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===========================
THE SIMS FAQ/STRATEGY GUIDE
===========================

A game from Maxis
For the PC
By JonL
jon_liang88@hotmail.com
ICQ: 74360442
Version 1.0
25 March 2000
7:55 a.m.
http://www.crosswinds.net/~thesimsjonl88/main.html (Under Construction)

This FAQ may be reproduced electronically, printed, or copied FOR PRIVATE AND PERSONAL USE ONLY
and may not be altered in any way. It may not be printed in a magazine, placed in a CD or
disket, or anything else than above. This FAQ is Copyright 2000 JonL. Please e-mail me when you
read this FAQ or if you want to correct some errors or mistakes. If you e-mail me to correct any
mistakes or errors, your name will be listed at the credits section. The latest version of this
FAQ can be found at:
a) http://www.gamefaqs.com
b) http://home.planetinternet.be/~twuyts
c) http://www.the.spoiler.com
d) http://vgstrategies.about.com
e) http://dhl.net
f) http://www.crosswinds.net/~riktor
g) http://www.thesimsms.cjb.net
h) http://www.angelfire.com/sd/kronk
My ICQ uin is 74360442.


=================
TABLE OF CONTENTS
=================

1 Introduction
2 Review
3 System Requirements
4 Things That You Should Know
5 How To Play
6 Personalities
7 Mood
7.1 Hunger
7.2 Comfort
7.3 Hygiene
7.4 Bladder
7.5 Energy
7.6 Fun
7.7 Social
7.8 Room
8 Time
9 Build Mode
10 Buy Mode
10.1 Seating
10.2 Surfaces
10.3 Decorative
10.4 Electronics
10.5 Appliances
10.6 Plumbing
10.7 Lighting
10.8 Miscellaneous
11 Room Names
12 Sim Names
13 Budget
14 Skills
14.1 Cooking
14.2 Mechanical
14.3 Charisma
14.4 Body
14.5 Logic
14.6 Creativity
15 Services
15.1 Maid
15.2 Gardener
15.3 Repairman
15.4 Pizza
16 Disasters
16.1 Flood
16.2 Fire
16.3 Burglary
16.4 Death
17 Careers
18 Marriage
19 Proposing
20 Moving In
21 Babies
22 Kids
23 Downloads/Addons
24 Note To Everyone
25 Known Bugs
26 Hints And Tips
27 Frequently Asked Questions
28 Cheats
29 Links
30 Version History
31 Credits


===============
1 INTRODUCTION
===============

Maxis have released another new Sim game. Is it addictive like the other games? Yes. Is it fun
like the other games? Yes. What so fun about this game? It is almost the same with SimCity or
SimTower or any other Sim games. There are no goals. That means once your Sim is perfect with
his career, life and his house, that means there are nothing left to do...Wrong. You can set
disasters, such as fire, or you can build more furniture, maybe add some decorations, you can
change your jobs or you can marry somebody that is already married. You can just screw up their
lives! If you haven't bought it yet, go buy it now! It is worth it for sure.

From INCITE PC # 7, June 2000:

Game BRIEFS: "You've played THE SIMS enough times by now to notice those scary process
messages
That appear while loading. So just what is the program doing when "Reticulating Splines",
"Inserting Chaos Generator", and "Balancing Domestic Coefficients" flash across
the bottom of
your screen? Absolutely nothing, actually. "They're inventions of (Creator) Will
Wright's
imagination," says a Maxis spokesman. Speaking of THE SIMS, expect Maxis to release an
expansion pack this fall...

From Excite News, May 11 2000:

"The winner of Game of the Year, The Sims, was selected because of its innovation," said
Jim
Charne, President and Executive Director of the Academy. "With this game, you can create the
home of your dreams, complete with fixtures, family life and a wide range of career paths. This
simulation of family life is really more than a game. It's what interactivity is all
about."


=========
2 REVIEW
=========

The Sims is a very amazing game. Why? Because it is different from the other games because you
don't get to shoot aliens or monsters, collect power ups, kill people and the other stuff that
usually appears in a game. But, this game is still a fun, addictive and exciting game. Because
in The Sims, you get to control people's lives.

What started as a 'house building' game (Like the other sim games like SimCity (where you
get
to build cities), SimTower (where you get to create your own tower) and other sim games by
Maxis), turned into a people simulator. How? Because, Will Wright thought that after you've
build a house, he'll have to include little people to check out how cool (or not) the house
is.
So, Will Wright then started to concentrate a bit more on those tiny people and ta-da! The Sims
is created.

