played a sims-game. I pretty much finished the game in about three days, though, since all the wants the sims got was related to buying stuff, and there were only one object of each type of furniture(!). I also remember all sims looked the same, you could only create a single character with only one premade design for male and one for female with about four or five different palettes to choose from, and couldn't even choose a custom name, there was a selection of around premade 10 names that could be chosen. The Sims didn't speak. When they talked, all I got was a menu with "talk, gossip, hug and all, I didn't even see them. But, somehow... I was starting to "get" it for the first time. Now I just can't explain or understand what I saw in that sorry excuse for a game. But, it was done. I had been playing that simmish-thingy for three days straight nonstop every time I got the chance.

"Oh, w-what the hell was happening to me?! Sims is s-such a dumb game! I was just bored, that is it!" is what I kept telling myself, though. I was(am?) silly like that.

A couple years later, however, I somehow stumbled at MTS. Can't remember WHY. Can't remember HOW, but I did. I was googling for something, but can't even remember what. I don't know exactly what went into my mind, but that day, things changed suddenly. When I saw all the amazing custom content and how cool it seemed to make the "boring" game more lively. Then I browsed the forums and went all "Wait, you can play like that?! Ooh, you can do that?! I suddenly realized I didn't have to play like my cousin or friend did. I then realized "oooh,I could make the characters from my stories!(I love writing, even if nobody else sees what I write. I am ridiculously ashamed of my stuff.)" "Haha, look, that is her hair!" "This skin really makes them look cute.". On a whim, without thinking twice, I went to a nearby store and bought it(I remember Sims 3 WA had recently came out. I still can't remember why I decided to buy Sims 2 instead of 3 since that was newer.) . Quickly came back home, made sure nobody looked because my annoying pride didn't want to let people to know I had "given in", especially my brothers, who tend to make fun of pretty much everything I do, write, watch or play(they would surely make fun of me being 17 and playing "virtual dollhouse", and I am silly and ashamed of everything I do, so simming is my "guilty pleasure". ), and installed in my computer, along with a lot of CC I had downloaded previously(that makes me realize I never actually played without any CC!).

I was in love. :lovestruc

I recreated my characters from my stories, and it was just somehow magical to see them "come alive", I can't really explain the feeling. Sometimes they did things that made me go "that is so like him/her!" or "wait, you aren't supposed to be kissing him!". Some things their sim-versions happened to do even ended up being included in the actual story, since some things actually made sense. And others didn't! From the start, I loved randomness and the things Sims would do on their own, instead of micromanaging them. I always thought that, in Sims game, you just made a character made after you and tried to give him or her the "perfect life you always wanted" or some thing like that, but that is the way my friends an acquaintances played it. I found their playstyle to be extremely boring and even "stupid"(no offense to anyone who does play like that!), I don't even have a simself, for example. I just still can't see the "fun" part in making a "perfect you", I find it somewhat childish. but, creating families and see their bonds and relations change and grow with the time was what made it so amazing for me. I couldn't explain the magical connection I suddenly had with my recreated characters running around, talking and moving around, it was like I got to know them as I had never known before. I had grown even more attached to them, even if they were just figments of my imagination turned into code. I had never realized before that I didn't have to play that way, and it is a sandbox game, so there is no "right" or "wrong" way to play.

I notice every person has their own special way to play their Sims. I like to play a lot of different Sims, hate micromanaging, and use dice, ACR and anything to give my sims more randomness and autonomy for their "choices", for example, even taking their wants and fears as "clues" in order to guide their pixellated lives(the lack of fears in TS3 had me confused big time first time I played it.) But some people play with free will off. Others, only play one family legacy-style. Some like to build and decorate instead of actually playing. Some even prefer creating CC over playing. Some prefer to play with premades. Some kill them off as soon as they get the chance. Even the premade sims that come with the game, may end up having completely different lives in another player's game. Everyone has their own special way to play it, and maybe that is what makes it so amazing. Two people with the same game can play it nothing alike. And I now realize the possibility of customization and lack of a defined "goal" is what is the "magic" of the Sims.

