Child-friendly graphics and gameplay aside, The Sims touches on some of life’s morbid aspects, like death. Maxis Vice President Joe Nickolls compares this approach to how 1950s chemistry toys came with actual combustible materials.
“No one actually thought [kids] could a) kill themselves or b) blow themselves up. But they used to sell these [toys]. And you could do whatever you wanted with those things, sometimes in peril.
“But in The Sims, you can do all the things that you want to do and not get hurt doing it.”
The Sims also tapped into current pop culture trends to keep things fresh. Singer Katy Perry recorded a Simlish version of her hit song “Hot and Cold,” delighting fans of the music and the game.
It has brought the franchise considerable success, and EA’s chief studios officer, Laura Miele, plans to continue this practice.
“I think that Sims provides an incredible canvas for us to tap into all kinds of relevant trends, whether it be music, fashion, design, and architecture, or in TV and media,” she said. “And we are going to continue to do more of that. That is the direction we’re headed.”
Living in a fast-paced digital world means keeping up with the trends to stay ahead. For their part, top executives at EA Games are already planning the next generation of games compatible with a “cloud-enabled world.”
“We certainly see interactive entertainment going to a place of streaming and being in a place where cross-platform play becomes a priority. I certainly perceive The Sims to be incredibly accessible, very global,” Miele said.
“For Rent” is The Sims 4’s latest expansion, released in December 2023. As of this posting, there haven’t been updates about a 5th installment of the game and whether or not it will come out. However, according to senior producer Mike Duke, there are still many concepts to play around with.
“It’s a game about life, and we all have an amazing abundance of experiences and stories we want to tell. How are we ever going to finish The Sims? I don’t think we will.”
