The Sims 2

By Shaun Hunter

The Sims franchise celebrated its third anniversary in February 2003. The game skyrocketed to the top of the charts when it began shipping to stores and quickly became a universal gaming and cultural phenomenon. The Sims base product was the #1 seller in 2000, 2001 and 2002. Translated into 17 different languages, The Sims has inspired six expansion packs, five of which have all been top sellers. They include The Sims Livin' Large, The Sims House Party, The Sims Hot Date, The Sims Vacation, The Sims Unleashed, and The Sims Superstar. Combined sales for the franchise have topped 24 million units life-to-date. Now the time has come for a new beginning, with that being The Sims 2.

In the next generation of The Sims, The Sims 2, players control their Sims over an entire lifetime for the first time. Every choice that is made has a relevant and dramatic effect on the life of a Sim. More life-like Sims, all-new gameplay, and the ground-breaking addition of genetics, with the DNA of Sims passed down through generations gives players a more vivid, realistic and in-depth Sims experience. All of this takes place in a new, amazingly life-like 3-D world. Experience the crazy, unpredictable ride of a Sim's lifetime in The Sims 2.

Some of the new features in The Sims 2 include guiding your Sims through "Life's Big Moments" which take on a new importance but still maintain a sense of humor. Players now get a "Life Score" which is a direct reflection of the life they choose to live with their individual Sim. The decisions that players make throughout the lifetime of their Sims now have an impact on the ultimate outcome. A choice made as a toddler has a direct effect on the teen and adult Sims they become. Will players be able to successfully lead their Sims through such important events as a first step, first crush, or marriage proposal, all while the clock is ticking? One of the things that is new to the gameplay in Sims 2 is while you are playing your Sims across their lifetime you must try to fulfil their wants and dreams. Sims can come of many varieties, and depending on what sort of Sim they are determines what dreams and aspirations they will have. Sims will also have fears, which could include dying, getting fat or being rejected. When you fulfil their wants you will fill up the aspiration bar. When this bar is full you will unlock rewards and extra behaviours for your Sims.

The Sims in The Sims 2 are more intelligent when compared to the original Sims game, and are more aware and responsive to both other Sims and their surroundings. Sims truly come to life expressing moods and feelings through more realistic body animations and, for the first time, life-like facial animations. They form complex relationships and are able to distinguish between family and friends, platonic friendships and romantic love. Sims in The Sims 2 now have DNA. Passing along physical characteristics and traits to their offspring, Sims both resemble and behave like their ancestors. Mirroring real life, the appearance of the Sims now change over time. In addition to getting older, Sims that spend too much time on the couch will develop a paunch and Sims that work out will enjoy rock solid abs. You will be able to keep track of your Sim�s families through the game�s own family tree. Each Sim will have their own family tree, making it very easy to keep track of who is who.

An entirely new 3-D engine makes the world of The Sims 2 more life-like and dynamic. The Sims 2 will also introduce an all-new "Create-A-Sim" feature. This allows you to customize the facial features of your Sim with a few simple clicks, to a level of detail never realized before. In Create-A-Sim, you make your own Sims from a vast selection of facial features, hairstyles, and outfits. Players are now able to build dwellings over two stories and have the ability to coordinate and customize the homes of their Sims to a new degree of design with all-new furniture, lighting and objects.

System requirements: 600 MHz P3 processor; 256 MB RAM if Windows XP, Windows ME, Windows 98 or Windows 2000; At least 3.5 GB of hard drive space; Nvidia GeForce 2 / ATI Radeon 7000 or better.

The Sims 2 on PC is scheduled for a 16th September release in New Zealand. You can pre-order it today from all good gaming outlets for RRP $99.95.

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