The Level Up Blogfest

Allison from Geek Banter and Jamie from Mithril Wisdom are hosting the Level Up Blogfest today, which I've been excited about ever since I heard about it, what a great idea for a blogfest!

The idea is to pick a game (it can be a video game, card game, board game - any kind of game you want) and tell us about it.

I've decided to talk about the Sims series, as it's been my favourite game series since it came out when I was just 10 years old. I play other games as well, but this is the one I'll choose above all others when I just want to sit and relax.

There are three games in the series, each with their own expansion packs. I own every single one; I'm a dedicated fan! The Sims 2 is my favourite, although I love The Sims 3 as well, and that's the one I predominantly play now. I loved The Sims 1 when it first came out, I remember whenever a new expansion would come out I would go into town with my brother and sister to buy it (as my mum worked nights and so was in bed during the day) and it was like a big adventure for us. I think most of my childhood was dedicated to this game, and it's probably the reason why my grades have never been amazing!

The game basically involves creating sims, building and decorating their houses, and controlling their lives. It's a bit like writing, since you're creating new characters and doing whatever you want with them. It's a great form of escapism, being able to create a family and make them rich or poor, happy or sad, and letting them do things I'm unable to in real life. It can be a very soothing game to play, and it's nice to be in control.

I love the story-like aspect of the game. In each game, there are pre-made families in each neighbourhood, and I love how they developed these families with each new game. For example, in the Sims 1 there was a family called the Goth family, with Bella and Mortimer Goth, and their daughter Cassandra. (It was always fun to play this family, as they owned a very large house and were quite rich already). Then in the Sims 2, which was set some time later, it transpired that Bella had mysteriously disappeared, and Mortimer and a now adult Cassandra were alone in their mansion. It was always fun playing the Sims 2, as there were quite a few clues as to where Bella had gone, including a double of her in one of the other towns in the game. There are also a lot of in jokes concealed within the game, like the llama.

It's also fun sometimes just to go on a 'sim killing spree'. I did this more often when I was younger, and didn't feel quite so guilty for just killing sims off heartlessly. For example, in the original sims game you could invite a lot of neighbours to your house for a party, including townies you didn’t know, so I had someone buy a square of land and build a pool in it, with no ladder, and invite all of these sims over. They’d all get in the pool and be unable to get out because of the lack of a ladder, and they’d all drown. And then there was the time I filled a room with bins (because they’re highly flammable) and lit the fire so they all caught fire, and killed all of the sims in that family. I don't do it so much now, unless I've had a really bad day. There were a few funny ways for sims to die, as well, including 'die by flies' which occurred if your Sims left too many dirty plates around their house. That one was always fun to watch. And then there was the hamster disease which killed your sim if their hamster bit them. Ahh, memories. 

Me.

Yep, I think this is the one I used most often.

Another reason why I love this game is that it’s the kind of game that I’m really good at. I’m terrible at games like World of Warcraft and console games, I just can’t work them, I just tend to die all the time.

My other favourite games are the Rollercoaster Tycoon and Simcity series.

Sorry for the super long post, but I really do love the Sims! I could have written a lot more about it. Writing this post has made me want to play it so badly, but unfortunately I don’t have time. Oh well! What’s your favourite game?