Pixel Sundays: 25 Years of The Sims – A Cult Game for Generations

Today, you’re in for an article about The Sims franchise. You’ll learn all about its beginnings 25 years ago, how the game has evolved over time, and much more.

Summary

In our Pixel Sundays article this week, we’re focusing on The Sims. Almost everyone should be familiar with this game, regardless of age. This year, the game celebrates its 25th anniversary, and fittingly, there’s a lot of new content coming soon. Therefore, today we’ll discuss the future of the franchise as well as its past. All of this here at AllKeyShop.

The Origins of The Sims Franchise

The idea for The Sims games originated in the early 1990s when Will Wright, one of the co-founders of Maxis, lost his home to a fire and had to rebuild it. This experience inspired him to develop a game focused on exactly that—building a house and managing the lives of those living in it.

Before focusing on The Sims, Will Wright had already achieved success with the city-building simulator SimCity (1989), where players could plan and manage virtual cities. With The Sims, he wanted to transfer this concept to a smaller, domestic setting. He aimed to give players control over the daily lives of virtual people, whom he called Sims in the game. Initially, the industry was skeptical about the game’s concept, but Wright pursued his vision and created a completely new game mechanic at the time.

Then, on February 4, 2000, Maxis finally released The Sims for Microsoft Windows. In the game, as mentioned earlier, you could simulate the everyday life of virtual people. You first created them yourself, and they had their own needs, desires, and relationships, all of which you controlled. This allowed you to tell unique stories in the game with the characters you created.

The Sims quickly became a major commercial success. The reviews were very positive, particularly highlighting its creativity and depth of gameplay. The Sims also established the life simulation genre and laid the foundation for numerous expansions and sequels. By March 2002, the game had sold more than 6.3 million copies, making it the best-selling game of its time.

Evolution of The Sims Games – From The Sims 1 to The Sims 4

Over time, The Sims franchise has naturally continued to evolve. In addition to graphical improvements, gameplay has been continually enhanced. Here’s what has changed and what’s been added over time.

We’ve already discussed The Sims 1 quite a bit, so let’s move directly to The Sims 2. Starting with the graphics, The Sims 2 transitioned to fully 3D graphics, whereas its predecessor had a mix of 2D and 3D graphics. This allowed for much more realistic representations. The game also introduced aging and death of Sims, as well as the inheritance of genetic traits. Additionally, a screenshot function was added.

The Sims 3 was released in 2009 and brought us an open world where players could seamlessly explore the entire neighborhood. This was a significant advancement, greatly enhancing the player experience. New career options and an expanded creation tool were also introduced, allowing for more detailed customization of Sims, environments, and houses.

In 2014, the latest installment in the series, The Sims 4, was released. This installment placed a special focus on the emotional depth of characters, opening up even better storytelling possibilities. Sims acquired various moods and feelings that affected their behavior. Since the fourth installment, it’s also been possible to share self-built houses with others through the Gallery function. However, a 100% open world is no longer present; there are many large areas, but traveling between them requires a loading screen. Nonetheless, The Sims 4 remains very popular and continues to be supplemented with expansions and DLCs.

Expansion Packs – The Heart and Soul of The Sims Franchise

Expansion packs and DLCs have always been an integral part of The Sims games. The very first installment received the expansion pack “Livin’ Large” in 2000, followed by six more. These DLCs were designed to add new gameplay elements to the game and keep players engaged for longer periods. While you can play The Sims endlessly without it becoming boring, new content and activities make the game even more enjoyable.

Now, let’s focus on the DLCs for the latest Sims game, The Sims 4. Although the game has been on the market for over a decade, new DLCs are still being released to keep things fresh. The Sims 4 has already received 17 DLCs, along with several accessory packs.

