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| The Sims celebrates its 25th anniversary | |
| (6 days later) | |
| Humple Borpnah! The Sims is celebrating its 25th birthday | Humple Borpnah! The Sims is celebrating its 25th birthday |
| The Sims was never supposed to be a hit. | The Sims was never supposed to be a hit. |
| Back in the 1990s, when creator Will Wright pitched the game to his bosses, they weren't convinced by his idea of a "virtual dollhouse". | Back in the 1990s, when creator Will Wright pitched the game to his bosses, they weren't convinced by his idea of a "virtual dollhouse". |
| A so-called life simulator where players design their own characters, give them personalities and tend to their needs. | A so-called life simulator where players design their own characters, give them personalities and tend to their needs. |
| Who wants that? | Who wants that? |
| Quite a lot of people, it turns out. | Quite a lot of people, it turns out. |
| Now, 25 years from its debut, The Sims is one of the best-selling video game series of all time, with an active community of superfans known as Simmers. | Now, 25 years from its debut, The Sims is one of the best-selling video game series of all time, with an active community of superfans known as Simmers. |
| The latest instalment, The Sims 4, has been translated into 18 languages and played by 85 million people worldwide, according to publisher Electronic Arts. | The latest instalment, The Sims 4, has been translated into 18 languages and played by 85 million people worldwide, according to publisher Electronic Arts. |
| The original game's open-ended nature helped it to become a hit and reach so-called "casual gamers" outside the medium's more dedicated audience. | The original game's open-ended nature helped it to become a hit and reach so-called "casual gamers" outside the medium's more dedicated audience. |
| Players had the freedom to carefully craft a detailed domestic setting for their digital people, managing their love lives, daily routines, basic needs and hobbies in exacting detail. | Players had the freedom to carefully craft a detailed domestic setting for their digital people, managing their love lives, daily routines, basic needs and hobbies in exacting detail. |
| But it also allowed them to imagine various torments for their virtual pals. One of the most famous - stranding your Sim in a swimming pool without a ladder - remains a popular meme to this day. | But it also allowed them to imagine various torments for their virtual pals. One of the most famous - stranding your Sim in a swimming pool without a ladder - remains a popular meme to this day. |
| UK-based streamer Jesse, best known as Plumbella, says she became obsessed with the legendary trick when she first played the game at five years old. | UK-based streamer Jesse, best known as Plumbella, says she became obsessed with the legendary trick when she first played the game at five years old. |
| Jesse, aka Plumbella, appreciates the community vibe of The Sims | Jesse, aka Plumbella, appreciates the community vibe of The Sims |
| The Sims has been part of Jesse’s life ever since, thanks, she says, to the community around it. | The Sims has been part of Jesse’s life ever since, thanks, she says, to the community around it. |
| Players can create modifications or "mods" that alter different elements from the way the game plays to a character's appearance. | Players can create modifications or "mods" that alter different elements from the way the game plays to a character's appearance. |
| Extra height options, having multiple jobs and neurodivergent personality traits are among some of the popular fan-made add-ons. | Extra height options, having multiple jobs and neurodivergent personality traits are among some of the popular fan-made add-ons. |
| For dedicated fans, Jesse says, the longevity comes from building on each other's creations. | For dedicated fans, Jesse says, the longevity comes from building on each other's creations. |
| As she puts it: "Take something and customise it and share it with other Simmers. | As she puts it: "Take something and customise it and share it with other Simmers. |
| "It's really interesting to see the ways that people can come up with to use their game in an interesting way." | "It's really interesting to see the ways that people can come up with to use their game in an interesting way." |
| The ability to express yourself in The Sims also made it a popular title among its many players from diverse communities. | The ability to express yourself in The Sims also made it a popular title among its many players from diverse communities. |
| Even at its launch in 2000, The Sims included same-sex relationships at a time when choices around sexuality or identity in gaming were rare. | Even at its launch in 2000, The Sims included same-sex relationships at a time when choices around sexuality or identity in gaming were rare. |
| Creator Mollie, who streams as TheEnglishSimmer, makes a lot of LGBT-themed content for her channel. | Creator Mollie, who streams as TheEnglishSimmer, makes a lot of LGBT-themed content for her channel. |
| She says developer Maxis has "always been kind of a spearhead in the gaming industry when it comes to telling diverse stories and wanting to show that representation". | She says developer Maxis has "always been kind of a spearhead in the gaming industry when it comes to telling diverse stories and wanting to show that representation". |
| Mollie says The Sims has given her a platform to find others like her. | Mollie says The Sims has given her a platform to find others like her. |
| "That's been so wonderful that I have been able to tell my stories and connect with people and they can see themselves represented," she says. | "That's been so wonderful that I have been able to tell my stories and connect with people and they can see themselves represented," she says. |
| Mollie, aka TheEnglishSimmer, makes a lot of LGBT-themed content for her online channel | Mollie, aka TheEnglishSimmer, makes a lot of LGBT-themed content for her online channel |
| The Sims has come in for more criticism over the years for its racial representation. | The Sims has come in for more criticism over the years for its racial representation. |
| American content creator Amira, known as Xmiramira online, created a custom skin tone pack for The Sims 4 that's still used by many players today. | American content creator Amira, known as Xmiramira online, created a custom skin tone pack for The Sims 4 that's still used by many players today. |
| "I couldn't make Sims that either look similar to me or my family, friends. And that's the case in a lot of games," says Amira. | "I couldn't make Sims that either look similar to me or my family, friends. And that's the case in a lot of games," says Amira. |
