For more than 20 years, The Sims have revolutionized video games as well as their relationship with the society in which their players live. Simple little pixel beings to bring to life and evolve upon their arrival in 2000, they are now more real than life 22 years later, full of emotions and reactions.
The evolution was radical to reinforce the immersion of the players. But for Lyndsay Pearson, vice president of The Sims franchise at Electronic Arts, over time, it’s mostly the surrounding context that has changed and pushed the game to evolve. From the first 2D work to the Sims 4 in 3D and in the open world, Maxis, the creative studio, has followed the technological advances of video games, but above all it has embraced the evolution of its time.
a therapeutic game
And it is in this that the EA game also has a strong notoriety, probably even more so since the arrival of The Sims 4 in 2014. Its longevity, the last episode, is due to its ability to create a universe that is fun, enthusiastic, but also realistic. , in which players can find a parallel with their daily life, or create it.
“The Sims are charming, unpredictable, a little silly, but touching. In fact, they are human. That makes them successful,” laughs the director of the franchise. “The game has created a space where people feel recognized. There are communities that have been created where everyone shares what they experience in the game.” A bit like group therapy where members would come to trust their Sim’s heart and, by projection, themselves.
Flagship game for teens of all ages and genders, The Sims has often served as a prism for their emotions, to help them shape situations they had experienced badly, things they’d like to say. “I’m so proud that the game can help people at a time in their lives where they’re trying to figure out who they want to be, who they really are,” replies Lyndsay Pearson when asked about the emotional impact. of game.
“It’s kind of a stage where you can project a lot of your own feelings,” he continues. Create the life you want. It’s pretty crazy that a game can do that and impact the player in that way.”
But without the possibility of encountering violent, genuinely malevolent or unpleasant characters. The most diabolical are limited to cartoonish and therefore funny villains from movies or comics. The faithful representation of society has its limits and the evils of humanity still escape the sweet illusion of the Sims…
A mirror of social problems.
There are many testimonials on the web from players who have been able to express themselves through their Sim, learn to live their physical, moral or sexual difference and accept it. This is also the strength of sims 4It covers the major issues of its time to allow everyone to bring them to life virtually.
Through every game, every stretch, The Sims He has thus addressed the issue of homosexual relationships, gay marriage, LGBT issues or simple sexual orientation. “It wasn’t difficult to tackle these issues at EA, which was always favorable,” recalls Lyndsay Pearson. “It’s a game about life and these are things that exist in real life. The Sims 4 offers a very natural way to be able to tell these stories and their story in the game. We always do our best to facilitate this and the ‘for to integrate .”
This was not without causing a stir. But the benevolence of the players, especially the young adults, who happened to be there always won out. “We try to make sure that we are respectful, authentic and representative. We work with associations like GLAAD in the United States to deal with these issues, to have the correct words, the correct way to implement them in the game without offending anyone and respecting things well”, adds Lyndsay Pearson who points out that representation and inclusion are Important values that are added year after year in the life simulation game.
listen to the community
It’s all a matter of dosage for the game designers, we must not fall into one extreme or the other. If customizable pronouns, types of clothing or attitudes have recently been added, certain elements that could seem scandalous for multiple reasons have been removed to also avoid sometimes unintended connotations. “We have a very healthy approach to learning and recognizing that we won’t be right all the time,” he acknowledges. “We listen to the feedback and act accordingly to improve the game.” But without responding each time to the sometimes eccentric requests that the Sim look as much like its author as possible, the head of the sims.
Having come of age, The Sims 4 has taken on a new life since October 18 and is now available for free to those who would never have built their house and their Sim there. The opportunity to make new followers, to increase your community of players before the arrival of a new version advanced by EA on this occasion. A mirror of everyday life that has also found outlets on mobile with Sims Freeplay and Sims Mobile. Like multiple opportunities to mix the virtual and the real a little more in your search for the perfect life.
Source: BFM TV
