The Sims 3. Can the Hardcore Gamer Embrace It.

In February of 2000 Will Wright and the folks at Maxis released The Sims to the general public and the world would never be the same. Billed as a digital dollhouse, The Sims struck the mainstream computer owners like a bolt of lightning. Simple gameplay, deep customization, and quirky animation were par for the course here. It was so successful that it spawned 7 expansion packs, a sequel with 8 expansions, a massively multiplayer online game, and on June 2nd of this year, The Sims 3 will be released to an eager public.

This article is about whether "hardcore" gamers can enjoy a game that is clearly geared for a mainstream or casual audience. I hate the term "hardcore" because I don't think it does an enthusiast gamer justice, so I'm going to describe my gaming background so you can see where I'm coming from. My name is Jared Ball. I am 29 years old and have been playing computer games since 1988. I've own every console that Nintendo, Microsoft, Sony, and Sega has ever made. All genres are present in my game library. Halo, Forza 2, Uncharted, Sonic, Mario, Kings Quest, X-com, Civilization, World of Warcraft, the list could go on for a very long time. But there is more than just video games. I play Battle Tech, Squad Leader, Axis & Allies, tabletop rpgs (D&D,Gurps). This is my definition of what a "hardcore" gamer is.

The Sims 3 takes all the good ideas and gameplay from the last game, shed what wasn't needed and gave a general polish to the whole franchise. The best feature for Sims 2 players has to be what the player can do for your sim, like cleaning up after your character. It seems like a small feature, but anyone who was tired of their Sim living like a pig can appreciate that. The new community model is also a welcome addition. Now when I act like an idiot in public or if I do something awesome it will reflect how I'm viewed in the community. The way goals and aspirations are clearly defined and the choices in customization in all aspects of your sims life truly give you a lot to play with. It really does look like fun and I can't wait to try it out.
Now to the main reason I wrote this article. Can a "hardcore" gamer embrace this type of game? I think the answer depends on how good your imagination is. The game will keep you busy for a while, especially with achievements. But sooner or later, stories start developing in your mind. Take the picture above. Why is he dead? Is that woman the ghosts previous lover? Did she have an affair and he killed himself because of it? Did she kill him? I'm sure you see where this is going. When your given total control with avatars or sims sometimes very dark thoughts enter your mind of things you can do. Things you would never do in real life. You can truly build a story behind your character or group of characters. See the "hardcore" will use The Sims 3 as a tool for creation. Using the cute exterior and graphics to tell creative stories that have fun, sad, dramatic, possibly violent content. The choices are endless with what you can do.

Mass-murderer Agustus Saul decides to kill his next victims with
his boring knowledge of Astronomy.

As you can see, my storytelling will run in the dark side of the human psyche. With The Sims 3 video editing software I'll be able to record my stories and share them with friends. One story I have in mind is as follows, Jim was a small time ballplayer with a long term goal of being a professional athlete. He's married and has one child, a son. Success seems in site when something terrible happens. He blows out his knee, dooming him to never play ball again. His inability to deal with the problems destroys his marriage. Now at this point the character has to make a decision, go down the path to self-destruction. Or does the character find a way through the mental pain and sadness to make himself a better person. His new goal is to be there for his son and help him cultivate his skills to become the professional athlete he could not be. Now that is kind of a rough cut of a story. But I think I can use The Sims 3 to tell that story, record it, and share it with people around the world. That is about as "hardcore" as it gets and there will be millions of people doing the same thing. With me, you will always know my creations because they will share a certain theme reminiscent in the Kobayashi Maru scenario. I love no win situations.