Computer

Computers are electronic objects in The Sims, The Sims 2, The Sims Stories and The Sims 3. Computers have appeared in every Sims game except for The Urbz: Sims in the City, The Sims 2 Castaway, The Sims Castaway Stories and The Sims Medieval. Their uses differ greatly from game to game, though in all games they are used to look for jobs and satisfying the Fun motive by playing video games.

The Sims
In The Sims, computers are primarily Fun objects, with a couple of added bonuses to make up for the cost. A player who wants a Sim to have particular job may find it wise to have them invest in a cheap computer, as it will speed up their search fourfold as well as providing a good way for any children to study.

Computers vary dramatically in price, as shown below. Despite the difference in cost, the only thing separating the models is the amount of fun gained by playing on them.

If a computer is placed on a community lot, only the Gaming function will be available. Sims who use a computer on a community lot will be charged between 5 and 35 Simoleons, depending on the computer's Fun rating.

The Sims 2
Some of the computer functions in The Sims 2 are similar to the phone functions in The Sims. The uses of a computer have been greatly expanded, as they could previously only be used for gaming and finding jobs. There are only two models in the base game; the §1000 Moneywell Computer, and the §2800 Little Sister, WD-15. The only difference between the two is that the Little Sister raises a room's Environment score.

Teen Style Stuff added a §2000 computer which also raises the Environment score. This computer, the Pear ShinyStation XTR, was also included in Apartment Life, but was not made visible in the catalog. Players who have Apartment Life but not Teen Style Stuff can make it visible in the Buy mode catalog by installing the proper Extra from the latest CEP. The free computer that Rod Humble delivers in FreeTime appears to use the same style.

On September 13, 2004, EA made an Alienware computer available for download from the Exchange for The Sims 2. This computer costs §3100, and has a slightly higher Fun rating than other computers. While this download is still available, players should note that it was never updated for any expansion packs. While it will work with expansions, only the base-game functions will be available. Updated versions are available as custom content.

Sims can send and check email from computers on community lots, so Sims without computers can be emailed, and Sims can receive email from Sims without computers. However, Sims in the family bin cannot be emailed or send email.

The chat option will not appear on computers on community lots, and Sims without computers will not be available for chatting. Since all Townies are considered to have computers, they will be available. Playable young adults at college may be available even if there is no computer on their residential lot.

The "Write Novel" option will not appear on computers on community lots, unless they are in a college sub-neighborhood. All computers in a college sub-neighborhood are considered to be part of a campus network, and a term paper or novel started on one can be continued on any other.

Players should note that custom computers may not have options from some expansion packs.

The Sims 3
The features of a computer have again been changed, and reflect the functions of a real, present-day computer more realistically. With the exception of the chess feature, the types of computers are identical apart from the fun they give while gaming. Many features of Sims 3 computers now have requirements such as traits.

There are three types of computer in The Sims 3: the cheapest costs §800 and has a Fun rating of three, the mid-range computer costs §2150 and has a Fun rating of seven, and the most expensive one costs §4000, but is portable.

To have access to all the features of a computer at the best possible quality, a Sim must have:


 * A graphically improved laptop
 * World Adventures installed (If The Sims 3 High-End Loft Stuff/Design & High-Tech Stuff or later is installed) or World Adventures as the latest The Sims 3 product installed]].
 * The job Dynamic DNA profiler
 * The job Private investigator to write a report.
 * Written 25 books and level 10 writing skill
 * As much Hacking time possible
 * The Bookworm trait
 * The Genius trait
 * The Computer Whiz trait
 * One or more of the following traits: Inappropriate, Mean Spirited, Evil

Trivia

 * The default operating system running on computes in The Sims 2 appears to resemble Windows XP, possibly because the game was released in 2004. The operating system is the same for all computers in the game. The operating systems on the computers and their screens can be changed using SimPE.
 * The computers in The Sims 2 also seem to have a "BSOD" screen, found in SimPE. BSOD stands for Blue Screen of Death, which can occur as the result of a critical error in the Windows operating system. Though the BSOD screen does exist in the game, it isn't used.
 * Despite that The Urbz: Sims in the City takes place in a modern city setting, computers do not appear in the game. They do, however, appear in the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS versions of The Urbz.
 * In The Sims 3 and The Sims 3 for consoles, if a Sim uses a computer while visiting someone's house, the player will get a message saying "Sim's name is behaving inappropriately! If he/she continues, I will have to ask him/her to leave." However, using a laptop, such as the Landgraab Industries laptop included in The Sims 3, will not cause the message about inappropriate behavior to appear.
 * The Sims 2 Castaway, The Sims Castaway Stories, and The Sims Medieval do not feature computers, as they take place in an island or medieval setting.
 * In The Sims 3 on consoles, a stylish wooden laptop called the Anachronism VCT can be obtained via the challenge shop. It will then be available for 4,500 simoleons.