Two years later, I "borrowed"(he had moved on to TS3 and didn't play anymore, so he pretty much gave them to me!) all the expansions from that same old friend(who was amused to see that I happened to end up wanting to play Sims... he teased me nonstop!). And bought M&G! When I had to buy a new computer, the first thing I made sure was that it could handle TS2 with all the pretty graphics people seemed to have. Now I am obsessed with Sims to the point I can't recall what exactly I did in my free time before I started simming, or what was my previous obsession. Sims has been my longest-lasting one, for sure. I have been playing nonstop for two years now, and don't plan on stopping anytime soon! It is, still, my guilty pleasure, though! Nowadays, I play neighborhoods in rotations, and don't really use it as much as a storytelling tool as I used to. Perhaps I might try doing it again sometime.

But, who would have imagined I would end up loving it this much? I confess: my obsession is so critical, that I have tons of CC, and my game takes so long to load that while it loads... I play something while I wait.

Lately, that would be Sims 3... It loads way faster for some reason. Despite the fact I already hoarded 4gbs of CC for it, too. I admit I am getting more and more attached to my puddings(they are so adorable...!) after Supernatural came out.

You might want to take me to "Simmers Anonymous." I can even imagine being all like "Hello, my name is Mariana, I am a Young Adult girl and I am addicted to Sims to ridiculous levels! My aspiration is Pleasure with a Fortune secondary, I am 2 points outgoing, 5 points neat and...Ooh, my hunger bar is red. SHOOFLEE!? Where is the grilled cheese?!"

It was pretty fun remembering this stuff. I now remember that, once, I hated the game, and now... I love it. It is funny how things and people change. I also remember, now, before playing Sims(which I found "dumb" at the time), I played SimCity for the SNES with my older cousin, and loved it. I still remember the lovely music in that game. Oh, memories!

This was nice. Thanks for creating this thread, it really brought back happy memories! <3

I APOLOGIZE, I WENT OVERBOARD :0
Scholar
#72 Old 20th Sep 2012 at 1:58 PM
I found out about The Sims 1 when I saw a really good review of it in PC Gaming World. 5 stars, and the reviewer was struggling to find any fault with the game. Other reviewers mentioned the game in passing and the editor even sung its praises in his column:

"Gameplay is all we're asking for here, in whatever form it is found. The Sims... ...has that elusive quality in superabundance. It's taken a few of us off the map this issue..."

I got the impression they would have built a momument to it if they could. So when I got The Sims for Christmas I was delighted.

Found out about Sims 2 and 3 within the game - Sims 2 was in the advertising for one of the later Sims 1 expansions and The Sims 3 is obviously found on the Humble computer.
Instructor
#73 Old 20th Sep 2012 at 10:10 PM
My brother had The Sims 1, long ago. But I was the one that played it most of the time.
For some reason (can't remember) I stopped playing. Years later I saw The Sims 2 in a store, remembered how I liked The Sims 1 and bought it. And I've never had a game that gave me so much fun, frustration and love for just a couple of pixels.
I don't remember when I found out about The Sims 3. I downloaded it, just to know what it was like, played it about 2 times and went back to The Sims 2 since The Sims 3 doesn't fit my playstyle.
Test Subject
#74 Old 22nd Sep 2012 at 5:18 AM
Way before 2008 I found a discount bin in Walmart and saw The Sims: Online.
that's when I found out about the entire series and I've been buying The Sims 2 series since. (I've collected all of them.)!
Forum Resident
#75 Old 22nd Sep 2012 at 7:12 PM
Around the time my mom got her own laptop, her and I wanted another game besides roller coaster tycoon and zoo tycoon to play. She found out about The Sims online and we bought the complete collection. After that, maybe a week later, we bought TS2 Deluxe, and I've been hooked ever since.
Page 3 of 4
Back to top