Party

A party is an event that a Sim can throw usually to commemorate a special event.

The Sims
Although Sims could throw parties in The Sims and Livin' Large, it was only when House Party appeared that Sims could throw huge parties, with many party-related items being included in that expansion pack. Throwing parties allows Sims to interact with neighbors they never knew they had.

It's possible to increase the size of a party by using the "Throw Party" action more than once, and it's generally up to the player to keep it within his/her computer's limits. When using the "Throw Party" option on a phone, the player has no control who is invited. However, another feature of House Party is that any sufficiently large gathering on a residential lot is considered to be a party. Therefore, a Sim could throw a party by inviting a sufficient number of other Sims to come over.

Some of the most prominent party-related items are mentioned below:


 * Bounce My Booty' Dance Floor: This dance floor can be created by dragging tiles over the floor to make a dance floor of any size. It if it placed near a radio or DJ booth, Sims will dance to their favorite tunes. Not only that, but the entire floor will light up in different patterns based on the type of music that is playing.


 * Spazmatronic Plasmatronic Go-Go Cage: If this cage is present near a dance floor and a source of music, Sims will clamber into it and start dancing. It raises their Fun meter, and it usually attracts a crowd to watch and dance along.


 * ToroTee Mechanical Bull: The Mechanical Bull is a very popular item that Sims can ride to raise their Fun levels or increase their Body skill. There are three settings: easy, medium and hard, and Sims are often thrown off if their Body skill is not on par. Other Sims will watch the action, but if they don't like the Sim riding the bull, they will boo him or her.


 * Turntablitz DJ Booth: If the DJ Booth is placed next to the dance floor, Sims can try their luck at being DJs. Otherwise, it can just be turned on and it will play.


 * Porta-Parody Costume Trunk: Although previously Sims could only dress in Formal, PJs, Work or Swimsuit clothes, with the costume trunk, they can change into a variety of preset clothes. As a bonus, after issuing the command to 'Dress in...' followed by a type of clothing, everyone else at the party will come over dressed in that type of costume as well.

Special NPC guests could appear too. If the party was very good, the celebrity might appear. If the party was bad, a mime might appear. A party crasher would also randomly appear, generally messing up everything the player's Sim could do.

Other special NPC characters include the cake dancer/gorilla, the DJ, the caterer, and the bartender.

The Sims 2
By default, parties can only have two guests, regardless of the player's system specs. Later expansion packs allow for more guests, but a good party is generally easier to accomplish with a small number of guests.

The types of party include:
 * House Party - The standard party that can be thrown at any time. Common want in some aspirations (popularity, pleasure, etc.).
 * Birthday Party - Party that can be celebrated on the day that a Sim will change to the next life stage.
 * Wedding Party - The party planned when a couple are going to celebrate getting married; don't forget to buy the cake!
 * Golden Anniversary Party - This party can be thrown anytime after a couple who married/joined as Adults reaches Elder age; it's the same as a House Party, but all guests show up in formal clothing.
 * New Year's Bash - Despite its name, this party can be thrown on any day. The party will always start at 8 P.M.. If police don't come to shut down the party at 11 P.M., Father Time will come to spruce things up.
 * Toga Party - Members of a Greek house can throw this party.
 * Sports Party - Mostly a normal party, but everyone watching the sports channel makes it better.
 * Graduation Party - College graduates can throw this party before they leave campus, all college students invited wear graduation clothes.
 * Apartment Party - On every Saturday, the Landlord will throw a party and invite Sims from the different social groups.
 * Building Party - Playable Sims in an apartment building can throw building parties. Sims living there can join in, and the player may invite others also.

In addition, if the party host invites many of his/her family members to the party, the Sim will get a memory of having a family reunion.

The Sims 2 for console
However, in The Sims 2 for console, parties can have any number of guests. The more times a Sim performs the "Throw Party" action with the phone, the more people will show up. Which guests come when the "Throw Party" action is used is random; if the player wishes to invite specific Sims, they may simply call those Sims with the phone and invite them over normally. Also note that in this game, any attempt to throw a party from around 11:00 PM to around 8:00 AM will fail. The police will come at around 10:00 PM and warn the Sim hosting the party about the consequences of holding a party too late. If the party still hasn't been wrapped up by around 11:00 PM, the police will come and fine the Sim for noise disturbance, even if there is no music playing.

The Sims 3
Parties in The Sims 3 have more use than in the previous Sims installments.

When the player has newly installed the base game, guests were noted to arrive with random servings of food and locates the nearest flat surface to place it down. This was later taken down and instead guests come in empty-handed and enter the same room as the household member who is hosting the party. (This is important to take note of, as the host should be in an appropriate party room as not to get ambushed by 10+ guests while in the loo).

Hosts can invite up to ten Sims, but during house parties, there are noted gate-crashers. Also, if you invite a Sim, his or her household members may attend the party as well. As well as having parties at the house, parties can be held in most community lots. This costs a small fee but will give those who attend the party a 'Sweet Venue Party' moodlet. Parties can also be scheduled to happen at a certain time, rather than happen immediately.

