The Sims 3

The Sims 3 is a 2009 life simulation video game developed by the Redwood Shores studio of Maxis, and published by Electronic Arts. Part of The Sims series, it is the sequel to The Sims 2. It was released on June 2, 2009, for Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, and smartphone versions. Console versions were released for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Nintendo DS in October 2010 and a month later for Wii. The Windows Phone version was released on October 15, 2010. A Nintendo 3DS version, released on March 27, 2011, was one of the platform’s launch titles.

The Sims 3 introduces many more character customization options than its predecessor The Sims 2. Like the previous game, the player can customize age, body build, skin color, hairstyles, clothing, and personality. A new life stage is included between adolescence and adulthood: young adulthood. This stage was introduced in The Sims 2 only during university period but is now the main life stage for the game. Additional options were added in expansions and updates, such as tattoos, breast size, and muscle definition. 

The Sims 3 offers a wider range of skin tones than its predecessors, ranging from realistic light and dark skin tones to fantasy green and purple colors. As in previous games of the franchise, in The Sims 3 players control their own Sims’ activities and relationships. The gameplay is open-ended and does not have a defined goal. The Sims live in neighbourhoods, now being officially referred to as worlds, which can be customized, allowing the player to create their houses, community lots, and Sims, although many of these come with the core game.

These worlds are now seamless, allowing all Sims to move around freely without any loading screen in between lots as happened in the previous games. The neighbourhood includes community lots which can be leisure lots (parks, markets, gyms, and movie theatres) and job lots (town hall, hospital, and businesses). Since the neighbourhood is open, the game includes the “Story Progression” mechanic, which allows all Sims in the neighborhood to autonomously continue their lives without the player ever controlling them.

This helps to advance the story of the whole neighbourhood instead of only the active playing units. Sims live for a set duration of time that is adjustable by the player and advances through several life stages (baby, toddler, child, teen, young adult, adult, and elder). Sims can die of old age or they can die prematurely from causes such as fire, starvation, drowning, and electrocution.