Newer can definately mean better! (The Sims 3 (PC))

Member Name: Byren

Product:	The Sims 3 (PC)
Date:	10/07/09 (16 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Updated Graphics, Not restricted to the house, more advanced personalities

Disadvantages: It'll suck away your social life

I've been a fan of the sims since it was first released back in 2000. To begin with I didn't understand what the hype was all about, but until I actually had a go at controlling these miniature lives I didn't realise the fun to be had!

Fast forward nine years and uncountable expansions later and we have the sims 3. Over the series' lifespan it's gathered a reputation as a game for girls, but I disagree... hell, I should; for a start I dont have the right equipment to be a girl!

Perhaps I should explain what pulls me towards the sims 3. The main thing that's always been a fun part for me is the amount of customisation availible to the player and the ability to build the house that your sims live in. Perhaps that's the architect in me screaming out!

The most interesting new addition (for me) is the incusion of personalities, and I mean like scarily accurate and fun personalities. In the past you had to fill out points in things like cleanliness which would decide how clean the sim is for example. Now the player can choose from a variety of personality types such as Clumsy, Excitable, Ambitious, Absent minded, Natural Cook, Vegetarian, Snob, Good Sense of Humor , Friendly, Evil, Family Orientated, Dislikes Children, Can't Stand Art etc etc etc!

THere are many other upgrades to this game too - the graphics engine has been improved quite considerably; not many people seem to notice this too much but (as a game artist) I've noticed there are many subtle techniques that vastly improve what's on offer this time around such as normal maps and real time shadows.

There's also the ability to walk around the neighbourhood and see your sims at work, you can even decide how they should behave whilst at their job, be it suck up to the boss, try and make a little extra money on the side or slack off.

There are so many aspects to this game, some of which I'm sure I haven't discovered yet. This game is VAST and I doubt that every person that's played it will have had the same experiences. I find it quite a personal journey between you and your sims, there are so many things that could happen and I often find myself causing them some strife just to see what happens!

To veterans of the series I say give it a go, even if you didn't like or got bored of the older games and I urge newcomers to give this game a spin, its fun and, if you get into it, immensely addictive.

Summary: A definate improvement over the other games and even worth a try to haters of the previous games