iPhone It In: The Sims 3
by Justin McElroy 
{ Jun 22nd 2009 at 8:55PM } 
I haven't played the new Sims release, so I don't really have that as a frame of reference. What I do know is that all the tropes of the series seem to be here: Create a person, meet their needs and help them get a family, career, the whole bit.
Gallery: The Sims 3 [iPhone]
What the iPhone version has done so well is really streamline the experience. You control just one Sim, climbing the career ladder, improving your home, and making friends. The typical demand for hygiene, potty breaks and food are all there, but they're rarely an annoyance.
As you improve your standing, you'll occasionally get micro-goals in the form of "wishes" like "Grow a tomato" or "Kiss a Sim," and these really help to add some direction to the proceedings.
If you've ever had a Sim addiction, this is likely to have the same steely grip on your life, perhaps more so thanks to your ability to check in on your creation when the morning meeting gets dull or a blind date goes awry.
The biggest problem with the game is that, for an iPhone title, it's not a particularly good steward of your time. There's a long wait for boot-up and there's a lot of loading. Also, there's no option to advance time, so I spent too many minutes just waiting in my house for bed time.
It's a testament then to how compelling the rest of Sims 3 is then that these lulls were rarely enough to send my thumb searching for the Home button.
... But let's keep this just between us, OK?
The Sims 3 (EA, $9.99):
As you improve your standing, you'll occasionally get micro-goals in the form of "wishes" like "Grow a tomato" or "Kiss a Sim," and these really help to add some direction to the proceedings.
If you've ever had a Sim addiction, this is likely to have the same steely grip on your life, perhaps more so thanks to your ability to check in on your creation when the morning meeting gets dull or a blind date goes awry.
The biggest problem with the game is that, for an iPhone title, it's not a particularly good steward of your time. There's a long wait for boot-up and there's a lot of loading. Also, there's no option to advance time, so I spent too many minutes just waiting in my house for bed time.
It's a testament then to how compelling the rest of Sims 3 is then that these lulls were rarely enough to send my thumb searching for the Home button.
... But let's keep this just between us, OK?
The Sims 3 (EA, $9.99):
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
whylekat @ Jun 22nd 2009 9:10PM
Still $10 seems kinda pricey...
Magresda @ Jun 22nd 2009 9:14PM
Knowing how the App Store works, this will be $4.99 by the end of July.
whylekat @ Jun 22nd 2009 9:25PM
that's a good point. I'll def pick it up when it's on sale.
Nik @ Jun 22nd 2009 11:34PM
Exactly, Simcity came out at $9.99, and I picked it up at $6.99
greg (peevmyster) @ Jun 22nd 2009 9:50PM
Wish my iPhone would hurry and get here, i might give it a try!
johnny @ Jun 22nd 2009 10:02PM
God you people are cheap as hell. $40 is ok for a crappy psp game but $10 for a great solid game with tons of replay value is not worth it? What the hell is this world coming to, some of these iphone games rival $40 psp games and none are price over $10 yet
Bearxor @ Jun 22nd 2009 10:22PM
That's a great point, but the psp isn't going to die on me after two hours of gameplay.
Oh, wait...
mike @ Jun 23rd 2009 3:43AM
People are usually pickier about digital download pricing because there's no resale value. You can buy a $40 PSP game, beat it, and easily sell it for $30 or more on Amazon. That's $10 each for much, much meatier games.
SLB @ Jun 22nd 2009 9:58PM
It's a great game, but the loading is annoying!
Levi @ Jun 22nd 2009 11:37PM
mecho wars ftw
Just_a_guy @ Jun 22nd 2009 11:40PM
I was thinking of getting this game, and with the loading, I might not get it. oh well...
Jansperus @ Jun 23rd 2009 8:40PM
The load times aren't bad enough to be a deal breaker. It's not Sonic 2005 (or whatever year that was) bad at all. They're usually over in one breath.
Saria the Cat @ Jun 22nd 2009 11:57PM
Inability to fast-forward time?!?! Ludicrous! That's the most vital feature of any SIms game. As a former Sims 2 addict, I would know.
Jansperus @ Jun 23rd 2009 8:37PM
It's annoying, but it hasn't annoyed me too much.
anoteoftruth @ Jun 23rd 2009 12:03AM
Is the loading issue mentioned based on iphone 3G or 3GS?
VelociRapido @ Jun 23rd 2009 1:03AM
3GS loading times are crazy fast!
Misframed @ Jun 23rd 2009 9:26AM
I haven't played "The Sims" since the first PC game but picked this up on the iPhone after hearing it was pretty good. Yes there are load times, no you cannot build or edit your house BUT I've had a great time and it is well worth the $10. Load times on my 3G are only about 5-6 seconds and the game loads whenever you leave your house, enter the park, or meet another sim. Once you get hooked, the load times do just fade into the background.
Make sure you reset your iPhone once it's installed or it will crash and be unplayable!
Jasmino924 @ Jun 24th 2009 2:07AM
Well I just got an iPhone and I was wondering what I should put on that little gizmo. Thanks for the screenshots!
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