The Sims have been around for a long time and have been a popular game among game enthusiasts for a while now. In The Sims, players assume the role of a ‘Sim’. These ‘Sims’ then go about their daily routines performing tasks such as cooking, cleaning, or exercising just to name a few. Players can then influence the outcomes of their ‘Sims’ lives through various means including social interactions and day-to-day tasks which influence their moods and subsequently the gameplay.

Often the topic of whether or not to include ‘real-life’ celebrities in video games comes up. While it would be an awesome feat to have a video game character that is based on a real person, it can be difficult to develop a video game that is realistic enough yet entertaining enough to capture the attention of players. However, one game studio has gone above and beyond in order to make this happen – and it is one of the few video games that have a storyline that is entirely based on a celebrity’s real-life exploits.

The Sims – Based On A Real-Life Story

It is estimated that there are more than 500 million people playing The Sims around the world. Developed by Electronic Arts and released in 2000, The Sims was one of the first ‘life simulation’video games. It featured some truly iconic styles which still appear in later games such as The Sims 3.

The game is set in a medieval-style village and follows the journeys of four young adults, each of which is based on a real-life persona. The games starts with ‘simon’ who is a rebellious urban teenager who hangs out with ‘matt’ (Matthew McConaughey). Together the two of them make up ‘the hoods’ who then encounter the lovely ‘lily’ (Angelina Jolie) and end up inviting her into their group. Soon, the other two ‘simpson’s’ – ‘snow’ (Jack Nicholson) and ‘frank’ (Harrison Ford) – show up and the group’s adventures officially begin.

The game was initially met with strong critical acclaim and even stronger sales. There is even talk of Electronic Arts making a film based on the game’s storyline. While this may come as a surprise considering the video game industry does not typically make films based on existing titles, it seems as if The Sims has proven to be exception to this rule.

The Sims 3: All About Town Life

It is quite an accomplishment to create a realistic simulation of a town and have all of the players feel as if they are truly living in that town. The world building in The Sims 3 is outstanding and incredibly detailed which is evident even when playing on a small device. As players navigate their way through the town they will come across various objects and activities which will stimulate their senses and make them feel as if they are really there.

In the game, players assume the role of a residential ‘Sim’. They start out in a small town and then have the opportunity to travel to various places including Venice and Paris which were both recreated in extraordinary detail. Not only did this attract gamers back in the day but it also inspired millions of artists who wanted to paint the beautiful cities which can be found in the game. Along with those came photographers who wanted to capture the unique atmosphere of those places through their lenses.

This is also one of the few games that feature significant amounts of adult content in all honesty which is something that made it controversial at the time of its release. However, the developers did include an option which pauses the game at any time if an adult audience is detected.

Other Popular Games Based On Real-Life Celebrities

It is not just The Sims that features real-life celebrities. Below is a list of other popular and highly-acclaimed games which also feature real-life famous personalities. (Data via Wikipedia)

Grand Theft Auto – Michael “JC’ Cohen
Star Wars: The Old Republic – Ewan McGregor, Sean Bean, and Liam Neeson
Madden NFL 08 – Jay Z, Lil Wayne, and 50 Cent
MLB 08 – Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, and Roger Clemens
Gone Home – Jane Singer
Halo 3 – UNLV Office of Communications and Marketing

As you can see above, a number of popular games feature real-life personalities and settings. Sometimes it is possible to find a connection between the games and their real-life counterparts. For example, in the game Mafia, you play as a mafia leader who then gets to guide the destinies of four young adults similar to the ones in The Sims. One of the four ‘simpsons’, ‘eric’, is based on the rapper Eminem while ‘elise’ is loosely based on the singer Lady Gaga. Finally, ‘jake’ is based on the actor Johnny Depp.

Interestingly, many of these games are available on mobile devices which makes them accessible to anyone willing to download them regardless of where they are located. Below is a short list of the top Android games ever made, many of which are based on recognizable personalities:

  • Grand Theft Auto: Android
  • Star Wars: The Old Republic: Android
  • Madden NFL 08: Android
  • MLB 08: Android
  • Gone Home: Android
  • Halo 3: Android
  • Silent Hill: Shattered Memories: Android
  • Battlestations: Midway: Android
  • Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit: Android
  • Deadpool: Android
  • Medal of Honor: Castle Bravo: Android
  • Splinter Cell: Blacklist: Android
  • The Bourne Supremacy: Android
  • Transformers: War For The Earth: Android
  • World War II: Battle Of The Bulge: Android
  • Command And Conquer: Generals: Android
  • Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Double Agent: Android
  • Call Of Duty: Black Ops: Android
  • Spiderman: Homecoming: Android
  • Resident Evil: Mercenaries 2: Android
  • Doom: Android
  • Star Trek: Enterprises Voyager: Android
  • Command And Conquer: Tiberium Sun: Android
  • Grim Fandango: Android
  • Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater: Android
  • Grand Theft Auto: Vice City: Android
  • Lara Croft: Relic Run: Android
  • Dead or Alive: Special Edition: Android
  • Silent Hill: Escape From Silent Hill: Android
  • Resident Evil: Dead Aim: Android
  • Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory: Android
  • Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare: Android
  • Madden NFL 25: Android
  • Genshin Impact: Android
  • Medal of Honor: Heroes: Android
  • The Smoker Packages And More: Android
  • Fallout 3: Android
  • Silent Hill: Shattered Memories: Android
  • Star Wars: Rogue One: Android
  • Splinter Cell: Blacklist: Android
  • Uncharted 2: Among Thieves: Android
  • Doom: Android
  • Madden NFL 20: Android
  • Alien Swarm: Android
  • Resident Evil: Retribution: Android
  • The Godfather: Part II: Android

Which Video Game Should I Play?

Now that you are aware of all the different video games which feature real-life celebrities, it should be easy for you to decide which one to play. Choosing what game to play can be a bit more difficult as you have a variety of options to choose from, each one unique in their own right. Here are some of the key factors to consider before making your decision.

Comfort

Depending on how long you plan on playing, how much time you have to spend, and how comfortable you are with the controls, you will want to choose a game that is suitable for your needs. Is the keyboard comfortable to you? Does the controller fit comfortably in your hands? These are all important questions to ask yourself before making any kind of purchase. Once you find the right fit, it is easy to play and very enjoyable.