The Sims vs The Sims 2

[General Zod]

So, I was browsing games the other day and saw some collection packages, one with the Sims and a crapload of expansion packs. The other with The Sims 2 and a couple of expansions. I was thinking of maybe getting The Sims 2, but I was curious if there were any Sims vets that could fill me in on what the differences between the two games were, besides the obvious like graphical upgrades and such. Would be helpful in deciding which one to get.

[Enigma]

So, I was browsing games the other day and saw some collection packages, one with the Sims and a crapload of expansion packs. The other with The Sims 2 and a couple of expansions. I was thinking of maybe getting The Sims 2, but I was curious if there were any Sims vets that could fill me in on what the differences between the two games were, besides the obvious like graphical upgrades and such. Would be helpful in deciding which one to get.

My wife is hooked on the Sims franchise including the sequel. As far as I can tell, in Sims 2 your sims actually age and die. Don't know much other than that and that it is basically bigger and better than the Sims.

[Ritterin Sophia]

So, I was browsing games the other day and saw some collection packages, one with the Sims and a crapload of expansion packs. The other with The Sims 2 and a couple of expansions. I was thinking of maybe getting The Sims 2, but I was curious if there were any Sims vets that could fill me in on what the differences between the two games were, besides the obvious like graphical upgrades and such. Would be helpful in deciding which one to get.

My wife is hooked on the Sims franchise including the sequel. As far as I can tell, in Sims 2 your sims actually age and die. Don't know much other than that and that it is basically bigger and better than the Sims.

Even better, I can have my pets again! Also you can actually take your Sim to work in Sims 2, if you get the Open for Business.

[Trytostaydead]

The Sims 2 was actually fairly addicting especially when you got all the hacks and created amusing scenarios and watched the mayhem unfold. Unfortunately, I lost everything when my EHD died

[Phantasee]

I'm still hooked on The Sims with all the expansions. How much was this package deal? I got mine as a gift, and I doubt I'd spend as much coin as my friend did. He bought them individually.

[RThurmont]

The Sims 2 has better graphics, and the social gameplay of it is considerably more advanced. In The Sims, I found myself loosing interest in my Sims as characters after a short while (after which point I played the game mainly as an architectural sim), whereas in The Sims 2, I don't see how that could happen, given the game's more sophisticated social model, where characters age and have more complicated and realistic personaliteis.

Architecturally, The Sims 2 is also more powerful, although I slightly preferred the original's architectural content from a design persective.

The biggest downside to The Sims 2 is that the game lacks the charm of the original. The music isn't nearly as good, and the experience feels somewhat slicker and more commercial.

[Larz]

The Sims butt load of expansions packs added some very unique and enjoyable mini-game modes. I rather enjoyed the expansions Superstar, Vacation, and Making Magic. But as noted before it social structure is rather limited and the infinintly living sims doesn't help with that so after a while I found I was playing it simply for the mini-gameness of it and the occasional torturing a sim to death.

The Sims 2 adds a lot more social gameplay to it and with the aging and dying bits it makes it more challenging and rewarding to actually focus on all your sims and how they are going abouts life. There are fun little mini-game stuff thrown into the game but theres not as much of it and your given a lot less time to play around with it as you have to focus more on your sim.

All in all, I'm finding The Sims 2 to be a little more engaging, but thats just my opinion.

[2000AD]

Does Sims 2 provide artificial friends for people only playing with one family? I remember playing SIms 1 and to progress up the job chain i had to create a the aptly named "friendprovider" family of 10 people that never got pllayed just so that i could befriend them and move up the job ladder.

[General Zod]

I'm still hooked on The Sims with all the expansions. How much was this package deal? I got mine as a gift, and I doubt I'd spend as much coin as my friend did. He bought them individually.

I think the package for the Sims and a buttload of expansions was like $30-40. I don't recall the exact price but I know it was relatively inexpensive for that many expansions. About the same as a regular new game. Though I'm less concerned about the price than I am the differences between the two, as I'd rather get the one with the most things to do, especially if one is more like an updated version of the other.

[RogueIce]

Does Sims 2 provide artificial friends for people only playing with one family? I remember playing SIms 1 and to progress up the job chain i had to create a the aptly named "friendprovider" family of 10 people that never got pllayed just so that i could befriend them and move up the job ladder.

Yes, it does. Random people will wander down the street, irrespective of whether or not that neighborhood even has any other homes in it (or for that matter, lots as I discovered playing with a totally virgin neighborhood).

Hell, one of my Sims in "The Sims 2" even managed to befriend the mail lady fer pete's sake! I'm working on trying to get them married now.