Shibi flapa doo! If this phrase means something to you, you have played The Sims. Having four full games and so many expansion packs, have you ever wondered how this game came to be? Then look no further, as this article takes a look at the history of the plumbob and everything associated with it.
If you aren’t familiar with The Sims but are interested in video game history, here’s a summary. The Sims is a series of life simulation games where players create characters and live their lives. You can become astronauts, criminals, writers, or even get eaten by a cow plant. Sims forge relationships, have families, or are sentenced to death in swimming pools. You may think this sounds weird – but The Sims is one of the most successful video games ever, having sold 200 million copies worldwide.
How Did The Sims Begin?
The series we all know and love started with the 1989 release of SimCity. This was a city-building simulation game released on a number of different platforms. Many distributors refused to sell the game, as it was so different from many big names at the time, which focused on action or quests. At first, sales were not great, but after SimCity got positive reviews, the game became a best-seller.
As for The Sims, game designer Will Wright was inspired to make a game where someone builds their life from the ground up. This followed after Wright subsequently lost his during the Oakland firestorm in 1991. Replacing his home and belongings and rebuilding his life made him think about adapting these experiences into a game. He took the ideas to Maxis, who were hesitant to finance the game. However, Electronic Arts, who bought Maxis in 1997, were more receptive – as they received the success of SimCity.
The Sims was then released in 2000 for Microsoft Windows. The game took place in a suburban area near SimCity and was an open-ended simulation of daily life. Following its success came seven expansion packs, such as Livin’ Large and House Party, as well as two deluxe editions. It was also released on different platforms. By 2002, it had sold more than 6.3 million copies worldwide – and only increased to 16 million by 2005.
What About the Other Games?
The Sims 2 was released in 2004. This sequel expanded on the previous game by having seven life stages, a full 3D environment, and an aspiration system. Sims have wants and fears in line with their personality traits, and players have to be mindful of this if they want their Sim to be successful. There were eight expansion packs, including Pets, Seasons, and Bon Voyage.
The next sequel, The Sims 3, was released in 2009. The game features a “seamless” neighborhood, improved creation tools, enhanced building tools, and the introduction of wishes and goals. There was also the introduction of small goals for the players to follow. It has several expansion packs, including World Adventures, Supernatural, and Into the Future. The Sims 3 sold 1.4 million copies in the first week, making it one of the largest releases in PC gaming history at the time.
The Sims 4 is the newest release. This game has the most amount of additional content, with thirteen expansion packs, twelve game packs, eighteen stuff packs, and twenty-one kits. While The Sims 4 was made free to play in 2022 and has additional content, such as Star Wars-themed outfits, the expansions remain as things that have to be paid for.
What About the Future of The Sims?
Project Rene is the latest game announced to be included as part of The Sims franchise. Not much is known about the next installment. What we do know is that it will include cross-play and more customization and that multiplayer will be enabled so several people can build and customize at the same time.
However, this may not be the only branch that The Sims tree may grow. There have been many spin-offs, such as The Sims Medieval, an action role-playing game set in – you guessed it – medieval times. There have also been games previously released and shut down, such as The Sims Online, which was a massively multiplayer online game following The Sims’ playstyle. It was shut down in 2008.
However, mobile gaming is becoming popular – and it hasn’t stopped The Sims from reaching phones, with games such as The Sims Mobile being released in 2017.
It’s hard to say what the future holds. However, the franchise remains strong. What are your thoughts on The Sims? Will you be continuing to watch how the franchise unfolds? Or are you someone that avoids the game? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
