Computer

Computer Game The Sims, The Sims 2 & The Sims 3 Buyable Buy mode Price §999-§6500 §1000-§2800 §800-§4000 Type Electronics Size 1x1; must be placed on a table or desk.

Computers are objects in The Sims, The Sims 2 and The Sims 3. 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.

Functions in 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, the cheapest costing about a thousand simoleons and the most expensive (the Meet Marco) valued at §6500. Despite the difference in cost, the only thing separating the models is the amount of fun gained by using them.

Function	Description	Requirements
Gaming	Raises fun depending on computer model.	None
Finding a Job	Lists 3 jobs a day, while a newspaper has only one.	Adult life stage
Studying	Raises grades over time.	Child life stage

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.

Functions in 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, one costing §1000 and the other costing §2800. The only difference between the two is that the more expensive one 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.

Function	Description	Requirements
Gaming	Raises fun.	None
Find own place	Moves selected family member into the Family Bin.	None
Email	Allows Sims to send and check Email.	None
Chatrooms	Lets Sims chat online with other Sims. Children can chat, but only with other kids. Raises Fun and Social, and can fulfill a want to meet somebody new.	None
Ordering Groceries	Self explanatory.	None
Write a Novel	Builds creativity. The money made depends on the writer's creativity skill and their mood while writing.	None
Applying/viewing scholarships	If a teen Sim meets the requirements for a scholarship, he/she can apply for one.	The Sims 2: University EP installed
Write Term Paper	Young adults at college can write a Term Paper to improve their semester grade	The Sims 2: University EP installed
Hack Grades	Young adults that join a secret society can improve their class performance by using the computer to hack their grades.	The Sims 2: University EP installed
Starting/managing a business	Start a business or hire/fire employees.	The Sims 2: Open for Business EP installed
Booking Vacation or Honeymoon	Plan a vacation trip or honeymoon.	The Sims 2: Bon Voyage EP installed
Order Photo Album	Order a photo album or print a snapshot taken.	The Sims 2: Bon Voyage EP installed
Blogging about hobbies	The Sim will post hobby tips online.	The Sims 2: FreeTime EP installed
Write Restaurant Guide	A Sim can write a restaurant guide, which is similar to writing a novel, only faster. The ability to do this is an Aspiration benefit for Sims with Pleasure as their primary or secondary aspiration.	The Sims 2: Nightlife EP installed (for Pleasure aspiration) The Sims 2: FreeTime EP installed
Searching for Roommates	A Sim can search for a roommate to help with the rent. This is only available for Sims who live in an apartment.	The Sims 2: Apartment Life EP installed

Sims without computers cannot be emailed, and will not be available for chatting. All Townies are considered to have computers. Playable young adults at college are considered to have access to computers on campus community lots, even if there is no computer on their residential lot. 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.

Functions in The Sims 3

A Sim gaming on the highest end computer in 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.

Function	Description	Requirements
Writing	See Writing article.	None
Finding a Job or profession	Lists five job openings a day, jobs generally better than those found in a newspaper.	None
Chatroom	Raises a Sim's social bar.	None
Gaming	Raises fun depending on the model of computer and if it's been graphically improved.	None
Upgrading	Makes a computer Unbreakable or gives it Improved Graphics. More on this here.	None
Chess	Raises Logic.	The cheapest model can't do this.
Join/Leave Book Club	Sim receives one book a week for a one time fee of §250.	Bookworm
Solving the Unsolvable	Earns money if the Sim succeeds, any interruption results in a fail.	Genius
Hacking	Sims can earn money doing this from 9PM to 7AM. May randomly cause the computer to get a virus and break.	Computer Whiz
Overclocking	Makes computer Unbreakable or improves the graphics. Can be attempted once a computer and has chance of breaking it.	Computer Whiz
Trolling Forums	Later Sims may check for responses, which gives good or bad moodlet randomly.	Any one of the following: Evil Grumpy Inappropriate Mean Spirited
Perform Analysis	Takes a couple of hours and earns §600. Can be done an unlimited number of times at any time of day.	Level 10 Law Enforcement, forensics branch
Plan a Travel		World Adventures

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
• 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