Why do you play Sims 3?

[Gwendy]

Because I can write stories with it. Seriously, I wasn't big on Sims until I found the forum and Metro's Immortal Dynasty challenge. I would play it sporadically beforehand, usually with a friend to crack jokes and burn stuff down with, but it wasn't until Tia said, "Hey, there's this forum that does stories with Sims" that I really got into it. I love writing and sharing stories with people and being entertaining. It makes me happy, and considering how stressful and sad this past year has been for me, I really need that.

[MeestorMark]

I first got into Sims 3 as a distraction from ugly-ish real life stuff I was forced to sit through for a bit. Then I discovered this world of all kinds of creativity with the game from building, photography, sims making, machinima, story telling, all things I probably wouldn't really have the time or opportunity to do in real life, but get a real fun taste of it through the game. And of course, I also discovered boatloads of really cool fellow gamers on multiple forums/sites who shared their works, and then that community and those people are what keep me coming back even though I don't play it as often or create as much. Even though I don't play it as often, I do still come back to it and actually play sometimes when I want a game to reset my karma from wiping out dragons in Skyrim, or some other game. Lol. And those pesky, cool EPs they keep releasing... Those bring me back in spurts too.

[Abandag]

Originally I wanted to play a sim version of myself and live out the kind of life I dreamed of having when I was younger, a life that never materialized.  I love kids, and I have always wanted to get married and have lots of children.  When I was in high school and college, I also wanted to be a teacher and/or writer (and still do, to some extent).  However, I am now 40 years old, and none of these things have happened yet.  I thought playing the Sims 3 would be the perfect way for me to have a taste of that life.  I wanted to start from infancy, so I created Sim versions of my parents, and had them have a baby boy who would be my older brother, to mirror my real life older brother.  I even tried to space out my sim's birth to be similar to our own births.  (I had also planned for my parent sims to have another baby boy to match my real life little brother, but they ended up having a girl! Oops!)  I try to give myself traits I have in real life, like Loner, Family Oriented, and Genius.  (Hey, my mom always says I'm a genius.  Who am I to argue with her?)

Unfortunately, I had to quit the game last time I tried this.  My sim started a romantic relationship with an attractive female sim from the neighborhood, and even though I'm positive she said she was single when I asked her, she ended up being married.  She even had a teenage son in my little sister's high school class.  Since this is not something I would do in real life, I felt I needed to quit that game.

Now I've been challenging myself with a completely different type of game than the one above.  I decided never to have a traditional job and just earn simoleons by other means.  Right now I have a modest vacation home in every vacation world, a nice new home that cost about one hundred thousand simoleons to build and furnish, and another hundred thousand in the bank.  It's been fun.  I think that's the best reason to play--to have fun.

[Saturn]

I play to release my inner creative self.  I love the building end of it although I don't build new homes much, only remodel existing ones.  It's the fun of the challenge that keeps me interested.  I do go through spells where I don't touch the sims as well.  Can't get too much of a good thing all the time! 

[jennovazombie]

I play to get away from the real world, to "play god" as my brother puts it, and to have fun!
I'm not so great off financially, so it's always fun to have a sim start with nothing and work their way to the top. Also lots of fun to play with families, I'm much better with Sims kids than real ones! The supernatural states are really fun too, I can't wait until I can get Seasons because Aliens are my all time favorite to play with.
It's also great for creativity, I'll start it up and sew while I play, or if I don't feel well enough to sew I just play around with patterns and fun house setups!
My husband supports me playing 100%, he told me the other day I seem so much healthier when I've been playing Sims instead of worrying. XD I'm one of those people who starts up a game, sets up staticneeds, and then goes about my chores while checking up on my little Simmies. Or I'll try to keep up with normal needs, that's always a challenge when I'm going up and down the stairs all day with laundry!

[Shadowkeepernoir]

I am not a video game person, or a TV person. I had a gnarly sprained ankle last July and was trapped on the couch for 2 weeks, my boyfriend finally got me to watch Doctor Who (which became my other addiction) and my daughter got me to play Sims 3 on our PS3. I have had a fascination with miniatures have since I was a kid (I've even built doll houses similar to the in game kids doll house), Sims reminded me of playing dolls as a kid. Like a digital doll house where I could be as creative as I could dream. Then I met the fire meter .... and the PC version went on my Christmas list. Where some people play to get away from school, I'm going to School to be an architect, I build houses in Sims just to see how it would look. I get a little miffed by the restrictions sometimes, but on the whole there are very few styles I can't play with.

