Joystiq hands-on: MySims
by Jared Rea 
{ Aug 17th 2007 at 11:15AM }
Your enjoyment of MySims -- EA's Nintendo exclusive Sims title -- will be directly tied to how appealing you find its style. If you've glossed over screenshots and felt a toothache coming on, then you should step aside before you get hurt. However, if you're like us and the sight of it makes you you squeal like a 12 year old girl watching High School Musical, then congratulations: you've found your new favorite obsession.
Like all great sandboxes, creating and accessorizing your character is half the fun of MySims and here, you don't have any pesky genders to get in the way. Taking your customization a step further is a voice editor that allows you to pick from a variety of pre-sets and then alter the pitch to find the Simlish tone you're looking for. Naturally, progressing through the game unlocks new fashions for your character, so those who spent dozens of hours finding their perfect look in Animal Crossing will have more than enough reasons to make more room for mirror-time.
Not surprisingly, the Animal Crossing comparison doesn't end with the superficial.
Like all great sandboxes, creating and accessorizing your character is half the fun of MySims and here, you don't have any pesky genders to get in the way. Taking your customization a step further is a voice editor that allows you to pick from a variety of pre-sets and then alter the pitch to find the Simlish tone you're looking for. Naturally, progressing through the game unlocks new fashions for your character, so those who spent dozens of hours finding their perfect look in Animal Crossing will have more than enough reasons to make more room for mirror-time.
Not surprisingly, the Animal Crossing comparison doesn't end with the superficial.
Gallery: MySims
Though MySims is much more of a goal-oriented title than Nintendo's title, the general design holds true. You run about your town, meet the locals, do chores for them and essentially become their willing servant. MySims is a bit more dynamic, thanks to the customization afforded to the player. If the chef asks you to build him an oven, you're not limited to specific blocks, leaving you able to shape and paint it within reason. The customization aspect of the game is directly tied to the overall goal of life in MySims.
Everything from accessories to paint jobs are influenced by one of the six essences: cute, studious, tasty, spooky, geeky and fun. To make our chef friend happier, you could go and collect apples (shaken off the branch with a waggle of the remote) to turn into paint, and color his walls with a tasty shade of red. That's the most basic example of how the influence is achieved, allowing you to tailor your town and citizens in the style you choose. Should you create a town that's made completely out of one essence, you'll unlock a few hidden surprises.
Where the comparisons to Animal Crossing stop, however, are unfortunately where it counts. There is no multiplayer to speak of on the Nintendo Wii version of MySims, so visiting friends via WiFi Connect is out of the question. Nor can two folks sharing a console live together in the same town as the game is strictly a single player experience. When asked about the missing feature, EA said it's something that will be heavily looked into should it warrant a sequel.
After spending some quality time with MySims, we don't think it'll be hard for them to drum up the support. All it'll take is a glimpse of a Sims dance party to melt the hearts and credit cards of innocent bystanders. Despite the sorely missing multiplayer component, it shares many of the hallmarks that made Animal Crossing so addicting and adds a much needed dose of customization to the mix. For a game that will survive on the knee jerk reaction of those who see it, those who bend to its adorable will are in for a quality experience.
MySims is due out September 18th.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
mr nimblewick @ Aug 17th 2007 11:22AM
It looks fun, but it'll probably get lost in all the great games coming out this fall. If it had come out in July, I probably would have gotten it.
phattie @ Aug 17th 2007 11:23AM
Suits the Wii demographic PERFECTLY .. i'll pass though.
Zach S @ Aug 17th 2007 11:23AM
yeah, I think this game's a good idea. The only problem I have with it is... where's my DS version? This could so be a DS game - the graphics basically look just like Animal Crossing: WW!
Jared Rea @ Aug 17th 2007 11:32AM
http://mysims.ea.com/ds.php
shMerker @ Aug 17th 2007 1:59PM
Unless the DS has yet unharnessed rendering power I'm not aware of, you could never manage geometry that complex on it. Compare Super Mario 64 to it's DS counterpart or Wind Waker to Phantom Hourglass if you'd like an idea of what I'm talking about. Notice how the draw distance drastically drops and everything resembling roundness tends to disappear on the DS. Not saying the DS version of this game won't work or is somehow not possible. I'm just saying that, given actual software released for the DS, you are overestimating it's capabilities.
BPM @ Aug 17th 2007 11:27AM
Never been interested in the Sims (for one, I found the style of the previous games to be quite ugly. And for two, I found the game dull), and this new paint job won't change that.
