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The Sims 2 (console game)
Encyclopedia
The Sims 2 is the fourth title in The Sims
console
series. The Sims 2 was released for the PlayStation 2
, Xbox
, Nintendo GameCube
, Nintendo DS
, Game Boy Advance
, and PSP
in the fourth quarter of 2005. The console
versions include a story and gameplay similar to previous versions of the game, while the DS
, PSP
and Game Boy Advance
contain their own storylines. This is the first Sims game to have a third person view of a character with the ability to control them with the analog sticks.
There are also several changes from the PC version. Sims do not age, and there are less ways to die. When a Sim returns to life, there is no longer a chance it will become a zombie, instead they will become ghosts. Whenever a Sim dies, any other Sims spectating this seem to ignore it. The body is turned into a tombstone, if outside, or a pot of ashes, if inside. after a sim dies, the Grim Reaper appears somewhere on the sidewalk. Ghosts can either try to win a fiddle challenge or pay 100 simoleons to be brought back to life. Players can only build one-floor houses, unlike the PC version which allows multiple floors. It is also possible to control the Sim directly using the analog stick, as opposed to the point-and-click method of the PC games. They can no longer have children. Unlike all EA Sports Games and a few other EA Games titles released in 2005, the game does not have an option to play online.
, Ryan Ferguson
, Trivium
and more recording artists (all songs recorded in the Sims language "Simlish"). The Humble Brothers contributed heavily to the game.
version of The Sims 2 begins with the player's car breaking down in Strangetown. Upon arriving, an anonymous donor grants the player the deed to a hotel which can be operated and customized at the player's discretion. The player's job is to bring life back into Strangetown by encouraging people to come to the hotel, which players can do by upgrading it and making the guests happy. There are several ways in which the player can make Strangetown a nice place to warm up in, but is up to player to find it. Unlike most games in the Sim series, this one takes place in real-time.
version of The Sims 2 takes place in Strangetown, and shares a similar GUI
to its predecessors (The Sims Bustin' Out
and The Urbz
). Players are guided through a goal-oriented game based on the reality television
concept in which partitions of the game are divided into "episodes".
The player is then free to roam around the gas station, and after being introduced to some more NPCs, including Bella Goth, who claims to be abducted by aliens, completing tasks and being taught the basic objective of the game which is 'Secret Hunting' for the store clerk. The player then exits the shop only to find the garage around the back has completely disappeared along with Oscar and their car, with only the foundation of the garage remaining. The only thing left from the disappearance is a cell phone, which the player answers and a man named Doctor Dominic Newlow offers the player a job, requiring him or her to get a ride into town and find a place to stay.
The player informs Police Deputy Duncan about the situation who replies that he can do nothing about it and suggests the player find a place to stay. After having bought Bella's house for pocket change and getting donuts for Deputy Duncan (which happen to have been found in the trash), the player finally gets a lift into Strangetown's Paradise Place, only to find more tasks and mysteries.
The Sims
The Sims is a strategic life-simulation computer game developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. Its development was led by game designer Will Wright, also known for developing SimCity...
console
Video game console
A video game console is an interactive entertainment computer or customized computer system that produces a video display signal which can be used with a display device to display a video game...
series. The Sims 2 was released for the PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
, Xbox
Xbox
The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
, Nintendo GameCube
Nintendo GameCube
The , officially abbreviated to NGC in Japan and GCN in other regions, is a sixth generation video game console released by Nintendo on September 15, 2001 in Japan, November 18, 2001 in North America, May 3, 2002 in Europe, and May 17, 2002 in Australia...
, Nintendo DS
Nintendo DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
, Game Boy Advance
Game Boy Advance
The is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...
, and PSP
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
in the fourth quarter of 2005. The console
Video game console
A video game console is an interactive entertainment computer or customized computer system that produces a video display signal which can be used with a display device to display a video game...
versions include a story and gameplay similar to previous versions of the game, while the DS
Nintendo DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
, PSP
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
and Game Boy Advance
Game Boy Advance
The is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...
contain their own storylines. This is the first Sims game to have a third person view of a character with the ability to control them with the analog sticks.
