The Sims 3: Sims

A Sim in Create-a-Sim

This Guide details the properties of Sims in The Sims 3 Game and its Expansion Packs. We'll cover the stats and characteristics of a Sim in TS3, how a Sim can be taken care of, and the process of making a Sim into a successful Adult. This info will help you understand Sims and all their needs and the features you should use to get the most out of the game.

This page focuses on the characteristics of Sims. If you're in need, we have a guide to getting started in The Sims 3.

First, you are limited in what you can do with a Sim by the Expansion Packs you have installed. Each addon will give new gameplay features to The Sims 3, all of which combine together to give the player more and more options over how their Sims live their lives.

Simology, Sim Properties and Creating Sims

The Simology and Other Interface Panels Tell a Lot About Your Sim

Basic Sim Information

Whether you make your own Sim with Create-a-Sim or select a household from the town you're playing in, Sims will always have the same basic stats. They'll have an age, a number of traits based on age, favorite food, music and color, along with a Lifetime Wish they can complete to earn Lifetime Happiness points. They may or may not have families. A Sim's household can have up to eight members. You can start with one and work your way to a large family, or create a huge family before you ever start the game if you so choose.

A Sim's clothing, details, makeup and hair style are largely a matter of personal taste, however with The Seasons Expansion, a new clothing category exists for cold weather, Outerwear. This will keep Sims warm. Conversely, wearing less clothing (particularly Swimwear) can lead to Sun tanning or Sunburn when out in the Sun too long. Sim height cannot be modified, which would make game animations much more complex. Sims' body fat and muscle can be modified by cardiovascular and weight lfting exercises, while overeating can cause them to get overweight. To learn about getting in shape, see Athletic skill and the Body Sculptor Lifetime Reward.

Life State and Pets

Not all Sims are Human. In fact, there are more and more non-human Sims in the game as new Expansions get released. A Sim can be created as one of these non-Human Occult Life States and often acquire their powers through gameplay.

Pets are another type of entity you can control in The Sims 3. They may be added to the household in a variety of ways, but must have an Adult master - they can't run a household by themselves, after all.

Age: Sim/Pet Age and Life Stages

All Sims and Pets have an age group they belong to, from Infant, Toddler to Child and Teenage years leading up to Young Adult, Adult and finally Elder. A Sim's age can be seen from the Simology panel on the Sim interface, you'll also be able to see how many days they have to go until aging up to the next age group. You can modify a Sim's age in several ways. To learn more, see the guide on Sim Aging.

If your Sim has a child, it may alter the course of their life, requiring care for the kid while juggling adult responsibilities such as holding down a job and keeping a household. Learn more about getting pregnant and raising kids and the life and needs of Sims in those age groups.

Traits

Traits play a role in the personality of your Sim and the bonuses they receive when doing certain activities or being involved in types of situations. In this way, they can direct how your Sim would best be living their life. Hovering over your traits in the Simology panel will give you a summary of the bonuses. Adult Sims can have five traits, while youngsters gradually pick them up as they age. If you do a good job raising them, you get control over these choices. If not, it's all up to randomness and your Sim may get bad traits.

Inventory

All Sims have an inventory tab, which is a listing of items they are carrying. Inside, you can use items that can be used, and sell things by dragging them to the little simoleon box in the bottom left corner. Items that can be placed or stored can be dragged from the inventory by holding the left mouse button. You could use this to put a painting on the wall, or store some produce in the refrigerator. All Sims also have a family inventory, which is accessed in Buy Mode. This is where large objects go when you receive them as a reward, so that you can place them in an appropriate place on your lot.

Phones

All Sims have a cell phone in their inventory which can be used to make phone calls. Phones can also be found in buy mode. You can use the Sim's phone to order pizza, hire a babysitter or cancel the newspaper delivery service. It's also what Sims use to call one another and perform actions like set up travel, throw a party, quit their job, and move to a new house.

The End of a Sim's Life: Death - Age and Accidental

Sims who have not acquired Immortality through the various ways will eventually grow old and die (click to learn causes and preventing death). At the moment of death, they will become a Ghost. Sims who are not careful or have an untimely accident can die early if they are not holding a Death Flower to exchange to the Grim Reaper for their life. Sims with the unlucky trait will always avoid deaths of this type.

