The Sims 3 - Island Paradise - Let's get away from it all!

via Amazon

Let's play The Sims!

I love playing The Sims 3. If I've got time to spare I can get completely lost in a digital world of creating characters, designing homes and running (and ruining!) lives. Have you ever played anything like this before? It's such fun and the creators of the games have made it with their tongues collectively stuck in their cheeks.

If you've not come across it or not had the chance to play it then let me fill you in on some of the basics. When you first start you have a world (or worlds if you've obtained more content through packs or downloads), in that world you can choose a pre-made household and whatever quirks those Sims (people) come with, or you can load up a family into an empty house, or my personal favourite, 'Create a Sim', where you get to pick and choose both the physical and personal attributes of your Sim or Sims.
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You then give them a lifetime ambition, pick out their clothes and find them a house with the budget you've been allocated, and then off you go! Into the big wide world, where they can be good or bad, have relationships, babies and more, or they can avoid other Sims and concentrate on their careers. Whatever you like really.

The World is Your Oyster...

The Sims 3 is so flexible you can create your own house, redesign any object in it, build a garden, or even with add-ons, design a new pattern or world!

But for me, the real fun is in the stories that you develop with the choices your character(s) make. I like variety, (you never would have guessed, right?) and I think I must have tried out every possible job a Sim could have, in every possible expansion pack there is!

Island Paradise is one such expansion pack, (which means you have to have the original base game, the Sims 3, to get this to work too) and it's one of my favourites so far. With this pack you get the chance to go scuba diving, own different types of watercraft, run a beach or hotel resort, become a lifeguard, search for mysterious hidden islands or just take it easy in a beautiful paradise setting.

So far my cool scuba diving Sim has bought a houseboat, learnt how to dive, tangled with sharks (and peed herself in the process!), explored caves, caught and sold fish, shells and general treasure, met mermaids (or should that be merpeople?) got a sun tan, owned a jet ski and made money while doing all this - what a life, eh? And all in the comfort of my own home.

It's so much better if you can see video games. Take a look at these and the other selections further down...

Get a flavour of what's on offer at this island paradise...

Want a bit more detail? Take a look at this producer walk-through video.

My Other Life (or Lives...)!

​Perhaps the reason I particularly like Island Paradise is that I don't swim myself (I'm extremely good at drowning, just not the swimming bit) and maybe I'm living some kind of secret life? Or maybe not... Maybe it's because I can buy an old dilapidated resort and bring it up to standard, serving great buffet food, with pool bars and water slides, or exotic gyms and fire walking pits as entertainment. Seeking customer feedback as I go.

Or maybe it's because I can take to the high seas in my sailboat, exploring and searching for hidden and mysterious islands, while avoiding seasickness and the terrors of the kraken, as my weekday alter ego resumes their task of being a lifeguard and rescuing Sims in trouble.

Or maybe it's because I like really good, fun games.

Like any computer game there are a few bugs here and there, but the good thing with the Sims 3 is you get updates along the way, so most things get ironed out eventually. And there's even an online community where you can make friends who 'sim', exchange creations, show off your badges and awards and just have fun.

I'm obviously converted, but to me the Sims 3 and its many expansion packs and add-ons are just enormous fun. You get involved, make things, laugh and enjoy. Now what's better than that? Sims 4? Well that's up to you for now I'm sticking with this edition...

Want to join in? All you have to do is make sure you get hold of the Sims 3 first and then get hold of this amazing expansion pack. I'll see you on the beach...

Don't know enough about the basic game? The original trailer gives you a really great idea.

And just one final Island Paradise clip for you - a different one...