Tuesday 4 March, 2008

GAMELOG ENTRY #2

GAMEPLAY-

During my second gameplay experience my emotional state was enjoyment. I played with a different family where I again set goals for myself and met my sims aspirations. In this gameplay the storyline was interesting because I had my sims have affairs and have kids from sims that were not their husbands. Overall the storyline was really fun to watch and create. My thoughts based on the characters of my game were good. The only thing I would want is for my teenage sims to be able to have kids; that would make the game even more dramatic.

The game was really interesting to play because I was able to be spontaneous with my sims. I was able to change their lives with simple decisions I would make. It is fun to watch my sims lives change in an instant. I also liked the story because I was able to get two of my sims become good friends. I had been working on them being friends but they never seemed to get along until recently during my second gameplay.

Knowing that I control my sims’ lives is satisfying to know. Usually every time I play the sims I think about the book 1984 by George Orwell because I Big Brother to my sims. Even though that sounds creepy it still really fun to unfold my sims’s lives and create the storyline. In this gameplay experience I went deep into the magic circle because I felt really connected to the game and part of my sims world. This gameplay experience was the best.

DESIGN-

The elements I really enjoy of the sims is the ability of freewill. Usually, when I am playing The Sims 2 I don’t feel limited by the game. Another element I take pleasure in is being able to be spontaneous with the storyline and creation of my sims. Design elements that make The Sims 2 a good game is how realistic the game feels. The design of the game makes player feel like they are part of The Sims 2 world because of how great the characteristics of the sims are and how great the setting is. Most of the interactions between the sims are based on real life interactions that people go through every day. The design elements that make The Sims 2 a bad game is not being able to get teenage sims pregnant. Another element I dislike is not being able to visit a neighbor in a different lot.

The challenges that the game provides depend on the player. For example, the player can decide what the goals for the game should be and what the storyline will be. The player can also set long-term goals for the sim like reaching the top level of the sim’s career and so forth. Each goal or challenge depends on the player. Usually, the player can create social conflict between its sims by causing arguments or by getting caught having a affair. It seems as if the player creates conflict instead of the game providing it.

The Sims 2 keeps the player interested by always providing something new to do. I never seem to get bored of the game because I am always setting goals for myself and trying to meet my sims aspirations. The game always keeps me interested because I am able to create as much drama as I want between my sims without actually having that drama in my life. The Sims 2 provides the player plenty of social interactions with other sim players because there is a lot to discuss based on how different each players experience was and how they have created their own sim storylines. It is really fun and interesting to know what other sim players do with their neighbors and sims.

Overall the reward structure for The Sims 2 s decent. Even though there not might be an exact reward, it is the needs and pleasure of the player that are rewarded.

Excellent gamelog. However, you've already used The Sims 2 twice before for gamelogs.

- Ian, your TA this week

by "excellent" I meant "well done". I forgot that was one of the names of the grading levels.