The Struggles Of A Sim
My Mom was the one who introduced me to video games. To me it was the greatest gift and to her I am sure it was a way to give herself 5 min to relax, without a clingy kid. Nonetheless, that is at least how it started. What my mom had not counted on, was the fact that she would turn into as big a nerd as me – thereby spending even more time with me.
Other people had to fight their siblings for the controller or the pc (yes kids, back then we were lucky if we had just one computer in the house), but I had to fight my mom. It was fun – I remember It, as a time where we went from her reading me the instructions in Pokemon Red, to a full on competition of skills, concerning who would collect the most stars in Super Mario 64 – She showed no mercy.
Together we journeyed through many classics, including; Super Mario Bros. Deluxe, Rayman, Lego Island 2, and Harry Potter Ps1, just to mention a few. However, one of the series that absolutely consumed us, and still makes reruns in our life today, was “The Sims”. We would spent hours glued to the screen – my mom would literally come home from work, walk into my room and say “my turn”, not hello, but “my turn”.
Honestly, these were great times. We would collect the expansion packs like treasures and gather around the “unboxing” to read all the new features. To us “the sims” had no flaus and the more developed the games became, the more we would get hooked – I mean you went from building your 10th family, being happy with that, and then “boom”, fucking magic and dragons was introduced – it was awesome.
Today, we still fire up our old “sims” once in a while, but mostly for nostalgia. I even gave her “The Sims 4” for christmas last year (it became free right after – thank you EA). Yet, now we notice some of the things we did not care about back then – like how simmers are weirdly limited in certain aspects of their life. This is not a criticism of the game, honestly it is more of a fun gimmick, but it baffled us that EA has not done anything about these.
If you are not aware of the “gimmicks’ ‘ I might refer to, then let me explain a bit further. You see, a sim can do many things on his own; he will feed himself if starving, wash himself if dirty and sleep when tired. However, his whole world can break down if you don’t tell him to put away his dirty plates. He won’t do it by himself, but he sure will b@*ch about it.
Where am i going with this?
Easy, I want to take us through some of the struggles of a sim and how I can strangely relate to many of these as I get older. It might just be me, but I am immensely annoyed when I get home from work and a dirty coffee cup has been left on the desk – I am the only one drinking coffee in the household.
The Sims 3
The Sims 3 is a 2009 life simulation video game developed by the Redwood Shores studio of Maxis, and published by Electronic Arts.
The game follows the same premises as its predecessors The Sims and The Sims 2 (I had both and all expansions) and is based around a life simulation where you control the actions and fates of its characters, the Sims, as well as their houses and neighborhoods.
The sims have been the perfect simulator for how lowing and disturbing people can be – try and google, you will easily find the first of many articles on “how to kill your Sim” (gamerant, you know I talk about you).
The Plot
It doesn’t have a traditional plot in the way that many other video games do. Instead, it offers players an open-ended and sandbox-style experience where they can create and control virtual characters, known as Sims, within a simulated environment.
Players start by creating one or more Sims, customizing their appearance, personality traits, and aspirations. They then guide their Sims through various aspects of life, including finding a job, building relationships, pursuing hobbies, and managing day-to-day activities like eating, sleeping, and using the bathroom.
The game’s “plot,” if you can call it that, emerges from the interactions and decisions made by the player and their Sims. Players may encounter challenges and opportunities as their Sims progress through different life stages, such as childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and old age. The ultimate goal is typically to fulfill the Sims’ aspirations and desires, whether that involves achieving career success, forming meaningful relationships, or pursuing personal interests.
How Is This Relevant?
For one, I spent a ton of time on this game – like an unbelievable amount. I remember how I would try to play the game without using “cheat codes”, just to realize how truly boring my sim’s life would be, if all he had to do was; go to work, come home, cook, eat and sleep… Does that sound familiar to anything you know today?
So obviously, I would “motherlode” the sh@t out of each game, build awesome houses that I could only dream of affording in real life, and have my Sims become master scholars, painters or chefs. Of course, as with real life this did not come without fail, and I have burned down a house or two in my time.
Yet, my real reason for using The Sims, is rooted in its aspect as a “life simulation”. Because as a kid, I could not see the resemblance at all – but today it makes so much sense. Obviously, your kitchen is in danger of burning down, if you have never cooked before and of course your first painting will look like crap if you do not practice. Depressingly enough, becoming a master in something takes time, especially with a full time job.
