I purchased the special DVD edition a week ago and have put in about 20 hours. Aside from playing Sim City 4 on a friend's computer for about 45 minutes, this is my first exposure to the Sim universe.
CUSTOMIZATION
The biggest appeal to the game is that it is limitless. Unlike other computer games with preset plots, where you kill the bad guy or alien, rescue the princess, and then you're done, this game is modifiable. Not only can you customize it, but the game developers, Electronic Arts (EA), also encourage it. Their official website contains links where you can download clothing (skins), decorations, objects, houses, and people. Players have turned themselves into fashion designers, interior decorators, and real estate developers (all in the Sim world, of course). If you don't like the music or movies that come with the game, you can add your own. If you don't like the characters that come with the game, you can create your own. A few websites have even created characters that look like celebrities. With the Sim Body Shop application, you can even create yourself and play yourself in the game. EA even tells you how to cheat the game, such as turning the aging off, so your Sims never grow old.
The game is time-consuming to say the least. Aside from the learning curve, you can manage multiple people, multiple clothes, multiple lots, multiple objects, multiple aspirations, and multiple neighborhoods. Many reviewers complain that the game did not come with many clothing choices, make-up choices, decorating choices, etc. I think EA knew that players would come out with a lot of custom content on their own, which they have. There is much to do and keep track. This game will keep you occupied for weeks on end.
Another appeal of the game is that we can relate to the lifestyles and aspirations of the characters. I don't know about you, but I have never driven any formula one race cars, traveled in space, or slayed any dragons. But, I can relate to the Sims. They eat, bathe, use the toilet, go to work, kiss, fall in love, have babies, shop, cook, clean, get sick, lose their jobs, get jealous, etc. What would happen if I quit my job and decide to throw a house party every other day? Or have five different girlfriends simultaneously? Or woo hoo in public? Or build a bright magenta kitchen that is the largest room in the house? Now I can find out.
PACKAGING & DOCUMENTATION
The special DVD edition comes with two disks: the game disk (which is used to install and play the game) and a DVD bonus disk, which has interviews with the game developers, including the game's creator. At the end of each interview, a game hint displays. The bonus disk also has a goodies section with banners, icons, wallpaper, and desktop backgrounds. The box also includes a user guide, PRIMA® Official Hint Book, and a list of key commands. The 76-page user guide is 4½"x7" and introduces all the features of the game. The PRIMA Official Hint Book is 4½"x6½", only six pages, and really just a teaser to get you to buy their full version 366-page book. The key commands sheet lists keyboard combinations for many of the commonly used commands. (I find this sheet most helpful for using the keyboard as much as possible, because I suffer from repetitive motion injury from using the mouse.)
FINAL NOTE
Please pay attention to the system requirements, because they are quite high. My computer is 15 months old and needed two drivers installed before I could get it to work without crashing/freezing. The game can eat much space on your computer especially if you download custom content.
