The Sims 3

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Mature life sim with more personality than ever.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this is a life simulation game where you can create your own Sim and then control its life. Players can make Sims' personalities nuanced and life-like by assigning body characteristics and traits that include romantic, artistic, brave, kleptomaniac, neurotic, snob, and even "evil," which can influence desires, behavior, and job opportunities. Sims can enter into both heterosexual and same-sex relationships; and they can die.

  • Sims can be as noble or as nasty as the player chooses. Possible character trades include coward, evil, dislikes children, kleptomaniac, mean-spirited, mooch, neurotic, and snob. Sims with certain traits will be inclined to steal, cheat on their spouses, say rude things, and get into fights. "Criminal" is a possible career path, and Sims can aspire to be a master thief or gold digger, among other things. It's possible to get arrested and spend the day in jail. The game offers a wider range of different body types than ever before, from skinny to hefty or muscular, but Sims react with dismay if you puff their bodies up to the maximum weight.
  • Sims can taunt, argue, and get into physical fights with each other. Sims with nasty personality traits may actually feel better after beating up another Sim.
  • Like previous Sims games, courtship and romance play a big part. Sims with the Romance trait will aspire to a life of having as many lovers and make-out sessions as possible, and if married, will be inclined to cheat on their spouses. Sims can have both heterosexual and same-sex relationships and can be seen jumping under the sheets in bed to make "woohoo" (the game's term) -- which is accompanied by groans and giggles.
  • Not applicable.
  • You can buy a range of items for your Sim's house. The game encourages the pursuit of "nics stuff," because inferior quality products will negatively affect your Sim's mood such as sleeping in a cheap bed or cooking on a cheap stove.

What's it about?

THE SIMS 3, the latest game in EA's blockbuster Sims franchise, is a life simulation game where you create and control your own person, affectionately call a Sim. This version takes character customization to a new level of nuance and detail. Not only are players afforded more options in body shape and clothing style and color than ever before, but they can also select five traits out of three dozen for their Sim, such as coward, absent-minded, athletic, and vegetarian, which affect everything from how the Sim behaves and interacts with other Sims to career choice and life aspirations.

The game's setting, the sprawling Sunset Valley, affords dozens of
interesting locations to visit and hundreds of actions and reactions
based on each Sim's personality. They can pursue a career or
relationship, start a family, chill at the beach or pool, play chess in
the park, or even rummage through the neighbor's garbage. You decide whether to be kind or mean-spirited. If you chose a path of evil doing, your Sim will actually derive pleasure from
causing as much strife as possible. Likewise, romantic Sims will favor
casual relationships with no long-term commitments.


Is it any good?

 

As with previous Sims titles, The Sims 3 isn't suitable for younger players. The game is a balanced and honest portrayal of peoples' foibles as well as their strengths. Characters can be dishonest, nasty, lustful, mean, and materialistic. Characters can die and turn into ghosts, although it's also possible to control and even halt the aging process.

The game is a nice blend of familar gameplay for those who have played the earlier versions, and interesting new gameplay. For example, the game offers a new detailed building tool that lets you drag walls to change the size of rooms in your house, or rotate items 45 degrees to place them on an angle, and a new family inventory that lets players store items without actually selling them. The game is still a bit cumbersome to control, and it's a shame you can't multi-task (like brushing your teeth while waiting for your morning waffles to cook), but overall the new features and refinements help to make The Sims 3 extremely engaging while giving it almost limitless replay value.


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What families can talk about

Families can talk about what personality traits they chose for their Sim. Did they make their Sim exactly like them, or experiment with a very different persona? Was it fun to play a nasty Sim, or did you feel guilty about making the other Sims feel bad? Of all the various life aspirations available in The Sims, which ones do you consider the most important?


This review was written by Erin Bell
September 8, 2009
 
VIOLENCE: Children Sims and onwards can engage in violence of both the physical and verbal sort in the game. This violence never gets too graphic, however, as it is depicted in a comical or cartoonish way. Teen Sims and onwards can die of old age, fire, electrocution, starvation or drowning. Again this is done in a cartoonish way but may upset those who have experienced these issues. Sims will grieve for the dead but only for a short while. The dead return as ghosts and float around locations in the game. The ghosts are comical in appearance but can scare Cowardly Sims. Sims sometimes die or get involved in violence due to player's acts. Babies, toddlers and children do not die in the game and are rescued by a Social Worker if they are in danger of death. The Grim Reaper and ghosts may scare very young children. DRINKING, DRUGS AND TOBACCO: Sims do not take drugs or tobacco. Sims can own bars but the drink they drink from the bar has no effect on them whatsoever and Sims cannot get drunk. Only Young Adults, Adults and Elders can drink from the bar. SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR: The game is not openly graphic in sexual behaviour. Teenage Sims and onwards can date, flirt and kiss other Sims regardless of gender. Teen Sims can only become involved with each other but Young Adult Sims, Adult Sims and Elder Sims can become involved with Young Adults, Adults or Elders regardless of gender. Young Adults, Adults and Elders can marry and jump under the bed covers and "Woo-Hoo" where any sexual acts are hidden. You can hear the Sims giggle however and some light, infrequent groaning. Sims can Woo-Hoo in public places but their always hidden from view and if caught by a policeman, they are fined. All Young Adults, Adults and Elders can conceive children except Elder females. Morning sickness is present in a comical way in the game where green liquid comes from the Sims mouth as they puke in a toilet. This is not presented in an overly graphic way. When a Sim goes into labour, a puddle of water appears under that Sim and it starts having contractions although not in an overly graphic way. The birth of a baby is hidden when the Sim is taken to the hospital but a home birth simply sees the Sim covered in sparkles, spinning on the spot and a baby appears in the Sims hands next. Sims of all ages and genders are exposed nude when bathing or using the toilet but any private areas are faded out so they are impossible to see. LANGUAGE: As Sims speak the fictional language of Simlish, there is no bad language in the game. CONSUMERISM: You are encouraged to buy objects and products for your home, especially expensive ones that are implied to be designer or brand name objects. Some products, such as cars, appear to parody real life branded products. MESSAGES: The messages portrayed in The Sims are really based on the players. Some Sims can be given negative traits such as evil and kleptomaniac or good traits such good or friendly. How your Sims act depends on what the player and sometimes what the Artificial Intelligence system does but no seriously good or bad messages are portrayed in the game. Sims will moan on the Create A Sim screen if they are made too fat or too thin. Underage sex is discouraged in the game as Teens can not have sex or get pregnant. ROLE MODELS: Again, the same points applied to 'MESSAGES' applies here too. Sims can be good role models or bad role models depending on how the players creates them or intigates their actions. SAFETY: Parents or guardians may want to play the game with their children and monitor the situation but this game never becomes too graphic. EASY TO PLAY: The game may look overwhelming to play at first but players should get used to the interface fairly quicky and hence the game is quite easy to play. EDUCATION: Players will be required to read as the game contains no understandable dialogue. They will also develop skills in time managment and endless creativity.

