Sims Social on Facebook

August 2011 brought a new Zynga game to Facebook. The Sims Social application is based off of the original Sims game that millions of people enjoy. One reason for the Sims popularity is due to the ability to create a unique avatar that has a life and personality of their own.

When playing this new application on Facebook, the player is first offered the option of choosing the look and appearance of their character. With dozens of options available for hair color and styles, each sim is unique. Nine different personalities options are provided at creation. These individual personalities enable the player to choose such characters as a "Rocker", "Romantic" or a "Geek"

Each of the personality traits will provide different bonuses, movements and mannerisms. The rocker will play air guitar and have a more punk feeling. Choosing the romantic will mean that your character will present roses and will seek out the best in their neighbors. If the "villain" personality is chosen, pranks and villainous options will become available when interacting with their friends and neighbors.

Once you have created your character, they will be provided a basic home and basic furniture. With one outfit and a small amount of money the journey to create a great life will begin.

Quests are provided to teach the Sim how to make money by learning skills. There are several skills available for the beginner sim.

Catering using the microwave will provide experience points, money and bonus items. Leveling the catering skill by making simple dishes is also a great method for leveling the character.

Learning to play the guitar, which is provided to the new Sim, will also bring in simolians as well as bonus items for crafting and experience points for leveling.

Writing on the computer is another skill that provides XP, bonuses and simolians. As the Sim levels the skill, additional training will become available. These new skills will often provide the opportunity for side quests. While writiing other quests will crop up that will encourage the Sim to take an IQ test. Each task will lead to another learing and money making opportunity.

Once the Sim has settled into their home, the avatar will be encouraged to go meet the neighbors. These neighbors will consist of friends on the players Facebook friend list. Other players that have discovered the game and are leveling their Sim.

When the Sim visits for the first time each day, they will be rewarded. Visiting other Sims will proved simoleons, energy and social points. These all work together to provide the Sim with the ability to improve their lives.

Upon meeting the neighbor, the Sim can enter the house and do fun activities like playing their guitar, watching their TV or dancing to music on the stereo. Once they enter the Sims are building a relationship with this neighbor. Each action uses the Sim's energy and this will replenish every seven minutes. The Sim can choose to do random activities that do not use any energy. These free actions are not interactive activities. while at the neighbor's house, if an appliance needs repair, any Sim with a relationship can make that repair and the home owner will be notified when they are online.

Now that the Sim is making simoleons and meeting their neighbors, what else can a Sim do? Shopping and decorating their home is an excellent way to spend their simoleons. Buying furniture, rugs, appliances and general decorating items is quite important to a Sim. Every Sim wants their house to reflect their own personality and the shop allows for many options when it comes to furniture design. Many color varieties are available as well as many different styles. Again allowing for each Sim to have their own personal aesthetic.

The items that can be purchased are vast. Grills for outdoor living as well as towels for the bathroom are all available in the Sims shop on the tool bar. Clothing, shoes,pictures,electronics and other household furnishing are available for purchase.

Many of these items can also be purchased with the social points that a Sim will receive for doing a variety of daily activities. Completing the quests that are offered will provide unusual rewards and money. Using the social points will allow the simoleons to go farther when designing their home.

Maintaining a clean yard is a very simple method of leveling and making money in the first levels.

Taking pictures of the wildlife that visits will reward the Sim with bonuses as well as XP and simolians.

New rooms can only be added when the space in the yard has been cleared of all vegetation.

Visiting other Sims will allow the energy bar to refill because an energy bonus is provided on the first visit each day for each neighbor.

Visiting neighbor's Facebook wall will provide bonuses when the links are clicked on each Sim announcement.

When the player "likes" the Sim Social page on Facebook, gifts from the developers are provided through clickable links.