Soon I'll Have Even Weirder Stories To Share Thanks To The Sims 4 Launch!

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Momma Told Me: You're quite the character!

I suppose now's as good a time as any to confess, in high school, I was not the 'cool' kid. The fact I was several years younger than my peers and my father kept his shotgun polish in the hallway outside my bedroom didn't help either. So, when I wasn't studying, or taking make up college courses for the high school years I'd skipped, I was on the computer engrossed in my own make believe world. I held no authority in my own life, so I settled for painstakingly painting every feature of another's, in The Sims Series of computer and video based games.

When I was five or six I recall watching over my father's shoulder as he tinkered in the original Sim City (1989) on a boxy computer he kept hidden in a giant scroll top desk. Then, again in 1994, when I was about old enough to pick and choose my own computer programs, I was allowed my first copy of SimCity2000; a sandbox style game much more different than the Electronic Arts people simulator The Sims, later released in 2000. But this franchise was precisely the reason a 16 year-old me packed up and headed to art school to major in Game Art And Design in 2003.

I learned some things right out of the gate at the Art Institute; 1) I was one of 2 girls on campus in my specialization of game design, and 2) The Sims was by far revered as one of the most successful modern gaming franchises with it's universal appeal to all genders, age groups, and walks of life. Did you know The Sims creator had originally considered Navajo communications as the basis for the later developed Simlish language? It was his desire that The Sims franchise would need no translation across the globe, and that users could come together to create and share their simulated world in a universal understanding of humanity. That's pretty deep for a video game, right?

So here I am, barreling towards my thirties, with no practical time to play the video games of my youth, but scheduling it regardless in enthusiastic anticipation of the September 2, 2014 launch of #TheSims4. The programming and development progress of commercial computer animation within computer and video games never ceases to amaze me, and I find myself as eager as if I were a teenager again to experience the ever growing list of hands on mechanics this story simulation game has to offer. Don't worry, I'll spare you my Simlish breakdown and highlight a few of my favorite things in English.

Promising 'Smarter' Sims with even more complex traits and personality engines than ever before your Sim can have multiple aspirations and even genetic traits that unfold in the systems random genetics generator. Watch as these new Sims with big personalities appear emotionally aware and express these emotions in easy to read facial and physical cues. And of course, the creative tools, provided to hand craft every minute detail of your beautifully illustrated Sims are more touch screen intuitive than ever, to compliment Windows 8 operating platforms. Of course, if you're still running Windows 7 you'll be able to touch and tweak every little nip and tuck with your mouse too!

You can play around with the new character creation engine, and see these beautiful graphics come to life with vibrant personalities when you download the free Create-A-Sim Demo today. Users will not only have a chance to pre-create some family members and put together test 'houses' (the term for a household of characters, not an actual house) and share them through social media and other #TheSims4 excited friends. Honestly, I truly got lost in the hands on Create A Sim and lost a few hours just making my Sims from scratch- I almost forgot to explore the Genetics feature! P.S. Don't you hate it when your Sims blink while taking a picture?

The Create A Sim demo only allows you to play with young adult character creation, but keep in mind that the full The SIMS™ 4 game will have age markers from infant to elderly, so you can truly hand craft a family with even weirder stories than ever before! When I arrived at the Genetics portal, I had the option to create a sibling, or twin for any of my exiting Sims characters. It was really fun to watch Sim after Sim be spit out, and their unique personalities come to life with similar physical traits to me!

If all of The Sims™ 4 news excites you half as much as it does me, then you'll want to be sure to pre-order your copy of #TheSims4 online at Walmart.com, or in store now so you have your copy ready and reserved on the big Sims 4 Launch day- September 2, 2014! I've got the inside scoop that initial The Sims™ 4 bundles sold through Walmart will include a pack of all new Sour Patch Kids gum, and pre-orders have some limited time perks such as pre-release digital guides and Vudu credits! I know I'm clearing off my schedule for the upcoming full game release, and brushing up my Simlish, how about you? 

If you're in the mood to get your SIM on be sure to stop by the exclusive The Sims™ 4 launch sweepstakes, and SIMify yourself for a chance at one of several amazing prizes!  There are $8000 in prizes to be won including the grand prize where you could win a trip to Maxis studio in California! NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. See Official Rules https://www.facebook.com/simifyyourself/app_181034565422548

Have you ever played a 'SIM' franchise game? Do you know someone who does?

What Daughter Says: We all want to play pretend, The SIMS™ 4 just made it a little cooler.