| "But the difference between The Sims and other games is I can do something about it." | "But the difference between The Sims and other games is I can do something about it." |
| Amira's Melanin Pack was a hit when it was released, and she's since worked with Maxis and Electronic Arts on officially adopting more skin tones into the game. | Amira's Melanin Pack was a hit when it was released, and she's since worked with Maxis and Electronic Arts on officially adopting more skin tones into the game. |
| "For me that's a big part of why I've played the game for so long," she says. | "For me that's a big part of why I've played the game for so long," she says. |
| "I can do what I want, I can make a Sim with any body type, complexion, hair, whatever I want to do, it's one of the most customisable games I have." | "I can do what I want, I can make a Sim with any body type, complexion, hair, whatever I want to do, it's one of the most customisable games I have." |
| Amira says she's noticed more and more games offering the ability to choose different skin tones, body types and hairstyles without the need for third-party add-ons. | Amira says she's noticed more and more games offering the ability to choose different skin tones, body types and hairstyles without the need for third-party add-ons. |
| A much wider range of skin tones was added to the Sims 4 as standard | A much wider range of skin tones was added to the Sims 4 as standard |
| While The Sims is often seen as a leader when it comes to inclusivity in gaming, some people are uncomfortable with its approach. | While The Sims is often seen as a leader when it comes to inclusivity in gaming, some people are uncomfortable with its approach. |
| Zoe Delahunty-Light, a video producer at website Eurogamer, commends The Sims for making "great strides" with diversity and working with creators to build authentic representation into the game. | Zoe Delahunty-Light, a video producer at website Eurogamer, commends The Sims for making "great strides" with diversity and working with creators to build authentic representation into the game. |
| But she does point out that much of the work was done first, for free, by modders. | But she does point out that much of the work was done first, for free, by modders. |
| The official Lovestruck add-on, Zoe says, introduces polyamorous relationships to the game and costs £30 ($37). | The official Lovestruck add-on, Zoe says, introduces polyamorous relationships to the game and costs £30 ($37). |
| "So it can feel like it is squeezing as much money as it can out of people who desire representation the most, which is pretty audacious," she says. | "So it can feel like it is squeezing as much money as it can out of people who desire representation the most, which is pretty audacious," she says. |
| The game has also been criticised over a lack of inclusion for players with disabilities, both in their ability to modify its controls and see themselves on screen. | The game has also been criticised over a lack of inclusion for players with disabilities, both in their ability to modify its controls and see themselves on screen. |
| "The game still lacks the option to change key binds, which is a basic accessibility issue," says Zoe. | "The game still lacks the option to change key binds, which is a basic accessibility issue," says Zoe. |
| Developer Maxis has previously said it's discussing the introduction of more accessibility features to the game. | Developer Maxis has previously said it's discussing the introduction of more accessibility features to the game. |
| It has added certain features - such as visible hearing aids - to improve the representation of disability in the game. | It has added certain features - such as visible hearing aids - to improve the representation of disability in the game. |
| As The Sims celebrates its anniversary, the new US government has introduced policies to scale back diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. | As The Sims celebrates its anniversary, the new US government has introduced policies to scale back diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. |
| Critics argue these schemes are discriminatory and used to push political agendas, while supporters argue that they work to combat inequalities. | Critics argue these schemes are discriminatory and used to push political agendas, while supporters argue that they work to combat inequalities. |
| The tech industry has followed suit, with companies such as Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, scrapping its DEI efforts and also cutting moderation teams. | The tech industry has followed suit, with companies such as Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, scrapping its DEI efforts and also cutting moderation teams. |
| There's a question over whether this could impact gaming, where companies are often criticised for failing to adequately tackle racial and gender-based harassment on their platforms. | There's a question over whether this could impact gaming, where companies are often criticised for failing to adequately tackle racial and gender-based harassment on their platforms. |
| "The bigger concern is that this will be seen as a green light for certain groups of toxic gamers to become more open about their own hateful views, making inclusive spaces more important than ever," says Zoe. | "The bigger concern is that this will be seen as a green light for certain groups of toxic gamers to become more open about their own hateful views, making inclusive spaces more important than ever," says Zoe. |
| Simmer Amira says it's especially important for a life simulation game such as The Sims to include as many people as possible. | Simmer Amira says it's especially important for a life simulation game such as The Sims to include as many people as possible. |
| "Everybody should be able to, for the most part, make themselves with little to no issue," she says. | "Everybody should be able to, for the most part, make themselves with little to no issue," she says. |
| Jesse adds: "A lot of people don't get to experience things that other cultures experience and it's a really great way to implement learning about it in everyday life. | Jesse adds: "A lot of people don't get to experience things that other cultures experience and it's a really great way to implement learning about it in everyday life. |
| "I think that goes a long way to acceptance as well." | "I think that goes a long way to acceptance as well." |
| Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here. | Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here. |