The Sims 2: Open for Business

The Sims 2: Open for Business, or OFB is the third expansion pack for The Sims 2, released on March 2, 2006 for US. It was released on March 3 for Europe. It allows Sims to run a home or community lot based business. The Mac version was released on September 4, 2006.

Running a business is the main theme of this expansion pack. Open for Business gives the player the ability to run a business, either on a playable Sim's home lot or a separate community lot that they own.

Open for Business also adds a new type of sub-neighborhood called the Shopping District, and includes a shopping district called Bluewater Village.

The life state introduced in Open for Business is the Servo. Sims can build robots (Servos) on the robot creation bench.Then, the Servo becomes a member of the Sim's family.

Gameplay
The main change to the core game introduced by Open for Business is a new neighborhood type — the Shopping District, the default one being named Bluewater Village. A number of Sims live there, such as a toymaking family, a woman who owns a home-based flower shop, a family bakery, and a rich tycoon who owns a nightclub and an electronics shop.

Community lots are more flexible now. Removing many of the gameplay restrictions that were present on them in the original game makes a large improvement. Players can now save the game while their Sims are visiting community lots! Reloading their household immedently takes the player to the community lot where the Sims are located. Buy mode and build mode are now accessible on owned community lots so the players can customize their business.

Like the other expansions, new Wants and Fears and interactions were added.They include a new Lifetime Want and several new interactions for children. Some changes to items from the base game are also present. For example, doors are now lockable. They can be set to allow only one Sim, the whole family, or just employees to enter.

There are new objects in this expansion. Furniture styles and the build-mode selection have been expanded. The biggest difference, however, is the addition of business-oriented items such as cash-registers, shelves, elevators, and crafting centers that Sims can use to create things to sell.

Running businesses
The game's concept is running a business, hence the name "Open for Business." This is a brand new direction for The Sims 2 due to the fact it now includes elements of business simulation. Open for Business allows the player to control various aspects of running a business including picking which products to sell,crafting goods,hiring and firing employees, and restocking shelves. The game also rewards the player for meeting several predetermined goals. Also, a "Mystery Shopper" may visit the business and critique it.

Sims must earn talent badges to increase sales and productivity on workbenches (such as the Robot Crafting Station), and gain customer loyalty to have their business in a higher rank and gain business perks.

Players can choose a mascot, customize a menu, and sell almost any object available in the game.

Around the house
Open for Business adds new functionality to a Sim's productivity around the house. Sims are able to craft new items, including toys, flower arranging and robots. Additional items include those aimed specifically at enhancing the business setting like an old-style Cash Register, Beauty salon chairs, child-oriented toys, and. Also added is the Servo, a household robot, which can perform basic tasks and function like a Sim in regards to Social interaction. Some new items, called "Bots" in general, aim to increase productivity on a lower scale than Servo's operation, usually performing one task, such as cleaning the floor, watering plants, bringing food or stunning burglars. Servos also appeared in the original game's expansion pack The Sims: Livin' Large as it's known in North America and Australia and The Sims: Livin' It Up as it is known in Europe.

Servos
A robot that Sims can build if they have a gold robotics badge. Servos can be activated as either a female or male, then become playable Sims for the player to control. A Servo will copy the traits, aspiration and the turn-on/offs of the Sim that activates it, and usually has maximized skills. Servos have only four needs; power, fun, social, and environment. Power can be restored by recharging during the day (solar based recharging), or sleeping in a bed if the sun isn't out. A program Servos perform is to do chores automatically, and will clean, cook, or repair for the normal Sims around the house. Being robotic, Servos do not age, so will not die from age. If a Servo's needs are neglected from too much, it will end up destroying itself.

Architecture
Open for Business adds more functionality to Build Mode. New elevators both open a new possibility for public interactions and create a risk for fatality by plummeting. Domed, conical and octagonal roofs in different sizes are now available. Players may also add awnings.

Talent Badges
"Open for Business" adds a new "talent badge" system. A Sim must repeatedly perform an action to raise that badge's level. The talent badges include:


 * Sales: The ability to convince a customer to buy an item. A successful sale will raise the sales bar, which, when full, will cause the customer to buy the item. The sales can be accepted or rejected depending on customer loyalty, mood, and the badge level of the salesman. The different actions include the basic sale, the cheap offer, the "hard sale", and the dazzle. The higher level sales have better pay offs, but more serious consequences. A salesman can also select a customer that looks confused, and use the "Sales... May I Help You?" command. This badge is raised by using a sale interaction.


 * Register: The register badge affects how quickly an employee can ring up a customer. With this badge the process will take less time, and reduce the chance that customer loyalty will be lost by long wait times.


 * Restocking: The restocking badge affects how quickly an employee can restock an item before it has been purchased. This is raised by restocking items.


 * Cosmetology: The cosmetology badge increases the chance that an employee in a barber shop will successfully cut hair. Bad haircuts reduce customer loyalty.


 * Flower Arranging: It allows a Sim to make a bouquet of flowers. The flowers are then sold, given as gifts, or used to improve the room score. A higher level badge increases the types of flowers that can be arranged.


 * Robotics: It allows a Sim to make robot toys and devices. The robots are then sold, given as gifts, or used for fun and services. A higher level badge increases the types of robots that can be built.


 * Toy Making: It allows a Sim to create toys. The toys are then sold, given as gifts, or used for fun by children. A higher level badge increases the types of that can be built.