I’m not going to lie. I’m a Sims fan. But really, that’s putting it mildly. I am a HUGE fan of the Sims.
I had The Sims when it first dropped in 2000 and have bought and used every single expansion pack, game pack, stuff pack, and kit. Plus, most of my terabyte hard drive is used for Sims mods.
I am the real deal. I speak in Simlish to my cats. I use Sims inflections when I talk. Thankfully, I have very few IRL friends, so most don’t know the lengths I go to for my Sims.
Well, now you do. You all do. The cat is out of the bag. I’m surprised that there was never a cat-in-a-bag scenario in the Sims. Maybe it’s coming.
There is big news in the world of The Sims today. First of all, The Sims 5, long rumored to be right around the corner, is no longer a thing. More on that momentarily.
When it comes to TV Fanatic, the more pertinent news is that Amazon MGM Studios landed The Sims movie.
Margo Robbie’s LuckyChap production company is in control, with Kate Herron (Loki) directing the movie and co-writing with Briony Redman.
Is there anybody who knows as much about bringing a cultural icon to life as Margo Robbie? Her experience with Barbie should benefit The Sims.
Variety learned that all of the excitement that comes with the franchise is on the table.
From dust bunnies to pools without ladders (which was great fun before Sims learned how to hop up on the edge of the pool), they hope to bring to life much of what makes The Sims a world of its own.
They promise plenty of Sims lore (Bella Goth, anyone?) and aren’t even taking Simlish off the table.
If you don’t know, Simlish is the Sims language, which, after 25 years of playing, feels more native to my world than the foreign language I studied in high school!
Considering that gameplay is wildly different from player to player, thanks to the expansive content creators who enhance the game well beyond its core, many people will probably find fault with a movie, no matter how well it’s made.
Personally, I’ve added a medical mod with heart attacks, high blood pressure, and allergies. There are plenty of pregnancy overhauls, making creating a family more realistic.
Making babies and casual sex (WooHoo) mods can make you blush. There are also drug mods and gangs. If there is a creative mind in the community, they find a way to add layers to gameplay that significantly alter the gaming experience.
But I expect this movie will attempt to do what Barbie did: appeal to all ages with the intent of a massive marketing push toward more content and other Sims collectibles.
The fact is that The Sims isn’t going anywhere.
While we’ve expected the Sims 4 to go the way of The Sims 1 through 3, now we know that’s no longer the plan.
There are many complaints about The Sims 4, most of which stem from what’s lacking from the other iterations. Open worlds, world-building, color swatches, vehicles, and more were left behind.
You can’t even control a pet, although it’s still a member of your Sims family, taking up valuable real estate for household size.
But there is a lot of room to grow.
Although EA Games has already (unsuccessfully) tried online gaming, that’s now a priority. Modders have already made it happen, so we know the capability to do it well exists.
That in itself could change upend The Sims 4 as we know it.
You may think walking away from The Sims 5 is a bad move, but EA Games is thinking of players with this decision.
Many of us have played since the beginning, and we want to keep family legacies intact. You can’t tell me you still don’t miss some of your families from earlier games.
Losing a decade’s worth of family history would be rough. While it’s fun to start over, it’s comforting knowing there is more in store for your family lines.
And while I might whine about not being able to control pets, I’ve created every dearly departed pet I have in the game. It would break my heart to have to say goodbye to them all over again.
With every new pack or kit, family dynamics change. A current sim’s ancestors had to do more with less, just like in real life. Improving the game is far better than letting it go.
If you are really aching for something new, there are competitors rising up who hope to put a big dent in The Sims marketplace.
But for those of us who love the game and want to carry on, new innovations are welcome, and they’re on the way.
Who knows, maybe the movie itself will create an entirely new level of gameplay. I know I’ll be sticking around to find out.
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