The Sims and the appeal of the life simulation game
By Chris
Traficante
This year, EA and Visceral Games have united to create The Sims 3. This life
simulation game franchise has, in impressive style, made the successful transition from PC to
console. Whether it’s the SimCity series or just the Sims series, the social
simulation phenomenon has been around for quite some time. The question we now need to ask
ourselves is: why?
Simulated reality is not a foreign concept. It’s not a new one either. The idea has been explored
in film, television and, of course, games technology. Science fiction film, TV, games and literature,
for instance, frequently questions contemporary realities and how they would look in alternative
settings, often, different socio-political climates. So, why has The Sims lasted for so long
and in so many different gaming formats? How do we explain the multiple expansions and spin-
offs? The most recent instalment is compatible with PS3, Xbox 360, Wii and Nintendo DS. It could be
argued that it’s marketed to different gaming communities using different platforms, but that line of
argument does not seem valid enough.
What is the appeal of the life simulation game? Is constructing social reality online or
in front of a screen escapist entertainment at its best? Maybe reasons are a little more complex than
this; I don’t doubt this at all. Is it the gameplay and value of The Sims series that makes it
appealing, that is, the blending of comical and architectural gameplay? Then again, it may just be the
game’s strong sociological edge that attracts many gamers. Comparing and contrasting artificial life
and real life human relationships and systems in a leisurely medium may be the key (it is for me). Tell
us below.