Gameplay
The gameplay is similar to a 3rd person adventure game. The player controls their avatar's movement to explore, collect items, talk to non-playable characters (NPCs), and edit their house; although all locations include a pre-made house, the lot can be bulldozed allowing players to build houses from scratch. . As also introduced in the PC version, Sims have wants and fears; completing wants earn aspiration points which are used to unlock new items and locations, while completing fears subtracts aspiration points.There are also several changes from the PC version. Sims do not age, and there are less ways to die. When a Sim returns to life, there is no longer a chance it will become a zombie, instead they will become ghosts. Whenever a Sim dies, any other Sims spectating this seem to ignore it. The body is turned into a tombstone, if outside, or a pot of ashes, if inside. after a sim dies, the Grim Reaper appears somewhere on the sidewalk. Ghosts can either try to win a fiddle challenge or pay 100 simoleons to be brought back to life. Players can only build one-floor houses, unlike the PC version which allows multiple floors. It is also possible to control the Sim directly using the analog stick, as opposed to the point-and-click method of the PC games. They can no longer have children. Unlike all EA Sports Games and a few other EA Games titles released in 2005, the game does not have an option to play online.
Music
The game features music performed by ParamoreParamore
Paramore is an American rock band from Franklin, Tennessee, formed in 2004. The band consists of lead vocalist Hayley Williams, bassist Jeremy Davis, and guitarist Taylor York...
, Ryan Ferguson
Ryan Ferguson
Ryan Ferguson is an Indie Rock guitarist and singer/songwriter, formerly of Southern California band No Knife. Ferguson's solo debut Three, Four was released in July 2005, winning a San Diego Music Award for “Best Pop Record” that year. The Sims 2 featured an interpretation of the album's lead...
, Trivium
Trivium (band)
Trivium is an American heavy metal band from Orlando, Florida, formed in 1999. Signed to Roadrunner Records, the band has released five studio albums, eleven singles, and twelve music videos...
and more recording artists (all songs recorded in the Sims language "Simlish"). The Humble Brothers contributed heavily to the game.
Nintendo DS version
The Nintendo DSNintendo DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
version of The Sims 2 begins with the player's car breaking down in Strangetown. Upon arriving, an anonymous donor grants the player the deed to a hotel which can be operated and customized at the player's discretion. The player's job is to bring life back into Strangetown by encouraging people to come to the hotel, which players can do by upgrading it and making the guests happy. There are several ways in which the player can make Strangetown a nice place to warm up in, but is up to player to find it. Unlike most games in the Sim series, this one takes place in real-time.
Game Boy Advance version
The Game Boy AdvanceGame Boy Advance
The is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...
version of The Sims 2 takes place in Strangetown, and shares a similar GUI
Graphical user interface
In computing, a graphical user interface is a type of user interface that allows users to interact with electronic devices with images rather than text commands. GUIs can be used in computers, hand-held devices such as MP3 players, portable media players or gaming devices, household appliances and...
to its predecessors (The Sims Bustin' Out
The Sims Bustin' Out
The Sims Bustin' Out is the second title in The Sims console series. Bustin' Out was released for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube, Game Boy Advance and N-Gage in the fourth quarter of . As the title suggests, the Sims can get out of the house to visit other locations such as Shiny Things...
and The Urbz
The Urbz: Sims in the City
The Urbz: Sims in the City is a video game for the GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Xbox consoles, as well as the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS portable systems. It is the third Sims game for video game consoles and is the second Sims game not to be released on PC...
). Players are guided through a goal-oriented game based on the reality television
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
concept in which partitions of the game are divided into "episodes".
PlayStation Portable version
The game begins with the player's character driving through the Strangetown desert, presumably 'Road to Nowhere' in their car, when suddenly a flying green diamond (Also known as the Plumbob, the marker and logo of the Sims game) flies towards the player and causes them to lose control and damage their car. Fortunately, the player finds a gas station. The player takes their car into the garage. At that point the player takes control. The player is introduced to a vehicle mechanic named Oscar who, after a brief tutorial in teaching the player how to talk to NPC Sims, informs the player their car will only take a short while to fix.The player is then free to roam around the gas station, and after being introduced to some more NPCs, including Bella Goth, who claims to be abducted by aliens, completing tasks and being taught the basic objective of the game which is 'Secret Hunting' for the store clerk. The player then exits the shop only to find the garage around the back has completely disappeared along with Oscar and their car, with only the foundation of the garage remaining. The only thing left from the disappearance is a cell phone, which the player answers and a man named Doctor Dominic Newlow offers the player a job, requiring him or her to get a ride into town and find a place to stay.
The player informs Police Deputy Duncan about the situation who replies that he can do nothing about it and suggests the player find a place to stay. After having bought Bella's house for pocket change and getting donuts for Deputy Duncan (which happen to have been found in the trash), the player finally gets a lift into Strangetown's Paradise Place, only to find more tasks and mysteries.