BBC News and BBC Newsbeat
Sims never had to be a hit.
Back in the 1990s, when the Creator Will Wright would throw the game to his bosses, they were not convinced of his idea of a “virtual doll house”.
The so -called simulator of life in which players design their own characters, give them personalities and prone to their needs.
Who wants it?
A lot of people, it turns out.
Now, 25 years since his debut, Sims is one of the best -selling series of video games of all time, with the active community of Superfan known as Simmers.
The last installment, SIMS 4, was translated into 18 languages, and was played by 85 million people around the world, according to the publisher Electronic Arts.
The open nature of the original game helped him to become a hit and reach the so -called “occasional players” beyond more dedicated media audiences.
The players had the freedom to carefully create a detail domestic environment for their digital people, managing their love life, daily routines, basic needs and hobbies in demanding details.
But that also allowed them to imagine various anguish for their virtual friends. One of the most famous – the settlement of your SIM pool without a ladder – remains a popular meme to this day.
Streamer based in the UK Jesse, best known as Plumbella, says she became obsessed with the legendary trick when she first played a game at the age of five.
Sims has been part of Jesse’s life since then, thank you, he says, to the community around her.
Players can create modifications or “modes” that change different elements from the way they play to play to the appearance of the characters.
Options of additional heights, have multiple jobs and personality characteristics of neurodivergent are among some of the popular supplements made with fans.
For dedicated fans, Jesse says, longevity comes from the construction of creations.
As he says, “Take something and adjust it and share it with other Simmers.
“It’s really interesting to see the ways people can think of using their game in an interesting way.”
She also made the ability to express in Sims a popular title among many players from different communities.
Even on his launch in 2000, SIMS included same -sex relationships at a time when elections around sexuality or identity in the games were rare.
Creator Mollie, which flows like The EnglishSimmer, makes a lot of content for her channel with LGBT topics.
He says that the Maxis developer “has always been a kind of lobby in the game industry when it comes to telling different stories and wanted to show that national team.”
Mollie says Sims gave her a platform to find others like her.
“It was so wonderful that I was able to tell my stories and connect with people and they can see themselves represented,” she says.
Sims has arrived over the years for more criticism for its racial presentation.
The American Factory of Amira Content, known as Xmirmira Online, has created a custom package of skin tons for SIMS 4, which many players still use today.
“I couldn’t make a Sims that either look similar to me or my family, friends. And that’s the case in many games,” Amira says.
“But the difference between Sims and other games is that they can do something about it.”
Amirin Melanin’s package was a hit when she was released, and since then she has collaborated with Maxis and Electronic Arts on the official acceptance of multiple skin tones into the game.
“For me, it’s a big part why I played the game for so long,” she says.
“I can do what I want, I can do SIM with any body type, hair, hair, whatever I want, it’s one of the most convenient games I have.”
Amira says she noticed more and more games that offer the ability to choose different skin tones, body types and hairstyles without the need for third -party accessories.
Although SIMS is often perceived as a leader when it comes to the inclusivity in games, some people are embarrassed by their approach.
Zoe Delahunty-Light, a video producer on the Eurogamer website, welcomes Sims to achieve “great steps” with diversity and working with creatives on the construction of authentic national teams in the game.
But she points out that they are most of the job first, free, Modders.
The official addition to Lovestruck, Zoe says, introduces polyamorous relationships into the game and costs £ 30 ($ 37).
“So it can feel like squeezing as much money as people who want the most of the representation, which is quite brave,” she says.
The game is also criticized for lack of involvement for disabled players, both in their ability to change their controls and see each other on the screen.
“The game is still lacking an option to change key connections, which is the basic accessibility problem,” Zoe says.
Programmer Maxis said earlier that he was discussing the introduction of multiple accessibility opportunities in the game.
He added certain features – like visible hearing aids – to improve disability display in the game.
While SIMS celebrates its anniversary, the new US government has introduced politics to reduce the initiatives to return diversity, capital and inclusion (DEI).
Critics claim that these schemes are discriminatory and are used to encourage political programs, while supporters claim that they work to fight inequality.
The technical industry followed, with companies like Meta, which they own Facebook and Instagram, Abolishing their efforts on dei and also cutting teams for moderation.
There is a question of whether it can affect playing, where companies are often criticized for failing to adequately deal with racial and gender harassment on their platforms.
“There is a greater concern that this will be considered a green light that certain groups of toxic players become more open about their own hate views, making inclusive spaces more important than ever before,” Zoe says.
Simmer Amira says that it is especially important for the play of the simulation of life, such as Sims, to include as many people as possible.
“Everyone should be able to make themselves mostly with a little problem,” she says.
Jesse adds: “Many people do not experience things that are experiencing other cultures and this is a really great way to implement learning about it in everyday life.
“I think it goes a long way to accept.”
