[NiteFenix]

'Sims 2' makes emotional debut
Published: September 17, 2004, 7:42 AM PDT
By Dinesh C. Sharma
Special to CNET News.com

Electronic Arts on Friday began shipping the long-awaited sequel to its hit PC game "The Sims." The new version, "The Sims 2," builds on the theme of letting people play out simulated life stories of its characters by allowing players to control their Sims from cradle to grave. It also adds a genetics aspect, with the "DNA" of its more lifelike characters passing from generation to generation, the company said.

The game maker said Sims now have a purpose in life, aspiring for popularity, fortune, family, knowledge and romance, depending on the kind of life players want them to lead. The new game package features movie-making option with which players can capture the travails of their Sims.

"Basically, we made it so that the Sims feel in your mind to be much more like real people," Sims creator Will Wright told CNET News.com in a recent interview. "You really establish a much deeper emotional connection with them." The original game was an unlikely hit in a product category dominated by shoot-'em-up software and other action games.

Combined sales for the Sims franchise have topped 41 million units, Electronic Arts said. "The Sims 2" is priced at $49.95. The company is now working on expansions for the sequel and mulling the possibility of a third version of the game, Wright said. "We've made this game even more expandable than the first. But I'm sure there'll be another generation."

Source: CNET News

[Sparklechick]

We've got it in sale here at The Warehouse for about $85. Kall and I are going to go out today to get it.

[kall]

YAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!

*attempts to compose self*

[NiteFenix]

*can just imagine kall and sparkley sitting for hours on end controlling the lives of other people*

Oh wait, you're already doing it LOL

[Sparklechick]

If you are wondering where Kall is, he's currently making babies with Sparkle on the Sims 2. They have two now apparently but Kall wants 10.

Thank goodness this is not real life

I'd never played Sims before but got addicted to it last night. My character went a bit insane at one point and took off her clothes in the middle of a party to have a wash in the kitchen sink.

[Penny]

Ohhh I love the sims... but I never get enough time to play the sims one, let alone 2!

[NiteFenix]

Easy on the booze there Sparkley *hides eyes from titflash*

[Sparklechick]

I tried playing again last night with a new family and my character (Marge) died, my child (Bart) got taken away by child services and my husband (Homer) went insane.

I had weeds growing in the bathroom because I had forgotten to put any flooring down when I built my house.

I have a bit to learn .... am having fun though

[NiteFenix]

It definately sounds like the Simpsons.

[kall]

Poor Homer, really..now he's all alone in that house, the girl he likes doesn't seem to want to be anything more than friends, and his pregnant wife's ghost keeps turning up at the most inappropriate moments.

[NiteFenix]

Doh!!!