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Reviews with images
Limitless and Relatable
I purchased the special DVD edition a week ago and have put in about 20 hours. Aside from playing Sim City 4 on a friend's computer for about 45 minutes, this is my first exposure to the Sim universe.CUSTOMIZATIONThe biggest appeal to the game is that it is limitless. Unlike other computer games with preset plots, where you kill the bad guy or alien, rescue the princess, and then you're done, this game is modifiable. Not only can you customize it, but the game developers, Electronic Arts (EA), also encourage it. Their official website contains links where you can download clothing (skins), decorations, objects, houses, and people. Players have turned themselves into fashion designers, interior decorators, and real estate developers (all in the Sim world, of course). If you don't like the music or movies that come with the game, you can add your own. If you don't like the characters that come with the game, you can create your own. A few websites have even created characters that look like celebrities. With the Sim Body Shop application, you can even create yourself and play yourself in the game. EA even tells you how to cheat the game, such as turning the aging off, so your Sims never grow old.The game is time-consuming to say the least. Aside from the learning curve, you can manage multiple people, multiple clothes, multiple lots, multiple objects, multiple aspirations, and multiple neighborhoods. Many reviewers complain that the game did not come with many clothing choices, make-up choices, decorating choices, etc. I think EA knew that players would come out with a lot of custom content on their own, which they have. There is much to do and keep track. This game will keep you occupied for weeks on end.Another appeal of the game is that we can relate to the lifestyles and aspirations of the characters. I don't know about you, but I have never driven any formula one race cars, traveled in space, or slayed any dragons. But, I can relate to the Sims. They eat, bathe, use the toilet, go to work, kiss, fall in love, have babies, shop, cook, clean, get sick, lose their jobs, get jealous, etc. What would happen if I quit my job and decide to throw a house party every other day? Or have five different girlfriends simultaneously? Or woo hoo in public? Or build a bright magenta kitchen that is the largest room in the house? Now I can find out.PACKAGING & DOCUMENTATIONThe special DVD edition comes with two disks: the game disk (which is used to install and play the game) and a DVD bonus disk, which has interviews with the game developers, including the game's creator. At the end of each interview, a game hint displays. The bonus disk also has a goodies section with banners, icons, wallpaper, and desktop backgrounds. The box also includes a user guide, PRIMA® Official Hint Book, and a list of key commands. The 76-page user guide is 4½"x7" and introduces all the features of the game. The PRIMA Official Hint Book is 4½"x6½", only six pages, and really just a teaser to get you to buy their full version 366-page book. The key commands sheet lists keyboard combinations for many of the commonly used commands. (I find this sheet most helpful for using the keyboard as much as possible, because I suffer from repetitive motion injury from using the mouse.)FINAL NOTEPlease pay attention to the system requirements, because they are quite high. My computer is 15 months old and needed two drivers installed before I could get it to work without crashing/freezing. The game can eat much space on your computer especially if you download custom content.
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2005
I purchased the special DVD edition a week ago and have put in about 20 hours. Aside from playing Sim City 4 on a friend's computer for about 45 minutes, this is my first exposure to the Sim universe.
CUSTOMIZATION
The biggest appeal to the game is that it is limitless. Unlike other computer games with preset plots, where you kill the bad guy or alien, rescue the princess, and then you're done, this game is modifiable. Not only can you customize it, but the game developers, Electronic Arts (EA), also encourage it. Their official website contains links where you can download clothing (skins), decorations, objects, houses, and people. Players have turned themselves into fashion designers, interior decorators, and real estate developers (all in the Sim world, of course). If you don't like the music or movies that come with the game, you can add your own. If you don't like the characters that come with the game, you can create your own. A few websites have even created characters that look like celebrities. With the Sim Body Shop application, you can even create yourself and play yourself in the game. EA even tells you how to cheat the game, such as turning the aging off, so your Sims never grow old.
The game is time-consuming to say the least. Aside from the learning curve, you can manage multiple people, multiple clothes, multiple lots, multiple objects, multiple aspirations, and multiple neighborhoods. Many reviewers complain that the game did not come with many clothing choices, make-up choices, decorating choices, etc. I think EA knew that players would come out with a lot of custom content on their own, which they have. There is much to do and keep track. This game will keep you occupied for weeks on end.
Another appeal of the game is that we can relate to the lifestyles and aspirations of the characters. I don't know about you, but I have never driven any formula one race cars, traveled in space, or slayed any dragons. But, I can relate to the Sims. They eat, bathe, use the toilet, go to work, kiss, fall in love, have babies, shop, cook, clean, get sick, lose their jobs, get jealous, etc. What would happen if I quit my job and decide to throw a house party every other day? Or have five different girlfriends simultaneously? Or woo hoo in public? Or build a bright magenta kitchen that is the largest room in the house? Now I can find out.
