The Sims as a Postmodern TextEllisse White-Oliver

What is the Sims? The Sims is a life simulation video game series, developed by EA Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. It is one of the best-selling video games series of all time. As of September 2013, the franchise has sold more than 175 million copies worldwide. The player creates virtual people called "Sims" and places them in houses and helps direct their moods and satisfy their desires. Players can either place their Sims in pre-constructed homes or build them themselves. Each successive expansion pack and game in the series augmented what the player could do with their Sims.

Hyper reality and SimulacraThe game is considered post modern as you create a fake

world where players create and control their own character or a digitalised version of who they are or who they want to be. The game has their own currency called ‘simoleans’. This controls how your character will live and survive. However The Sims also has instantaneity within their game because rather than working or achieving, you are able to use cheats giving you instant access to money making it a hyper-real version of what we do in the real world. They have their own language ‘simlish’ in which they communicate to each other. You can create an entire reality from the comfort of your computer by getting a job, creating a social life and achieving goals.

Self-Reflexivity

One of the main elements that make a game like Sims postmodern is the premade characters in the game such as Romeo and Juliet which is obviously a reference to Shakespeare. Additionally you are able to actually play ‘The Sims’ on the games consoles you can purchase.

Intertexual References

This is a key element that can make the game postmodern. Your Sim can directly address the camera when they would need something of you. This is self-reflexive because this highlights they know it is a game and they are being controlled. Giving the audience that power to interpret what their Sim needs. Additionally as mentioned before, the game is meant to be a reflection of who you are or who you desire to be, again making a self-reflexive game.