Questions about "THE SIMS" for those who know...

[Beast]

I've been debating for a while about if I want to really get into this game. Before I do, I really think I need to know just where I can start in all this or do I have to do the very beginning "basic" stuff or do they have versions that have the "upgrades" already built in? What upgrades are worth is and which ones should I just ignore?

Also (the same thing only different), what about the SIM CITY games? Can you start with SIM CITY 4 or what?

Thanks for the help!

 

[Melrosgirl]

You can get the Sims Deluxe game which if I recall correctly has the Regular version of Sims, plus Vacation and House Party. I think that's right. I know it has at least 2 of the upgrades built in to it.

hth

 

[Grog]

Don't know too much about the SIMS as I only played the first game. I didn't see it going very far and got a bit tired of it and traded it for something else. Of course as soon as I did that they started coming out with all the sequels As for the SIM City games, I'm pretty sure they are all "stand alone" games and you can start with SC4.

 

[Mish19]

I agree, get the deluxe version that has the basic game plus the game extensions. You can't play the extensions without having the regular SIMS.

 

[Dallas_Lady]

Originally posted by Grog
I didn't see it going very far and got a bit tired of it and traded it for something else.

I agree. I am really inot the Sim City games, I have all of them. But I am not a big fan of The Sims. I didn't really seem to be going aywhere to me. It's cool/cute/fun at fist, but once you get things set up, I got really repetitive.

 

[Princess_Aurora]

You don't have to have any previous versions of Sim City to play Sim City 4, so you can buy that one alone.

As for The Sims...do you have a PS2? A lot of people like the PS2 version of the Sims because you have to reach certain goals to advance in the game...so it kinda keeps the game interesting.

The computer version of the Sims, I'd say the best expansion packs are House Pary and Hot Date

 

[Chattyaholic]

I borrowed my son's Sims deluxe edition and played for several weeks, got hooked. So I bought my own so I could return his, and I bought the Unleashed expansion pack where you can have pets and go to town (stores, park, community pool, etc.). I love designing and building different houses and furnishing them. My son gave me the cheat code so I can get as much $$$ as I want towards my building/furnishing.

 

[WDWLVR]

DH bought the SIMS for me when it first came out, but I was terrible at it. i stopped playing after one of my SIMS died trying to cook on the BBQ before I had let him read about cooking.

We gave the game to my BIL who had a much better time with it.

I like Monopoly, Sorry, and Casino games better than the SIMS, but that is just me.

 

[scarlett873]

i currently have the SIMS deluxe...which has the original SIMS on it along with Livin' Large. mine doesn't have the Vacation or House Party expansions on it. it does have the SIMS creator though. you can use it to make your own SIMS! i have the hot date, vacation, and the unleashed expansion packs and plan on adding the superstar pack when it's available. i honestly don't use the vacation expansion pack very much...but i use hot date and unleashed. i like unleashed cuz your SIM can go to stores and community areas for free. for hot date or vacation, you have to pay money to take a cab. and with unleashed, the neighborhoods are bigger...

 

[piratesmate]

My son's fiance was really into the Sims & got DD started. After she played for a bit, she kept trying to get me to play. I enjoyed setting things up, but can't really see the attraction of having to do the same household chores on the computer that I'm playing computer games to escape! I'm not sure why paying bills, cleaning up after dinner, taking out the trash, etc is fun. Having said that . . . . I've been know to sit & play for an hour anyway.

One word of caution about the expansion packs - We had bought the original SIMS at a computer trade show. Later, we bought an expansion pack from Wal-Mart for DD. The expansion pack wouldn't install because it said we didn't have a valid copy of the original. It turned out that the registration # had been altered. We had to go borrow someone else's game to straighten out the problem. What a pain.

Have fun,

Deb

 

[katerkat]

SIMs Deluxe is the best value right now -- it comes with SIMs, Livin' Large and a couple "extras" including the SIMs creator. I think it has additional wallpaper and stuff.
As for the expansion packs, I have Livin' Large (I started before the Deluxe edition came out), Hot Date and Unleashed. I skipped House Party, Vacation and Online. I'm DEFINITELY getting Superstar when it comes out. I like hot Date and Unleashed because they give you more locations to visit, downtown and Old Town. I also subscribe to an online service that allows me to downloads tons of extras for the game.
Personally, I really enjoy the game -- I like controlling people. My older sister doesn't enjoy it because she likes more, um, I guess the shooter-type games. The ones where you're doing more. With the SIMs, all you really have to do is keep them alive and happy and get them promoted at their job.

 

[wdwoldtimer]

If you are interested in a sim game like Sim City, might I suggest Roller Coaster Tycoon? It's much more fun.

I played The Sims for a while and got bored with it. Sims Online might be fun, where the other Sims have real people behind them, but I've never tried it.

 

[Towncrier]

My kids and I really enjoyed the Sims. We have all the expansion packs up to but not including "Unleashed". Unfortunately, my kids "loaned" the original Sims CD to someone and now I cannot reload it onto my PC. That's probably a good thing because I used to spend hours with my SIMulated friends. Now that I cannot play Sims, I spend hours with my DIS friends.

 

[katerkat]

Originally posted by wdwoldtimer
If you are interested in a sim game like Sim City, might I suggest Roller Coaster Tycoon? It's much more fun.

Yup, RCTycoon -- and a lot of the other tycoons -- are a lot of fun too. I actually don't really like Disney Coaster... I wanted to, but the set up is not too easy to navigate.

 

[wdwoldtimer]

Do you get Disney parks and rides in Disney Coaster? That would be a great feature. Now if they could put out an official Disney add-on to RCT, I'd be all set.

 

[katerkat]

It's a Magic Kingdom-type park, with Disney rides. And Disney details to add in. It actually looks like it'll be a lot of fun, but I spent so much time playing RCT that I had trouble getting used to a new interface. I should install it on my PC -- I think part of my problems were from being on the new laptop. And yes, a Disney add-on to RCT would be perfect! I already love the other parks and such on RCT-Loopy Landscapes.

 

[montessori]

I couldn't figure out Sim City!

I do enjoy playing The Sims, but I usually just build and decorate houses and shopping centers. I don't play with the people very much.
I think Sims Online does sound like fun.