The Sims 2

The Sims 2, commonly referred to as TS2, is the sequel to The Sims. Released in September 2004, it heralded sweeping changes from the original: most notably, the isometric view of the original had given way to full 3D. Also, Sims now have life stages (Baby, Toddler, Child, Teen, Young Adult, Adult and Elder) which had them age from birth to death, and their genetics would be passed on to their children. Unlike the original Sims, where you could spend forever raising their skills, the aging system in The Sims 2 imposes a time limit on this before your Sims die.

Sims' personalities are also given an overhaul with each sim having an Aspiration, Wants, and Fears.

The Sims 2 shipped with 3 premade neighborhoods. Pleasantview is a continuation of the original Sims storyline 25 years later. The new neighborhoods are Strangetown, a desert landscape with paranormal occurrences, and Veronaville, which is based on several plays by William Shakespeare.

Available Lots In Sims 2
The neighborhood screen is actually a save slot in which you can access your saved family. There are different kinds of lot for your Sims to visit:

Base Game

 * Residential lot: Sims can only live in this kind of lot.
 * Community lot: Sims can visit these lots to hangout or purchase items.

University

 * Dormitory: young adults who are attending university will live on these lots, unless they can afford to rent one of the campus houses.
 * Campus house: Houses that are on campus that a Sim can rent. The player can do the same things with this house as they can a house in the main neighborhood.
 * Greek house: A Sim can use the phone and turn a campus house into a greek house.  Greek houses require membership into the Greek house they are trying to join in order to move into an already established Greek house.
 * secret society: A secret lot that does not appear on the map.  In order to visit this lot Sims have to have membership into the Secret Society.

Bon Voyage

 * Hotel: A lot that a Sim can stay on during a vacation stay. These lots can also be placed in the main neighborhood.
 * Vacation home: A house that a Sim owns in a vacation neighbhorhood that they can visit during vacations.

FreeTime

 * Hobby lots: Secret lots that are hidden in the hobby sub neighborhood.  The only way a Sim can visit these lots is to gain membership to the hobby lot or go with a Sims that does have membership.

Apartment Life

 * Apartment: These are apartment lots than can hold up to 4 Sim families.  Unused lotss will be replaced with NPCs.

Returning Families
Goth: Cassandra is ready to start a family of her own, but can she tame the town Cassanova? And can Mortimer bounce back after the disappearance of his wife Bella? Pleasant: On the surface, Daniel and Mary-Sue Pleasant seem to have the perfect life, but is their love a flimsy façade? And can Angela and Lilith make the right choices when it comes to love?
 * Burb: John, Jennifer and young Lucy have decided to trade the fast-paced city life for some fresh air, and hope to make a nice home here in Pleasantview.
 * Kat (Pets): For generations, Tara’s family has always felt a special link with the feline species. Now Tara happily lives with the two cats left to her by her mother and one of her own. How do her cats feel about the newest addition to their family?

Deceased Sims
Some Sims do return but are deceased in the game.
 * Bob Newbie
 * Betty Newbie
 * Gunther Goth Sr.
 * Cornelia Goth

Sims
The main aim of the game is to lead a Sim from the start of life to death. A Sim will be born when a female Sim woohoo's with a male Sim. The mother will spend 3 days pregnant before giving birth to a baby. Babies can also be adopted over the phone, along with toddlers and children. Players can name the new Sim. The baby will change into a toddler in 3 days, and 3 more days for the toddler to change into a child. After 8 days the child morphs into a teenager, and will have the option to go to a university to spend as young adult for 24 days, or spend 15 days and then change into an adult. After 29 days the Sim will become an elder and will die, the final age depending on the aspiration bar when they age.
 * Main article: Sims

Players will need to build up Talent Badges, skills and relationship with other people, so that he can be successful in their career. A player will also need to make sure a Sim is happy and well by fulfilling wants (including lifetime wants, avoiding fears, and fulfilling motives.

There are 3 kind of Sims in the game:

 Household Members: Sims directly controlled by the user. More can be added by:
 * Creating one in the Create-A-Sim screen.
 * Adopting or giving birth to a Sim.
 * Marrying or invite another Sim to move in.

Townies: Also referred to as NPCs.
 * Townies: These kind of Sims will visit your home, be your customers. Your Sims can always marry them.
 * Service Sims: These are the Sims who show up when you call a service. Like Townies they can move in or marry one of the household members. (Maid, Repairman, etc.)

 Unplayable Characters: These Sims have special functions and can never be controlled by the user without hacks or cheats. 
 * Special function (Grim Reaper, Sim Shrink, Repo Man etc)

Expansion Packs
Eight expansion packs (EPs) were released. Expansion packs add new gameplay options as well as objects.


 * University
 * Nightlife
 * Open For Business
 * Pets
 * Seasons
 * Bon Voyage
 * FreeTime
 * Apartment Life

Stuff Packs
Ten stuff packs were released. Stuff packs add items to the game and usually don't add any new interactions. Holiday Party Pack and Mansion and Garden Stuff were the only two packs to add new interactions.
 * Happy Holiday Stuff
 * Family Fun Stuff
 * Glamour Life Stuff
 * Happy Holiday Stuff
 * Celebration Stuff
 * H&M Fashion Stuff
 * Teen Style Stuff
 * Kitchen & Bath Interior Design Stuff
 * IKEA Home Stuff
 * Mansion and Garden Stuff

The Sims 2 Store
The Sims 2 Store is a place where players use real money to purcahse items from expansion and stuff packs. Exclusive store items are also released for players to purchase. Money is converted to Sim points and $1 = 100 Sim points. Items range from 25-250 Sim points.