Friday 7 December 1997. Japan.
Sanika had just returned home from high school, smiling brightly and practically skipping through the door. She headed straight to her room in the Renkonan house—a room that was not only spacious but also full of her personality. The walls were decorated with her artwork, shelves packed with her favorite game consoles, plushies of Pokémon, and action figures of characters she adored. But what stood out the most was the beast of a computer sitting on her desk—the most powerful PC of the year.
This wasn't just any machine; it was a custom ZAGE PC, built with specs that were leagues ahead of anything else on the market. A gift from her brother, Zaboru. It was powerful enough to run anything she could throw at it—and then some. To Sanika, it was more than just a gaming rig. It was the first step toward her dream: learning how to program and one day creating her own games. The moment she laid eyes on it, she felt like her future had just gotten a little closer.
She was beaming with delight, knowing she could now play any game she wanted, dive into development tools, and explore the world of game creation without limits. This wasn't just a gift. It was her launchpad.
She was beyond excited because she couldn't wait to play The Sims. It had instantly become her favorite game since its release last week, and she had been playing it nonstop. There was something deeply unique about it—something that made her feel completely immersed and creatively free.
The Sims, developed by ZAGE—the company founded by her brother—stood apart from any game she had loved before. While it shared a few cozy elements with titles like Harvest Moon, it offered a wholly different experience. Instead of managing a farm, The Sims was all about modern life. Players controlled the everyday lives of their characters: waking up, going to work, building relationships, following dreams, and making hard choices. It wasn't about winning or losing—it was about living.
One of the main reasons The Sims resonated with Sanika was its sense of player freedom. There were no final bosses, no win conditions, and no rigid objectives. Everything was left to the player's imagination. And in this world, ZAGE's version of The Sims was on par with The Sims 2 in terms of features. Although its graphics weren't quite as polished as the The Sims 2 from Zaboru's previous life, they still far outclassed the original Sims from that same timeline. In fact, ZAGE's Sims had become a benchmark in life simulation, impressing not just Sanika, but gamers everywhere.
In The ZAGE Sims, characters are able to live through a full, realistic life cycle instead of remaining frozen in time. Their journey begins as newborn babies, crying in cribs and entirely dependent on caretakers. As they grow into toddlers, they develop unique needs and personalities, learning to speak, walk, and interact with the world. Childhood brings school routines, friendships, hobbies, and early aspirations. Then comes the emotional turbulence of teenage life—complete with mood swings, first love, rebellion, and identity struggles. Eventually, they mature into adults who pursue careers, build families, face hardships, and finally enter the last stage of old age, marked by reflection and legacy. Each era of a Sim's life feels distinct and transformative, shaping not just how they live but who they become.
This generational evolution is one of the game's most powerful features. Players feel the passage of time, not as a gimmick, but as a meaningful narrative force. Life has a beginning, a middle, and an end — and every decision echoes across decades as generations rise and fall. The simulation captures more than moments; it captures entire lifetimes.
The ZAGE Sims also introduce genetic inheritance, allowing Sims to pass down physical traits to their children in a way that feels natural and grounded. When two Sims start a family, their children don't come from a generic preset. Instead, they inherit a blend of facial features, skin tones, hair colors, and even subtle details like bone structure. You might see a grandfather's nose reappear in his grandson, or a unique eye color surface in a great-grandchild. The lineage is visible, tangible, and constantly evolving — creating a living, breathing family tree where every Sim truly feels like part of a larger story.
This attention to biological detail adds emotional richness to the game. Players not only shape the present but witness the ripple effects across generations. What begins as one couple's story can eventually span an entire legacy — written through love, loss, memory, and the unending cycle of life.
The ZAGE Sims are able to dream, desire, and fear—each one carrying a unique personality shaped by their life experiences. They live with Aspirations that steer their ambitions: some pursue knowledge, others chase fortune, romance, or artistic greatness. Their daily lives are driven by Wants—little goals like a first kiss, a job promotion, or the birth of a child. But they are also haunted by Fears: rejection, failure, betrayal, and even death. Fulfilled dreams bring joy and personal growth. But when fears come true, they leave lasting emotional wounds.
