The Sims Life Stories

Infobox VG
title = The Sims Life Stories


developer= EA Games (Maxis) [ [http://pc.ign.com/objects/015/015970.html IGN: The Sims Online ] ] [ [http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/thesimslifestories/index.html The Sims Life Stories for PC - The Sims Life Stories PC Game - The Sims Life Stories Computer Game ] ]
publisher= EA Games|(PC)
Aspyr (Mac)
series = "The Sims"
engine= Custom
released = Windows vgrelease|North America|NA|February 6, 2007
Mac OS X
vgrelease|North America|NA|March 28, 2007
genre= Life simulation game
God game
modes= Single player
ratings= ESRB: T
OFLC: M
PEGI: 12+
platforms= Mac OS X, Windows
requirements= Windowscite web | url = http://sims.yahoo.com/support | title= Windows system requirements | work = EA Games | accessdate = April 2 | accessyear= 2007]
* OS: Windows XP
* CPU: 1.4GHz (1.8GHz laptop)
* RAM: 256MB (512MB laptop)
* Disc Drive: 8x DVD drive
* HDD: 2.7GB free space
* Video: 32MB DirectX 9.0c compatible
* Sound: DirectX 9.0 compatible

Mac OS Xcite web | url = http://www.aspyr.com/product/game_specs/72 | title= Mac OS X system requirements | work = Aspyr Media | accessdate = April 2 | accessyear= 2007]
* OS: Mac OS X 10.3.9
* CPU: 1.0GHz PowerPC G4/G5 or Intel Chipset
* RAM: 256MB
* Disc Drive: DVD drive
* HDD: 3GB free space
* Video: 32MB ATI Radeon 9000/nVidia GeForce FX5200/Intel GMA 950
input= Keyboard
Mouse

"The Sims Life Stories" is a video game, the first game in the "The Sims Stories" series. The game is a version of "The Sims 2" optimized for laptops (and lower-end desktop computers) and bears similarities to the console ports of "The Sims" games. In Story mode, it begins with the problems of Riley Harlow and Vince Moore. Rewards are unlocked as set goals are achieved. In open-ended Classic mode, the player creates Sims and then choose how they'll live their life through. "The Sims Life Stories" was released on February 6 2007. It is categorized as laptop-friendly since it lacks the need for an independent graphic card.

Currently, two other entries in the series are available: "The Sims Pet Stories" and "The Sims Castaway Stories".

The game begins in Story Mode with Riley Harlow's life story as she moves from SimCity to Four Corners to live with her Aunt Sharon to start a new life. A second story follows the life of Vincent Moore, a millionaire who is looking for true love. After both stories are completed the gameplay continues in open-ended Classic mode, which is similar in nature to "The Sims 2". The towns in which Riley and Vince live are also available to play when their stories are finished.

Gameplay

"The Sims Life Stories" uses the same game engine and gameplay mechanics as "The Sims 2". In addition to the open-ended freestyle mode from "The Sims 2", "Life Stories" features 2 pre-defined scenarios. In each scenario the player takes control of one of two protagonists and is tasked with accomplishing various goals in that character's life. The game features significant use of scripted sequences to create pre-defined dramatic events and situations.

As "Life Stories" was optimized for use on laptops, hardware requirements are significantly lower than "The Sims 2". However in "The Sims Life Stories", Sims do not have the choice of multiple neighbourhoods like they would in "The Sims 2". They have only one neighbourhood, do not get to decide the size of their lots like they would in "The Sims 2", can only have four Sims per family as opposed to the eight Sims per household in "The Sims 2" and no existing expansion packs for The Sims 2 work with The "Stories" series. Also The Sims Pet Stories and are NOT expansion packs to "The Sims: Life Stories". Although the "Stories" series was specifically designed for laptops, the original version of "The Sims 2" will work for laptops provided it meets system requirements specified on the back of the box.

Characters in Riley's Story (Spoiler Warning)

Riley Harlow

The main character of Riley's Story. She moves in to her aunt's house in Four Corners after losing her job and being evicted from her house in Sim City. On her first day she moves in, however her Aunt Sharon almost immediately has to leave for something urgent, thus leaving Riley alone for the first few days. Meanwhile, she makes friends with the neighbors who come to welcome her to the neighborhood, and falls in love with a guy named Mickey Smith. They get married at the end of the story and have a baby together.

Mickey Smith

A party DJ and also Riley's love interest during the story. He asks Riley to be his girlfriend and she accepts. The relationship goes well until he discovers she is seeing Dylan. He has a fight with Dylan and loses, causing him and Riley to break up. However, during his engagement to Agora Tchotchke, he and Riley reconcile. He almost gets married to Agora until Riley arrives at the scene to halt the wedding, after that he proposes to Riley and they get married. They have a child together at the end of the story.

Fiona Fortuna

Riley's friend who gives her a coffee maker as a housewarming gift. She is the one Riley trusts and acts as the provider of information about the neighbourhood to her. She also attends Mickey and Agora's wedding and calls Riley to attend as well. She is a widow and the mother of Madison Fortuna.

