Sims Freeplay

Background of The Sims Freeplay:

What: It’s a strategic life simulation game where Players can control their Sims (custom characters) to satisfy their wishes, and let them complete different kinds of actions. The game runs in real-time, and takes real time to complete actions.
Who made it: Developed by EA Mobile and later with Firemonkeys Studios. The Sims FreePlay is a spin-off from the hugely successful Sims franchise first published by Electronic Arts (EA) in 2000.
Targeted at: Ages 12+. The Sims franchise has demonstrated there is a strong and lucrative market in female gamers as Will Wright (Game Designer) described it as a ‘doll house’. Furthermore, both twitter and facebooks accounts display more female sim characters specifically younger sims than young male sims, as well as the large amount of both pregnant sim characters and children being present.
When released: IOS: December 15th 2011 / Android: February 15th 2012 / BlackBerry 10: 31st July 2013 / Windows Phone 8: 12th September 2013.

Statistical Data for Sims Freeplay:

Notes:

The video game was banned in China, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar and Egypt due to the possibility of establishing a homosexual relationship. – governmental control

Theorists:

Baudrillard: when it comes to postmodern simulation and simulacra, “It is no longer a question of imitation, nor duplication, nor even parody. It is a question of substituting the signs of the real for the real” = As the game is still being updated to present since being released on iOS to begin with in 2011 and tries to imitate real life – simulation of real life events.

Exam Question:

Media effects theories argue that the media has the power to shape the audiences thoughts and behaviours. (25 marks) – Tomb Raider / Metroid / Sims Freeplay
Target audiences for video games change because of the historical and economic contexts in which they are produced. (25 marks) – Tomb Raider and Sims Freeplay

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