How to play The Sims 3

Learning to play a new game can be tricky. It can be especially hard when it is a new version. Not only do you have to learn the new game, but you also have to let go of all your assumptions since most of your knowledge won't be relevant towards the new version. Here are some simple tricks to improve your Sims skills.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• The Sims 3
• A Computer
• Time & Patience

1. SKILLS.
   
   Skills help your sims grow as a sim. Not only do they help out with moving to the top career wise but they also help with everyday needs. A Sim with great cooking sills will prepare more fulfilling meals that will satisfy the sims longer. On the other hand a Sim with great cleaning skills will be able to clean the house must faster than a sim with less capability to clean. Skills are very important to establish. You will gain skills by doing everyday tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and fixing broken objects, but YOU also have to make the Sim put in the effort to exercise or take a book of the bookshelf to get these skills faster.

2. OPPORTUNITIES.
   
   Opportunities is something new in The Sims 3 for all of you past Sims fans. Opportunities are given both by your sims employer and also by local places around town. I suggest you take every opportunity that you can. Don't overload yourself with too many things to do though. Opportunities may include reading a book that your boss suggests or baking something for the local bakery. By doing these tasks rewards are given such as: praise from your boss (getting you closer to your next promotion!), or also Simeleons (Sim money).

3. NEEDS.
   
   We all tend to focus on gaining skills and taking opportunities to get our Sims promotions. Getting a promotion makes both you and your Sim feel like you've accomplished something. Don't forget your Sims basic needs though. These may seem like minute things but your Sims mood will affect the way they perform at work, and also the way they act towards other Sims. This may make or break a relationship.

4. CHEATS.
   
   Cheats are available to use. Pressing Ctrl+Shift+C will make the cheat box pop up. For the Sims 3 some popular cheats include: "Kaching"- 1,000 Simoleons, "Motherlode"- 50,000 Simoleons, "Shazaam"- +2,500 lifetime happiness points, "freerealestate"- waives the cost when buying a lot, "make friends for me"- gives your Sim random friends, "make happy"- makes all sims in household happy, "set career"- lets you choose the career and level for your sim. Turning off aging is not a cheat, but it must be done during gameplay in the options menu. Although cheats may be rewarding and satisfying for your Sim they may not work the same way for you. Using cheats doesn't give you the same high of accomplishment you get from doing all the work yourself.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't start off with families so huge that you won't be able to focus on everyone in the household.
• Set your priorities. Do you want to focus mostly on your Sim being friends with the entire neighborhood or doing well at the workplace.
• This game may be very time consuming if you get that into it.