Growing Up with The Sims

The Sims kept me glued to the PC screen for hours and still keeps a tight spell on me. Somewhere and sometime in the age of Windows 98, The Sims came out and was the first people simulation game in the market. It created a hype and thus plenty of Add-Ons and Will Wright was a genius for having created such game. I spent countless hours creating the perfect looks, the perfect house and try to improve the skills to get the perfect job. With all the later Add-Ons I just started investing more and more time into the game and into making my character the greatest possible.



The idea has not much changed when Sims 2 came out. There were just major upgrades such as the actual Sim who looked just so much more human and less stick figure. They added expressions, movements and changes while aging. You were able to select wishes for the sim and select their life time wish and make them happy. The continuity of aging was a lso a big concept in this game where you could actually age from baby to grown up and also get pregnant. Everything is just closer to real life. What would Sims 2 be without the expansions as well? Same concept, same expansion packs from Nightlife to University, everything was there again.



The Sims 3 added an universal interactive neighborhood where you don't need to wait for another place to load when you visit a community lot. You can even visit your neighbors and spy on them. The whole system changed where everything is now connected to the world as a whole. I love how you can also create personalities whether they be neurotic or flirty. Jobs have also changed because you are able to also do assignments outside the job and you can even decide whether you are working effectively or whether you want to have a chat with your collegues instead.

There are also different kinds of professions where you can work independently from home as an artist for example or you could choose to become a stylist where you actually choose different styles for different Sims. The Add-Ons have also changed drastically. You can now travel abroad and actually own a vacation home there and have missions. Sims 3 reminded me almost of an roleplay simulation because I felt like I am doing some level-up think with my character. Another expansion also enables you to be a celebrity and actually make a living out of it. Sims 3 has altered the Sims Universe and ultimately improved it. They however also make tons of money out of it since the new universe allows you to spend money online to buey different furniture and looks for your Sims.



The Sims Universe is definitely worth a dip no matter from which genre you come from. I grew up with it and still relish in the fond memories of it. Happy Siming!

Tribute to the Good Ol' Lara

I was raised during the dawn of computer games and consoles. After I received my first game boy, my gamer future was set to be conquered. One of the biggst influences in my gaming life is Lara Croft. She shaped my childhood, accompanied me in my adolescence and still captures my interest as an adult. I was around 8 or 9 years old when Tomb Raider came out. It was an innovation and something different from the pixelized ego shooter Doom, that dominated the market during those times. And she was a WOMAN. Not just any woman also, but an elite bombshell. I loved her, I wanted to be like her and I played her if you know what I mean ;-).

When I was younger, the sudden attacks used to scare me shittless and it took me forever to continue playing, and to be perfectly honest it still does now at times, but exactly these moments are the ones I treasure. Oh and do I need to mention her outfits? I just played for the sheer curiousity on which outfit was next. I also loved the story line and the voice. Ok, nuf' said, let's get into gaming business.

I am particularly presenting the first 5 games, namely Tomb Raider, Tomb Raider II, Tomb Raider III, Tomb Raider IV: The Last Revelation and Tomb Raider Chronicles. I particularly loved part II and Chronicles. In every game there was still the obligatory Croft Manor Tutorial which just was a delight in playing for me. You could test yourself, get to know your manor and most importantly bash the butler. I enjoyed all the hidden tidbits that were to be found in there. Up until Chronicles, the style of combat and the story were created in the same format.

I will in due time create a portrait of the latter games namely Angel of Darkness, Legends, Anniversary, Underworld and Guardian of Light. However there is indeed a 9th installment coming in Fall 2012. Until then let us pay homage to our favorite digital queen Lara.

Total Distortion

Let me take you back to the 90s where a lot of things seemed to be trendy. One of them was Windows 95. Oh, nostalgia...... One of my favorite games during the 90s was Total Distortion. This game was developed in 1995 and is basically an adventure in a different dimension where you, the music video producer, has to make and sell music videos to be able to get back to earth.

You start off with zilch money and work your way up to stardom. In the beginning you get to explore your space station which includes a workspace, a bedroom, a kitchen and an energy room where the exit is located at. In the workspace area you can communicate with the outside world, buy items, make videos and take a look at the radio fishtank. In your bedroom you may check out different books with different types of games in them, and you are able to go to sleep. Whenever you sleep, you will find yourself in a dream game which you have to win to get healthier and more refreshed.

The kitchen is one of the funniest rooms in the station. You can make different kinds of sandwiches and drinks that are going to be very important once you roam around the outside dimension. The energy room is only used to stock up energy sticks so that you will still have electricity within the tower.

In order to make good videos, you have to get raw material from the dimension itself. For this you need a camera and a guitar. The camera for the obvious and the guitar for the guitar heroes that will attack you throughout the dimension. Getting through the dimension is also tricky since there are plenty of riddles in order to get to a place. The video material is either gathered or pre-set. Music is also already included in the game as well as the effects, so all you have to do is cut them together.

The game is basically a click adventure, but very colorful and creative. The creativity is probably the most mind-boggling of all since it's so....well....weird. That is exactly why I loved to play the game. It is weird, yet challenging and most of all fun. If I was to rate this game it would get an A-, because the creativity makes the game different and fun to play, however the game time itself is a little short and thus the reduction.

Total Distortion is still available for download, but only as a torrent (which of course is illegal). I still happened to have a CD from back in the day, but that got lost somewhere in space too. If you still want to check that game out, try Amazon.

Happy Gaming Guys!

New Addition: Games!!

Dear friends,

I have decided to add yet another topic to my blog in order to stimulate your minds and hands at the same time. I decided to add Games to the blog. Since I am a really big computer nerd, I admittingly do play tons of computer games. I will surely, at some point or the other, talk about different types of games that actually happen in real life, but for now the focus is on computer games. I will be giving you guys reviews of games I had played over the decades I lived and played in and I am expecting some feedback too on your part ;)
If you want me to test a certain game that you are however unsure of, then please do email me. I hope this will tickle your gamer bone to the core :)

Happy Gaming!

Sincerely,

Me