Happy Birthday, Sims

Electronic Arts today announced that it still makes money. Why is this? Well, a lot of it has to do with The Sims, which is now celebrating a birthday. Ah, to be three again.

"Three years ago, no one believed that a videogame about people and social interaction, without shooting, driving or what passes for action, could be published successfully."

What the heck are you talking about, John Riccitiello, EA President and COO? I believed it. Will Wright believed it. Heck, everyone who has at anytime played a game believed it. The bulk of software sales at the time -- and indeed still now -- did not come from violent shooters, racers, and general action titles. They came from Backyard Baseball and some damn Train Simulator of some damn sort.

"Today this game, The Sims, has evolved to become the world's most successful PC game and a global multi-platform success. The Sims' incredible appeal among teens and young adults, and especially among female players, has broken all the old established rules about videogames."

Wrong, wrong, wrong. All of the old established rules are still in place. I know them by heart.

1) You need a videogame playing machine to play videogames.

2) Videogames are not cool conversation starters on dates, so don't even think about ever trying it unless you're making a concerted effort to end the relationship abruptly.

3) Archon and General Chaos are still the only good games Electronic Arts has ever made. Well, Dr. J vs. Larry Bird was also pretty kick ass.

4) RTS games make Dan curse.

5) DOOM is a murder simulator that teaches kids how to shoot people and conquer hell, apparently.

And now for some random Sims facts: