Maxis' tour de force has arrived, and real life just got some serious competition...
Andy Butcher

If nothing else, you have to admire the coherent vision of developers Maxis. Ever since the original Sim City, the company have dedicated themselves almost exclusively to the 'Sim' concept - creating software that models some aspect of the real world with almost fanatical detail and care, while offering players almost complete freedom to do with it as they see fit. Now, with The Sims, Maxis have taken this philosophy to the next level, producing not only the most detailed, complex and ambitious title in their history, but also the most innovative, playable and addictive Sim game ever.

Perhaps the best way to describe The Sims is to think of it as 'Sim Life', or at least 'Sim Soap'. Rather than putting you in charge of a city where people live, as in the Sim City series, The Sims puts you in charge of people's lives. Imagine zooming into a typical Sim City suburb and taking control not of zoning and road building, but of the everyday existence of the people that live there.

This in itself is not a particularly revolutionary or original idea. In fact, it's been around for years, dating right back to the classic Little Computer People for the Commodore 64, and it recently enjoyed a resurgence with the Tamagotchi craze. What makes The Sims stand out, though, is the sheer depth and detail of its design. You have complete control over every aspect of your Sims' lives. The success of their careers, relationships, love lives - even how often they take out the trash - is in your hands.