Better than Life? Wednesday, January 19, 2005
#1
Posted 19 January 2005 - 12:54 PM
Nope. That was The Sims 2. In reality I have become gaunt and jaundiced. The only thing keeping me alive has been the package of stale crackers that just happened to be right by my computer. I have ignored my most basic needs of hunger and personal hygiene. I'm unshaven, sickly and depressed. Depressed that I've completely wasted the lion's share of two days. TWO whole days! Gone.
When I woke up this morning, I dragged my achy body over to my computer and fired the game up again out of instinct. After two hours of real time (which usually feels like somewhere between 5-10 minutes) I realized that I was no longer having any fun. My body had become nothing more than the custodian to the half dozen families I was playing and maintaining in the game. They were all doing quite well.
I wanted to stop, but I couldn't. Each mouse click opens a whole new series of tasks that need to be performed. I must have Nebuchadnezzar flirt with Marissa and gain +500 aspiration points. I must spend a couple of hours practicing speech in the mirror to gain the charisma points needed to get that promotion at work. I must, I must...
I must STOP! Why can't I stop? This is the same thing that happened five years ago when I played the original Sims game. It starts off well enough as a fun diversion. Then it becomes a fun, endless obsession. Then it controls your every waking hour until you realize you are tired and sick but you still can't stop. You have so many plans! There are new Sims to create, additions needed to be put on houses, money to be made!
Somebody help me... please...
Buy the New LittleHorse CD, Strangers in the Valley!
CD Baby | iTunes | LittleHorse - Flight of the Bumblebee Video
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#3
Posted 19 January 2005 - 01:43 PM
Then the cycle begins anew, but it's at least less obsessive when you're used to the game. The most dangerous period is when the Sims keep doing things that you've never seen before, giving the illusion of life. After awhile, though, the patterns and limitations are revealed, and you know exactly how many times you need to talk to Josie Pussycat or Elizabeth Bennet in order to woo her, and exactly how many times you need to insult Mortimer Goth before he cries.
#4
Posted 19 January 2005 - 02:06 PM
Laura, you are right. However, have you played The Sims 2 yet? The amount of new gameplay options is NEVER ENDING! There are just too many things to do. Paul had a great woman who slept with everyone in town and then painted a picture of them in her bed when she was done and hung them all on her walls as trophies.
I wish I'd thought of that one.
Buy the New LittleHorse CD, Strangers in the Valley!
CD Baby | iTunes | LittleHorse - Flight of the Bumblebee Video
Chefelf on: Twitter | friendfeed | Jaiku | Bitstrips | Muxtape | Mento | MySpace | Flickr | YouTube | LibraryThing
#6
Posted 19 January 2005 - 04:44 PM
...that, and my laptop being too old and crappy to run it
Less Is More v4
Now resigned to a readership of me, my cat and some fish
#7
Posted 19 January 2005 - 09:12 PM
Do Not Enter If You're In the Sims 12 Step Program
Now I'm making more and more families to prepare for the *DUM DUM DUM* NEXT EXPANSION
People tell you to say no to crack, but they never tell you about The Sims.
This post has been edited by Chefelf: 20 January 2005 - 11:13 AM
- Tagline for Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter
You've read it, you can't un-read it. Stay tooned for more
TALES OF INTEREST.
I like to be part of the crowd so I want to say that Icey is the best guy ever
#8
Posted 19 January 2005 - 11:46 PM
- Tagline for Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter
You've read it, you can't un-read it. Stay tooned for more
TALES OF INTEREST.
I like to be part of the crowd so I want to say that Icey is the best guy ever
#9
Posted 20 January 2005 - 01:27 AM
After that, just fight the temptation. In time, you'll grow too lazy to both open up the box that stores your game, walk to your cpu, and sit through the installation process.
It works well for me. Take care and eat well.
This post has been edited by Jordan: 20 January 2005 - 01:28 AM
#10
Posted 20 January 2005 - 11:19 AM
I think I will elect to not purchase the first expansion pack. Too much time spent already with this damn game. It's just so much damn fun!
From a gameplay perspective this game is an amazing sequel. I can't believe how many hours of gameplay you could get out of this game. It's a steal at $40 USD.
Buy the New LittleHorse CD, Strangers in the Valley!
CD Baby | iTunes | LittleHorse - Flight of the Bumblebee Video
Chefelf on: Twitter | friendfeed | Jaiku | Bitstrips | Muxtape | Mento | MySpace | Flickr | YouTube | LibraryThing
#12
Posted 21 January 2005 - 09:30 PM
I used to have The Addiction, but I'm happy to say that I haven't played or even had the urge to play The Sims in about two years. How? A very crappy computer, and a great deal of impatience. The game would always take about a half an hour just to load up, only to then move at less than a snail’s pace and randomly crash without warning - and that was just the original! Now imagine that, plus five expansion packs and hundreds upon hundreds of extra skins downloaded into it!
Needless to say, I'd rather whack myself in the head with a mallet repeatedly than touch that game again...
Chyld is an ignorant slut.
- Campbell Bean (David Tennant), Takin' Over the Asylum, 1994
#13
Posted 23 January 2005 - 06:53 AM
Chef, send me your RAM, MotherBoard, and Video Card. In return you can have my 4 year old equivalencies. My RAM is RAMBUS, I know that will kill your SIMS experiece in about 13 seconds of playing. What say you man? Trade?
#14
Posted 23 January 2005 - 10:21 AM
I have banned myself from playing the Sims, for I know the danger that lies within.
JM's official press secretary, scientific advisor, diplomat and apparent antagonist?
#15
Posted 25 January 2005 - 08:27 PM
two words:
"Leave the ****ing CD at your parents' house after a visit, & never bring it back"
That would seem fair, since Chefelf left most of everything he didn't need in NY in our basement, what is one more little computer game.
I also have two words YARD SALE