This emotional depth is brought to life through a fully realized 3D engine. The game allows complete camera freedom and cinematic detail. Players can zoom in on a trembling hand, a nervous glance, or tears welling up during a moment of heartbreak. Every gesture, every eye movement, every posture reveals personality. Sims didn't resemble lifeless models—they feel genuinely alive.
Memories shape each Sim as much as their actions. A first love becomes a defining chapter, a broken marriage leaves scars, and the birth of a child stays etched in their heart. These memories carry emotional weight. Some Sims become stronger and more confident through joy. Others grow fragile after tragedy. Stories don't follow scripts anymore—they unfold naturally, born from decisions, missteps, and moments of chance.
And in The ZAGE Sims, the homes themselves are a form of self-expression. Players aren't limited to cookie-cutter layouts. They can build sprawling mansions with rooftop pools, cozy suburban homes with flower-filled gardens, or compact apartments stacked above noisy city streets. Multi-story homes, sloped terrain, detailed basements, open lofts—it's all possible. Furniture can be placed with pixel precision. Clutter can be purposeful. Even chaos becomes art.
Each home feels like a living canvas—warm, cold, joyful, chaotic, sterile, or bursting with personality. It's no longer just a space for Sims to sleep; it's a part of the story, just as alive as the characters who inhabit it.
The Sims also exist within a living, breathing neighborhood that continues to evolve even when the player isn't watching. Time doesn't pause—it marches on. Children grow up, start school, fall in love, and eventually become adults. Elders live out their final days, and new generations are born to carry on the family legacy. Every household in the neighborhood experiences change, creating a sense of continuity and realism that transforms the entire game world into a dynamic ecosystem.
These features were absolutely mind-blowing to Sanika and countless other gamers. The Sims had taken the life simulation genre and elevated it to something truly remarkable—something that felt like a genuine "Life Simulator." It wasn't just a game anymore; it was an experience that blurred the line between fiction and reality in the most thrilling way. What excited Sanika even more was how ZAGE, her brother's company, wasn't just excelling at making great games—they were redefining genres, pushing boundaries, and doing so time and time again with bold creativity.
To Sanika, it was inspiring. Watching Zaboru pioneer new forms of storytelling and interactivity made her dream even bigger. One day, she hoped to follow in his footsteps—not just by making games, but by creating something completely unique that no one had ever seen before.
Sanika then grinned as she booted up her PC, her fingers dancing excitedly across the keyboard. Her eyes sparkled with anticipation. She clicked on the ZAGE Sims icon and leaned back in her chair, watching the game load with a sense of joy only a true fan could understand. As the intro music swelled, she felt like she was stepping into a familiar yet endlessly new world.
Within minutes, she was immersed. She loaded her household, she already carefully customizing each Sim's appearance, aspirations, and personality traits. Her Sim family had a quirky inventor dad, a dreamy artist mom, and a mischievous toddler who loved nothing more than causing chaos. She built them a cozy suburban house complete with a sunroom, a messy garage workshop, and a colorful nursery filled with toys.
She laughed when her toddler Sim threw a tantrum mid-dinner, and she felt proud when the artist Sim completed her first masterpiece. When the father Sim got a promotion in his career, Sanika actually clapped. She zoomed in close during emotional moments—watching facial animations, tiny gestures, the subtle shifts in mood. She really loves playing The Sims and one day she will try to make games with similar levels as The Sims.
To be continue
AN : I know for most of you all chapters like this can be boring, but I really wanted to write it because I love the game itself. If I made a reaction-focused chapter every time, it would sometimes stretch into at least two chapters, and it leaves a bad taste in my mouth when the game isn't finished yet. Still, when this story reaches 1998, I might approach things differently, and I'll try to make the plot progress faster.
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