The Sims 2: University

The Sims 2: University is the first expansion pack for the strategic life simulation computer game The Sims 2 developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. It was released on March 1, 2005 to mixed reception[citation needed]. The expansion pack allows the player's Sims to become Young Adults and go to University to earn a degree, allowing them to take up any one of four graduate-exclusive careers. The expansion added several key gameplay elements which have been included in all expansions succeeding it. The Sims 2: University has won two Editor's Choice awards from syndicated game review publications[citation needed].

Developer(s) Maxis
Publisher(s) EA Games (PC), Aspyr Media (Mac)
Designer(s) Charles London, Hunter Howe
Series The Sims
Engine Custom
Version 1.1.0.284
Platform(s) Windows, Mac OS X
Release date(s) Windows, March 11, 2005
Genre(s) Life simulation game
Mode(s) Single player
Rating(s) ESRB: T, OFLC: M, PEGI: 12+
Media CD, Blu-Ray Disc
System requirements Mac OS X, OS: Mac OS X 10.3.8+, CPU: 1.2GHz PowerPC G4/G5, RAM: 256MB, Disc Drive: DVD drive, HDD: 3GB free space, Video: 32MB ATI Radeon 9000/nVidia GeForce FX5200, Pre-installed The Sims 2 game.Windows, OS: Windows 98/98 SE/Me/2000/XP, CPU: 800MHz, RAM: 256MB, Disc Drive: 8x CD-ROM/DVD drive, HDD: 3.5GB free space, Video: 32MB DirectX 9.0 and T&L compatible, Sound: DirectX 9.0 compatible, Pre-installed The Sims 2 game
Input methods Keyboard, Mouse

Features

University adds a simple instrument system, comprised of the new Guitar, Drum Kit and Bass objects. Multiple Sims can play together. Sims can make money by playing at their homes or at community lots such as music clubs or coffee shops. The Sims can play three different types of musical styles with these instruments and once a Sim begins playing one of the styles, the others who pick up instruments to play join into the same style. Although Sims cannot have actual vocalists, the new action "Freestyle" or "Freestyle For Tips" will allow another Sim to rap along (in Simlish) to the instruments being played or a cappella to have fun and annoy or entertain other Sims nearby. Students also have a variety of new objects centered around college life, including a fruit juice keg , togas, ramen noodles, and a bubble blowing machine.University also adds the Young Adult life stage between Teen and Adult. Only Sims at college become Young Adults, and any Sims who do not attend college make the transition directly to adults. The new college towns are linked to a specific neighborhood and preserve the same separation home neighborhoods do. University comes with three pre-packaged college towns:Sim State University, La Fiesta Tech, and Académie Le Tour. In the towns, are three further types of residential: dorms, private housing, and Greek Houses, although there are no Greek Houses in Académie Le Tour. In communal dorms, computer-created Sims fill in the house vacancies. A Sim with enough scholarship money may start out in a private house. Greek Houses function the same as a dormitory, but have increased Relationship and Motive benefits. The premade neighborhoods generally include recreation centers, libraries, and other student centers.

College education

The biggest aspect of The Sims 2: University is the college system, which introduces classes, majors, and rewards.Students have the choice of eleven different majors. These majors require the advancement of specific skills in order to get the highest possible grades. The majors available are: Mathematics, Philosophy, Physics, Political science, Psychology, Art, Biology, Drama, Economics, History, and Literature.Sims must complete four years of university to graduate. If a Sim fails a semester, they are placed on academic probation and must repeat the semester. If the Sim fails the semester on academic probation, they are expelled, no matter what stage of being a Young Adult they were at, they will become an Adult, and a fourth fear slot will be added. No fear slot is added if a sim drops out. A Sim who is expelled from college can never go back. During class hours, Sims simply walk off the housing lot and return when the class is over, but just going to class is not enough to graduate, as it provides minimal education. Advancement through semesters is done through skill building to open up education gates, completion of a Term Paper, completing assignments and researching using the bookshelf as well as talking to your professors. In order to gain any advancement though, your Sim must open the education gates through skill building. A message will pop up to warn the player if these gates are not opened allowing advancement.Good grades are rewarded by college through grants or a spot on the Dean's List. In addition, Sims are also enhanced upon completion of a school year, being rewarded with additional Want slots and the opportunity to change Aspiration. A Sim can also graduate with Honours, which accelerates his or her career in Adulthood. By completing college, four new careers, Art, Natural Science, Show Business, and Paranormal, are opened to Sims. These careers pay better than the original ones, but demand higher skills and more friends for promotion.

