"The Sims" started off just
like any other computer game, but grew into an instant hit. With expansion packs,
deluxe editions, online versions, console versions, and a sequel, "The Sims" has
grown from a computer game to a way of life. The Sims skyrocketed to the top of
the charts when it began shipping to stores in February 2000 and has quickly become
a universal gaming and cultural phenomenon. "The Sims" was the best selling PC
game of both 2000 and 2001 and is now the best selling PC game of all time. Translated
into 16 different languages, "The Sims" has inspired many expansion packs; "Livin'
Large", "House Party", "Hot Date", "Vacation", "Unleashed", "Superstar", and "Makin'
Magic". Its combined sales for the franchise have topped 15 million units life-to-date.
Plus a huge sequel version, "The Sims 2", released 5 years after the original's
release. But where did this idea come from? Who came up with it? Why?
Will Wright grew up in Atlanta, Georgia where
his childhood hobbies were similar to his future work. He started out being "obsessed"
with building models, which led to an interest in robotics and computers. Though
he never finished college, at age 22 Wright began designing computer games and
quickly broke away from the pack. When Will was only 22, he moved to the West
Coast and created his first game: "Raid on Bungling Bay". It was a Commodore 64
title that allowed players to fly a helicopter around an island. The game wasn't
particularly memorable, but it was a stepping-stone to the game that would really
put Wright on the map: that game was "SimCity". Will Wright said "I found very
quickly that I was having more fun creating the islands for the program than I
was bombing them in the game, and that was what evolved into the idea of 'SimCity'".
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