‘The Sims’ attracting lots of girls
August 28th, 2006Interesting story from The Telegraph about the popularity of “The Sims” video game, especially among girls.
The image of video games still conjures up adolescent boys zapping aliens or directing large-breasted fantasy figures like Lara Croft. Yet across the country little girls are glued to The Sims, set in middle class suburbia. Their patronage has made it the bestselling computer game ever.
Since the game was launched in 2000, it has sold around 60 million copies - half a billion pounds’ worth. More than half of the players are female (fans include the novelist Fay Weldon), compared to 25 per cent across the industry as a whole, a figure that drops to less than five per cent for the most violent games.
Not only is The Sims turning little girls into technical whizzes, it is also making traditional toys obsolete. Just a generation ago, girls used dolls and doll’s houses to make sense of the world. Today they play out stories with animated characters whom they move around screens with a mouse or joystick.
Hat tip: Tyler/Newman
This is the kind of game that we (as adults and parents) need to be keenly aware of. It may seem, and can be, harmless when given proper guidance and supervision. But this game, like most, can be abused and perverted - and this game to a noteworthy extreme. Get the right “expansion packs” and game hacks, and the “sim” becomes a little too real life.
This ISN’T the only parallel world type concept out there, but it’s far-reaching and very popular as the article indicates. Where “Second Life” is really bizarre, it’s not as well known even though it’s been around for 10+ years. Sims has a huge following and as a game, hides in broad daylight.
I’m not saying the game is bad. In fact, it’s a lot of fun. But do a search (as I did) for add-ins and you may well get more than you bargained for.
Imagine the possibilities as “a chat room for your eyes”.
For years my sister ridiculed me because I liked computer games and thus would play them for hours, then this little game came out and guess who was hooked on a computer game?
‘Girl gang’ in vicious assault on woman, 19
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=1266182006
The Sims is just a computer generated and animated “doll house.” My wife got so addicted to it, she’s quit playing pc games altogether.