The Sims is, to this day, #1 selling game in the history of PC games. I've gotten in many troubles because of it. Today, because I just feel like it, I'd like to unfold my thoughts on this unique game. Since this has nothing to do with my life in the U.K., those who are more interested in my exotic tales may want to skip this article.
To those who have never played this game: The Sims is a bit of a universe-controlling game in which a player directs various kinds of individuals to perform basic necessities such as eating, sleeping and using the toilet, not to mention getting a job. The player may choose to help a sim achieve a very happy life or may choose to, even, kill him/her. In 2003 the Sims 2 was released in a wonderful 3D format and with more freedom regarding building the house, etc. (Now they can really "breed"... if you know what I mean.)
No one, even the closest friends and family, has understood my passion for this game - which is, ironically, understandable. To me the Sims, the first of the series, has a very great nostalgic value to me. It was the first game I put my mind since I got to Canada. (It even helped me forge new friendship.) I've had countless nights going overboard with this game. I even stayed up to 6 a.m. when the sun was rising. I remember waking up at 10 like nothing had happened. After playing the Sims 2, I can't really have much fun playing the original game because it has too many inconveniences for me. Even so, I cannot help but like this game still.
The soundtrack used in the Sims is, I dare say, magical. Not that many game musics have succeeded to catch my attention and I've fallen in love with that of the Sims in the instant I heard it. I even managed to track down the source and burned the music on a CD so I could hear it even when I wasn't playing it. Many people found it rather strange that I would go that far with a mere game soundtrack. But the songs recorded in the Sims are much more than simple music. Each of them has a very unique tone which all somehow get in sync when used in one main theme. The music played in the neighborhood scene are soft, sultry jazz while building mode music has a variety of new age piano. No wonder the Sims has such a miraculous record that hasn't been broken for almost a decade. (I think this is pretty amazing especially in PC game category because more people have access to computers than to PS3 or other consoles, thus allowing anyone to buy any game.)
But something more came to me when I purchased the Sims Complete Collection which has every single expansion pack released - meaning, it had Makin' Magic. I knew anything dealing with magic is quite interesting but the music linked with this expansion pack just blew my mind away. They were reminiscent of a bohemian French music, mainly involved with soft arcodians and waltz rhythms. They all had certain melancholy tunes - which I adore dearly. And today when I, out of curiosity, clicked to see the credit of the staff, I found a secret track. It was, again, had melodies of arcodians and quite nostalgic. I wish I were more articulate so I could tell you how beautiful it is. You'll have to listen to it yourself - no words can do the justice. (If you're interested, let me know by email so I can send you the music files.)
These musics, unfortunately, don't come with titles. I visited iTunes shop but it only had a few. So I took a liberty of naming them myself. I think I did a decent job of it. Some of these titles include "A Cloudy Day" "What will happen?" "Kiss Goodbye" "Dark Ally Waltz". I named the song from the staff credit "Fading Memories". You may understand when you get to hear the music.
I have a curious tendency not to like anything that is liked by a bunch of people. But apparently it wasn't clicked when I got to the Sims. (This may have some effects on my parents, who may as well hate this game for taking my attention away from academics in the past years.) I will love this game always. It's a piece from my childhood memoir that I'll cherish along with other things.
I guess I love this game so much, mainly because - I was happy when I was playing this game. I mean, not because of the game - because that was the last time I remember I was truly happy and it's something that I can't reach, ever.
Like so many other things I suffer nostalgia for, I only desire what I cannot have. The time when I first met the Sims is one of them.