Okay, now back to the review. You might think that it is a boring game because all you do is
look at your sim walking here and there, sitting, standing, eating, etc., etc. The you're
completely wrong. There are many possibilities in this game. Always wanted to build a dream
house of your own? Build one now! Want to see two men kissing? No problem! Want to be the
richest kid in the neighbourhood? Okay! What about drowning your sim? Or burning him? Getting
sick? All these are possible in this game!

GAMEPLAY: 9/10

This game is a masterpiece. Great gameplay. Get robbed. Get a kid. Fight with your neighbours.
Once you pop the CD into the CD-ROM, there's no way you're gonna stop! The idea of
including
the 8 needs makes the game more challenging. Try not to burn your house. Try and maintain a
balanced budget. Try and get promoted. All these activities take time and still the game is
very fun.

GRAPHICS: 10/10

The graphics are excellent. All of the sims have different faces and features. Every detail
have been carefully included from the knife to the fork.

AUDIO: 10/10

The sims are really 'alive'. The music and the voices of the sims have been beautifully
recorded. Even the quality of the audio is excellent from the talking to the footsteps.

REPLAYABILITY: 9/10

When you quit this game, you'll have a feeling to play this game again! Bored of the game
already? Download new objects and skins at http://www.thesims.com. Boring gameplay? Try and
get promoted till the last level of the career! Bored of the family? You can always make
another family.

OVERALL: 10/10

This game won three awards including The Game Of The Year. You might have guessed why by now.
If you haven't get The Sims, go get one now. You won't regret buying this game for sure.


======================
3 SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
======================

The system requirements here are taken directly from the box.

Operating system Windows 95 or 98 (Windows NT is not supported)
CPU type and speed 233 MHz or faster Intel Pentium processor
Memory 32 MB RAM
Hard Drive space 300 MB plus space for saved games and Windows swap file
(Additional space required for DirectX installation)
Graphics card High Colour capable 2 MB PCI or AGP video card with DirectDraw
compatible driver
CD-Rom speed 4x CD-ROM drive (600KB/second transfer rate) using a 32-bit Windows
Other needs DirectX 7 compatible sound card; keyboard, mouse

My computer ran The Sims smoothly (With all the effects on and the details high) although it is
only 150 MHz!


==============================
4 THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
==============================

There are things that you should know before you continue reading my FAQ:
1) The blue panel at the bottom left corner of the screen is called a 'Control Panel'.
2) The little people you control in this game are called a 'Sims'.
3) The money symbol for this game is 'õ' which can be done if you press Alt+0167.


==============
5 HOW TO PLAY
==============

Are you new to this game? If you are, go visit the tutorial house first. It is the house with
the orange pointing arrow. There, you will probably learn how to play. If you still have a
question, e-mail me.

Start a new family- At the Neighbourhood screen, go and click on the 'Select or Create
Family'
button. It is at the furthest top-left button. When you create a family, you
have to put the last name first, so be aware. You don't want your Sim's
name
to be 'Newbies Bob' or something. If you want to move a family to a
house,
just select the family and click on the 'Move In' button. It is one of
the
buttons at the bottom of the 'Select A Family' button. This is the same
for
deleting a family.

Evict or Destroy- Click on the 'Evict or Bulldoze' icon at the top of the Neighbourhood
screen.
Then, click on any house which are occupied with Sims. Click on 'Yes'
when a
dialog pops out, asking if you want to evict the family. The family in the
house will be sent to the 'Select A Family' window. If you want to
destroy a
house, just click on any EMPTY houses and click on 'Yes' when a dialog
appears,
asking you if you want to bulldoze that house.

Move In- If you want to move a family into a house, just click on the 'Move in Family'
button at
the bottom of the 'Select A Family' window. Click on an empty house to buy it
(Make sure
you have enough cash) or click on an empty land to buy it and build your own house. If
you don't know how to build a perfect house, go and buy a 'ready' house.


================
6 PERSONALITIES
================

All the Sims have personalities. Different personalities have different attitudes. You can
create your Sim's personalities at the 'Create A Sim' window. You have only 25
points. There
are five personalities: Neat, Outgoing, Active, Playful, Nice.

The personalities have opposites too: