The Sims Mega Deluxe

In case you didn't know, The Sims is a real-life simulator where you have the ability to create and run your own family of Sims and build and furnish the houses they live in. This game is a lot of fun because the gameplay is virtually limitness - you can do pretty much whatever you want with your Sims - you can give them a great job with tons of money, you can marry your neighbour and start a family, or you could purposely set your house on fire! Anything's possible on The Sims. The object of the game is to keep your Sims' happy, while entertaining yourself as well. There are many household items that you can buy and your Sims can interact with these in their house. Some items, such as refridgerators, showers, beds, and toilets, fill Sims' needs so that they can be in the best mood possible. Your Sims can work and bring home the bacon to buy new things for their home, or they can slack off and watch the unpaid bills roll in!

The expansion packs are as follows:

Livin' Large - The first ever Sims expansion comes with many new items, many decor styles, new skins for your Sims, new career possibilities and a whole lot more. This one's a must for any Sims player.

House Party - Your Sims have the ability to throw parties! Along with many cool new items and skins, your Sims can throw parties that can balloon, or bust, depending or what kind of a good host your Sim is! If your party is good enough, you might get a celebrity over to your Sims' house...

Hot Date - Your sims can finally leave their homes! The new "Downtown" area is a place where Sims can take their dates, eat, shop, or just chill.

All the expansion packs are highly worthwhile, and will extend the amount of things to do on The Sims. The only complaints I have are minor ones - The isometric graphics are a little outdated after 4 years, but they still provide the same fun experience. The sounds remain pretty much the same, except for some new music in House Party and Hot Date (The sim-language rap from House Party is great! (kind of...)

Although this game might not be for everyone, I still highly recommend that you try it out, who knows, it might be for you, it might not be for you, but if it is for you, you'll probably spend a lot of waking hours playing this! You can thank me later.

I admit that I have never managed to make my Sims happy without using cheat codes. They don't start with enough money ("Simoleons") to buy quality furniture, which means they don't get enough rest, entertainment, nourishment, etc. That leaves them depressed and tired, which in turn keeps them from studying and/or exercising, which means that they don't get promoted and don't earn enough money to buy better furniture.

Then there is the issue of friends: your Sims need friends in order to be happy and also to get promoted. Once your Sim has made friends with someone, the relationship needs nurturing, otherwise your Sim loses friendship points and eventually the relationship itself. Making friends isn't hard, but keeping the relationship going is - especially if your Sim has to work. There are only so many hours in a Sim's day, and especially in the beginning, those hours are spent working, studying, preparing meals, sleeping, etc.

My main criticism, however, is that their children never grow up. How boring! The game would be much more interesting if they became teenagers and wreaked havoc on the neigborhood!