Why do we get attached to our sims

[Kreathyr]

I was just wondering:
How come we (most of us anyway) get so attached to our sims?
In basic, they're just animated AI's which are mostly controlled by us.

Maybe it's because of those silly things like having trouble in routing?
Having to learn everything from scratch, even learning how to walk and talk for toddlers?

I know my (so far) only 2 sims raised from babies are quite special.
I recently considered the possibility of having one of them move out and I just can't.

Any thoughts on the subject?

[PJSim]

I think it's because we're responsible for them.

I mean let's face it, sims are not too bright! I had a klepto sim in a house full of expensive stuff and he stole their toilet paper!
This is not someone who is going to succeed on their own.

They need you so you care. I think the same concept applies to babies and pets in real life. People seems to love dogs more than cats, probably because dogs need you more.

[Metropolis Man]

There's just the reality that we invest a lot of time into any game character. I play Diablo II a lot also (well, not much lately with all of the Sims 3 challenges I'm hosting) and I'm quite attached to those characters. I've invested hundreds of hours in one particular tournament Druid character.

[Kreathyr]

Good points.

I used to play Diablo II a LOT as well.
I had a lvl 91 Necromancer which had very nice stuff, took me a very long time to get that far.
After a while I lost some (not all) interest in it and after a vacation my character expired.  

I think it is the amount of time spent with a character combined with pride.
I was very proud of getting that far on Diablo II and for raising 2 kids in the Sims 3, so maybe that's it.

Offtopic: I just installed D2 - LOD again and am going to create another Necromancer  
I don't think it will beat the sims though. (maybe Diablo 3 can)

[Metropolis Man]

Offtopic: I just installed D2 - LOD again and am going to create another Necromancer 
I don't think it will beat the sims though. (maybe Diablo 3 can)

Oh, man....when Diablo III comes out you won't see me here again! 

If you're looking for a change of pace, try a good mod like Eastern Sun or Zy-El. Both can be found at the Phrozen Keep. Lots of tournaments for each mod. I'm a Moderator for the Eastern Sun forum. See ya.

[jinhong91]

People usually get attached or have better memories about the first experience they have.
I still remember the first sim that I have even though I deleted him long ago.

[Pam]

I also get very attached to my Sims.  Even the ones with bad traits.  They are very realistic, in my opinion.  They have facial expressions, moods, personality, and much more that make them feel real.  And like the others have said, we're responsible for them and we control them.  We grant their wishes and give them lifetime happiness.  How could you not get attached?  I was able to move a few out, but it was difficult.  I usually tried to get them married and pregnant before they moved so they would have their own families.  And all of the parties at the mansion included the family that had moved out, so they were still around a lot. 

[igzigpuff]

Yeah, I get attached too...so much that I never let them die (not even in TS2) makes a legacy impossible for me.    I agree about the time invested trying to make them successful and happy.  I guess my Sims also get to live in the dream homes that I certainly could never afford. 

[Arafel]

omg, Igzigpuff, you sound like me.

Normally, I make my sims, they live forever, never aging, they live in an awesome beautifully decorated home and they have a ton of money in their banks so they never have to work this way they can stay home and just work on their skills. I don't know why but I like having all the possible skills maxed out. *shrugs* I'm weird I guess. So Legacy is a real challenge for me. I can't cheat with the money, my sims get old and die and I have to focus on many sims at once. Totally not how I used to play...but that's what I'm liking about it!

And I still remember my sim from the original Sims where I had her focused on working on her magic skills. That was a lot of fun. I was a bit sad when I had to uninstall it. 

I think anything you spend a lot of time on, you will become attached to. And it doesn't help that like Pam mentioned, they are realistic and show emotion -and they DIE for pete's sake....and never come back! At least in WoW my character comes back after she dies...

[Kreathyr]

Right on Arafel
Try playing a Diablo 2 hardcore game.
When you've reached lvl 80 and die, never being able to resurrect again. It's harsh.

Guess it's a thing of devotion and indeed making the characters realistic doesn't help either 

[bshag]

   I feel the way Pam does...we are simgod in their universe.  I know everyone plays the way they want but I marvel how ppl have found so many ways to torture sims.    I could never do that...way too attached.  I was very attached to one sim in sims 2 so much that I have yet to uninstall the games.  I just can't let her go.    My very first sim in sims 3 is based on her and now that she is elder (after a dose of ambrosia during adult stage) I'm going to be very sad to see her die.  Her daughter looks exactly like her, but with different personality.  Her grandson looks like her, his mother and his father, which is a good thing.  Time marches on I guess.  Such is the way of story progression...which I really like. (Still have her copy in the bin. )

[Pam]

I missed the founder of my Legacy family so much that I resurrected her after the challenge was complete.  It was quite a drama having the founder meet the 10th generation heir.  Very touching. 

[PJSim]

Hmm, I don't get anywhere near as attached to any sim like some of you guys.

If things aren't going like I want or I think of something new to try I just start another game. I do that all the time. And if I haven't played a house in a little while and I don't quite remember what the sims where doing I just delete them and make new ones.

I think it's more like a science lab to me. Maybe because I work in a lab, I like to experiment, heh heh.

[jinhong91]

Hmm, I don't get anywhere near as attached to any sim like some of you guys.

If things aren't going like I want or I think of something new to try I just start another game. I do that all the time. And if I haven't played a house in a little while and I don't quite remember what the sims where doing I just delete them and make new ones.

I think it's more like a science lab to me. Maybe because I work in a lab, I like to experiment, heh heh.

I see where you are going.
There is a reason that the characters in this video games are called "Sims".
Its more of a simulation of life without the really ugly stuff in it.
It is like a window to let us escape from reality for a while into the imaginary world with some limitations.
The sims themselves are as helpless as a baby but they can achieve great stuff like being an Astronaut (Which not many people can do in real life)

[samoht04]

Because we made them so it feels like we are their parents or something wierd but because we control their lives.