Stages of Playing The Sims
Admit it, every time a new Sims game was out, you've found yourself secretly excited to give the new features a go. You've probably spent a fair amount of money on the earlier versions and the numerous expansion packs sold in CD stores, only to discover they didn't work 98% of the time. You've definitely spent more time than you actually had, saying “just one more hour”.
Regardless of what you've done and do with the lives of your Sims, here're the stages that follow in each game.
Stage One: Excitement
You're creating life, altering appearances and personalities. You're in control and you're ready to assert it. You buy a house, place your Sims in it and begin. That weird sofa? Not practical at all, but you'll get it. There are no rules and nothing can stop you from doing as you please.
Stage Two: Dose of Reality
It's only been a few hours but your Sims don't seem to be able to do anything on their own. The banality of everyday life is starting to kick in. You're scrolling all over commanding your Sims to eat and use the loo. It's a chore just making them survive. How are you supposed to make them have friends or love lives?
Stage Three: Settling In
You've spent about quarter of a day by this point and gotten the hang of disciplining your Sims. They're functioning better and you're cruising through. You're taking them out of the house, trying out the new features. You've also probably discovered that the boundaries for depravity are extended with each game and you're making your discoveries.
Stage Four: Creativity
You've spent about half a day playing at this point. Boredom is kicking in but you're hooked. The solution? You put your discoveries to use. You think up various ways in which everything you worked on in the past few hours can be undone. Your interest is back and you're ready to unleash creative ways of ruining/ending the lives of your Sims.
Stage Five: Moving On
Your Sims are miserable or dead, and you're starting to feel the effects of playing all day. You're ready to take on a new family and house but it has to wait a day.
These stages will be repeated several times until you'll eventually come to terms with that fact that everything is repetitive. You'll make an excuse for needing the space on your drive and hit uninstall with no regrets.
Nooha Sabanta Maula is an Anthropology major whose anthropologising has made her confused about life. Send her your thoughts to noohamaula@gmail.com