• Get to Work! (2015)
• Get Together (2015)
• City Living (2016)
• Cats & Dogs (2017)
• Seasons (2018)
• Get Famous (2018)
• Island Living (2019)
• Discover University (2019)
• Eco Lifestyle (2020)
• Snowy Escape (2020)
• Cottage Living (2021)
• High School Years (2022)
• Growing Together (2023)
• Horse Ranch (2023)
• Rental Retreat (2023)
• Love Stories (2024)
• Life & Death (2024)

Let’s take a look at some DLCs as examples and see what they added to the game. We’ll start with The Sims 4: Cats & Dogs from 2017. This DLC, unsurprisingly, brought cats and dogs into the game. You could keep them as pets and build a bond with them. You need to feed your pets and can also train them. These pets age normally under default settings and eventually pass away. They can also get sick, which is why a new veterinary clinic was added to the game.

In this veterinary clinic, you can take on a new job and work as a vet. Sick cats and dogs will come to the clinic, and you’ll need to diagnose and treat them. Over time, you can hire employees and expand the clinic. A new world called Brindleton Bay was also added. It’s a coastal town with parks, beaches, and meeting points for pet owners. New objects, building options for pets, and even some outfits were included too.

Next, let’s talk about The Sims 4: Cottage Living from 2021. This DLC focuses on rural life. You can settle on a farm and enjoy life in the countryside. The focus is on animal care, gardening, and producing fresh food. Three new farm animals were introduced: cows, chickens, and llamas. Cows provide milk, which can be turned into chocolate or strawberry milk. Chickens lay eggs, including special golden eggs, and llamas produce wool for knitting projects.

A new world, Henford-on-Bagley, was added, divided into three neighborhoods inspired by British countryside. Villagers offer special tasks like delivering or crafting items. There’s also a market where you can sell your products and participate in the weekly competition for the best vegetables, milk, eggs, or cakes. New wildlife such as rabbits, foxes, and birds can be befriended to gain bonuses like help with gardening. New recipes and features like “Canning” were added to make jams and juices. Naturally, there were also new farmhouse-style objects and decorations included.

Finally, let’s discuss the latest DLC, The Sims 4: Life and Death, released in October 2024. This DLC introduces a new world, Ravenwood. Ravenwood is a mysterious city with three unique neighborhoods, each with a special connection to the transition between life and death. It also introduces a new feature, the Bucket List. This list contains goals for Sims based on their traits and relationships, accompanying them throughout their lives with specific objectives to achieve.

The DLC also introduces life after death, allowing deceased Sims to return as playable ghosts to complete unfinished tasks. A new career as a “Criterion” lets Sims become the Grim Reaper to collect souls. Alternatively, you can work as an undertaker, organizing funerals and supporting mourners. Ghosts can use special abilities to influence the living, and once they complete all their tasks, they gain the Burning Soul trait, allowing for reincarnation. Sims can now also write wills and manage their estate.

With all these DLCs, there’s some criticism, as they do cost money. But as you’ve seen, each DLC adds a lot of content to the game, which has been out for many years. While 17 DLCs cost more than 100 euros, they add so much new content. With AllKeyShop, you can save money when purchasing DLCs.

Gameplay Mechanics and Creative Freedom

The latest Sims game, The Sims 4, offers plenty of gameplay mechanics. Everything begins with Sims in the Character Creator, also known as Create-a-Sim (CAS). At the start, you create your own character and possibly a family for them. You can adjust their facial features and body characteristics in detail to create realistic or imaginative characters. You can also assign your Sim specific traits and life goals, which influence their interactions and behavior. With new updates, you can now define gender characteristics, pronouns, and sexual orientation, reflecting support for all identities.

In the Build Mode, you can design unique living spaces for your Sims using extensive tools. You can create floor plans, build walls, design roofs, and even adjust the foundation. You can decorate your house with wallpaper, flooring, and much more. There is a wide range of furniture and decorations, frequently updated to ensure there’s something for everyone. From modern to rustic furniture styles, there’s plenty to choose from. If you don’t like something, you can move, rotate, or resize rooms later on.

If you’re not playing in Sandbox Mode, you’ll need money to build a house. That’s why there are many career options available. Traditional jobs like doctor or teacher are included, along with creative careers like streamer or artist. DLCs often introduce new careers, like Grim Reaper or undertaker in the Life and Death DLC. Sims can develop skills in their jobs, broadening both professional and personal opportunities.

