Original Sims

I was a freshman in college when my hallmate and soon-to-be best friend Kristin introduced me to the Sims. While other freshmen were passed out on Frat Row, I was playing Sims. (Which isn’t to say I wasn’t on my own personal quest for alcohol consumption and inappropriate romantic pairings… just that I did it differently.)

I played endless Sims over Kristin’s shoulder, or with her over mine. There were much more limited options in character creation with the original Sims, so we didn’t truly delve into the twisted side of Simville. By the time the detailed facial creation and fashion customization were possible, I’d passed the age of Woohooing my virtual crush or dropping my prettier classmates in a pool, and taking out the ladder. (Er, not that we ever did that. Kristin and I were extremely well-adjusted eighteen-year-olds. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.)

We struggled to balance our Sim careers and Sim relationships, trying to find an equilibrium of professional l success and digital romance. This was made much easier when Kristin googled a money cheat and took the financial burdens away, but I still tended to have a sleepy Sim stomping out the door, late for work again.

Sims taught me that if you can keep a crying newborn alive and moderately well-fed for three days, he’ll become a child and be much easier to deal with. I’m quite disappointed that real children seem to require more of a time commitment.

Sims also taught me that showers and bathtubs break every two or three days, which seemed like an exaggeration, until I moved to China and saw it in action.

Previous game memories: Civ 2, or Why I Should Listen To Eric Sometimes.