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The Sims Online in a Nutshell

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 86 / 94
Date: December 23, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I was hoping for so much more from this game, but I found myself extremely disappointed. Before spending your money on it, here is what you can expect.

You will start out in a city with very little money, maybe enough to buy a lot and some walls. So, you will need to raise some cash. In order to raise any significant cash, you will need to build up a skill or two.

To build up a skill such as mechanical, your sim will sit down and read a book for hours. If you are lucky and find a large group also studying mechanical, it might only take 6 or 7 hours to maximize this skill. All the while you have the exciting pleasure of sitting in front of your screen watching your sim study. Occasionally you will get a chance to break up the monotony by having to make your sim use the bathroom, eat and sleep. Oh, you can also chat with other sims while your sim studies, but most of the other players have figured out how boring it is and go away from their keyboard (AFK) to do more interesting things like laundry or watch TV while their sim studies. Most likely you will be talking to yourself or maybe one other person.

Now that you have a skill, you can make some cash. This is done through group objects such as the code machine, pizza machine or maze. All of which are fun for maybe the first 10 or 20 times you play them. You can also use solo objects, such as the gnome workbench to raise cash. Essentially these work the same as studying, everyone goes AFK and you watch your sim do the same repetitive task for hours on end.

Now you have enough money to start building your home. However you have a 100-object limit on what you can buy. After you have reached that limit, which many have already done, you have essentially "completed" the game. You can then try to attract visitors to your property so that you can run around acting as their personal maid service, feeding them food, cleaning the toilet after they are done, making beds, etc. You have now hit the peak of excitement and entertainment in the game! Congratulations!

In my opinion, there is no inherent fun to this game. Most people who love the game will tell you that the fun of the game comes from what you put into it. I can find ways for a piece of string to be fun too, and I don't have to spend $50 to buy it and pay $10 a month to play with it.

The only hope for this game is that in the "future" additional content will be released to make the game more fun. (No exact or even estimated dates are provided by Maxis, it could be two weeks or two years) In my opinion, this is still a beta quality game that people are being charged to play while the bugs are worked out. It still may turn out to be good in the "future", but right now it is about as entertaining as watching laundry dry.

Also, if you purchase this game and find yourself upset with it, do not complain on the official Sims Online message boards. Anything other than praise and raves can now be considered a violation of the terms of service and your account can be revoked for it. Several threads expressing dissatisfaction have already been shut down and locked by Maxis administrators.

A Sham of a game

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 47 / 48
Date: December 22, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Being a Sims fan since Day One, I bought this game on the first day
it was released to the public just like how I did when all the expansions of the offline version came out.
I was aware of some of negativity surrounding The Sims Online but I dimissed it because I have always been satisfied with the Maxis/Electronic Arts products I have purchased.

After playing this game on an off for two days I have to say I am not only disappointed in the product but I feel like I have been ripped off.

This is *not* an actual game where Sims can stroll through neighborhoods and downtown areas and play with other players in an actual Sim World.

The game has a similar design to several online 3D Virtual World-Skin/avatar chat places I frequent.
And in some of those places for a nominal fee, you can actually buld your own world that people can explore.

This doesn't seem like an actual, legitimate MMORPG. Because in a true MMORPG, interacting with others is one aspect of the game
which you can particpate in at your discretion.

The foundation of a good gameplay comes first, then socializing and interactivity follows.

What the developers of the game did is create a chat room, and
then try and add psuedo, half- hearted content in order to promote
chatting.

A bunch of adults playing with musical instruments, kissing other sims and engaging in crass potty humor does not make a game.

There simply isn't enough gameplay in it for it being justified in being called an actual game and to con people into paying monthly to particpate in what is essentialy a giant chatroom is positively dishonorable.

Shallow and Pointless Chat Game

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 32 / 33
Date: January 25, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I invested in this game because I expected something just as fun, creative and challenging as the offline Sims. After over paying this game for a month, I can honestly say I regret not taking any of the negative reviews seriously.

I didn't pay money to just chat.

If I wanted to chat and meet people from all over the world,
I can do it for free on the various virtual 3D World Chat interfaces that are available on the net.

