The Sims 2

The Sims 2 is the game I have decided to research and play over the next couple of months. The Sims is another world similar to Second Life, where by it allows you to manipulate your avatar and your surroundings, and although you cannot interact with actual people, you have the next best thing, more game avatars. This game is structured on the player having to fulfil everyday requirements in order to stay alive, i.e. eat, bath, sleep, earn money etc. It again thrives on capitalism and our consumerist nature. The Sims is a brilliant simulation of life, it is about personality and imagination, it could literally be seen as an interpretation of your own personality, because you embed your own attributes onto your sim, whether you want to or not it becomes an automatic response to the game structure. The irony of the game is that the main reason people play games (although this could be argued against) is to escape life, the everyday norms and restrictions of society, yet this game simulates the norm and comformity we strive to escape from. Once inside the game you are given the opportunity to either create your own avatars or inhabit generated ones. You can then adapt the world to suit you, by building your home, making friends, deciding on a job etc. The aims of the game are structured by the player and how you decide to form your avatar, and what their goals are i.e. career, or romance etc.

The Sims 2 published by Electronic Arts (EA Games) from the development of the original idea by Will Wright, the game was released in 2004 for Pc's and Macs which included a number of add on packages to increase game potential and the overall experience for the player, these included add ons such as, The Sims 2 University or nightlife. I am going to research The Sims 2 during this term and play the game in order to gain a better understanding, to show my progress within the game I am going to capture footage of the game play and key events for my Sim, these will be documented on a seperate blog to this as a video journal of my experience.