Ready for part two? So when we last left off, I was busy being on my own. At this time, I was kinda getting out playing Barbies (not really. But still.) and with my other little toys. So what was a 9 year old to do? Well, something happened to me at this time.
I found The Sims.
To put the Sims simply (hah!), it's life. And you get to play God. Dead serious. Have someone you hate? Make a sim, and then starve/burn/drown them as sweet revenge. Want to create the perfect man? Done and done. Oh, and congrats on your six kids, by the way. I remember the first time I saw it, something inside me just clicked. More importantly, I was filled with that wonderful childish desire of "I need this. I need to have this in my house."
Eventually, I did. And what was the first thing I did? Create my own family of course! With the addition of my long-lost twin sister, I might add. However, our family was cram packed into a super tight house that didn't have enough beds for everyone and we ended up going without dinner some nights. Eventually, I moved us out of that house and into a lot where I built my first ever house.
Now, I've seen some amazing Sim houses, which is part of the reason many people play the game. I lack any of this ability; the best I can do is a box. And all of my houses were boxes. Big, gianormous boxes. Well, building aside, I recall one night I was playing happily, minding my own business when I heard a musical sting, followed by the scariest tune I ever heard. The Sim Burglar was coming to pay a visit. I quit the game and to this day, when I play the Sims, I have to mute the sound at night so I don't hear that horrible noise.
While my run-in with the burglar didn't end my Sim career, I learned the arts of cheating, and soon, my Sims were living in the laps of luxury, and I could finally get to the good part of actually playing the game. What happened while I played was something magical. I loved creating Sims. Something as simple as a dress would inspire a story that I had to chronicle, or at least play out. With each new expansion pack, the stories kept coming, now with twists. Granted, it was only something like, a new dog, new magical powers, a sudden vacation. But it all mattered to me.
Eventually, the Sims ended its first generation and entered its second, this time, venturing into true 3D. Not only was 3D introduced, customization was wider, and now, Sims had genetics. Before, if a Sim had a baby, you'd hope and pray you wouldn't get stuck with one of the ugly/permanent hat heads. This time, facial features, eye color, hair color all could be mixed and form into a new Sim.
With Sims 2, I only got the first two expansion packs before I became a Nintendo Nerd and the Sims got placed on the far-back burner, but I would always dabble in it from time to time, remembering how much fun I had with it, and even seriously writing a Sims story or two.
Convinced that Sims 3 was of the devil, I staunchly refused to get it until one night, my cousin let me play his copy of Sims 3. My hatred for the uncanny valley slowly melted into that same glee that had first consumed me almost 10 years ago. Before long, I had my own copy of the game and was now able to make anyone I wanted, especially since EVERYTHING could be customized. It's one of the things I miss about being up here at college, especially since I doubt my laptop is strong enough to run something so complicated as the Sims 3.
I think that's enough for today, kids. I'll see you next week where I talk about my true emergence as a complete and total nerd. (And maybe we'll finally see these doodles I keep talking about?)
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