MySims, formerly The Sims Wii and Nintendo Sims, is a video game developed by EA Redwood Shores and published by Electronic Arts as a spinoff to Maxis' The Sims franchise for the Nintendo DS and Wii in 2007, then re-released for Microsoft Windows and Mobile phone in 2008.

It is the first game in the MySims series and is followed by MySims Kingdom, MySims Party, MySims Racing, MySims Agents, and MySims SkyHeroes.

It can be viewed as a spiritual sequel to Sim Town.

Features[link]

Apart from creating a custom Mii-like character, players may also modify their houses and build furniture and appliances using a selection of building blocks. This gives the player more building options, allowing them to create objects by using blueprints, a change from the usual virtual catalog found in The Sims. There are 80 characters with whom the player may interact in the Wii version (30 characters in the Nintendo DS version), such as a mad scientist, a magician, a librarian, a pizza chef, and a martial arts teacher. Some of these characters may ask the player to build things for them. As with previous Sims games, meeting people and forming relationships is a major gameplay focus. Becoming a Sim's best friend will earn the player either a special blueprint not available anywhere else in the game, or a style of clothing for their wardrobe. Players can also earn blueprints by performing tasks for Commercial Sims (Sims who have their own businesses). Typically this involves building around 5-10 items for Sims, depending on the Star Level (the 1-5 level) of the player's town and the essences they have access to.

A feature new to MySims is "Essences". They can be found in various locations in town or by interacting with Sims or objects. Essences are used for a number of things including paint for the walls of houses, construction of items, as well as decoration. The mini-games in the DS Version include racquetball, paragliding, Scuba diving and more.

Character design[link]

Compared to previous Sims titles, MySims has a more Chibi-inspired look, with super deformed character designs. This was Emmy Toyonaga's idea; in Official Nintendo Magazine she remarked: "Well, Mario and other Nintendo characters are pretty short and stubby. Also, being Japanese, I'm used to the mindset that fun games should have shorter, stubbier characters. So these characters kind of came naturally".Official Nintendo Magazine, March 2007 In Nintendo Power, designer Robin Hunicke said that the character designs also imply youthfulness, and that the aesthetic was chosen for worldwide appeal, while referring to the lesser sales of previous Sims games in Japan compared to other territories.

According to Official Nintendo Magazine one of the characters in MySims, Chaz McFreely, is based on their then editor, Chandra Nair.

The Sims[link]

Geeky Sims

Buddy the Bellhop, Vic Vector, Jenny, Stephen Albright, Professor Nova, Dr.F, Gertrude Spackle, Ian Arneson, Liberty, Star (uber sim), Brendan, Clayton Dander, Rob Jarrett, Spencer, Alexa Lexington*.

Cute Sims

Poppy, Ms. Nicole Vogue, Clara Belle, Shirley, Dolly Dearheart, Bean Bradley, Jeremy Snoars, Pinky, Hopper (uber sim), Beebee, Billy, Penelope, Renee, Taylor, Terry Toymender*.

Fun Sims

DJ Candy Supergroove, Rhonda, Roger, Travis, Master Aran, Sandra, Cap'n Ginny, Annie Radd, Odin Revolution, Amazing Daryl (uber sim), Chaz McFreely, Pablo, Summer, Flipper*.

Studious Sims

Mayor Rosalyn P. Marshall, Elmira Clamp, Gordon, Matt, Trevor Verily, Amelia, Linda, Makoto, Samurai Bob (uber sim), Abigail, Eliza, Luis, Yvette, Natalia Roshmanov*.

Tasty Sims

Patrick Rhino, Chef Gino Delicioso, Roxie Road, Maria, Chef Watanabe, Grandma Ruthie, Edwin, Sasha, Chancellor Ikara (uber sim), Iggy, Jimmy Watanabe, Karine, Noelle, Michael, Cedella*.

Spooky Sims

Violet Nightshade, Sir Vincent Skullfinder, Cassandra, Ray, Goth Boy, Raven Wright, Madame Zoe, Crystal, Yuki, Mel (uber sim), Blaine, Brandi, Esma, Morcubus, Wendalyn*.

Anyone with a * is an exclusive character to the PC version of the game.

An uber sim is a sim that comes to your town once it reaches the maximum interest.

Reception[link]

MySims has received fairly mixed, but generally decent reviews. It is known for having colorful graphics, and cheery and fun gameplay, but criticized for having too much focus on construction and collecting essences. IGN said that "The problem is that nearly all of the objectives revolve around the same two tasks: the collection of essences and the construction of houses, buildings and items. All of the Sim management and social interaction elements of the previous games – well, you're not going to find much of that in the streamlined Wii affair". GameSpot praised the Wii game for the construction being intuitive and flexible and for the presentation being cheery and clean. It was also criticized for having longer than usual load times. Its Nintendo DS counterpart is regarded as virtually an all new game in design; However, reception of its control scheme varied greatly. Resolution Magazine said the game would be enjoyed by "those whose age is a single digit," but that the game would grow quickly tiresome for anybody else.

Sequels[link]

Five sequels have been announced for MySims. They are MySims Kingdom, released October 28, 2008; MySims Party, released in March 2009; MySims Racing, released in Summer of 2009; MySims Agents, released in Fall of 2009, and MySims SkyHeroes, which was released in September 2010. There is a planned sequel to MySims Agents that will be the seventh game in the series.

Film and TV series[link]

EA has officially announced "The Sims" the movie and a MySims animated television series in development at Film Roman.

References[link]