The Sims Stories
A laptop-optimized Sims series with linear stories.
The Sims Stories is a series of video games released between 2007 and 2008, built on a modified version of The Sims 2 engine optimized for systems with lower specifications, such as laptops. The series was designed for players who wanted to play The Sims 2 on laptops, engage in other activities while gaming, or were new to the franchise. It features both a structured Story mode with linear goals and an open-ended Classic mode, with three titles released in total.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Maxis Redwood Shores
- Publisher
- Electronic Arts (PC); Aspyr Media (Mac)
- Genre
- Social simulation
- Modes
- Single-player
- Platforms
- Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows
Facts from the source article.
Life Stories
The Sims Life Stories, the first game in the series, was released for Microsoft Windows in February 2007 and for Mac OS X by Aspyr Media later that year. Aspyr released another macOS port on December 3, 2015, to the Mac App Store, which was removed on June 17, 2019, after the announcement of macOS Catalina dropping support for 32-bit apps. The game uses the same engine and gameplay mechanics as The Sims 2, with an open-ended Classic mode and two predefined scenarios in Story mode. The first story follows Riley Harlow as she moves from SimCity to Four Corners to live with her Aunt Sharon, while the second story involves Vincent Moore, a millionaire searching for true love. Completing both stories unlocks the neighborhoods for play in Classic mode. Life Stories includes objects from various The Sims 2 packs, such as the bowling alley from The Sims 2: Nightlife and the pool table from The Sims 2: University. The game received mixed or average reviews on Metacritic, with IGN praising its low system requirements but criticizing the inability to create original stories.
Pet Stories
The Sims Pet Stories, the second game in the series, was released for Microsoft Windows in June 2007 and for Mac OS X by Aspyr Media on September 9, 2007. Aspyr released another macOS port on December 17, 2015, to the Mac App Store, which was removed on June 17, 2019, though it remains playable for users on older macOS versions who previously purchased it. The game focuses on caring for and training pets, similar to The Sims 2: Pets, and includes two stories: Best in Show, where Alice enters her Dalmatian in a dog show to save her home, and Midnight Masquerade, about a chef named Stephen whose life is disrupted by an obnoxious cat. A neutral town called Arbor Falls is available for Free Mode, which resembles regular The Sims 2 gameplay. Pet Stories introduced new objects such as pet games and musical instruments, along with building opportunities like new paintings and floor patterns. It received mixed or average reviews on Metacritic.
Castaway Stories
The Sims Castaway Stories, the third and final game in the series, was released in 2008, with a Mac OS X port by Aspyr Media. An updated macOS port was released on December 10, 2015, to the Mac App Store, and was removed on June 17, 2019, after the announcement of macOS Catalina dropping support for 32-bit apps, though it remains playable for users on older macOS versions who previously purchased it. The game offers two modes: a story-driven mode titled Shipwrecked and Single, and a sandbox mode called Wanmami Island. In Shipwrecked and Single, the player chooses to play as David Bennett, Jessica Knight, or a customized Sim, who boards a singles cruise ship named Solomon Queen that crashes, leaving the Sim stranded on an island. Wanmami Island provides open-ended gameplay similar to traditional Sims games, allowing players to design families and start jobs. The clock uses eight orbs representing 24 hours, with one orb equal to three hours. Currency is Resources instead of Simoleons, and careers include Gatherer, Hunter, or Crafter, all with the same working hours and no penalties for missing work. Objects, clothing, and building tools follow tropical and Tiki themes. Community lots are accessed via a portal or map for instant travel. Unlike the other Stories games, Castaway Stories offers one 24-chapter story instead of two 12-chapter stories, and some rewards must be dug up at the shore.
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