The SimSocial feature on Thesims3.com is a very interesting online based version of The Sims. The Sims is all about creating everything in the world, and then watching it grow, prosper, and mature. SimSocial takes that philosophy and streamlines it to a turn-based system.
SimSocial has many features you would expect from a Sims product such as the ability to create your own sim. The options, while limited, allow the user to personalize his sim to make it 1 of a kind. There are enough options so you can make a completely different sims, although a few more clothing and hair options would have been welcome.
A big aspect of SimSocial is the ability to socialize with your Sim’s friends. The socialization sector of the game seems to be a game more so of chance then actual decision making and chemistry. Granted there is a panel where it displays your friend’s interests and dislikes, but some of this is hard to match up with things you might actually do. While the actual socialization mechanic is a bit of a letdown the robust options more than make up for it. There are a lot of things to do, people to meet, and places to go in SimSocial. Things ranging from “Go to the movies” to “Stare at the walls”. Even the TV has channels to watch, giving you different mood or skill benefits. The interactions are divided into 2 sections, one you can do with friends, and the other you can only do alone. Each section has a bevy of places to go, and some you can obviously only do when you have the money, whereas others might be free.
One of my major gripes with SimSocial is the career system. When you exit the “Create A Sim” feature you are prompted to choose your lifetime goal and career path, which you can change at any time. This works fine for a while, but then you begin wondering “Why do I have the same job?” or “Am I ever going to see a different line of dialog?”. The career progression is never really explained, and feels like it was tacked-on. With the exception of the career panel there isn’t much to telling you what you are supposed to, and the information on the panel is lacking at best. There is an option to take evening classes in addition to your day job. I really wish this feature will be implemented in The Sims 3 when it ships this June, as it is a fantastic idea, even if in SimSocial it lacks grace. The idea of being able to take classes in various skills is a really nice alternative to using the bookcase to study skills every day. IT breaks up the reputation of collecting skill points. The problem with this feature it gives you very little in terms of details as to what you are doing. “How many classes do I have to take until I unlock the next class?” As you ask yourself that question the game never answers it. The career features were really good in feature, but felt more like an afterthought.
Another issue I have with SimSocial is the needs and skills system that is implemented. None of the needs are never explained, and seem to just be there. There is no real way of seeing what is affected because of needs. The job performance is about the only thing I can see that is affected, and that is because they tell you that in the career panel. Other then that the needs section of SimSocial just seems not needed, and pointless. The same can be said for the skill section, “Why am I going to classes again?” I often wonder to myself while I play, the game gives you no reason to actually gain skills. My other issue with the needs and skill sections is that there are too many of them. Since when do we have a “Loneliness” need? Or an “Excitement” need? The skills are the same way, dividing skills up into different levels such as “Basic Cooking” or “Food Safety”. It just seems to be too much micro-managing for a small web game that could have been simplified and streamlined.
The last issue I have with SimSocial is the timer. After a certain number of days your sim will “Fall Asleep” or at least that is what the game tells you. Once your sim falls asleep you cannot play for another 4 hours. This is obviously a means of getting you to come back often to continue your game, it is just an interesting way of implementing it. It reminds me a lot of the strategy used for Nintendogs where you could only do 3 competitions a day, and then you would have to come back the next day. While this feature isn’t disappointing it breaks up the gameplay quite a bit.
Overall I enjoyed SimSocial. It is a neat little web application which for the most part works really well. If it is any indication of what The Sims 3 will be like then we probably will not have much spare time for a few months. The social aspect of the game is the best part of SimSocial, even if it is flawed in some of the gameplay. The user interface is the most problematic part of SimSocial. It pollutes the screen with unnecessary information which is not needed to play the game, and hides the more important features under a layer of junk. I recommend SimSocial, just expect to be taking frequent breaks, and don’t plan on getting anywhere quickly, it will take time.
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