Ever since I wrote about my Sims addiction being like Dwight K. Schrute of the Office and his Second Life habit, I haven’t been able to get the comparison out of my head.
Which is probably why, as I curled up on the couch in my favourite fluffy blanket watching the Office this week, I couldn’t help but start thinking about the Sims.
My mental wanderings eventually led me to the conclusion that I am just like my little Sim.
The whole premise of the game is that they Sim-ulate real life, and they really, really do.
They love—and need—distractions.
As tempting as it can be to work and work and turn your Sim into a best-selling author in two weeks, it gets a little more difficult when she decides to put her foot down and say no because she needs to break the fourth wall and play a bit of Sims.
I have a nasty habit of getting absorbed in projects to the point where I forget to stop and have fun, but once in a while, my brain just says nope, and I have to stop and distract myself for a while.
That’s how I handle a fun little thing called writer’s block.
They love to be comfy.
Let’s be real for a second here, we all love being comfy. But there’s nothing like an Uncomfortable moodlet to tell you what a pain in the neck that bad mattress is. Sims love being comfy and cozy in their little homes, and they’re not afraid to tell you when it’s lacking.
Basically all I’m missing for that is a physical manifestation of a whim bubble.
They need inspiration.
It feels a little corny saying this, but I’m a creative-type person, so inspiration is key. Some days are better than others when it comes to pushing myself into an Inspired moodlet; sometimes all it takes is a couple sips of energy drink (watch out for those days), and some days, it won’t happen no matter what I try.
I made my Sim a writer, and immediately saw just how realistic it was. Sometimes, all she needed was a snack to get her inspired, and some days, the needs balances are off by just enough that I can’t get them to the right levels.
It’s also hard to stay inspired, because as soon as she finishes writing something, it turns to a Confident moodlet, which totally happens in real life too.
They need to be social.
Tell me if this sounds like you, too.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned in the past week, it’s how much I need to be social. It’s weird, because generally, I’m a very introverted person; I can’t even tell you how many times my dad has told me I can’t accomplish everything on the Internet. I still think I can.
Anyway.
There are times where your Sim just absolutely needs to get out of the house to socialize.
And if my descending on poor Shane when he gets home like an excited puppy says anything, it’s that I do in fact relate to the social needs of my Sim.
They love to learn.
This might simply be because of the traits I gave my Sim, but she is always asking to learn new things. She wants to play every instrument, learn to paint, learn to cook, you name it—I’m pretty sure if there were other languages, she’d want to learn those too.
I think that is actually an important part of a gamer’s mentality. When I play a game, I’m always learning new things, figuring new puzzles out. Personally, I believe that’s what makes it so fun!
YOUR TURN