And what's with all the references to High School Musical? Is that the new meme?
hvnlysoldr @ Aug 17th 2007 12:22PM
So says Mr. Pedobear avatar.
BPM @ Aug 17th 2007 12:49PM
Don't diss Paper Pedobear.
And... I'm trying to think of a new Mario edit to make, anyways.
Dash @ Aug 17th 2007 11:31AM
I'm not usually one to obsess over graphics, but this looks like it could easily run on DS hardware. The Wii is capable of graphics way better than most developers use it for. Innovation and fun are good things, but this game would look at home on a handheld. Yes, I'm aware that this is the game's style, but they could have done better.
Jerk Face @ Aug 17th 2007 11:38AM
Yeah, really.. I am not a Wii-hater either but what's with all the jaggies? PSONE much? Christ...
d-pad @ Aug 17th 2007 12:01PM
To be fair, developers sometimes take the screenshots before running the anti-aliasing pass. That said, the particular game engine here looks pretty basic.
Noel @ Aug 17th 2007 1:37PM
Actually, the jaggies are mostly caused by Joystiq stretching the image larger than it's original resolution in the gallery. If you right click the image and view it separately at it's real resolution, you'll see that the images look a lot better.
OnimushaSoki @ Aug 17th 2007 11:33AM
"There is no multiplayer to speak of on the Nintendo Wii version of MySims, so visiting friends via WiFi Connect is out of the question. Nor can two folks sharing a console live together in the same town as the game is strictly a single player experience. When asked about the missing feature, EA said it's something that will be heavily looked into should it warrant a sequel."
...in otherwords, plop down your hard earned dollar for the half-assed game; with the hopes of an eventual sequel with online support/gameplay.
Plus, it's on a Nintendo console, so "online" could range from "Hey, this is what my character looks like" bulletin board posting with no interaction with other gamers beyond that to normal MMO'ish co-op play... like the article-mentioned ANIMAL CROSSING games.
...pardon me if I end up spending the money for this Wii game on NFS:PRO STREET, GHOST SQUAD, or some upcoming VC games. :\
d-pad @ Aug 17th 2007 11:38AM
I like Nintendo.
Heck, I love Nintendo - but I don't regret for a second that I traded my Wii for a 360.
megaStryke @ Aug 17th 2007 12:02PM
Oh, you will once Smash hits (unless you happen to be one of those lost souls who don't much care for Smash, in which case I will pour a bottle of Scotch for you).
d-pad @ Aug 17th 2007 12:45PM
Funny you say that.
I'm one of the few who couldn't care less about Smash, so pour away.
Galaxy and MP3 however are a different story. And of course the Wii version of Zelda - whenever that arrives.
J @ Aug 17th 2007 11:40AM
I for one think My Sims has very nice graphics. EA really understands what to do with the Wii. Don't try to make games look realistic, they just end up looking silly compared to 360 and ps3. The Wii needs more stylized/cel-shaded games. I have high expectations for mysims (but then again, I was pretty excited for Boogie, and we all know how that one turned out)
Princess Skittles @ Aug 17th 2007 2:18PM
Very well said. I hate people that equate a simplified art style to "bad graphics" (except they would spell both "bad" and "graphics" wrong). Artistic style is always going to be above sheer technical prowess to me. It's the reason why Wind Waker will still look good ten years from now while the rough edges and warts of Twilight Princess will be more apparent then (if they aren't already).
Burnt Meatloaf @ Aug 18th 2007 6:30AM
The problem is that too many Wii games look like this. Not everyone likes the same thing.
If developers have the option of making simple graphics, that's great. If they have to, well...
BTS.WRKNG @ Aug 17th 2007 11:42AM
The ONLY possible reason I can see to be in any way excited about this game is that HOPEFULLY it'll light a fire under Nintendo's ass to get Animal Crossing Wii out the door.
This is an Animal Crossing rip off. I neither like nor support Animal Crossing rip offs. There is only one Animal Crossing.
HURRY UP, NINTENDO.
weshickey @ Aug 17th 2007 11:52AM
Can you harvest the little sisters here too?
Word of the street. @ Aug 17th 2007 12:02PM
Sounds great for the wii but is not a real sims title,is more like a more simple version of sim city.
I watched the video on youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6ZSuMoOIVI
I wonder if there is going to be a Sims 3 title for the PS3/x360/Pc anytime soon,I'm getting tired of the stuff expansions.
Nerath @ Aug 17th 2007 12:09PM
I like the style direction they've gone for in this iteration of the sims. Hopefully, regardless of what it looks like, it's fun and engaging like the PC versions of Sims have been.