PACKAGING & DOCUMENTATION
The special DVD edition comes with two disks: the game disk (which is used to install and play the game) and a DVD bonus disk, which has interviews with the game developers, including the game's creator. At the end of each interview, a game hint displays. The bonus disk also has a goodies section with banners, icons, wallpaper, and desktop backgrounds. The box also includes a user guide, PRIMA® Official Hint Book, and a list of key commands. The 76-page user guide is 4½"x7" and introduces all the features of the game. The PRIMA Official Hint Book is 4½"x6½", only six pages, and really just a teaser to get you to buy their full version 366-page book. The key commands sheet lists keyboard combinations for many of the commonly used commands. (I find this sheet most helpful for using the keyboard as much as possible, because I suffer from repetitive motion injury from using the mouse.)
FINAL NOTE
Please pay attention to the system requirements, because they are quite high. My computer is 15 months old and needed two drivers installed before I could get it to work without crashing/freezing. The game can eat much space on your computer especially if you download custom content.
CUSTOMIZATION
The biggest appeal to the game is that it is limitless. Unlike other computer games with preset plots, where you kill the bad guy or alien, rescue the princess, and then you're done, this game is modifiable. Not only can you customize it, but the game developers, Electronic Arts (EA), also encourage it. Their official website contains links where you can download clothing (skins), decorations, objects, houses, and people. Players have turned themselves into fashion designers, interior decorators, and real estate developers (all in the Sim world, of course). If you don't like the music or movies that come with the game, you can add your own. If you don't like the characters that come with the game, you can create your own. A few websites have even created characters that look like celebrities. With the Sim Body Shop application, you can even create yourself and play yourself in the game. EA even tells you how to cheat the game, such as turning the aging off, so your Sims never grow old.
The game is time-consuming to say the least. Aside from the learning curve, you can manage multiple people, multiple clothes, multiple lots, multiple objects, multiple aspirations, and multiple neighborhoods. Many reviewers complain that the game did not come with many clothing choices, make-up choices, decorating choices, etc. I think EA knew that players would come out with a lot of custom content on their own, which they have. There is much to do and keep track. This game will keep you occupied for weeks on end.
Another appeal of the game is that we can relate to the lifestyles and aspirations of the characters. I don't know about you, but I have never driven any formula one race cars, traveled in space, or slayed any dragons. But, I can relate to the Sims. They eat, bathe, use the toilet, go to work, kiss, fall in love, have babies, shop, cook, clean, get sick, lose their jobs, get jealous, etc. What would happen if I quit my job and decide to throw a house party every other day? Or have five different girlfriends simultaneously? Or woo hoo in public? Or build a bright magenta kitchen that is the largest room in the house? Now I can find out.
PACKAGING & DOCUMENTATION
The special DVD edition comes with two disks: the game disk (which is used to install and play the game) and a DVD bonus disk, which has interviews with the game developers, including the game's creator. At the end of each interview, a game hint displays. The bonus disk also has a goodies section with banners, icons, wallpaper, and desktop backgrounds. The box also includes a user guide, PRIMA® Official Hint Book, and a list of key commands. The 76-page user guide is 4½"x7" and introduces all the features of the game. The PRIMA Official Hint Book is 4½"x6½", only six pages, and really just a teaser to get you to buy their full version 366-page book. The key commands sheet lists keyboard combinations for many of the commonly used commands. (I find this sheet most helpful for using the keyboard as much as possible, because I suffer from repetitive motion injury from using the mouse.)
FINAL NOTE
Please pay attention to the system requirements, because they are quite high. My computer is 15 months old and needed two drivers installed before I could get it to work without crashing/freezing. The game can eat much space on your computer especially if you download custom content.
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2005
Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2018
Thia product did not come with the loading game. I was very disappointed with the condition of the case. I probably would have forgiven that part if the actual game was in it. Only the none playing bonus disk was included. I only put one star because they wouldn't let me leave none.
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2004
