The Simpsons: Virtual Springfield

Did You Know?

• A real-life replica of the Simpsons' house was built in Henderson, Nevada, as part of a contest promotion for the game.
• The replica was constructed in collaboration with Kauffman and Broad and has become popular with tourists and YouTubers.
• Voice direction for the game was handled by Bonita Pietila, who had worked on the television series.

Gameplay

Virtual Springfield is a first-person adventure game set in a 3D simulation of the fictional town from The Simpsons. Players can visit locations such as Moe's Tavern, Springfield Elementary School, the Kwik-E-Mart, Krustylu Studios, and the Simpsons' house. The goal is to collect a full set of character cards, which requires unlocking hidden areas by finding secret items. A map provides directions, and minigames at certain spots include recreations of games seen on the show, like the boxing game Slugfest from the episode "Moaning Lisa."

Reception

Critics gave Virtual Springfield mixed reviews. Billboards' Doug Reece described the game as ambitious but noted that its high level of detail could become "somewhat tedious." Nancy Basile of About.com rated it three out of five, criticizing the lack of a plot while praising the humor. She wrote that the game is less a game than an interactive tour, with the main fun coming from browsing locations and hearing the cast's voice work. Mark Kanarick of All Game Guide also gave a three-out-of-five rating, praising the references to the series for fans but finding little to attract casual viewers. He noted that exploring Springfield could be fun but also tedious, and that reading the map could be problematic for younger players, leading to getting lost. Joe Toledo of Animation World wrote that the software lacks the depth of a true game, with easy objectives and travel between locations becoming lengthy after repeated visits. He felt the novelty of the 17 locations wears off and that a better gaming element could have extended playtime.