Gameplay
In The Sims 3, you reign supreme over the virtual minions, shaping their fates and relationships with a flick of the mouse. It’s like being a celestial puppeteer, but with more plumbobs and fewer strings.
Neighborhoods are now cheekily dubbed “worlds” because, let’s face it, when you’re playing Sims, you’re basically a cosmic architect. You can tweak everything from the layout of houses to the quirks of individual Sims. And hey, who doesn’t love a little virtual real estate development?
Gone are the days of pesky loading screens interrupting your Sims’ leisurely strolls. Now, the worlds are seamless, meaning your Sims can roam freely without any annoying interruptions. It’s like they’ve discovered the secret to teleportation, minus the sci-fi shenanigans.
And let’s not forget the circle of life—or, in Sims terms, the cycle of Simhood. From tiny tots to crotchety elders, Sims journey through various life stages, with each one bringing its own joys and challenges. Just remember to keep an eye on them; Sims have a knack for finding creative ways to meet their maker, whether it’s by fire, starvation, or a particularly shocking encounter with household electronics.
Debate Of The Day
Seeing that particular skill of finding their maker is one of the things that makes sims so special. You see, their coding allows them a certain level of independence, but really only a “certain level”. They sometimes try their best to overcome these tiring moments, where the game algorithm blocks them from naturally progressing, but most times they simply give up and await their savior (you).
This is to me where the real discussion can begin. As I mentioned above, these dependencies were illogical to me, to say the least. I mean, for a kid it seems unreasonable to imagine that you would become dressed if a picture on the wall was not to your liking. Yet, every adult more or less knows the struggles of finding the correct pieces for the wall and the inner battle with oneself, to not just hang superman posters everywhere.
If you ask me, The Sims have today become an incredibly realistic portrayal of life – at least, life for a certain generation. Who, as a student, has not washed a cup or two in the bathroom sink, because it was closer than the kitchen and you needed the cup 5 min ago? Who as a working adult has not tried to be so tired that you would need a nap on the couch before going to bed? The Sims are literally just a simulation of how you will become upon entering stages of your life!
Of course, there are also some smaller deviations from this – or at least some I cannot explain? Like how your sim can be abducted by aliens and return pregnant. I know it sounds like a “mommy sat on a public toilet seat and now she is pregnant” kind of situation, but I doubt this is what the game is aiming for.
It even challenges your spiritual belief, by having Death, as a character, pick up your soul upon passing. I have no idea if this is what happens when I leave this earth, but if so, I really hope death is more attentive in real life than in the sims. There are actual tellings of how Death comes to reap your soul, but gets distracted by your daughter’s birthday dinner and decides to eat that instead, while your corpse is lying on the floor.
So you see where I am going with this! I got plenty more examples, so let us explore how the sims can actually prepare you for real life.
Keeping it real… Poolside
Ah yes the classic death by “missing pool ladder” dilemma. It is not uncommon for sims to die, during nightmare circumstances, where they have been seen jumping into the pool, never to get out again. The story always went the same way, that everything seemed norma at first, but upon further investigation, it would show that mid-swim, the pool ladder had gone missing. Now as you know, in Sims 3, no pool ladder equals no escape.
But what does this mean? How does the ladder disappear? We all know how, because we are assholes, but the real question is – why dont they just climb out? I know it is a topic that has been fixed in Sims 4, but back then it was a serious plot hole. You could have Sims with high enough intelligence to be doctors, but not enough to get out of a pool? They could have the strength level of a Hulk, but be unable to pull themselves up.
So what is it all about? As I have become older, getting out of a pool quite often, one of the more unflattering movements I have to do – especially without a ladder! You try to lift yourself up, but your arms are shaking, wet hair is in your face, you tip over and have to lean your gut on the edge of the pool, and it is basically like seeing a walrus emerge from the icy depths. Hence, I believe the sims are capable of getting out, but simply cannot bear the judgment from their neighbors.
Does that mean, they would rather die than go through an embarrassing exposure? even when no one is around? Yes, yes it does – that is how vain they are.
A Stubbed Toe
I am sure we can all relate to the pain of a stubbed toe? That moment when your pinky hits the corner of the dining table and your brain is sent to another dimension for a split second, until it is pulled back by sheer pain. Now, if you could, would you not try to avoid that pain? This is what I believe a sim is trying every day!
