'The Sims' franchise is celebrating 16 years. The Sims Community
It’s The Sims sweet 16 and Simmers across the world are sharing their favorite memories on Twitter, blogs and forums. In celebration, EA has released free anniversary content, which brings back long lost features fans have missed from previous versions of the game. The Sims team chose four nostalgic updates that add new gameplay to TS4: The Grilled Cheese Aspiration, Tragic Clown Painting, The Gardner NPC and the Kleptomaniac Trait.
The latest update features gameplay from TS1, TS2, and TS3. The Sims 4
The update, however, isn’t what Sims fans are most excited about. Simmers have taken to Twitter to share pictures of old hard copies and reminisce about the first time they played The Sims:
The Sims is more than just a game to most lifetime players. Over time, the online community has developed into a place where Simmers share their own creative aspirations and interact with the community alongside their Sims.
“People get attached to the stories they create with their Sims. You can give your Sim a certain style, a personality, even lifegoals. You get involved with them and I think that's what people love so much about it,” said 16-year Sims fanatic known by the handle Misstory across The Sims Community, more so for her creations on YouTube.
Right now, she’s playing a family she created almost a year ago in March. The O’Reilly family has their own Facebook page where Misstory documents their most memorable moments just like a family album.
“I like to come up with stories, each Sim has their own history,” Misstory told iDigitalTimes.
"Looks like the birthday girl won together with her sister-in-law and her daughter cheering her on!" - Misstory's O'Reilly FamilyThe Sims 4
Even though one of the best parts about The Sims is customizing your own story, Misstory also enjoys playing out The Sims’ lore.
“Believe it or not but there's a story behind certain families inside of the game and I'm personally a fan of the Goth family. They're a bit gloomy, but I think it has a charm,” Misstory said. She’s played the Goth family from the original Sims all the way to TS4.
Misstory’s favorite memory playing goes all the way back to original Sims. Just 12 years old when expansion packs Makin Magic and Superstar released, when her mother came home with copies it may have been the best day ever.
“I remember playing The Sims Makin' Magic for so long, my mom had to kick me off of the PC! Yeah, that expansion pack together with The Sims Superstar stand out to me the most,” she said. “I can't remember much as I was really young, but I do remember that I just loved every single minute of it.”
'Superstar' released in 2003. The Sims
'Makin' Magic' was the final expansion pack released for 'The Sims' in 2003The Sims
After a stressful day, Misstory sometimes plays for hours.
“One does not simply play The Sims for only half an hour,” she adds jokingly. Along with keeping up the O’Reilly name on Facebook, Misstory is working on a brand new Sims YouTube channel to share her creations. “I used to upload it on a community channel, but The Sims deserved its own.”
To many Simmers, the game wouldn’t be the same without the support of the Community. Over the years, The Sims online presence has grown larger and larger, particularly EA’s Sims Gallery, which Misstory says makes it much easier to get in contact with other Simmers.
“The in-game gallery enables you to directly download others' creations [Sims, buildings etc.] and comment on them,” she said. “It's a fun and easy way to share what you've made and with the use of hashtags you can help people find that one specific thing they were looking for.”
Although the Sims community may be more robust than it’s ever been, The Sims 4 tends not to be a fan favorite. Misstory is no different. “My personal favorite has to be The Sims 2 . It was so innovative compared to the previous game and the gameplay was so perfectly done.” She still plays from time to time, “I always keep it installed on my PC.”
As for The Sims 3, Misstory loved the open world, but...“It was too slow and the graphics were meh. EA forgot about the cartoony-feel that the Sims are suppose to have. It looked too advanced, too tryhard.”
Regarding The Sims 4, Misstory shares a lot of the same complaints as the rest of the community.
“The random, annoying bugs like the 'disappearing tea-makers' and the 'sitting down before putting a book on the shelf' bugs make the game feel incomplete. People made mods for that to get rid of the bugs, so why can't EA fix it themselves?"
“After 16 years of playing I think I can be at least a bit critical,” she jokes.
Misstory isn’t the only sentimental Simmer today. The Sims Twitter page is flooding with old screenshots and funny moments from all four versions of The Sims.
The Sims team also shared some fun facts and favorite moments developing the games.
“If you were playing The Sims Hot Date during a specific two week period while the team fixed bugs before launching The Sims Unleashed , there’s a good chance your Sim’s blind date might have been a cat,” The Sims staff writes in the anniversary blog post.
In the update released Thursday, The Sims team chose memorable features from each base game in the franchise. First up from the original Sims, a Tragic Clown painting. Taking a look will give your Sim “Tragic Clown is Tragic” moodlet.
The Tragic Clown Painting will make your Sims sad. The Sims 4
Looking to The Sims 2, the team has brought back the Grilled Cheese Aspiration. If you want your Sim to be obsessed with grilled cheese forever, this one’s for you.
Your Sims will constantly beg for grilled cheese with this new aspiration. The Sims 4
The Kleptomaniac Trait returns. Pair this with Mischievous Trait and your Sims will be stealing expensive objects and picking fights with neighbors in no time.
Miss the gardening service? Download the latest update. The Sims 4
Last but not least, the Gardener NPC. For all those lazy Sims out there, just pick up the phone and call the gardener to take care of your plants.
Are you happy with this free DLC? What are some of your favorite moments playing The Sims? Let us know in the comments below.
