| 'The Sims Online' is in a stunningly popular | | | | really get old. |
| multiplayer version of the smash hit 'The | | | | |
| Sims' series of PC games. Game makers are an | | | | The single player Sims gave characters |
| incredibly bright group of people, and have | | | | different chores and tasks that had to be |
| quickly realized the huge potential in | | | | completed, such as jobs or errands, but The |
| massively multiplayer online games. Not only | | | | Sims Online has a much looser set of |
| are they dominating the market these days, | | | | objectives. You still have tasks to perform |
| they also contributed to a very hefty bottom | | | | and still have to eat, but you objectives |
| line as far as profits go. | | | | aren't clear, nor is the timeframe in which |
| | | | to do them. The idea behind it, I manage, is |
| The well-known single player games, like The | | | | to be able to interact with the other |
| Sims series, are a one-time purchase and then | | | | players. |
| that's it. Massively multiplayer online games | | | | |
| have to first be bought and then continuously | | | | While it's kind of fun to dawn a digital mask |
| subscribed to with a monthly fee. This is an | | | | and interact with people on the digital |
| example of something called continuity sales, | | | | format because you certainly not be able to |
| which simply means that there is a revenue | | | | do this and realize, it doesn't take very |
| stream in addition to the original purchase. | | | | long before it begins to feel like some kind |
| From a business perspective, MMO games are | | | | of graphical chat room. The few in game goals |
| much more lucrative. | | | | that there are, like making money or setting |
| | | | up a house, have severe restrictions and |
| The reason why I bring all that up is that I | | | | aren't really all that rewarding due to an |
| think its important to keep that fact in mind | | | | overall lack of depth to the in game economy, |
| when reviewing MMO style games like The Sims | | | | so really the only 'point' I found to keep |
| Online, you've got to keep dishing out money | | | | playing was to meet people. Seeing how there |
| to play. While in the more traditional MMO | | | | are free chat rooms all over the place, I |
| games like 'Everquest' players have some | | | | guess I just don't feel like The Sims Online |
| clear cut goals and objectives dangled just | | | | is worth a monthly fee, and maybe not even |
| out of their reach at all times to keep them | | | | the original purchase price. |
| playing, The Sims Online appears to be | | | | |
| lacking direction. | | | | There are other computer software teams out |
| | | | there that I feel you get a much better bang |
| Sometimes the single player Sims games appear | | | | for your buck with. You can just pop on the |
| to be without purpose. What I mean by that is | | | | Internet and do a search on video games, or |
| you could play God and your little world and | | | | computer games and come up with thousands of |
| be the creator, but there was never any clear | | | | titles to choose from. There are also a whole |
| cut purpose to what you were doing and | | | | bunch of reviews that you can read in order |
| therefore after a while it would become | | | | to make comparisons. So go ahead and check |
| boring. But the Sims online you only have | | | | out the Sims online, but be sure to check out |
| control over a single player and that can | | | | the other offerings that are out there. |