A challenge even for the Dragons! (The Sims 2: Open for Business (Add-On) (PC))

Member Name: SophieRainbow

Product:	The Sims 2: Open for Business (Add-On) (PC)
Date:	12/08/09 (6 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fun, adds variety, realistic

Disadvantages: Quite difficult to keep afloat

Of all the Sims 2 expansion packs this was the only one I chose to buy based on playing it with a friend, and it was certainly a good decision.

Open for Business allows the player to build community lots which are owned by Sims or create home businesses. There is also the option of a Downtown area - as in Sims Night Life - and though there are no cars, this option provides most of the benefits of the Night Life expansion pack. Businesses available include a hair salon, flower shop, toy shop, cafe, and ticketed hang-out (i.e. pay on the door bar or club) which require the new objects provided. Other than this, shops can be made to sell any of the other items in the Sims catalogue (paintings, furniture etc.)

You can chose the stock and set the price, employ Sims, gather sales and restocking badges and gain customer loyalty and perks and climb the business rankings.

*Benefits*
+ Additional clothes and 125 new objects, including a Lemonade stand and elevator
+ Sims' Turn-ons and Turn-offs can be set to facilitate match-making
+ Businesses provide more diverse game play and are a great addition for Sims on the Business career path
+ Crafting stations for toys and flowers are fun to watch
+ Realistic play: for example, without an experienced stylist, Sims on the make-over station sometimes end up with messy facepaint!

*Downsides*
- In both community and home-business lots customers can wander into private areas such as the staff room or house.
- Quite difficult to build up a business, as it requires many hours of work and the Sims mood declines rapidly while working
- Capital required means that running a business would be almost impossible without money cheats
- It takes a lot of experience for Sims to be able to make more advanced products (e.g. flowers and cakes)

In my opinion this is the best expansion pack for th Sims 2. I have had hours of game play out of this game which I never seem to tire of, and have yet to try the toy shop out!

Summary: A fun expansion pack which offers the benefits of Night Life and more