With the open game world, where over 100 NPCs roam, it’s possible to tell your own unique story. You can befriend other Sims, form rivalries, start romances, and even start a family. This leads to complex social interactions. Additionally, there are significant life events such as birth, marriage, death, and much more, creating narrative turning points in the story. The emotions of the Sims influence their behavior and deepen their personal stories.

The Sims Community: A Global Network of Fans

This vibrant and diverse community connects fans worldwide through their shared passion for the game. It consists of players from various age groups. Many fans have been playing the game for 25 years and remain dedicated to The Sims franchise.

Platforms like YouTube and Twitch have been crucial in maintaining the game’s popularity over the years. Many YouTubers have been playing the game for years, delivering new Let’s Plays or revisiting it with fresh DLCs. The Sims 4 remains popular on Twitch, with an average of over 2,000 viewers at any given time.

The creativity of fans shines through not only in streams and videos but also in the countless fan-made creations and challenges that enhance the gaming experience. These include Legacy Challenges, where players guide a family through generations, and building competitions, where community members design impressive houses and share them widely.

Developers actively collaborate with the community to incorporate fan wishes into the game. Content from prominent Sims YouTubers, like lilsimsie, has already been added to the game, with more to come. Developers also acknowledge the growing importance of modding, making it easier to implement mods.

The Influence of The Sims on the Gaming World

Since the release of the first Sims game in 2000, The Sims has had a profound impact on the gaming industry and set new standards. Before its debut, the genre of life simulation games essentially didn’t exist. While earlier games dabbled in life simulation, none had fully realized the concept. The Sims redefined the genre and made it mainstream. Games like Animal Crossing and Story of Seasons followed, incorporating social simulation elements into their gameplay.

The Sims is truly a game that offers something for everyone. Even people with no prior gaming experience can enjoy The Sims. The accessible gameplay and ability to replicate everyday scenarios make it appealing to a broad audience, including those who are new to gaming. The franchise attracts players across all age groups, from younger audiences to those who have been playing since 2000.

Other games have also drawn inspiration from The Sims. The concept of creating your own unique story, as in The Sims, has been adopted by many developers. The idea of a large open sandbox world, where players can explore and create freely without a set objective, has influenced numerous other games.

The Future of The Sims: Sims 5 and Beyond

Over the years, rumors about the development of The Sims 5 have circulated frequently. However, in October 2024, EA officially announced that The Sims 5 will not be developed or planned. Instead, the company will focus on supporting The Sims 4 with new content and features. Kate Gorman, Vice President and General Manager of the franchise, stated that this decision aligns with player preferences and has been made in consultation with the active community.

While The Sims 5 is not in the works, EA is developing a new multiplayer game that will coexist with The Sims 4. This game will allow players to simulate a world together with friends. Unfortunately, there is little information about this project so far, but more details are expected to emerge later this year.

Additionally, a Sims movie is in development this year. The film is being produced by LuckyChap, Margot Robbie’s studio, in collaboration with Amazon MGM Studios. Margot Robbie previously created a highly successful Barbie movie, so it will be interesting to see how she adapts the open-ended Sims franchise into a film.

Conclusion

The Sims is more than just a game. It is a franchise that has inspired multiple generations of players worldwide. For 25 years, The Sims has provided a platform for creativity and personal storytelling.

Over time, the franchise has not only carved out its own genre but also set new benchmarks in terms of accessibility, player engagement, and creative freedom. The Sims offers endless possibilities, whether in character creation or house building.

With continuous updates and new DLCs, The Sims 4 remains fresh and engaging, even without a direct successor. The concept of a multiplayer game also holds great promise, allowing friends to simulate families or other creations together.

The 25th anniversary not only invites players to reflect on the franchise’s past but also showcases its future potential. With advancing technology, new possibilities will emerge. One thing is certain: The Sims will remain a game for everyone—young or old, casual or hardcore gamers.

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