In retrospect, the fact that The Sims, the "life simulator" that happens to be the best-selling PC game of all time, never includes college life is almost criminal.
But fear not, because the legendary Will Wright and his cohorts at Maxis have atoned for their grave oversight in grand fashion. Sims 2: University, the first Sims 2 expansion pack, is a veritable collage of collegiate mayhem.
The Sims and its sequel allow players to direct the lives of digital people -- or "sims" in the gamer lexicon. Whether you're a ruthless sadist or a gentle guardian, the Sims series has something for you. Whereas 2's sims went from teenager to adult, University's sims can go to college before heading out into the bleak world of the 9-to-5 grind known as adulthood.
Sims with college degrees have new career paths opened to them. Once in school, sims are on their own. There is no calling home to mommy for more money. Teenage sims who satisfy certain requirements can apply for scholarships for more cash going into college, but newly-created sims have to live with a small initial stipend.
College sims can choose from 11 different majors. (For the overachievers, there is no double majoring, triple majoring or grad school.) Degrees in certain majors prepare sims for certain post-college careers. Physics majors are ready for the science career ladder, philosophy majors are ready to become slackers and literature majors are geared towards a life of crime. (I'm not making this up.)
Upon entering college, most sims live in dorms. University's dorms are a little different from what you and I might expect. On one hand, they are rather lavish affairs with televisions, stereos and even a cafeteria worker always on duty. On the other hand, some dorms still have communal showers, which sims have no qualms using.
If the sims in a dorm collect enough money, they can upgrade the building. Students aren't allowed to modify the walls and other structural parts of the dorm, but there's no rule against putting a hot tub right outside the door. Since there is no residence staff and all dorms are co-ed, things can -- and do -- get pretty wild.
Sims' priorities include making the grade and to earning a living. Fortunately, the two go together, because in the fantasy world of University, students get paid stipends based on grade performance. But like real life, going to class is optional. Sims can do schoolwork outside class, con others into doing it work for them or sleep with a professor ("doing a WooHoo" in Sim-speak.) Sims 2 University has no honor code.
Unfortunately, getting jiggy with a professor is harder than doing the schoolwork itself. Sims can also make money by other means, including rapping for tips. I've never seen a white girl rap until I played University -- believe me, it's worth the price of admission.
Outside of class, sims have a whole slew of activities to partake in, if only he or she can find the time. Sims can rush frats or srats at any point. Oddly enough, all frats are equal in University, and rushees who pledge only need to get acquainted with the brothers/sisters.
Sims with enough money can move off-campus for even more housing flexibility. Off-campus students can also apply for a charter to start a new frat at their house.
Parties in University are rather tame affairs -- all are strictly dry, though students are allowed to purchase monstrous hookahs. Sims also have a strange aversion to random hookups -- they'll "WooHoo" only when deeply involved with another sim, though sims don't discriminate based on gender. University girls can and do make out with each other, and yes, you can watch.
In the end, University is surprisingly difficult but fun. Keeping sims' grades high while maintaining active social lives is near-impossible, unless the sims are exceptionally well-prepared coming into college.
It's almost as if Will Wright is trying to teach us all a lesson, ironically, through the most addictive and time-consuming game released in recent memory.
Despite the sometimes-frustrating gameplay of University, almost every college student can identify with and enjoy the game. The only students who should stay away from this game are honor code diehards and puritanical conservatives. Especially for those who wish their college experience had a bit more pizzazz, the virtual experience of Sims 2: University, an adequate substitute, will have to suffice.
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