Two hours before the scheduled party, a notification will remind the player that the party will be starting soon. When planning destination parties or parties held at community lots, the notification will also remind where the party will be held. Depending on how far the guests are from the destination, guests can arrive at the venue as early as one in-game hour before the scheduled time. However, lots with a rather far distance (e.g. Summer Hill Court (Not counted if you invite the Landgraabs or Altos), the back of the luxurious celebrity suburban area of Bridgeport, etc.) have their guests arrive later than the scheduled time.

With Sims 3: Late Night installed, it is best to call for a barista a few hours before the notification pops up. Calling early could make the laborer leave in the middle of the party while calling too late can cause blockage in the door as she does not move for a while after entering the main door until you assign which bar he/she would tend. You also have the social option to convince a fellow party-goer to do a certain action to another Sim. This often leads to break-ups, as you can convince a friend to openly cheat on his/her spouse and make-out with another friend, but makes the party even more interesting. However, if you convince someone to do something that would offend others, the entire household older than a child will receive a negative "Bad Guest" moodlet.

With Sims 3: Generations installed, other households may host parties, some of which you are not invited to (if you are a anything less than a good acquaintance), but may gate-crash. They cannot host other parties other than house parties. If you come and go without leaving an impact (or stay until the party is over), the host will thank you for coming. If you come, cause a havoc (e.g. Getting in a fight, cheating on someone during the party, taking a shower/bath, or doing anything inappropriate) the host will say that he/she is happy the Sim is leaving. If you come, entertain and help the host, the host will say that he/she has enjoyed the party and that they should spend more time together. If you do not attend, the host will call and wishes the sim would show up next time. When an invite is sent to a Sim, the entire household receives a good memory about being invited. They earn a good memory for attending (invited or crashing), and an extra good memory if the host is a celebrity.

There are various kinds of parties available.
 * House Party - A typical party. Gate-crashers are expected.
 * Destination Party - Instead of partying at home, Sims have an option to have parties in community lots. Not all lots however are available for partying, especially the ones with rabbitholes for careers.
 * Birthday Party - Three days before a Sim ages, and on the Sim's birthday, the game encourages to hold a birthday for the sim. However, it is possible to hold a birthday party at any given moment and the Sim can age earlier if the player desires it, with the power of using a birthday cake.
 * Wedding Party - At least one couple is expected to marry on this party, otherwise the host and the household member (if the party was held by a housemate of the person who is to be wed) will receive a "Bad Party" moodlet (even with the Lifetime Reward of being a Legendary Host) and the bride/groom will have a "Missed Wedding Day" moodlet. If the parents of the married couple is present in the wedding, they will receive a 24 hour moodlet "Mother/Father of the Bridge/Groom". This is best held with Sims 3: Generations, as it involves Wedding arches, wedding-themed gowns, and wedding cakes that leaves a positive effect on the married couples.
 * Funeral - Players can give a funeral party after a close Sim relative has died. During the party, Sims can interact with guests by either speaking highly or lowly of the deceased.
 * Campaign Fundraiser - This is only available to Sims with political careers. Guests at these events will give the host campaign funding based on how well they enjoy themselves. However, depending on the host's friendship with the guest, the politician can also ask for Campaign Donations during the party.
 * Teen house party - This is only available to a teenager whose household has taken the "Free Vacation" opportunity. This party cannot be held outside the home, and only teens may be invited. The teen may get a phone call from their cell phone during the party that a neighbor (even if the home may be in an isolated location) was watching them and have called the police. The teen can break up the party, but if the party was not fun, the guests may say the party was lame. If lucky, the party can go on until the wee hours of the morning, but if undesired, you may ask the guests to leave.
 * Slumber party - A typical sleepover which can only be done by teenagers and children. Instead of their natural sleepwear, children wear random pajamas similar to each other and sleep in sleeping bags on available space. At any given time at night, the sleeping time moodlet will show and force the guests and host to find space to sleep on. If they cannot find space, the guests will deem the party lame, no matter how much fun they were having, and leave. If not disturbed for breakfast, the guests will wake up at 6 and leave.
 * Bachelor(ette) party - Only an engaged Sim can throw a bachelor(ette) party. This party is restricted from children and teens from being invited. "Dress to Impress" is the only option for the attire. As soon as the guests start arriving, the host will change into a different outfit. There is a noted error there wherein, when the party starts, the hosts' fiancee will ask if he/she would want him/her to be there, noting that he/she should leave. However, when the host asks a friend to give a speech, no matter where his other half is spending the night, he/she will have the automatic action to listen. Bachelor(ette) parties feature entertainers whose gender is based on the gender of the bachelor(ette). The entertainers range from skimpy police, military, and simple dancer clothes. If the host kisses the dancer, there is a good moodlet and memory in store, however, it may affect the relationship of the spouses.