Student finance

Each student starts off with a budget separate from any family they may have come from. In University, students can spend their money on luxury objects in their living spaces, excess clothing, electronic gadgets (i.e. mobile phones, mp3 players and portable video game consoles) or even on renting a private that can be a private home or can be converted into a Greek House. There are several ways to receive income as a student, including tutoring and physically training other Sims. Students may also play Instruments or freestyle for tips or work part time as cafeteria workers and baristas. Before they go to college, Sims may apply for scholarships which depend on factors such as their skill points, grade level and home experience. Having an A grade point average will get you the Sim City Grant. Having 8 out of 10 skill points filled with get you a scholarship based on that skill. There are also scholarships for teens who have lost both parents and teens who were abducted by aliens using the telescope. Note: You can only be abducted using the most expensive telescope in Buy Mode. You can also get a scholarship if your teen is an overachiever.

Influence and wants

University includes the Influence system. By achieving specific goals, Sims gain a number of Influence points, which may be spent on directing other Sims to do certain things. Sims now have a Lifetime Want which puts the Sim in Platinum mood for the rest of their lives if achieved. Contrary to its name, more than one Lifetime Want may appear during a Sim's lifetime, since when one is accomplished, another appears but this does not affect permanent Platinum mood status. Over the course of a Sim's college years, towards the end of their education, the player is given the chance to change their Aspiration.

Social interactions

There are many new social interactions in The Sims 2: University, including pranks, instruments, and pillow fights. University adds several categories of interactions, including "Influence To..." and "Hang Out". Sims can comprise study groups, providing social interaction while boosting grades. A common interaction between University Sims is "Kicky Bag", a hacky sack knock-off in which multiple Sims try to keep aloft a small bag filled with beans by kicking it to each other.

New NPC's

University has new NPC's in the form of peppy cheerleaders and the nice mascot/evil/amorous mascot. Cheerleaders and the Nice Mascot, usually a Llama, will generally repeatedly perform the School Cheer for your Sim, can enter homes at random without invitation through their lifetime (if you marry a mascot, they can walk into any neighbours house without knocking for their lifetime). The 'Evil' Mascot usually takes the form of a Cow and will be constantly pranking and provoking you and your fellow classmates. The final is the 'amorous' Mascot who can create problems for dating Sims by flirting with and kissing your Sims. Most mascots, if they cannot gain access to a house (using the new with Open for Business "Lock" option on doors or putting a "Myne" door on a house), will sit outside endlessly doing homework, performing a cheer or waiting for your Sim to return from class to 'poke' or 'flirt' with them.

Zombies

University introduced Zombies, a new type of Sim. When using a Resurrect-O-Nomitron (a career reward for the paranormal career track), you can pay the Grim Reaper to bring back an imprisoned Sim. If you don't pay enough, the Sim may come back as a zombie. The zombies have gray skin, always shamble when walking, and dislike whoever brought them back from the grave. Zombies also lose some of the skill and personality points they had when they were humans.

Man Eating Plants and Other New Career Rewards

In addition to career rewards such as the Resurrect O-Nomitron mentioned above, Sims can earn a man eating plant as a Career Reward. This plant, after consuming an unsuspecting victim, can be milked by your Sim and produces the Elixir of Life which makes your Sim younger when consumed. Career Rewards are only achieved once you have reached a certain level in that job and you can obtain multiple rewards over your Sims lifetime by having them 'Find a Job' once they receive their career reward and you move it into your Sims inventory.Once your sim has got a career reward the sim can use their reward to achieve platium moods and good needs. These inventory items can then be passed on to teen Sims going to college.

Music

The new College Rock Radio station features songs from independent bands. All of the lyrics are in Simlish.New songs in this expansion pack include:
* "Black Shoes" - The Films
* "Come On" - Steadman
* "This Conversation Is Over" - Acceptance
* "Beautiful Life" - Charlotte Martin
* "Outsider" - The Daylights
* "Sway" - The Perishers
* "Pretty People" - Dexter Freebish
* "Very Very Rich Town" - Go Betty Go
* "The Compromise" - The Format
* "Big Sky" - Abra Moore

by : iMAm