I am a god.
*waits for the Bible Thumpers to begin their ranting*

I loved the game The Sims from the moment it came out. Immediately I purchased the software and I was hooked, bidding my Sims to “go here” or do that (like make WOO HOO! in the dressing room… though that came with version two of the game). My Sims rarely were allowed free will. You know what free will is, it’s that little ability we all have that allows us to do whatever the hell we want. I only allowed my Sims the pleasure once in a while, which usually resulted in me yelling at them, shouting, “DO AS I TELL YOU!”
I also enjoyed “offing” those Sims I just didn’t like or grew tired of by making them swim in their pool and then removing the ladders. They’d swim and swim and swim and tread water. They’d look up and wave at me that they were tired. Or hungry. Or had to pee. Or all of the above. They were always whining about the fact they were about to perish.
Then the moment came that their little algorithmic life slipped away. Enter the Grim Reaper. I always had a good laugh when he appeared. Then I giggled when people mourned (aka wailed and cried) over the urn or headstone that appeared.

Does that make me a sick and twisted individual? Maybe.
The years passed and The Sims became The Sims 2 which became The Sims 3.

I hadn’t played The Sims 3 for a couple years now, my old laptop became unable to handle the memory load. Sunday, while sitting and pondering at the desk, my eyes grazed over the discs and the light bulb over my head went off. I grinned mischievously and installed disc after disc (I only have about a quarter of the version three disc expansion sets), ran updates and more updates and after about four hours of expanding and updating, I began my game.
First character? Yours Truly! Well, my alter ego. She’s doing very well thus far. My second citizen is a dear friend, and she’s already reached the top of her ultimate goal, even having traveled to France. No Grim Reapers for people. Not yet anyway.
And free will? They have a “minimal” amount – basically the least amount I can give them without removing it completely. I’m not always wrathful and vengeful.
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