Joe Smith @ Aug 17th 2007 12:22PM
It could be the most fun game ever, but that cutesie look is enough to keep me far far away from it. Nintendo cutsieness is bad enough, but this is just wretched.
ForceUnleashed @ Aug 17th 2007 1:19PM
This definitely suits the Wii perfectly and it should sell decently.
Plus I think the graphics are really good.
My only problem is that I think this is what the Mii Channel should have been like and looked like. The art style is incredible. And the whole concept is definitely exciting. And then add in the whole sharing Miis and everything else we have the Mii Channel would be the awesomness.
Abscissa @ Aug 17th 2007 3:13PM
For now, I'm going to wait for Wii Animal Crossing. But if it turns out to use Miis instead of the traditional characters, I'll pass it in favor of "My Sims 2" (to get the features missing in My Sims 1).
Dan Johnson @ Aug 17th 2007 11:55PM
Dude, Jerekface, what jaggies? It really is the art direction of the game. It's smooth where it wants to be.
Obviously you haven't played your PSOne in awhile. Please don't make blanket statements that are flat-out false.
http://www.gamespot.com/pages/image_viewer/frame_lead.php?pid=196917&img=110
There's a pic for you. Not even comparable.
Seroth @ Aug 17th 2007 4:23PM
I am totally getting this game. It sounds really awesome (I mean, I could build an oven to look like the "goat man" and the villagers would be enjoy it!). Plus, Animal Crossing isn't coming out anytime soon, so I might as well get this. I think it looks like a lot of fun.
Ben @ Aug 18th 2007 11:08AM
EA officially announced in an interview that there are like 40 essences in the game.... not six.
Cherry May @ Aug 18th 2007 5:31AM
I'm amazed at how many negative comments there are about this game! It looks simply beautiful for the Wii, and the art is so stylised in a wonderful way.
A 'poor mans animal crossing'? Hardly. It's its own game, its own style, its own play style. The only similarities I can see, is that it involves a town with cute people in. The game itself is most certainly unique, and one of the most suited-to-Wii games I've seen so far.
I get the overwhelming impression that people dislike this game purely because it has 'Sims' in the title and is made by EA... shame on you, shame! Surely you're all better people than to disregard a good looking game just because of its parent company.
Burnt Meatloaf @ Aug 18th 2007 6:32AM
"It looks simply beautiful for the Wii, and the art is so stylised in a wonderful way."
Because graphics don't matter.
Oh, that's right. Art, graphics, and style are completely different things, depending on which platform you're talking about.
spiltz @ Aug 21st 2007 1:31AM
I too am amazed at all the negative comments. First of all, Animal Crossing isn't the only Animal Crossing like game out there, nor is it the first. And if you call this a ripoff, then every FPS must be a ripoff of some other FPS. These AC like games aren't ripoffs - they're a genre. Mysims isn't an AC ripoff, it's the best game to date in the collecting/customizing/simulation genre. It offers the most customization as well as the best graphics. Get over yourselves - this game looks beautiful. If it looked realistic, or like a normal Sims game, it would suck and when people saw it on store shelves they'd think "This must be another crappy ported version of my PC game with less options and crappy controls". Especially Japan. Okay, I'm done ranting. You can all have fun shunning an awesome game just for the sake of staying loyal to Animal Crossing, while I have fun building houses so cute and chunky I wanna eat them! Oh, and I am upset about the online play. Very upset. But it's still a great game.
Wildhalcyon @ Aug 21st 2007 9:23AM
In defense of this game, its neither an Animal Crossing clone, nor a Sims clone. Its its own game.
Wi-fi isn't a huge deal either though. Three years ago, it wouldn't have mattered. Now, suddenly its a make-or-break feature. Calm down and enjoy the gameplay!
spiltz @ Aug 21st 2007 2:22PM
Remember, I still think this game is totally awesome and I do defend it (see my post above). But I was really looking forward to showing off my crap online. I heard they couldn't add an online feature at the end because of their budget. Which totally sucks. EA should've scrapped the stupid DS Mysims which it seems like they put no thought into anyways, and scrapped EA Playground, and put all the money into MySims so it could be online. Now I'm gonna have to wait for MySims 2. Uggggghhhhh. Still though, awesome awesome awesome awesome game.
Jix @ Aug 22nd 2007 1:26AM
Gah, no online play >.<
Such a shame.. no point in picking this title up.
Poor Wii hasn't been fed since.. Sonic Secret Rings came out ..
Games.. online.. please