Video Game Chosen: Sims 3
Genre: Simulation
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MloaJR2YkGA
Website: http://www.thesims3.com/

Lens 1: The lens of imagination (45)

• Most if not all the objects in Sims 3 are modeled after actual reality. Objects like television, fridge or even beds are pretty much similar to what our reality has to offer.
• Things that are modeled after reality have to done in a way such that player are accustomed to.
  For example during sleeping it is possible for character to move around and even dreams.
• Time is something that player has to imagine. It is not realistic and feasible to simulate real time and therefore player has to get accustomed to character progressing faster such as life span of a character, its career or even its mundane activities.

Lens 2: The lens of the weirdest thing (69)

• In the various expansions to Sims 3, there are many different forms of unusual things that can make the game mechanics even more interesting. This gives players the option the freedom to choose the form of game mechanics they want in their game by purchasing only the expansion they are interested in.
• In the normal Sims 3, ghosts do exist and character is able to interact with them.
• In Sims 3: Showtime, genies are available and can grant wishes to character.
• In Sims 3: Seasons, aliens appear at time and have power to manipulate Sims’ minds.
• These features give Sims 3 a touch of what can possible not happen in real life and give players a good laugh at the end
  

Lens 3: The lens of the world (74)

• In the various scenarios/maps in Sims 3, there are various stories that a character can take in the forms of career or even the various recreational activities. Different activities improve different aspect of the character life. For example a character that is very focused on social activities will probably have lots of friends and usually host a lot of parties.
• Some similarity to reality is the need to have a job for income. Hence there have to be a balance between working and playing (or event working on his skills).
• In the world there are many options for character to explore. Some examples are Pubs, Gym, Music Concerts, Pool parties or even things like fishing.
• The world in Sims 3 allows players to simulate a “perfect” life for themselves which is usually achievable in the game.

Lens 4: The lens of freedom (71)

Character features

• Players are given the option to create their characters in any way they want. This includes down to the detail options such as face and body features, or even the clothes they wear.
• However, players might get overwhelmed by too many options and they can therefore have the lazy option of generating a random character with the random name and traits.

Character Property

• Players are able to build their houses with many options. Things like furniture, lightings, walls colours and many more are up for the players to choose.
• Player can also customize the grass outside their house with even more stuff such as a soccer goal post, car lot, or even just plant trees to make the whole place even attractive.
• However, the house is constrained to the limited land plot designated to the player. Also the maximum number of floors is restricted to 5 to simulate realism.
• As the same with character features, players are allowed the option to purchase a pre-built house to prevent the hassle of building from scratch.

Character Life

• Character can choose what form of career they want to take.
• Character can also learn what skills they want to learn, as well as spend its time on the recreational activity that the player likes.
• Players are also given the freedom to push their character to do things that are either not ethical in or common in actual society. For example a player can choose to do minor crimes such as stealing or even join a criminal career to provide a twist to the usual life that people take.

Lens 5: The lens of character traits (77)

Personality Traits

• Characters are given many different personality traits for players to choose from. Players are allowed to choose any 5 from the many given choices if they are creating the character.
• Traits can also be inherited via genetics from parents to simulate realism.
• Personality traits are grouped into 5 different category and some examples from each category are:
  • Mental: Can’t stand art, Insane, Computer Whiz
  • Physical: Athletic, Light Sleeper, Neat
  • Social: Charismatic, Flirty, Loner
  • Lifestyle: Ambitious, Frugal, Over-Emotional
  • Hidden (Needs to be unlocked): Burglar, Pizza Appreciator, Pyromaniac

• Certain traits allow for the character to have actions or benefits specified to that trait. For example given a Charismatic trait:
  • Characters build charisma skill 25% faster than other Sims
  • Characters in the Political career have more success asking for contributions
  • Characters’ conversation will never bore other Sims

Skills

• Skills also helped characters develop their life in the game. Each skill helps the character to do certain things better and they are seen through its daily activities.
• Example: A character with high handiness skills is able to repair his television set efficiently.
• Some example of skills are: Logic, Creativity, Painting, Fishing