The Sims 2

The Sims 2 is a 2004 video game and the sequel to The Sims. It is a simulation game made by Maxis and EA Games.

The game features a full 3D graphics engine. Like the first The Sims game, it has many expansion packs.

EA released a sequel, The Sims 3, in June 2009.

Changes

There are now six life stages: baby, toddler, child, teenager, adult, and elder. An additional young adult stage is added when you get the university expansion pack. Sims can now grow up and eventually die. In the first game, Sims would stay children forever and adults would stay adults forever. Teenagers can hold jobs as well as go to school.

Careers have gone under many changes. There is now a schedule; there are seven days in a week, and Sims at school are off on Saturday and Sunday. Sims can now get paid vacation days and start working 4–5 days a week. A meter measures job performance (their mood when they get to work). A new thing called "chance cards" lets the player pick what to do in a situation. Sims can gain/lose skill points, gain/lose money, or be promoted, demoted, or even fired.

Children and teenagers now bring homework home and their grades rise or fall depending on whether they finish it or not. Teenagers can hold jobs as well as go to school, but if their grades drop too low they can lose their job.

Other new things are wants and fears. These change when a want or fear is done or when the Sim wakes up from sleep.

Also, Sims can have aspirations (big things they want to do) like to have a family, to have many friends, to fall in love, to learn a lot, or to have a lot of money. A player can choose which aspiration they want their Sim to have, and the aspirations will affect their wants and fears. For example, a Sim with the family aspiration might want to have a child, but a Sim with the money aspiration might want to get a job instead.

Like in the first Sims game, a mother Sim and a father Sim can have a child. Also, children can be made at the start of the game or got from the adoption service.

One of the biggest changes in Sims 2 is that a Sim can go to a community lot (a place in the town like a store or a park). They can go there by using the phone to call a taxi.

Expansion packs

These are addons to the game which add new items, new places and new features. They are listed in the order that they came out in the shops. They are meant to come out 2 times a year.

There are eight expansion packs in total.

Game Name	Released	Features
The Sims 2: University	March 2005	Sims can study at universities during the new Young Adult life stage
The Sims 2: Nightlife	September 2005	Sims can go out on dates with other Sims
The Sims 2: Open for Business	March 2006	Sims can own businesses which they can make money from.
The Sims 2: Pets	October 2006	Sims can have pets such as cats, dogs, snakes, bunnies, etc.,.
The Sims 2: Seasons	February 2007	There is weather and seasons that affects Sims.
The Sims 2: Bon Voyage	September 2007	Sims can go on a vacation
The Sims 2: FreeTime	February 2008	Sims can enjoy their favorite hobbies
The Sims 2: Apartment Life	August 2008	Sims can live in apartments and possess witchcraft

Stuff packs

These are packages that add only items to the game. They are less expensive than the regular expansion packs.

Game Name	Released	Theme
The Sims 2: Glamour Life Stuff	September 2006	Luxurious items
The Sims 2: Happy Holiday Stuff	November 2007	Christmas
The Sims 2: Celebration! Stuff	April 2007	Party items
The Sims 2: H&M Fashion Stuff	June 2007	Clothing collections from H&M
The Sims 2: Teen Style Stuff	November 2007	Goth, Thrashers, Socialite items
The Sims 2: Kitchen & Bath Interior Design Stuff	April 2008	Items for kitchens and bathrooms
The Sims 2: IKEA Home Stuff	June 2008	IKEA-branded furniture
The Sims 2: Mansion & Garden Stuff	November 2008	Items for gardens and houses