An Evaluation of a Video Game

Sims Online

Introduction

In order to play The Sims Online your system must meet the requirements. The minimum configuration is Windows XP (administration accounts only), Windows ME, or Windows 98. All the other operating systems are not supported. You must have a 500MHz Intel Pentium or AMD Athlon processor, 128 MB RAM, 4x CD-ROM/DVD-ROM drive, 1.4 GB free hard disk space, 2MB video card with DirectX 7 compatible driver, DirectX 7 compatible sound card, keyboard, mouse, 28.8 Kbps or faster modem, and IE 4.0 or higher. The recommended setup is a 700 MHz or faster Intel Pentium III or AMD Athlon processor, 128 MB or more RAM, 24x or faster CD-ROM/DVD-ROM drive, 1.4 GB free hard disk space, 8 MB or greater with a DirectX 7.0 compatible driver card, and for the best and quickest speed a DSL cable modem or other broadband Internet connection. A necessity is an internet connection otherwise you will not be able to connect to the server and play. In order to be able to use the programs on this CD, you must install all the components.

Discussion

What I believe that the developers were trying to do was come up with better and more fun and interactive versions of The Sims. Most of them are just expansion packs so you must have the original Sims already installed on your computer. You do not need to have the original Sims to play this game. The Sims online most likely did meet the intention because after playing, you see how many other people are playing and chatting within the game. The players are from all over the world and we are all being brought together just by playing a simple game.

The interface to the game is pretty good. But there are some things that weren't good about it (Terdiman p 52). The developers designed their own language for this game and it is called Sim Language. Not a single word of it makes any sense whatsoever, it just sounds like a bunch of noise. But the good thing is that on the options menu, there are choices to how loud you would like all the sounds like special effects, Sim language, ambience sound, and music. You create your own sim by picking their gender, head, and then once you start playing the game and get money, you can go out and buy your sim some new ...