Welcome to The Sims 2! Part 28

Sims Fans!

Last week was the fabled Electronic Entertainment Expo in L.A., and as always, the event was a study in the rabid devotion of gamers to their favorite medium, as well as a demonstration of the ineffectiveness of even the most powerful cough-drops in the face of three days of extolling the virtues of The Sims 2 on the busy E3 show floor. Imagine filibustering inside a jet engine, and you have a good idea of what my experience was like.

Fortunately, the strain on my vocal chords was well worth it - our demo went over like gangbusters! The highly prominent area for The Sims 2 was always swarming with eager video-game enthusiasts, and everyone was simply blown away when they saw The Sims 2 in action! As you probably already know, the heart of game play in The Sims 2 is centered around the wants and fears of your Sims, and our demo showcased the dramatic possibilities of these new game play mechanics. To wit:

Our demo begins at the birthday party of Don Baxter's son. Friends and family have all gathered by the Baxter's pool to celebrate. Don's old flame, Dina, is in attendance, and good ol' Don, whose life aspirations center squarely on romance, is eager to chat up Dina and perhaps rekindle that old flame. Sarah, Don's wife, naturally has other plans. Her life aspirations focus on her family - she just wants to make sure her son has a great birthday party, and that all remains happy and healthy in the Baxter household. So when Sarah's sister, Virginia, stumbles upon Don and Dina locked in a romantic embrace in the pool cabana, things take a turn for the worse. Virginia, ever the dutiful sister, runs straight away to tell Sarah what she saw. Sarah is devastated by her husband's infidelity. The dust really begins to fly in a knockdown, drag-out fight between Dina and Virginia, who fiercely upholds her sister's honor. This was just one story we showed at the show, since it would have taken all day to show the entire game. Nonetheless, it gave attendees a sense of the myriad of gameplay moments that are waiting to unfold when the game ships on September 17, 2004.

These screenshots should give you a sense of the Baxter party commotion!

Until Next Week

Lucy Bradshaw

Sims 2 Executive Producer & Hoarse Whisperer