Famous for what sounds like alien techno-babble when the characters speak, The Sims 3 and its various expansions are the pinnacle of family/life simulation games. If you like to micromanage on occasion or maybe even if you like being stressed out this is the game for you. Now that’s not me saying that the game is more trouble than its worth. What I mean is that you pretty much get so immersed in the experience that you begin to feel what your characters feel. From having your first born child to having that child taken away by social workers, The Sims 3 has taken old features and amplified them to the point where you ca spend hours playing without breaking a sweat. The game is accessible and easy to pick up for Sims veterans, for the beginners it will be way too easy to get frustrated by the predominant point and click mechanic. There is such a thing as too many options, The Sims 3 is such a diverse game that it falls short in its appeal to most audiences.
The Sims 3: Showtime is yet another expansion to the already large in-game world. It really makes you wonder if half of them were really necessary. This expansion managed to find new ways to add to the already accumulating tower of opportunities by allowing players to explore their wild celebrity side (as if nightlife didn’t do much of the same). The usual plan here was to add a new town which is called Starlight Shore and pack it with some new lots that would ultimately give you more things to do. Performance venues are a notable improvement over previous versions since The Sims 3: Showtime makes it easier for you to actually make a living off of your talent skill sets without the side effect of tedious career grinding. As usual you will go through the start-up phase of making friends in order to create opportunities for yourself but what I found annoying was the addition of Social Networking.
Social networking is just an excuse for bragging about achievements. The feature sits on the top right corner of the screen, for the pros this is a double edged sword. It is a nice way to keep up with what’s going but it can be annoying when your being pestered to share events constantly. Singer, Acrobat, Magician and DJ are the career additions that don’t exactly feel like a marathon especially while you’re multi-tasking. There are also new Wishes, Skills and three new character Traits including natural born performer, social butterfly and diva, so not that those macho hardcore types care about that sort of thing at all.
The Katy Perry limited edition simply isn’t worth it. We’re talking a few new items and a poster for kicks. The game overall content though lives up to any reasonable expectations when it come to a Sims expansion pack. Each of the new career choices do spice up accordingly as your skills increase at whatever it is your doing and that improvement is a refreshing spin on a previously boring feature. For driven fans of the series I can say that Showtime is a worthy add-on but only if you’re into this star-driven aspect of the game. If you’re a guy and can get past the preppy cover (by simply explaining that it’s your sisters birthday gift) then you are on your way.