Since installing the game and going through countless patch updates, no new content has been added. Players get the same promise that more playable content will be added but so far not much has changed.

The game developers want us to build our own world but they have barely given us the tools to do so. Every place you visit is basically the same as there is no real economy. You are basically told to "make your own fun" or "interact and entertain other players" when you have questions.

I buy games to be entertained. I buy games for escapist fun.
I didn't expect to feel unchallenged, bored, and discouraged.

If you buy this game please be warned, there is alot of disgusting behavior going on. Everytime I played a female Sim, I was constantly hit on, my Sim was forcibly kissed and hugged and you are constantly invited to "play in the lovebed."
And I've witnessed players gang up on and insult players.

If you consider this type of gameplay fun, then get the game.

I plan to cancel my subscription.

An extremely boring and uninspiring game

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 34 / 37
Date: February 20, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I purchased this game on December 20th and now I plan to unsubscribe
before the end of the month.

After two months of play I can honesly say this is nothing short of a glorified chat program, as many have stated. At first its fun but then it quickly becomes horribly tedious and repetitive. Keeping your Sims needs up is not exactly the most fun thing to do and theres little to do to keep you inspired to go on.

You can't walk around to explore. You can't even walk to visit your neighbor. Teleporting from house to house in the designated so called cities is not what I would call creating a "true world". Its more like visiting chatrooms. But now, saavy users have created programs that enable them to be away from the keyboard while their Sim builds up a skill so at times there are very few people to talk to.

And I've experienced teleportation in some of the 3D Virtual Chat sites on the Net so this is nothing new to me.

There are so many limits to this game that it has become creatively uninspiring so its no wonder alot of people have unsubscribed.
Its almost as if The game developers when developing this game forgot what made The Sims so much fun.

I know I can speak for alot of players by saying, I'm not interested in becoming the wealthiest or most popular player.

I just wanted to play the regular version of The Sims with my friends. Was that so difficult to create?

Its mildly ironic that just when I'm deciding to unsubscribe, that more content is introduced in the game but unfortunately its a little to late. This game has wore me out to the point where I don't care anymore.

Disappointing, Boring, Time Consuming.. ugh!!!

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 27 / 28
Date: December 26, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I can't tell you how disappointed I was with this game. The chat system is horrid and rather than being a nice place for social interaction, the game seems to revolve around who can get the highest skill (and it can take you literally HOURS to go from one level to the next) and make the most money... and if you don't have 16 hours a day to devote to the game.. well, you can just go ahead and assume that you will never get ahead.

Those who buy this game for the social interaction will be disappointed. Those who buy this game for their children should think twice - there is graphic language and actions. Those who buy this game for entertainment.. well, if you find staring at the screen for hours watching your sim do some boring task to slowly up a skill level that will help you make more money when you are doing other boring tasks then perhaps you might get something out of it.. but the one thing you won't have is a life!

In my opinion, this game is NOT worth the money for the initial purchase nor is it worth the additional monthly fee they charge you play it online. Your money would be better spent buying an expansion for your regular sims game.

Overpriced Screensaver

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 27 / 28
Date: January 28, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I was so looking forward to this game..

I've had it less than a week and am already bored to tears and will not be keeping my subscription past the thirty day trial.

The biggest problem for me is the insanely boring skill building/money making. I could see that as being part of the game, but for crying out loud..HOURS on end of watching your sim read a book? Hm, I thought computer games were supposed to be entertaining! If they cut the skill building time by AT LEAST half, you might be able to move on to other things and keep your interest.

I thought, perhaps if I built up enough money to open my own place it might be interesting. Unfortunately, I can't force myself to babysit my computer 12 hours a day until I get to that point. What I ended up doing, before giving up and playing my offline sims games, was leaving the game running while I went off to do other things around the house. This game has all the fun of watching your screensaver over and over again.

Invest that $... in a couple of offline expansion packs.

Where's The Fun?

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 33 / 37
Date: January 09, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I am a huge fan of the offline version of this game, but I hate the fact that my character can't have an "identity" or career track in The Sims Online. I basically build up skill points and have to use random "job objects" to make money, but I can't give my character an identity like a thief, or a doctor, or a computer specialist, like I can in the offline versions. I want that kind of identity within this world.

