The Sims 3

The Third Life Simulator

The idea of The Sims is obviously taken from a doll play: you take a little human-like creature or several and imitate real life with them. But these digital dolls are much more simulating real people. Not only they have their own gender and age, appearance and home; they also have their traits and wishes, social skills and relationships, and it can all be developed according to what’s the Sim’s nature. Your mission is to provide your Sims a happy intense life.

This time the developers enlarged and enriched the environment. Not only you can buy things to decorate your sims’ house, but also explore the town and make it social. The town is inhabited by characters you may know from previous installments; their stories to investigate and follow are just another pleasure.

Download The Sims 3 to run a whole family of Sims, with up to 8 persons in it. The game goes on while at least one of your Sims is alive. And if it perishes, you can start anew. Your mission is to provide them with a happy life constantly. There are two extremes possible: either you recreate yourself and your family members, or make up someone completely unlike you, with all the grades between. As you set their traits, you’ll need to follow them to keep them satisfied and going. Work and have fun, attend meetings and parties, go out dating or shopping, and keep up your looks! That’s the sense.

Why did this game gain so much popularity? Because modeling life is always fun. Some play it to rest from not-so-pretty routine; some try to visualize their dreams, and some use it as a kind of therapy. Anyway, it’s pretty exciting.

From 2018 the game obviously lacks multiplayer mode, but it’s the series’ idea. While you build your perfect life, you do it in private, so no one can see it, and you don’t have to pretend even a little. Keeping the game single-player, the developers keep it true and honest.

Yet there’s a whole lot of other expansions and add-ons, adding new storylines and locations, new items to buy and characters to meet, new skills, careers and recreations, pets and even supernatural creatures. The last one was called “Into the Future” and offered a time travel story; meanwhile, the actual future was already knocking on the door, and its name was The Sims 4.

Life in 3D

When the game is mostly about the simulation, it should look great. Life of the Sims goes on in full 3D, from the beginning to infinity. As you create your characters or their first mansion, dress them up, furnish rooms, bring them out to work or party or just walk around, it’s all as three-dimensional as can be.

Though the level of graphics is so 2009, it’s not necessarily bad. Lacking HD details like in further installments, the design is still expressive. The characters look drawn (as they are), with no intention to make them realistic, but these drawn images do their work of representing persons. So it is with nature, buildings, different objects.

The game sounds quite cartoonish, but not childish or comic, just a bit schematic. The sounds simulate real ones, as well as the graphics, simulate photorealism, and the game itself simulates life: they are simplified and not so realistic enough, but they do their symbolizing well.

Controlling Little Characters

As the game has been released for miscellaneous devices, there are at least two control modes: via a controller (for consoles), via touchscreen or via keyboard and mouse (for desktops). Some versions offer even trickier system (like The Sims 3 for Wii U, with its combined touch-and-buttons controls).

The Sims 3 for Windows 10 (as well as 7, 8 and – if you keep it – Vista) is fully controllable with keyboard and mouse. Almost any key is a shortcut to some action, so here is the table. It’s easier with a controller, but it requires additional efforts to set up.

Where to Settle with Your Sims

The compatibility of the game may cause some issues because it was first released back in 2009. It was the time of Windows Vista and OS X Leopard, and it all has changed since. The Sims 3 for PC still runs on actual Windows 10 (as well as The Sims 3 for Mac is quite compatible with High Sierra and Mojave), but there are nuances. For example, the game cannot recognize the latest video cards and uses default settings, so its graphical force cannot unfold.

The Sims 3 for PS3 is still available, and it looks good on it. The same story is with The Sims 3 for Xbox 360: the console supports the game with all its add-ons and updates. Nintendo fans can take the game anywhere, as The Sims 3 for 3DS has little difference. So if you stick to those old consoles, this is the simulator you’d like to keep.

It’s not the only way the game went mobile. The version of The Sims 3 for iOS was rebranded into The Sims™ FreePlay, but it kept most traits or the third installment, being released in 2011. Instead of just porting, the developer rolled out a special optimized version. The same is with The Sims 3 for Android.

Alas, The Sims 3 for PS4 or other new generation consoles wasn’t even planned. The new consoles get the fourth installment of it.

FAQ

1. How do I…?

Everything is told right within the game. There are always hints when you try any new actions.

2. Are add-ons and expansions still published?

No, the latest one was there in 2013.

3. Is there The Sims 3 for iPad?

If you search this exact name, you won’t find anything. You need The Sims™ FreePlay.