The Sims Social

The Sims Social
Developer(s) Playfish
Publisher(s) EA Games
Distributor(s) Electronic Arts
Series The Sims
Platform(s) Facebook Platform
Release date(s) August 9, 2011
Genre(s) Dating sim, Life simulation

The Sims Social is a Facebook addition to the Sims series of videogames. It was announced during the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2011 press conference. As with the original Sims games, The Sims Social lets the user create their own customizable character. In this version, however, the player uses their character to interact with those of their Facebook friends. The characters can develop likes or dislikes for other Sims, creating relationships that can be publicized on the user's Facebook page.[1]

On June 14, 2013, The Sims Social was shut down, and it is no longer playable.

Description

The Sims Social was a Facebook videogame developed by Playfish and EA, taking place in a fictional town called Littlehaven. A mobile application for smartphones was in development as a companion app to the Facebook version.[2] The game also features remakes of real life famous people such as Lady Sim-Sim (Lady Gaga), Elvis Plumbob (Elvis Presley), and Sims Cara (Sin Cara).[3]

Skills

Like other games in The Sims series, Sims can develop skills. There are currently six skills: art, cooking, music, writing, athletic, driving, and various project skill items which are tied with specific themed collections.[4] Developing higher level skill levels allow Sims to obtain new objects. Sims develop skills when the player interacts with an art object (such as easel or computer when level 30), a music object (such as a guitar or keyboard when level 10), a cooking object (such as a microwave, a coffee maker when level 10, or a stove when level 15), or a writing object (such as a computer or typewriter when level 10). At times, skills are a part of quests given to the player for their Sim to achieve.

Careers

Careers in the The Sims Social are, however, much different than those of previous Sim games. Sims can aspire to three different career paths: Rocker, Chef, and Artist. Each career consists of 5 levels each with three sub-levels. To advance in their given career players are required to submit appointments for various jobs. After the given appointment time the player can send their Sim to work and earn Simoleons and Career Points. Career Points help further careers leading to promotions. After each promotion players receive a special object only acquirable through a career. Upon completion of an entire career track, players can select a new career track at the cost of forgoing all past career history.

Traits

There are currently 12 traits for Sims in The Sims Social and only can be purchased with Lifetime Points. All traits feature between three and five levels; each needing to be bought at a higher price of Lifetime Points than the last one. The traits are slob, steel bladder, neat, super mechanic, insane, ogre, ninja, great kisser, night owl, expert cook, music maestro, and art virtuoso. When the player upgrades the level of a trait, the trait becomes more prominent in the Sim's lifestyle. The most visible example of this is in the ninja trait. When a Sim has the level one ninja trait, the Sim walks faster. However, when a Sim has the level five ninja trait, they can teleport from place to place.[5] The ninja trait is useful if the player has a larger house. In the insane trait, Sims can reduce the need of being social and can talk with plants without visiting people (in previous versions, talking to plants also eliminated the energy needed to fulfill Social). For example, a level 4 insane trait lets the sim talk to themselves to fulfill fun and social need without eliminating energy. Certain career traits, like art virtuoso, provide the benefit of earning more Simoleons while using the respective skill object. However, these traits can only be unlocked by reaching specific career levels.

Needs and Energy

In The Sims Social, Sims have needs, just as with other games in The Sims series. However, unlike other games in the series, Sims cannot die. There are six needs: social, fun, hunger, hygiene, bladder, and sleep.[6] When all of the needs are fulfilled, the player's Sim will become inspired. Inspired Sims earn more Simoleons when performing skill tasks. Sims with a bad mood will not follow the directions of the player. Instead, they will fulfill their own needs by autonomy. All mood meters cycle from deep green (good) to lighter green, yellow, orange, red, and finally gray. All needs can be improved from the Sim's home. Another feature located right beside the needs is the fun meter. This can variate largely depending on the Sim's personality.[7] For example, a Sim with an athletic personality will not find playing computer and arcade games as enjoyable as a Sim with a geek personality. Sims will take care of themselves using autonomy. If left to their own devices, Sims will perform actions that will help out the lowest meter, provided they have an appropriate object nearby. This cannot go on extended periods of time, as eventually the game pauses and tells the player "Your Sim Needs You!", or to keep playing the game.

Currency

The Sims Social has four currencies: Simoleons, SimCash, Social Points, and Lifetime Points. These currencies are used to purchase items in the game. Simoleons are the most basic currency and can be most readily earned by performing almost any non-autonomous task. SimCash can most readily be obtained by purchasing them with real-world currencies; however, a recent update to the game permits users to earn up to 10 SimCash as a reward for playing the game on 5 consecutive days. SimCash allows the player to purchase special and limited edition objects. When the player begins the game, they will receive 40 free SimCash.[8] Social Points are obtained by performing social interactions with other Sims. These can be used to purchase objects that are not available using Simoleons. You can exchange the Social Points for Simoleons by buying a Social Point item and selling them. Similar to Lifetime Happiness Points in The Sims 3 and The Sims 2, Lifetime Points are a currency only used for buying specific traits. They are the only currency that cannot be bought through SimCash but rather earned by completing various quests or leveling up on skill objects.

Social Interaction

Unlike its predecessors, The Sims Social uses the socializing features of Facebook to allow players to send and receive gifts in order to finish certain quests or objects. For example, when a Sim levels up to a skill, they must have certain items to unlock the next level. Most of these items are obtained by sending requests to other friends or by interacting with friends' Sims.[9] This has proved problematic to players who do not have a large amount of friends. When the player cannot obtain objects from friends, the only other option is to skip the task using SimCash. Furthermore, certain items, such as double beds and couches, will have a hammer icon in the right corner, denoting that some assembly is required. To assemble these items, a player will need certain items that usually can only be obtained by sending requests to friends.

