| A recent online survey of PC gamers has revealed | | | | something else that they think is more important, |
| that "The Sims" is one of the most popular and | | | | just like real people. For example, you may want to |
| best-selling games of all time.Electronic Arts, | | | | make them go to the supermarket or visit a friend, |
| distributors of the game, announced that the | | | | but if their energy level is too low, the Sim may just |
| virtual-life game created by Will Wright and Maxis, has | | | | decide to sleep instead to build up his energy |
| sold over 7 million copies worldwide (2002) to | | | | reserves.The game calls for players to make |
| dethrone Myst as the top-selling computer game of | | | | decisions for their Sim characters about personal |
| all time. If you combine The Sims with all its | | | | development (such as adding specific activities like |
| expansion versions, The Sims series will have | | | | exercise and reading to enhance creativity, and logic), |
| accounted for more than 13 million sales | | | | personal hygiene (how often he must clean the |
| worldwide.The Sims was first released on February 4, | | | | house, do the dishes or take out the garbage), |
| 2000 and, since then, seven expansion packs and a | | | | personal finances (what kind of job does he take on |
| sequel, The Sims 2, have been released.The great | | | | and how does he spend his income), eating, and |
| appeal of the game is that, instead of meeting a set | | | | sleeping.Let's say the Sim does not have enough eat |
| of objectives, players engage in a fully interactive | | | | or sleep, or has not created a healthy environment, |
| environment and are encouraged to make choices | | | | they could get sick and die. If the Sim does not have |
| about everyday living. It is up to the player to decide | | | | enough recreational activities, his fun level bar falls |
| how he wants to spend his "virtual day," with the | | | | and he becomes depressed (but never to the point |
| only real objective being how to organize his time | | | | that he commits suicide).Players also have control |
| and activities to help him reach his personal goals.Like | | | | over how their Sim character relates with other |
| real people, Sims (which also refers to the virtual | | | | characters. They can make their Sim a nasty person |
| character in the game as well as the game itself) | | | | who insults, slaps or even attacks other Sims, which |
| have a certain amount of free will, which means they | | | | usually means they get insulted, slapped and attacked |
| can choose to ignore a player's commands and do | | | | in return. |