Toga party, anyone? Now your Sims can do that and more with the House Party Expansion Pack, which makes it easier than ever for characters from The Sim to make friends and quickly rise to the top ranks of their professions. They'll need all that extra money they get from promotions to pay for all the cool goodies included in this expansion. Party themes range from Wild West campfire cookouts to Hawaiian luaus and room-shaking raves, with plenty of objects provided to keep guests entertained.
There's a costume trunk to guarantee everyone will be dressed for the occasion, and it's even possible to hire a caterer to keep the food and drink flowing. If you're really lucky, a famous star may pop in for a guest appearance. Every party is packed with surprises, and the inclusion of extra neighbourhoods ensures there's always a bash to plan. This is one expansion that no fan of The Sims should be without.
The idea behind The Sims is this: the ultimate goal of life is to achieve happiness, and the way to achieve happiness is to satisfy your Sims' needs. That's right, The Sims allows you to create, direct and manage the lives of SimCity's residents. Each need (eg: Hunger, Comfort, Hygiene) can be met by interacting with other Sims or objects--throw a party with the help of a rocking stereo system, and watch your Sims' Social and Fun ratings improve.
Mismanage your new, simulated family, and you'll be faced with the worst of MTV's The Real World: jealousies will ignite, fights will break out, jobs will be lost and the house will fall apart.
One gameplay goal is to improve your Sim so he or she can climb the career ladder, which nets him or her more money, which allows the purchase of higher quality stuff. Eventually, your Sim will have a mate, kids and a mansion with an indoor pool. Toying with the lives, successes and emotional states of dozens of little Sims is undeniably fun--limitless gameplay, endless variety, cool Internet features, and the ability to play matchmaker/landlord/counsellor The Sims a great way to increase your own Fun score. --Mike Fehlauer, Amazon.com