The Sims Social Invades My Facebook Feed

If you’ve been on Facebook lately, you have probably noticed more and more posts from your friends in your feed, or even on your wall, via The Sims Social. Frankly, when I see these application generated posts, I flat-out ignore them, but this in this case, I was intrigued. I have been in love with The Sims franchise ever since the original launched on PC in February of 2000. Eleven years later with Facebook games on the rise, The Sims has finally made it to us in browser form.
And my addiction continues.

Overview

The Sims Social is a simple game to get started with and the tutorials do a great job at guiding players along at the start. When you first launch the game, you will have the chance to customize your personal Sim. Currently, you can only have one, and while changing your gender at a later date is available, this will cost you SimCash, a very valuable asset. At this point, you will also choose a Personality for your Sim. Whether she or he is a Socialite, a Rocker, the Romantic, Introverted, a Tycoon, Geeky, Athletic, Creative, or a Villain is all up to you. You will only have one choice, but this can also be changed in the future for 50 SimCash.

The overall interface of The Sims Social will be very familiar to those that have played any Sims game in the past.

Across the top, you will find your available Simoleons, the basic currency in The Sims games.

Next, is your available SimCash. This currency is optional to have, and can be purchased using real life money. It is used to buy premium items, or changing your gender or personality. It isn’t crucial to have, but is there to further enhance your Sims Social experience.

In the bottom, center of the screen are the Sim’s Needs and Happiness meter. The Sims Social has streamlined the process of keeping these Needs in the green so both Veteran and new Sims players will find this a breeze. If you notice a certain Need creeping into the orange danger-zone, simply click on it, and an action that will improve it will automatically be queued.
Paying attention to these Needs and Happiness meter is crucial to your success and Simoleon collection. Whenever actions that fulfill a need are taken, smiley faces will appear that you will need to collect in order to become Inspired.
Inspiration grants you a money bonus when you perform actions such as Writing, Painting, and Cooking, so you can purchase all your Sim-ish desires to create a better home and make those neighbors jealous.

Tips and Tricks

• Only work on Skills when you are Inspired. You will always make more money this way, and it is extremely simple to keep this up, granted you follow the next tip...
• DON’T put the essentials such as the bathroom, food, bed, ect. miles apart from each other once you have a mansion. Keeping all those Needs in the green in a complicated layout becomes… well, complicated.
• DO be social and visit your friends! You will gain an energy boost every time you leave that dungeon of yours, that can be used to further your relationship with whomever your with. Alternatively, you can complete some quests at a friend’s house with the extra action points, but remember once you return home, the bonus will disappear.
• Complete those quests! They will grant you some awesome experience to help you unlock some not-so-scrubby objects.
• Keep repairing my sink, shower, and toilet. I swear something is broken almost every time I log in. Luckily, I have great neighbors.
  
  
  
  


• Another great way to make cash is by weeding out your property! You’re going to have to do this eventually when it’s time to expand your home, but you also make Simoleons and have the chance to pick up bonus energy here and there.
• Lastly, don’t be afraid to ask your friends for help. Whether it’s with building a room, or collecting a quest item, there are certain things in the game your Facebook friends can lend a hand with. If these friends also play The Sims Social they’ll get a gift out of it, too.
  
  
  

Facebook feels like the perfect platform to have a Sims game. I know every single one of you out there who played the PC versions “played house” at least once. You’ve probably populated the town with your friends, your boyfriend/girlfriend, perhaps your enemies, and watched the drama unfold. In The Sims Social, this is already done for you! Just make sure not to get too carried away and step on too many Sims’ toes otherwise, you may find their real-life counterparts talking to you less and less.

Alright ladies, and gents, I want to hear from you! Are you playing this game? Have some tips of your own to share? Just looking for neighbors? Click that comment button below, pop into our forums, and let’s chat about it.