The Sims 2: First Screensots

FrustratedPoet · May 7, 2003, 08:53

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/...s_6026347.html

Although the first game had some HUGE gameplay flaws and the Online version is a big flop, this new incarnation might make the series worth another look. If Mr.Wright spends more time fixing the gameplay problems and less time adding more doll's house eye candy then this could be a game to watch.

As you can see, the new game will be fully 3D and it looks very pretty.

Happy families:

FrustratedPoet · May 7, 2003, 08:54

A party gets a little out of control

FrustratedPoet · May 7, 2003, 08:55

Voyeurs and perverts shoud be well catered for.

Nikolai · May 7, 2003, 09:53

Looks very good!

Do we know anything about the system requirements?

FrustratedPoet · May 7, 2003, 09:58

I think it's a bit too early in the development cycle for them to be releasing that kind of info. The game was only officially announced a few days ago. Maybe more details will be released at E3 next week.

Solver · May 7, 2003, 10:19

Argh, not just that! The plague of gaming returns, and I can already see 6 expansions coming out for that one.... NOOOO!

Az · May 7, 2003, 10:51

Thank goodness that there is no way that my computer would be able to support this game.

Traianvs · May 7, 2003, 11:40

Gah, it stays boring, no matter what kind of graphics.. If I want to see a fight I might as well do it in real life anyway

Urban Ranger · May 7, 2003, 12:22

Death! Doom! Destruction! Mayham!

General Ludd · May 7, 2003, 12:32

The first game was crap and I don't expect any more of the second, but I'll download it just for the novelty of it.

Alex · May 7, 2003, 12:53

My sister used to play with Barbie and Ken. I liked Playmobils.

FrustratedPoet · May 7, 2003, 12:56

Is it impossible for the second game to improve over the original to the point where it is playable?

ixnay · May 7, 2003, 13:13

Well, it looks better at least.

I'd be willing to give this one a try.

FrustratedPoet · May 7, 2003, 13:27

The AI needs to improve even more than the graphics. It would be nice if you were able to leave your Sim alone for a moment without it being 2 hours late for work, taking a whizz all over the couch, setting fire to the kitchen and starving itself half to death.

The concept of The Sims is a good one, I think, and it has the potential to be an excellent game. Hopefully the huge retail success of the first game won't make the designers think "Well, since loads of people love the first one we don't need to change much second time around". That's a real possibility, of course.

General Ludd · May 7, 2003, 13:39

Quote:

Originally posted by FrustratedPoet
Is it impossible for the second game to improve over the original to the point where it is playable?

It is an intersting concept and I think there is potential for it to be atleast as good as the other sim games, but frankly, they seem more interested in making expansion packs then improving apon the game concept.

And I agree with you on the AI, that is probably the biggest flaw to the current game.

JCG · May 7, 2003, 13:59

My brother was absolutely addicted to the original Sims game...I didn't really care, and unless I see some reasonable improvements/changes, I'll probably just test it for a couple of days.

DrSpike · May 7, 2003, 15:47

Quote:

Originally posted by FrustratedPoet

The concept of The Sims is a good one, I think, and it has the potential to be an excellent game.

FP I am disappointed in you. The concept is lousy, and the gameplay even more boring than most Sim games. The Sims is the Sunday Gamers greatest triumph........if Sims 2 can cement the gains made by it's colossally boring predecessor the Sunday Gamers may begin to outnumber true gamers (oooooh look Mildred, he's mowing the lawn!!), and all games will begin to pander to their somewhat warped priorities.

We cannot let this happen.

General Ludd · May 7, 2003, 16:41

Really, DrSpike. Of all the things to be snobbish or elitist about, computer games really is a very pathetic choice.

DrSpike · May 7, 2003, 16:43

Don't worry I am elitist about more important things as well.

I was of course being a little flippant.

FrustratedPoet · May 7, 2003, 16:59

Quote:

Originally posted by DrSpike
FP I am disappointed in you.

Zero · May 7, 2003, 19:10

I can see how I could love the game and play for hours if they only fixed the whole AI thing.

They could also use some improvements on how time runs. Its not fun when it takes you 20 mintues of 24 hr life cycle just to goto the bathroom

**** elitists, I like "sunday gamers" alot better anyway, they smell nicer and can actually engage in conversation with others without sounding like a weirdo

Skanky Burns · May 7, 2003, 19:19

I'm actually interested in this one too. It seems to be more similar to the Playstation version of the Sims (which is in 3d), and as the Playstation version incorporated some challenges and multiplayer components that actually turned the Sims into a game rather than a "Here, play this until you get bored" phenomenon, chances are the good parts will rub off onto Sims2.

If they only fixed the pathfinding so that people who got "cut off" by other sims don't just stand there for half an hour blocking everyone else behind them, it would still be a major improvement to the AI. Hopefully they will do more than that though.

Then again, maybe I just play it to indulge in my all-female household with Jerry Springer-esque relationships...

DrSpike · May 7, 2003, 19:46

Quote:

Originally posted by Calc II

**** elitists, I like "sunday gamers" alot better anyway, they smell nicer and can actually engage in conversation with others without sounding like a weirdo

Hehe, like I said, flippant.

I thought it was quite a funny post.

alva · May 7, 2003, 22:35

So did I

-
Can anyone tell me what the big deal with 'the sims' is anyway??

The interface does look very familiar

Urban Ranger · May 7, 2003, 23:46

I can't even say the concept of the game is interesting. It was novel, I grant you that much. The novelty wears off quickly, however, when you watch the sim lifeforms taking 30 minutes game time just to use the bathroom.

Solver · May 8, 2003, 06:20

I absolutely agree with Spike. I see the concept of this game as a very bad one, and that's why there's no way I am getting this game.

I'm not a big fan of Sim games overall, but I agree that SimCity is an excellent concept. Again, there might be gameplay flaws, but it's quite addicitive and a fun game to play it is. For some time, at least.

The Sims though... can anyone explain me, what's so fun about controlling lives of a few, uhmm, guys? Sure, there are things you can do that you'd never could in real life, but it absolutely lacks the excitement. Getting a better job, a new house or something in real life is indeed quite an exciting and pleasant moment. Seeing that happen on screen... pah, involvement feeling in that game is approximately zero.

Imran Siddiqui · May 8, 2003, 07:56

Sims 1 was addicting and fun for about two days... then you realized, nothing new was EVER going to happen. Then it sucked. I'm sure some people had fun building their houses, but it just didn't grab me after a first few days.

I think I'll leave the 2nd incarnation.

Alex · May 8, 2003, 10:14

Dollhouses are for sissies.

Urban Ranger · May 8, 2003, 11:24

Quote:

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Sims 1 was addicting and fun for about two days... then you realized, nothing new was EVER going to happen. Then it sucked. I'm sure some people had fun building their houses, but it just didn't grab me after a first few days.

I got very irritated after finding out I couldn't even walk around the block. Sod that, I thought.

pg · May 8, 2003, 11:45

Quote:

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Sims 1 was addicting and fun for about two days... then you realized, nothing new was EVER going to happen. Then it sucked. I'm sure some people had fun building their houses, but it just didn't grab me after a first few days.

this is my exact experience with the sims. i actually thought it was interesting until i figured out the emperor has no clothes. the most fun i had with the sims was playing a grief character and screwing over my brother, and sister's characters.

if they could make it substantially deeper in the gameplay department i think it could be a decent game at least.