Dylan Kincaid

Riley's ex-boyfriend from high school who tries to patch things over with her. He has moved in 2 weeks before Riley has done and currently works at the Four Corners Bank. He goes to Riley's house for dinner with her and they have a great time. He also appears to comfort Riley after she breaks up with Mickey and he is found to be cheating on her when he is caught dating Ashley Sinclair. Later it is revealed that he and Agora have attempted to start a plot to kidnap Sharon in order to claim her vast fortune and use Riley who as a relative can claim the cash. He is arrested for doing this.

Agora Tchotchke

Archenemy of Riley who works as a party DJ. She also has a romantic interest in Mickey, hence fuels the jealousy towards Riley. She has kidnapped Sharon at the bank with Dylan to claim her million Simoleons. Towards the end of the story, after she admits that she has done it to marry Mickey and share the money with him, she is left at the altar and arrested.

haron Foss

Riley's aunt who lives in Four Corners. She offers Riley her place to stay but leaves abrupty for something important. She is later found kidanapped by Dylan and manages to escape from him. She later passes on her home to Riley and at the end of the story is revealed to be a self-made millionaire who made her fortune in the stock exchange.

Ashley Sinclair

Co-worker of Dylan who attends Mickey and Agora's wedding. She is also seen dating Dylan and gives a gift to Riley after her wedding. She is the wife of Waring Sinclair.

Madison Fortuna

Minor character in the story. She is the daughter to Fiona Fortuna and only appears as a guest at Mickey and Agora's wedding. She is efatuated with Jacob Marginson.

Waring Sinclair

Husband of Ashley and a minor character in the story who only appears at Mickey and Agora's wedding. Waring is a successful businessman who fears that his wife will cheat on him.

Characters in Vince's Story (Spoiler Warning)

Vincent "Vince" Moore

A rich business tycoon who lives in Bitville and the main character in Vincent's story. He breaks up with Samantha Hayden after he feels that her wedding proposal was far too sudden. After a string of disastrous dates, he falls in love with Naomi Hunt, whom he meets at Baliwood Star Lanes.

Naomi Hunt

A barista who works at Baliwood Star Lanes and also Vince's love interest. They first date at Cliffside Park and the date goes well until a mysterious woman (Kendra Blaise) flirts with Vince and Naomi incorrectly assumes that Vince is a Womanizer. Later, she gives Vince a second chance and their relationship improves. At the end of the story she moves in with Vince and is crushed by a satellite, after that her fate is up to the player.

amantha Hayden

Vince's girlfriend at the beginning of the story who is only dating Vince because of his fortune. They break up after she proposes marriage after only three weeks of their relationship. Subsequently, she harbors a bitter relationship with Vince. She secretly sabotages all of his dates and later on in the story vents out her anger by destroying his house. At the end of the story, Naomi provokes her into a fight.

Greg Chomsky

Vince's best friend who is asked to take care of his house during his absence. However, he leaves Vince's house in a big mess, later on in the story he begins to develop a relationship with Alexa Starr.

herman Boggle

Vince's friend and co-worker. He provides information on the JCN satellite's progress and some other important plot details. He is depicted as a stereotypical nerd, and uses much more sophisticated language than other characters which often makes it hard for them to understand him.

Johnny Cullen

Vince's business rival and later Samantha Hayden's new boyfriend turned husband. At the end of the story his business fails and he and Samantha split up.

Alexa Starr

One of Vince's dates. They dine at Don Calamari's for their date. However the date turns disastrous when (unbeknownst to Vince) Samantha sneaks into the kitchen and sabotages the food causing Alexa to fall asleep on her food. She tends to interrupt during conversations and has an addiction to Coffee.

Kendra Blaise

A mysterious lady who is paid by Samantha to claim she had a great date with Vince and sabotage his date with Naomi. She is described as a pyromaniac.

asha Aires

Materialistic young woman who is one of Vince's dates. They shop at the Arcadium Plaza during their date and Vince realizes that she is only after his fortune.

Dr. Maximillion Oglethorpe

Vince's friend whom he introduces to Sasha after their date.

Don Calamari

Owner of Don Calamari's and a friend of Vince. He gives Vince a gift as an apology to the incident that happens during Vince and Alexa's sabotaged date.

Critical reception

On the review aggregator Game Rankings, the game received an average score of 70% based on 22 reviews. [cite web|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/937309.asp |title=The Sims Life Stories Reviews (PC) |accessdate=2008-03-24 |publisher=Game Rankings] On Metacritic, the game received an average score of 72 out of 100, based on 21 reviews — indicating "mixed or average reviews." [cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/simslifestories |title=Sims Life Stories, The (pc: 2007): Reviews |accessdate=2008-03-24 |publisher=Metacritic]

References

External links

* [http://thesims2.ea.com/about/sims_stories/index.php Official "Sims 2" website: About "The Sims Stories"]
* [http://thesimsstories.ea.com/index.html Official "Sims Stories" website: About "The Sims Stories"]
* [http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=163437822 Official MySpace profile of Riley Harlow]
* [http://sims2magicmirror.freehostia.com "sims 2 magic mirror" ]
* [http://simsmirror.freehostia.com "the sims mirror" ]
* [http://simssuperstar.freehostia.com "the sims superstar" ]
* [http://superstarmagic.freehostia.com "the sims superstar magic" ]
* [http://superstarmagicmirror.freehostia.com/ "the sims superstar magic mirror" ]