And speaking of building up skill points...it takes FOREVER to get them, and there's nothing for you to do while your Sim sits there reading a book (to gain cooking or mechanical points) or talking into a mirror (to build up charisma points), or working out (to build up body points). You're left bored for extensive amounts of time while you build up these points and the fact that you can't SPEED UP TIME like you can in the offline version makes this game incredibly monotonous.

Save your money for something more entertaining.

Sad really

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 26 / 27
Date: January 10, 2003
Author: Amazon User

This game could have been so much better, in the end it becomes a total failure.

I've no idea what happened, but this game only supports 20 players at a time, it's not massively multiplayer. After having played games with thousands of people online at once, this was a crushing disappointment. Yes, you can chat with anyone on the server, but try to have everyone get together? No. Half the time if you've got a good sized group of friends, you have a hard time finding a property that isn't either empty or so full that not all of you can get in.

There are no neigborhoods. There's no "next door." You don't walk across or down the street. There are no streets! Properties are all teleported into and exist in a void and can only hold the aforementioned 20 players.

And really, there's not very much to do. I'm very social, but you need to give us something to do.

Bad Game and even Worse Customer Service!

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 28 / 30
Date: March 04, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Being a huge Sims fan, I bought The Sims Online expecting to have alot of fun in an online Sims environment with my friends.
After playing or rather, 'attempting' to play for the last 1 and half months, I cancelled my subscription even though I have well over a month left of free play.

This game is an incomplete mess. I feel as if I paid to beta test an unfinished product that as of now, is essentially more of a chatroom than an actual game. As previous stated, there is no free form environment to move around in. My Sim can't even walk through the neighborhood. The environment is set up where each city consists of little houses (more like 3D chatrooms)that you teleport to. And the majority of player residences are more like centers you go to either have your Sim learn a skill, and or make money. Players can also create discos, motels, and wedding chapels.

The gameplay consists of keeping your Sim happy, fufilling its needs, etc and trying to earn money to build a successful property.
In order to get anywhere in the game you have spend many hours a day and have many reliable roommates. While the majority of players I've encountered on the game have been polite and helpful, but there were also some players who were rude. I've also witnessed alot crude and obscene behavior so I can safely say that this game is definitely not for children.

The repetition is very very tiresome and theres just wasn't enough variety or content in the game to inspire me to continue on. And it was taking far too long for new content to be added to the game. I am not interested in paying monthly for a game where you have to follow a strict routine and do the same things over and over. And I can chat for free with my friends on the Net or by using one of the many instant messenger services.

On top of this, the customer service is absolutely horrible. The wait to cancel by phone lasts over an hour and the representatives
are rude and have the gall to ask if you're even playing the game right, as they try everything they can to convince you not to cancel before finally tempting you with free months to play. To treat paying customers this way is just wrong. Its going to be a long time before I purchases another EA game.

ONLY ...a month to waste your time! ::sigh::

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 23 / 23
Date: December 28, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Yes, I was one of the sheep that asked and received The Sims Online for Christmas. Now, I wish I would have never added it to my wishlist.
I've now wasted 4 entire days watching my sim try to improve his skill and occasionally having a meaningless 2 minute conversation with someone.
This game is VERY deceiving! Beware! At first, you love it. Especially if you've played The Sims before because you like the other Sims being "real". You discover what you can do, and how to make miniscule "Simoleans" (Sim money). But as the game progresses and you actually realize that you're watching the screen in complete idleness, the light comes on.
You spend hours and hours playing the game, and in return you get, a house that will take at least 48 more hours (PLAYING hours) to get good items in, and visitors. The game is pointless. You don't have a job, you have no responsibilities, it is nothing like "real life". It is a chatroom with stupid things for your person to do while you chat.
It is fun for the first 24 hours, but after that I hope anyone would realize what they could be doing instead of sitting infront of the screen. You will become addicted to this game, you will sit in your chair for HOURS.
So, beware. Try it out if you'd like, and if you're interested in buying it, mine will be on sale on eBay very shortly :) Don't be fooled by marketing, it is truly a ...waste of money, PAYING to waste your own time. Go for a walk, get a hobby, do something rewarding, BEWARE OF TSO!

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