Nothing can infuriate a sim more, than an illogical placement of a furniture piece! You cannot imagine the pure frustration that goes through them, when a kitchen chair is placed in front of a door! or a lamp in the middle of a narrow halfway! Because how on earth are they gonna get past it? Lifting it is out of the question, and sneaking past it, puts their toes at risk. Jumping? Are you out of your bloody mind?
These are one of the more frustrating topics for you as a player, but also for the Sim. Since on occasion, the furniture piece has been moved there by another sim or the sim itself – making them the creator of their own demise. How do you help someone, who was clearly able to get into the bathroom, by going from the chair through the door, but who is now unwilling to move said chair to get out? It is pure ignorance.
As such it has come to my attention that this returns to the sim’s personality trait of being vain – they simply cannot be bothered cleaning the mess they themselves have made, so it is easier getting someone else to do it.
Sometimes love isn’t fireworks.. and sometimes it literally is
Of course Vanity is not the only thing that characterizes our dear sims. They also have an incredibly romantic side. You see when a sim courts another sim and the romance leads to more “intimate” relations, their passion literally sparks fireworks!
How crazy is that? It would solve so many of today’s issues, if fireworks literally appeared when you did a great job in bed! It is pretty fucking hard to fake your emotions, if a show of fiery explosions are to appear when you do a good job. It would also clarify the whole uncertainty of “does she like me, does she not like me”, and you would not have to be afraid of saying it out loud, since your actions have already spoken louder than words.
On the other hand, this also leads to some serious downside. For one, sneaking a quick and silent one won’t be possible, since your actions can be seen from the other end of the street. Additionally, I can scope out some serious fire hazards here! If fireworks are to go of in your bedroom everytime, then you might as well say goodbye to your house right away and good luck finding an insurance to cover the damages.
Not to mention the damages that can occur! If you think the number of “firework related accidents” are high during new years eve, then wait till you see the numbers from random love making! Trust me, even if you know a rocket might burn your ass, it is not enough to stop a couple of horny teens from trying.
The struggles of a Sim – Can You Relate?
Can you relate to the life of a Sim? I know I can. If the pool example got a bit exaggerated, that’s fair, but I know you can relate to the saying “sparks fly between us”, whether just of an instance or for the last 30 years with your partner. You might not set the bedroom on fire literally, but I am pretty sure, the feelings you see from your sims are relatable.
I can surely also relate to the hassle of moving items that you did not put there in the first place. Whether it is your partner’s dirty dishes, your friend’s suitcase or your dog’s newfound stick, nothing can block you more than someone else’s sh@t at the wrong time, in the wrong place. Sometimes I wish I could just wave my arms above my head and yell random syllabus, to have some magic entity remove all my problems.
The same goes for work. You are exhausted when coming home from a new job and it requires a certain control to put yourself together and do the house chores. I believe that these learnings from the Sims are taken for granted as you play. If I could go back in time and tell my younger self to observe and take note of how life can treat you at times, then it would have prepared me much more for my thirties and the struggle i experience when i burn my dinner, ruining my painting, misses out on the gym, and forgets where i put my keys.
Thank you to the sims, for making these hassles a little bit more fun, than what they can appear as in real life.
Are You A Mean Ruler?
With that said, I hope to have left you with a bit of a thinker – but now it is Up to you! What is the meanest you have done to a sim?
All right, I guess that is all I got in me for today – Thank you for reading this far and feel free to provide any feedback you may have – We would like for you to keep leveling up with us! Feel free to contribute your own content, such as fan art, game reviews, or personal gaming stories, to be featured as Pixelated Wisdom.
Sources
Thank you to the sources providing me with cool inspiration:
Very nice write-up. I definitely love this website.
Keep it up!
Hey there great blog! Does running a blog such as this require a massive amount work?
I’ve absolutely no knowledge of computer programming but I was hoping
to start my own blog soon. Anyhow, if you have any ideas or techniques
for new blog owners please share. I understand this is off subject but I simply wanted to ask.
Kudos!
Great question – well i does take up quite a bit of time, but if you see it as a hobby, then it is time well spent. I cannot share any techniques, as i barely have any readers haha. Hence, just write about what you like and see what happens 🙂