Sims 2An introduction for teachers

Bill MacKenty, M.Ed.

The Sims 2is an award winning, COTS simulation players :

build sims - live in neighborhoodsmanage personalities, desires, and needsmanage relationships with other sims (including families, children and friends)

An example sim...

Sims 2 is a simulation

There are no scenarios

The entire game is cause and effect

Players build homesEvery home has objectsEvery object confers some benefit (related to a

need)Every object costs money (simoleans)

Players manage needs...

Symbolic literacyPlayers use symbols to understand ideas

When it’s over

Players intuitively understand:the relationship between needs, wants, and fears - and how environmental factors contribute/detractthe relationship between money, education & lifestyle

A preview of a game from the same designer

SporeMight be the single best evolutionary

teaching tool I’ve ever seen...

by Will Wright

Players evolve creatures, and then use evolutionary traits to further their creatures growth and development

They eventually develop into groups, colonies, and cities of these organisms...cool simulation