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Adult
December 28, 2010
 
Make a censored version, EA, and I would willingly pay 75 dollars
This game is ridiculously fun, however I opt out of playing it due to the *sometimes unavoidable* sexual stuff in it. My parents would kill me if they knew it had these options in it, not to mention I really don't want to play something with a chance of something so bad happening in view of my two younger siblings.

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Teen, 16 years old
January 5, 2010
 
Sexual behaviour isn't that bad.
Young kids under 10 may like the look of this game. but do not buy it for them. It will confuse them in areas of the sexual parts. Woo-hoo and the bed is moving and the covers are going and noises are going on (: So its not really suitable for young kids. Violence is not violent at all. No blood or anything. When a fight happens there is a cloud of white smoke so you can't see the punch up anyway, the only thing that happens is the person he/she will fall to the ground. The bad thing is consumerism, yeah you normally see that as casual advertising but this is bad, Whereas you will get sims depressed on cheap things so its a bad role model only liking the most expensive, most luxery food and furniture. Suitable for over 10.

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Teen, 16 years old
January 1, 2011
 
players can fight make owt do it kill drink just live live irreresponcibly withouwt a consiquense trust me ivev played off 4 under 12 iffy 4 13 on 4 14 and up

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Parent of 10 year old
March 22, 2010
 
everyone should play this!
The sexual themes aren't bad AT ALL! nothing you don't see in PG movies anyway. get this for your kid NOW! you can get off ebay for really cheap. or you could go to gamestop and get one used.

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Kid, 12 years old
December 23, 2010
 
Perfect for tweens and teens. Some content may not be appropriate for young children.
Sims 3 is a fun game people can play. You can make your own sim, get married, have, kids, buy a house, design it etc. Its like you are starting your own life. Some of the content is not appropriate for children under the age of 10. But overall, The Sims 3 is a fun and addicting game.

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Kid, 12 years old
December 10, 2010
 
Really Good For Older Kids!
Well... the woohoos and bad traits are NOT a thing younger kids should be getting influence from.. But, other then that.. The good traits have positive messages, and are educational. (EX: Good sims can donate to charity). Some sims are bad role models, and others are good. It's very easy to play once you get the hang of it, too. It has many oppurtunites but some turn out with bad results. Plus, the 'criminal' careers should NOT be influenced.

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Kid, 13 years old
August 16, 2010
 
Maybe
I like it but I think that when the sims 'do it' the bed needs to be blocked out. Kids can express both sides of themself by making a good sim and a bad sim. I do think it is a good thing for most teens over 13, but some younger kids can play.

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Teen, 14 years old
April 4, 2010
 
For the most part, The Sims 3 could be an E-rated game. However, there are a few inappropriate parts in it, such as mild violence, and especially sexual references. If this feature were not included, it could be rated E-10. It also has mild peril, like fires in it. I got the game when I was almost 12, and I stay away from any T-rated parts in it. My 8-year old sister plays, but I constantly watch her to make sure she does nothing bad in the game. As long as young children stay away from any inappropriate things, the game is good for ages 10+. Children 6-9 should be watched while playing, and children 5 or below should not play at all. The game is completely worth it, though. The graphics are stunning and game-play is addicting. As you can see, I even have a sim as my avatar. If you feel comfortable with it, buy it and you won't regret it.

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Adult
July 10, 2010
 
Not a very mature game.
Sims is more boring than mature. This game is extremely overspoken about how mature the game actually is. Sure there are sexual scenes where you only hear and see the sheets moving, That isn't too bad. You can beat someone up in a cloud of dust so nothing is seen. Its rather educational in a way, Not the sleeping around but building houses and getting jobs. Its not mature by any means, I've been playing for a long time.

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This review was written by Erin Bell
Platforms:Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo DS, Windows, Mac
Available online?Not available online
Genre:Simulation
Developer:Electronic Arts
Release date:June 2, 2009
Price:$49.99
ESRB rating:T for Crude Humor, Sexual Themes, Violence

This review was written by Erin Bell

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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