The Sims, a virtual dollhouse game, has taken over the world with its open-ended nature and inclusive representation. As it celebrates its quarter-century anniversary, the game continues to evolve with new features and accessibility options.
The Sims was never supposed to be a hit. When creator Will Wright pitched his idea of a ‘virtual dollhouse’ to his bosses in the 1990s, they weren’t convinced by the concept of a life simulator where players design their own characters and manage their needs.
Will Wright is a renowned American video game designer, director, and developer.
He co-founded Maxis Software in 1987, where he created the influential SimCity series.
Wright's innovative approach to game design focuses on simulation and sandbox gameplay.
His notable works include The Sims (2000), Spore (2008), and SimAnt (1991).
Wright's games often explore real-world issues, such as urban planning and social dynamics, making them both entertaining and thought-provoking.
A Game that Became a Phenomenon
Fast-forward to today, and 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 installment, The Sims 4, has been translated into 18 languages and played by 85 million people worldwide.
The Sims is a life simulation video game series created by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts (EA).
First released in 2000, the game allows players to control virtual characters, known as Sims, and simulate various aspects of life.
Players can build homes, develop relationships, pursue careers, and explore emotions and desires.
The Sims has become one of the best-selling video game franchises of all time, with over 100 million copies sold worldwide.
The original game’s open-ended nature was a key factor in its success. Players had the freedom to create a detailed domestic setting for their digital people, managing their love lives, daily routines, basic needs, and hobbies with exacting detail. But it also allowed them to imagine various torments for their virtual pals – one of the most famous being stranding your Sim in a swimming pool without a ladder.
A Community that Cares
UK-based streamer Jesse, best known as Plumbella, became obsessed with The Sims at just five years old and has been part of its community ever since. ‘The Sims has given me a platform to connect with people and share my experiences,’ she says. Players can create modifications or ‘mods‘ that alter different elements from the way the game plays to a character’s appearance. For dedicated fans, the longevity comes from building on each other’s creations.
Inclusivity in Gaming
The Sims has been praised for its inclusivity, particularly when it comes to representation. Even at its launch in 2000, The Sims included same-sex relationships – a rare feature in gaming at the time. Creator Mollie, who streams as TheEnglishSimmer, makes a lot of LGBT-themed content for her channel and credits The Sims with giving her a platform to find others like herself.
Inclusivity refers to the practice of creating an environment where individuals from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and identities feel valued, respected, and empowered.
It involves recognizing and addressing systemic barriers that prevent marginalized groups from fully participating in society.
According to a study by McKinsey, companies with inclusive work environments experience a 45% higher return on investment compared to those without inclusivity initiatives.
Inclusivity is essential for promoting diversity, equity, and social justice.
However, the game has also faced criticism over its racial representation. American content creator Amira created a custom skin tone pack for The Sims 4 that’s still used by many players today. ‘I couldn’t make Sims that looked similar to me or my family and friends in other games,’ she says. ‘But with The Sims, I can do something about it.’
A Leader in Inclusivity?
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. However, she points out that much of the work was done first by modders – and that some features, such as polyamorous relationships, come at a cost.
A Game that Needs Improvement
The game has also been criticized for its lack of inclusion for players with disabilities. Zoe highlights the need for more accessibility features, including the ability to change key binds. Developer Maxis has previously said it’s discussing introducing more accessibility features to the game.
A Message from the Community
As The Sims celebrates its anniversary, the new US government has introduced policies to scale back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Simmer Amira says it’s especially important for a life simulation game like The Sims to include as many people as possible. ‘Everybody should be able to 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. I think that goes a long way to acceptance as well.’