[MarianT]

Miniatures are part of the fascination for me, too. I got to see Colleen Moore's dollhouse at the Chicago Museum of Science & Industry when I was a child and fell in love with it. The Borrowers and Mistress Masham's Repose were two of my favorite books as a child. I love writing about the Sims. When writing about real life, I feel obligated to write seriously, and that gets depressing. The Sims help me keep things light.

[ratchie]

I have four small children and rarely leave the house. I have to admit that the new social aspect of the Sims is a big bonus for me,chatting with people online keeps me sane and chatting with people who understands the Sim love keeps me saner.

Rachel

[amyrose]

The first answer that came into my head when I saw this thread was because it's an amazing game! After giving it some more thought I realised I play because I like deciding my sims lives. I like controlling and planning out their lives - it's really different to real-life where unexpected things happen. I can plan what will happen and when - at least to a certain extent.

On a slightly more materialistic note, I also like making them look pretty with nice clothes and expensive houses

[wickedjr89]

I have lots of rare, painful medical issues. I am disabled, constantly at the doctors or doing medical related stuff plus September last year I had a house fire, lost everything almost including my life so I am also dealing with mental problems from that on top of all my physical crap. So I use sims as a way to escape the pain and stress of real-life.

On a less depressing note I also love to write stories and found that I could write stories about my sims, and I love it. I also love to make sims, and control my sims lives. I can make a sim self that is perfectly healthy unlike me and do all the things I wish I could do in real life..and that got kind of depressing again sorry.

[chetanhaobijam]

I love playing Life Simulation Games. So, I play Sims3.

[Deklitch]

Because otherwise I'd waste my time playing text based MUD games.

Also, because it is there.

Also, to relieve stress.

Also, through the sims I can sort of have kids, something I can't do in real life.

[Louise56]

I love to play sims because it do take me away from reality.
It is like a escape for me.

[Shadowkeepernoir]

Wicked, I live with the results of Guillain Barre (viral infection of the nervous system), a ruptured disk, sciatica and bilateral carpal tunnel. I'm allergic to opiates, which means no pain meds for me an a life in constant pain. 10 years ago I lost my 6 year old brother, almost lost my then 4 yr old and 19 month old kids and we lost every item we owned in a house fire. To make matters worse my four year old set it and I found out my now ex-husband was strung out and having an affair. I dealt with years of depression, anxiety and pain. I've been down a road of obstacles and come a long ways away, it will get better but it takes time, work and you have to want it with every cell in you body.

 I have had to make concessions, realizing I can't drive anymore, I can't be as active as I would like, my butt is not going to be a size 6 again (not vanity, the doctors keep reminding me I'm over weight, I should be 120lbs), and I have limitations. Coming to terms with my limits was the hardest part, as my body deteriorates there are things I simply cannot do no matter what my mind is capable of and that there is nothing the doctors can do for me.

I turned 35 yesterday, my life is the best it has ever been. I am loved beyond measure, by someone that loves me for who I am and is there for me no matter what. He cooked me a beautiful French dinner to celebrate, and my daughter (now 12) wrote me a song it was great. I am in college getting the degree I always wanted, and I work full time for a civil engineering firm. I am fulfilled and happy.

I don't generally chime in, or pour out my brief on web boards, but your circumstances rung very familiar, and I remember how isolated and alone that pain can make you feel. I very sincerely wish you all my best and hope you find your light. -T

[wickedjr89]

Thank you Shadow. If I started to name my issues i'd end up writing a novel but I do have a youtube at https://www.youtube.com/user/SjChick89?feature=mhee with videos about my medical issues (VACTERL Association- it's an acronym and is generally capitilized like that, with people capitilizing the letters they have, and I have miscellaneous issues to) as well as a video talking about my ptsd from an abusive ex and the house fire. I lost everything too but it was just me, my fiance, 1 dog, 1 adult cat and 3 kittens. The dog and adult cat were outside at the time and are ok but the kittens didn't make it. I almost didn't make it and was rescued by my neighbor with a ladder, I had been upstairs sleeping, my fiance was at work. It also looks like it was set on purpose but I won't get into it for legal reasons. Physically I am always in pain and can't do much of anything. I am also overweight but the only exercise I am cleared to do is swimming, anything else will send me back in for major surgery...I have a complicated, messed up body. I also can't eat many healthy foods because they make me very sick. I need to get a pool. I know I am blessed in other ways though, I have a great fiance, friends and family. They make life worth it.
Thank you and I wish you the best of luck to.