25 Years of EA and My Wallet, Happy Anniversary!
written by Messina "" Merlo
SUL SUL (Hello) Simmers and those who want to know the mystery of the famous game turning 25 this year.
Who is Bella Goth and a cowplant? Where did the sims even get its name?
The Sims is a life simulation game that was released on February 4th, 2000. With multiple expansions and deluxe editions it became the bestselling PC game in history at the time. Even with the very limited play and story adventure it still gave you ultimate range to play with the Newbie Family.
The story of The Sims starts with Will Wright when he had an idea to create a virtual doll house after losing his own home in 1991 due to a firestorm. Already having a simulation game, SimCity, under his belt he developed the game. Taking his ideas to Maxis, they gave him very little support but when Electronic Arts purchased Maxis they saw a masterpiece on their hands.
Build and Buy Mode: The Sims
Wabadebadoo (I’m on fire). Literally? The Sims are influenced by us, the player, with objects or sims. Of course if you're a crazy player you could let them have autonomy but who would even do a thing like that. But The Sims gave us the ability to work on balancing buffets and earning friendship or stealing peoples husbands. The Sims was awarded Game of the year and was the focus of multiple different ads and even was the best-selling PC game of all time.
During the next two years we were given seven expansions and two deluxe versions, Will Wright gave us the power to build and control with The Sims. We could Build the home of our dreams, decorate the walls and floors and create our own land. Buy anything, with over 150 different objects such as hot tubs, swimming pool ladders and beds. And WooHoo with our Sims to create a variety of characters and families.
Caliente and Lothario? Where’s Bella Goth?
It's 2004, you are begging and I mean begging for TS2 at your local Game stop. This was one of the first games to let you experience the life stages from baby to elder. This also introduced you to genetics that could be passed down from child to child. Given the same build/buy mode but this time we get personalities! Finally give your Sims motives and fear of rejection at the altar. In this game we get our first bit of full lore, with our pre-made sims from three different towns.
Returning families from TS1 are the Goths, the Burb and Pleasants. The Goths in particular are the richest pre-made family in Pleasantview. In the game, Mortimer is an elder. Having his wife disappearing and never returning he’s been seeing a member of the Caliente’s (Dina) and his only daughter, Cassandra Goth, engaged with Don Lothario….. Who I must say is WooHooing three other women INCLUDING Dina. He ultimately leaves her at the altar, Don Lothario is then sent on his own way to another mysterious world.
In TS2, we get eight expansion packs and nine stuff packs for us to continue to create our Sims. Being cited as the greatest video game ever made, TS2 was critically acclaimed. Selling 13 million copies over all platforms with over six million PC copies alone. Oo krem letich ( Ow, man this is great!)
Which came first, the Plumbob or the reaper?
Let’s all scream, “Hurray for Open-world play!!” TS3 is the first game to feature a way to explore an entire town without a loading screen. We also get my favorite feature in the sims franchise, a color wheel. It allowed us to change the colors of furniture and clothing, even patterns. TS3 also replaced the personality system with a way of picking traits with different behavior and wishes.
The game was released on June 2, 2009 and sold over 7 million copies. Featuring 11 expansions and nine stuff packs, even a continuation of The Sims store that allowed you to buy items to add new venues or worlds. Now for timeline’s the sims would not be complete without its weird and quirky events.
TS3 is set 25 years before the original sims, with our favorite families being children. Such as Mortimer Goth and Malcom Landgraab. Introductions to additional families that are never to be seen again, I’m talking about you Alto Family.
Haspa!! (It’s hot), off the press!! We are now conducting a small interview with Riverview’s newest resident Don Lothario. Where did you come from?
Lothario: I woke up here after some women pushed me into this light
Who found you?
Lothario: The McDermott’s
Who was the last person you saw?
Lothario: The Caliente’s
You heard it here first folks! Don Lothario is a time traveler!
No but seriously, this was the same treatment that got Bella Goth to go poof. While Bella Goth is a child here, shouldn’t Lothario be around that age too. No, he’s an adult in TS3, which furthers the theory.
Farbat Tishk (Happy Birthday)
Now, you might be thinking, “Sebby, Where does TS4 fit in with all of this lore and adventures.” It doesn’t, it's completely separate from the previous games. But besides the lore, The Sims 4 is currently the last game in the series and is still currently having packs being released. Celebrating its 10 year anniversary last year in September, we have seen the same loveable families including the Goths, Landgraabs, and of course the Calientes.
TS4 released on September 2, 2014, with a collection of mixed reviews. With the lack of pools and toddlers, it felt unfinished. As with the continuous updates they eventually were added but at that point it felt like we were begging as a community. With 17 expansions,12 game packs, 20 stuff packs and over 30 different kits, there are a vast of different ways you can play.
The gameplay features are complex in this game, with playing with emotions and being able to share Sims, rooms and homes on an online exchange. With over 85 million players, TS4 was able to come together closer than before. TS4 also was one of the first games to become free play in 2022.
Project Rene
In 2022, a livestream introduced a new addition in the The Sims franchise under the name “Project Rene”. Showing potential game functions, such as co-op in build mode and even compatibility between mobile and desktop. It won’t be a direct successor to TS4 but will be free-to-play.
There isn’t an official name or release but with the early development it could be more than a couple years before we hear anything further. We will just have to see what’s next for Electronic Arts.
In conclusion, with our wallets becoming empty, we won't forget where the love for simulation games started. But remember the good times we did have, even while writing this blog updates such as: Sims 1 and 2 being possibly re released. There is always something happening in the wide vast world of The Sims. So keep looking at the Plumbob and stay speaking Simlish
Dag Dag (Bye)