Sims 3 is another high point of the Sims Franchise for me. It was when I really started discovering and playing challenges, and - once I found out about challenges - it completely changed the way I played the game. It also marks the beginning of my Blogging "career." This blog was actually established during the Sims 3 era, and if you're looking hard enough, some of my old stories from back then (the ones I actually published) are still linked into this site (under retired or completed stories). It also marked the beginning of my love/hate affair with game modifications. I literally could not play Sims 3 without mods. To me, the game was unplayable without it - so while waiting for a mod to update or be fixed, I couldn't play the game. (Which plays a huge part of my lack of mods and CC in Sims 4 - I just don't want to come to a point that I cannot play the game without a mod). The game is still installed on my computer, and I *could* play it.. I just don't. The memories of all the games lost to corrupted files, the long load times from back then, and all the bugs... *shiver*.. just don't make me want to go back. Maybe someday.
Sims 3 released in 2009, and was a direct sequel to Sims 2. The major upgrade to the game that Sims 3 offered was the open world concept. (In my opinion, it may have also been the downfall of Sims 3 .. it led to huge load times, bloated save files, corruption issues, etc etc.) It also included the "Create-a-Style" tool, which allowed every object, clothing, and hair to be redesigned to any color, material, or pattern. At it's heart, however, gameplay was much the same. The premise was the same, and you were still following your Sims' lives, day by day, until they were no more (and even then, they could be brought back as ghosts!)
Sims was a huge commercial success, selling 1.4 Million copies in its first week. It also got an 86 on Metacritic, as well as "generally favorable" reviews elsewhere. Over the years, Sims 3 received a whopping 11 expansion packs, nine stuff packs, and a whole store filled with extra items to download. (Which turned it into a massive money sink.)
From the previously mentioned pre-Sims 4 post:
"It took me a really long time to switch to Sims 3. Partially because of budget, and partially because I really liked Sims 2, and wasn't ready to switch to a game with less options and freedom. However, once I switched, I never looked back. There are simply so very many things to do in 3!
Things I love:
Things I DON'T love:
Great detail of game. Brought back many memories. I didn’t discover challenges until sims 4. Wish I had in this game
I loved Sims3 and spent many hours with it, crafting deep and expansive stories that would never be achievable in Sims4. I played and played, in the full knowledge that sooner or later the game would crash and whatever elaborate and complex neighbourhood I was immersed in would abruptly end, never to be seen again. Pain. Sorrow. Still worth it.
Completely feel this comment. It was always in the back of your mind while playing that in a moment all your hard work could be wasted because a file would get corrupted.... but it didn't stop me from trying!! I'm just glad Sims 4 has (mostly) better save file protection. I find it rather hard to "lose" a save file in Sims 4 - usually it can be recovered even if it does get corrupted (which is rare).
You might like this, perhaps. It is what happened when I played Sims4. thegamingyouwant.wordpress.com/2021/06/29/the-emotional-shallows-of-the-sims-4/