Seven expansion packs were released from 2000 to 2003, each of which added new items, characters, skins, and features.
The game's development was led by Will Wright and the game was a follow-up to Wright's earlier SimCity series Wright was inspired to create the game by Christopher Alexander's 1977 book A Pattern Language, and Scott McCloud's 1993 book Understanding Comics later played a role in the game's design. Players can also choose to pursue a social and successful life. Players can also use their Sims' income to renovate their living space, purchase home furnishings, or clothing for their household.
Players control customizable Sims as they pursue career and relationship goals. It is a simulation of the daily activities of one or more virtual people ('Sims') in a suburban household near a fictional city.
The Sims is a strategic life simulation video game developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts in 2000.