Players can pursue three different relationships with their friends NPCs. They can become friends, rivals, or enter into a romance. There are various relationship levels to be unlocked, going from acquaintances to friends to BFFs or friendly rivals.[10] Each relationship path gives the player different social interactions, as well as different tasks that can be performed at friends’ homes. For example, rivals can be rude to one another by insulting each other, playing pranks, messing with household appliances, and other negative interactions. Once the player reaches a new relationship level. Certain relationship levels require the other party to first approve the relationship status before they are reflected in the game.

Crafting

In addition to building items and unlocking skills, players can use items found by performing tasks to craft special potions and complete collections. Players can craft numerous potions that can provide benefits to Sims.[11] For example, a fun potion will instantly max out a Sim's fun level, or a bad mood potion will instantly tank all a Sim's needs. Depleting needs is helpful when finding certain items. Items can be crafted by going to the crafting section at the bottom of the screen. Other crafting items include free energy and Simoleons. Hovering over items that are required will show the ways to obtain them in-game. Once all of the required items are obtained, players can click on the crafting button and craft the item. The crafted item is then stored in the player's backpack. Many ingredients can also be gifted to other players.

Reception

Since its release to the public, the game had accumulated over 65 million players, with over 16 million added in its first week alone. It was one of the fastest growing Facebook games of all time[12] and was the fifth most-used Facebook application in less than a month of release.[13] Starting on September 9, 2011, The Sims Social temporarily became the second-most popular Facebook game.[14][15] After two months at #2, its decline dropped its ranking, with unfixed glitches and errors and lack of content updates that other top games (like FarmVille) maintain largely to blame.[16]

FIFA Superstars promotional stadium

After The Sims Social has been launched, Playfish had given The Sims Social Stadium for EA Sports FIFA Superstars. The promotion had started at mid-September 2011 that player need to reach level 10 in The Sims Social to claim them, before it is removed. The promotional stadium has been added on September 23, 2011.

November 2012 - The Sims Social drops out of the top 25 facebook games

As of the November 2012 AppData charts (which charts the popularity of Facebook games) the DAU (Daily Average Users) of The Sims Social dropped out of the top 25 for the first time,[17] with many users commenting on Facebook that difficulty achieving goals and repetitive tasks make the game unattractive compared to rivals.

Awards

On February 9, 2012, The Sims Social won the Social Networking Game of the Year award at the 15th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards[18] and on February 15, 2012, The Sims Social was nominated for best online browser game by the British Academy Video Game Awards - a subsidiary of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.[19]

Closure

On April 15, 2013, Electronic Arts announced that The Sims Social, along with SimCity Social and Pet Society, would be closed down on June 14, 2013.[20] The closures of all three titles occurred 3 days later than normal on June 17, 2013. However all three app pages are still in existence.

References

  1. ↑ Keith Stuart (August 7, 2011). "See what happens when your sims get off with your Facebook friends | Technology | The Observer". London: Guardian. Retrieved February 13, 2012.
  2. ↑ Press Release: EA Announces The Sims Social | Infinite Sims
  3. ↑ "The Sims 3". Facebook. Retrieved February 13, 2012.
  4. ↑ "The Sims Social". EA. Archived from the original on February 13, 2012. Retrieved February 13, 2012.
  5. ↑ "The Sims Social: Traits and their Usefulness - Tips & Tricks". pagespot.org. Archived from the original on April 24, 2012. Retrieved February 13, 2012.
  6. ↑ Osborne, Joe (August 9, 2011). "The Sims Social is live on Facebook; kiss your (real) social life goodbye". Games.com. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Main Interface - The Sims Social Wiki Guide". IGN. August 18, 2011. Retrieved February 13, 2012.
  8. ↑ "The Sims Social Review". Platform Nation. September 2, 2011. Retrieved February 13, 2012.
  9. ↑ Matthew Lynley (2011-08-18). "Electronic Arts' The Sims Social is now live". VentureBeat. Retrieved 2012-02-13.
  10. ↑ Matthew Lynley (August 25, 2011). "Electronic Arts' The Sims Social hits 4.6 million daily players a week after launch". VentureBeat. Retrieved February 13, 2012.
  11. ↑ "The Sims Social Crafting Guide". Sims-Social. November 16, 2011. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
  12. ↑ Brian Ward (August 31, 2011). "Sims Social Is Facebook's Fastest Growing Application". Facebook. Archived from the original on April 1, 2012. Retrieved February 13, 2012.
  13. ↑ "AppData - Facebook application leaderboards, charts, and metrics". Facebook. Retrieved February 13, 2012.
  14. ↑ "The Sims Social bests FarmVille as the second-largest Facebook game". Los Angeles Times. September 9, 2011. Retrieved February 13, 2012.
  15. ↑ "Latest AppData Update: Monday, March 12, 2012". AppData.com. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
  16. ↑ "The Sims Social stumbles behind FarmVille, Zynga Poker etc. on charts". Games. December 12, 2011. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
  17. ↑ Mike Thompson (November 1, 2012). "The Top 25 Facebook Games of November 2012".
  18. ↑ "Skyrim rides into victory with five IAAS including game of the year at the 15th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards" (PDF). Interactive. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
  19. ↑ "Video Games Awards Nominations in 2012". BAFTA. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
  20. ↑ Wesley Yin-Poole (April 15, 2013). "EA shuts down "older" Facebook games The Sims Social, SimCity Social and Pet Society". Eurogamer. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
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