Maxis Announces First Sims 2 Expansion Pack

It's not so much an advocacy of any nationalist perspective so much as it is an acceptance that a game produced by members of a specific culture will, by nature, carry the characteristics of that culture. This is to some extent unavoidable. I mean, with an expansion pack about something as obviously cultural as education, SOMEBODY's culture is going to be predominantly represented, and in that case, you'd expect it to be the creators of the game. Fact of life. Just as Japanese games are a reflection of Japanese culture, you'd expect that an American game would be a reflection of American culture. It's really possible to avoid this only by entirely avoiding any real culture entirely and creating a fictitious culture or making the game entirely non-cultural and going with universal truths, like stuff blowing up. Violence transcends all cultures.

Perhaps true, but hardly the fault of the developers. Ultimately, Maxis is based in California, which can really be considered a center of American culture, and not necessarily one of the best examples of it, either. As such, TS2 is ultimately an American game being produced by an American company. If this were a Japanese game being produced by a Japanese company, we'd be seeing a great deal of Japanese cultural influence instead, and complaining about the various intricacies of how Japanese culture is not shared by you would be a similarly unproductive exercise.

 

You misunderstand my point a little. It was more of a wonder than a whine. Also, a problem with your argument is, even if I did choose to whine, I am not whining about the game, as a game, being American. If I was, you'd be entirely justified in your criticism. But if I whined at all I would whine that the Sims, as the Sims, is steeped in American culture. Now obviously this is understandable as it is, as you say, and American product. However, the point I was trying to make is because of the versitility of the basic premise of the Sims game - make people and play their lives - the game has vast untapped potential in its current state of being soley based on American culture. I am not saying that Maxis, in its duty as a world citizen, should actually create Sims-format games set in a variety of global cultural contexts - it is not a world citizen and as a business its only duty is to make money, which it accomplishes very well. I am simply saying that, as someone who loves the Sims yet dislikes many aspects of American culture, I would love for someone - not necessairly Maxis, who would in any case be badly equipped to do this, being as you say an American business - to create Sims-format games set in a variety of global cultural contexts.

I do very much sympathise with you about US cultural imperialism, yet I would go further than you and say that I do see it as being a bad thing. I am all for globalisation, yet what we are seeing today cannot be called globalisation - more Americanisation; a kind of political, cultural, ecomonic and social imperialism - a monocultural world. But this has only limited relevancy to what is being discussed. I do not think that Maxis, an American corporation, should take responsibility for restoring global culture and fighting American imperialism! That would be a contradiction in terms, apart for anything else!

 

1. I think this is a really great thread. It may have run a tad off-topic, but it is so nice to talk about something besides the mechanics of gameplay and how to get our sims impregnated. (Though also fun! )

2. Being American, I never really thought of how it reflects or doesn't reflect the reality of other cultures. I did have my complaints with it being a little more, mmmmm, "Californian" than what my reality reflects. Which I suppose brings me to my next point. Maxis created their world based on what they know. That is actually a creative strength. A writer is best when they write about what they know. Same with a video game programer. Same with a painter. Ever wonder why the "Mona Lisa" is such a beautiful painting? There are some theorists that say it's because Da Vinci knew the lady. (I'd like to think that something that beautiful was created out of love, that that he was in love with her, but who knows!) Anyway, the point is that Maxis programed the game to reflect their lives. The college "experience" that they have programmed will also follow that experience. I didn't have that experience myself: I attended a small regional campus, and came home to a husband and young child every day, and worked a job too. But, that is me. No, they can't do the "Non-traditional Student" program, just like they can't make colleges feel more European or Japaneese or whatever. But, boy, I for one would be interested in seeing it, just because I'm interested in other cultures.

 

If it makes non-Americans feel any better, I don't think the expansion pack will reflect most Americans' college/university experience either. From the pictures it appears to be a caricature of what we *think* it is like or should be like from movies and t.v. Many schools don't have a greek system and in most that do it's so elite that the vast majority would never experience this. (Of course, I went during the hippie era so I doubt my experiences will be reflected at all! lol) I can't tell KatAnubis how devastated I am that British schools aren't all like Hogwart's though! I wish Maxis had gone this route. It would have been school AND Makin' Magic in one nice package.

 

What an amazingly intellectually and stimulating conversation...It has been a while since I logged in and I came across this thread and thought It was a great analysis of the social implications of the game and how that affects other cultures as well. As a non-american (i.e. Australian) it will be interesting to see an American University (as compared to an Australian university) in the sims. Although it would be nice to see an expansion with a cultural difference, I am afraid that such an expansion, because made by American programmers, artists, etc. would lead to an americanised view of other cultures instead of a view from within another specific culture. It was such a great idea though and a Fantastic thread. Thanks so much for the reading pleasure

 

It's good to see you back here, too. Please try not to disappear again ... I missed you.

Kat! Your Harry Potter analogy made me spill my tea, wot wot! I kinda assumed that your reference was somewhat tongue in cheek and I have since realised that, of course, most Sims activites (not just the as yet unseen Sims College) are heavily stylised versions or what we would wish reality to be. For example ... pizzas that always arrive within the hour ... the complete absence of Simsonia ... (insomnia )

 

The complete absence of insomnia is not a GOOD thing! I wish my Sims *COULD* have proper insomnia. Why would anyone want to sleep, anyway? Insomnia is so much more productive.

 

There you go again with those negative waves, Moriaty! Insomnia, in my book, is defined as being too tired to function but unable to go to sleep. I do not got bed until I want to sleep.

 

It was lovely to see you are still here too Mirelly...so many familiar faces and so many interesting new ones...Think I might stay for awhile