Computer
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Computers are electronic 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.
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.
| 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 |
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.
Computers
| Image | Name | Cost | Fun |
|---|---|---|---|
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Moneywell Computer | §999 | 3 |
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Microscotch Covetta Q628-1500JA | §1800 | 5 |
 |
The Brahma 2000 | §2800 | 7 |
 |
Meet Marco | §6500 | 9 |
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.
| Function | Description | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | Raises fun. | None |
| Find own place | Moves selected family member into the Family Bin. | None |
| 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 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.[confirmation needed]
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.
| 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
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| Overclocking | Makes computer Unbreakable or improves the graphics. Can be attempted once per 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: |
| 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
Trivia
- The default operating system running on The Sims 2 computers appears to resemble Windows XP, possibly due to the reason that 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 is a critical error that can occur in the Windows operating system. Though the bsod screen does exsist, it isn't used.