The Sims was, and still is, one of the most popular 'people/life' simulator pc games (and one of the only ones available). The idea behind it was conjured up by the person who created the city simulator series, 'sim city', and was developed from maxis. The game lets you direct or control the lives of simulated people (they are still programmed, they do not have Artificail intelligence). You decide what kind of house they live in and what appliances/objects/belongings are placed in their house, and what job they get-even when they go to workd (dont miss two days in a row though, otherwise find your sims another job!). If you use cheats you can even make money materialize into their (or your own, depending on how you look at it) bank account. The game had and probably still has that affect of mezmorizing the player (or should I say 'human') so that they think only ten minutes have passed, then you, the player, looks at their watch realizing that it is in fact 'only' 3:00am.
The first expansion pack to The Sims, also developed by maxis. At the time of its release The Sims was still on most top ten lists* (for populatiry). Livin' Large gave the player to control up to five neighbourhoods of sims, it also added interesting aspects to the game like the robot (if you buy enought and turn them all of you have your own little army....and one really stressed processor) and from what I can recall it also added the grim reaper and some other nuisances to the game. Also, some new objects, skins, and interior/exterior/floor coatings were added.
Yep, The sims are still on most top ten lists*! The second expansion pack to The Sims, this one's title is pretty self Explanitory, you can throw a party at your house, and get an infernal (as you may have guessed I have had my share of mime related woes) mime to boot. Once again, some new objects, skins, and interior/exterior/floor coatings were added.
Hot date enabled players to take their sims downtown, the idea was for sims who were dating, however, I never really used it for that purpose. Also, some new objects, skins, and interior/exterior/floor coatings were added.
The most recent expansion, realeast around the same time as Hot Date. Here is another with a self-explaining title, you get to take your sims on vacation, or more accuratelly, on an expensive trip to a small island full of resorts...and annoying mascots. Just when you thought it could not possibly get any crazier, you can take your sims on a vacation, whoa...what's next!!!. And yes, more new objects, skins, and interior/exterior/floor coatings were added.
The Sims Online is a large, interactive, alternate reality where you are your sims, and you can interact with other people! TSO (The Sims Online) puts a new twist on things with the fact that you no longer go to work, but rather have to make money yourself (try making a pizza for 20 simoleans...) The Sims Unleased is a great new expansion pack, just as great as TSO. TSU (The Sims Unleased) greatly expands the neighbourhoods to 20+ lots. Also, in TSU, you have the option of keeping an animal as your pet in your house!
*A tt list from gamespot that showed how many copies of a game were sold, placed The Sims in 5th with the latest expansion (vacation) in either 4th or 6th . The top ten lists I am referring to covered games for all platforms: pc, gc, xbox, and ps2.