When a Sim dies, their posessions are transferred to the next of kin (wife, child) and that Sim becomes the new head of the household. Should all Sims adult or older die, your game is over and you'll need to start a new save file.

A Happy Life Filled with Reward

Sim Needs

Sims have six needs which must be filled in order for them to be happy and healthy. Failing to meet a Sim's Hunger need can result in starving to death. Energy dropping to zero will make them fall asleep where they stand. When a particular need is high, it may confer a mood bonus. For example, the Squeaky Clean moodlet that comes from having a high Hygiene bar will make Sims happier. Read about a variety of means for filling needs in the linked guide above.

Sim Mood and Moodlets

Meeting all a Sim's needs, barring any negative influence on mood, should place their mood meter just slightly in the green. In order to get them into a really good mood, we need to add additional Moodlets. Moodlets influence mood and confer other benefits, but their primary purpose is to get mood high which will make a Sim accrue Lifetime Happiness Points continually while they're happy. Higher happiness means faster Happiness point generation. Read up on moodlets to get an idea of the common ones you can easily give your Sim to give them a boost.

Wishes and Lifetime Wishes

Wishes and Lifetime Wishes, along with mood will give your Sim Lifetime Happiness Points. A Sim gets wishes throughout the day. You can click them to promise a wish. You can choose up to four wishes to promise at once, knowing you can cancel a wish by clicking it if you want to change to a new, better wish that's come up. Completing Wishes contributes to Lifetime Happiness Points in chunks. A huge amount of Lifetime Happiness will come from completing your Sim's Lifetime Wish, which will generally direct the theme of their life, either what career they pursue, their hobbies, or life orientation.

Lifetime Rewards

Lifetime Rewards are purchased with Lifetime Happiness points. There are many rewards to choose from, and all have their uses and give some kind of helpful perk to your Sim.

Money, Careers, and Part-Time Jobs

Sims have many options for making money. The funds of a household are shared among all members and shown on your game interface. So, Sims all contribute money to the family pool. The most basic way to make money is to take up a Career or Part-Time Job. Sims can also collect items they find in the word and sell them through the inventory or at the Consignment Store with The Sims 3 Ambitions Expansion Pack. Click to see a list of ideas to make Money in Sims 3.

Skills

Sims can become learned in many Skills, which benefit them in numerous ways. Skills generally have ten levels of competence, which gradually give you more abilities and benefits. All proper skills come with a Skill Journal, which can be accessed through the Skills panel or by pressing 'J' on the keyboard. Completing Skill challenges further enhances your Sim's skills and lets them make more money or become much better at their trade. There are also hidden skills in The Sims 3, such as dancing, rollerskating, and the trampoline. These don't make a big impact but make your Sim better at what they're doing, preventing accidents and enhancing the entertainment value.

Friendships and Love

Sims benefit from having friends the way people do, from having fun together to simply having someone they like to talk to. As Sims interact, they gradually build relationship (though some Sims just don't seem to want friends). Friendship status moves up from Acquaintance to Friend and Sims may even pursue Romance and get Married. Once Sims are in love, they may Woohoo and even Try for a Baby.

Are you sure you want to report it? Our Sims Forum is the place to go for faster answers to questions and discussions about the game. Use the form below to share your own experiences and provide helpful tips to other readers. Sort Newest Oldest Likes Anya says... Reply Flag 3 2 AspenLee says... Reply Flag 1 1 NinjaWolffie says... Reply Flag 3 1 Simmylala says... Reply Flag 5 0 Nelson says... Reply Flag 5 1 you're welcome says... Reply Flag 3 1 Page 1 of 1 Join In

Disclaimer: - This site is not endorsed by or affiliated with Electronic Arts, or its licensors. Trademarks are the property of their respective owners. The Sims and The Sims 3 Logo are trademarks of Electronic Arts, Inc. Game content and materials copyright Electronic Arts Inc. and its licensors. All Rights Reserved. All original material on this site © Carl's Guides.