The Sims is a simulation game where players control the lives of pixellated characters. Though the game first appears to be a virtual dollhouse, it has expanded into several sequels with a thriving modding community. Players can create new households to manipulate or self-insert themselves into the neighborhoods. Others have fun testing the limits of their Sim characters and creating unfortunate situations for the poor characters.
The Sims first debuted as a computer-exclusive game in February 2000. The game quickly became a hit among fans. Even those skeptical players who thought that a life simulation game was better spent in real life had fun building houses and creating new families. Though much fun could be had in the base game, Maxis and Electronic Arts soon released additional expansion packs. Each pack had a fun theme that could have Sims dancing all night or conjuring up magic to enhance their lives.
There were seven total expansion packs released with the original Sims game. It's easy to believe that developers put in previous cut content into future expansion packs. With so much material, it's difficult to think that not all developed content made it into the game. Talented fans used their skills to look further into The Sims' code to uncover this missing information. Some of the material was brought to life again in The Sims 2 and beyond, but others were kept secret for decades.
Our list compiles some of the most amazing things that were cut from the original The Sims game and its expansion packs.
25 A Place For Everything
The first Sims game offered the bare basics when it came to furniture. The creators focused more on having the essentials for Sims. They needed an appliance to make meals and a bathroom for basic needs.
The developers originally planned to have more furniture items that would improve a Sims' quality of life.
Coffee tables are a small, flat surface that could hold decorative items. If a Sim needed to put down a newspaper, the coffee table was a better place than the dining room table or counter. Coffee tables were later added in the Hot Date EP.
24 A Little Too Realistic
The Sims have a world much like our own. They have jobs, go to school, and a place to call home. Sims are happy when all of their basic needs are met. That includes filling all of their need meters.
The developers originally wanted to add in content that would make the game a little too realistic. Water puddles in the game are all the same color, no matter how they were caused. The developers originally wanted to make them a little more realistic so that one could spot where the plumbing accident occurred.
23 Drive Yourself To Work
The Sims initially spent all of their time at home in the first game. They couldn't move to other lots until additional EPs were released. The only time we saw our Sims leave was when they went to school or work.
In the pre-release content, gamers saw items that never made it into the final game. That includes cars that Sims could drive. They could use these vehicles to head to work or school without relying on a carpool.
22 A New Place To Live
Before The Sims was released, Maxis and EA released several promotional images. In the photos was a unique lot called House 11. It was a pre-made lot, but little is known about what secrets it contained. The lot does exist in the final release but is missing vital features.
House 11 is only a piece of flat land without any portal access for cars or the school bus.
It is also missing a mailbox and trashcan, which are essential services. The additional space would have allowed players to create one more household to enjoy.
21 Someone To Stop The Wild Rides
The Sims: Makin' Magic introduced several fun new features into the game. Not only were there new community lots but two rollercoasters. No one controls these rides. Sims interact with the object and go for a ride.
Within the games, files were discovered of workers who would take control of the ride. If a Sim wasn't having fun, it was possible the workers could turn off the roller coaster. Even if they weren't helpful as funhouse workers, they were new friendly NPCs.
20 Would Rather Stay Friends
Dating is the main feature in the Hot Date EP. Sims can either ask out a potential romantic partner or find someone new. These features have to be tested by the developer's quality control team.
One issue that had to be addressed was one of the random blind date participants. Sims had the possibility of going on a date with a cat. Though a cat would be a great option as a pet, Sims would have been greatly disappointed by their blind date.
19 Even The Famous Get Confused
The Superstar EP introduced the world of fortune and fame to Sims. They could work their way up from a regular citizen to a celebrity.
Sims could travel to Studio Town in hopes of meeting a "Somebody."
Before it was removed, Sims had the option of knowing who was who and where to go at information kiosks. These kiosks would be run by other Sims who knew everything there was to know about Studio Town. With the kiosk out of the game, Sims had to explore the neighborhood alone.
18 Act Out This Career Track
When video games are released around the world, many have to be localized. This includes renaming items or removing offensive content. The Life of Crime career track encourages Sims to become criminals. Though it's only a game, some countries didn't approve of the career path.
In China, the career was changed to Life of Mime. They didn't want players to become influenced by the fictional life of crime. Instead of becoming career criminals, Sims became mimes instead. It's unfortunate that not all gamers could experience this unusual career option.
17 Make Vacations More Fun
When The Sims was first released, Sims didn't have many options when it came to entertainment. They could read, watch tv, or socialize with friends and family. Future EPs would later introduce places for Sims to visit.
One of the activities would have included mini-golf courses. They could have played golf in one of the neighborhood resorts in the Vacation EP. Imagine mini-golfing at the beach, forest, or in the snow. This fun past time wasn't part of the game until Makin' Magic.
16 Make Prank Calls Even Creepier
The Sims soundtrack was one of the best parts of the game. Each music track brought life to every activity, from building to watching tv. There was more music planned, but it was cut from the final release.
There was a music track to make the scary moments of the game even more spooky.
"Spooky Music 3" was an extra track that would bring fear into young Sims' hearts. Though its unknown where this particular track would play, it would have brought more music into the game.
15 Add More Clothing Options
The Sims had a severe lack of clothing options. Not all gamers wanted to spend time modding their game with user-created content. It was normal to see a townie wearing the same outfit you chose for your Sim.
The original game included additional outfit choices. In the game files, users discovered an extra outfit consisting of a green plaid shirt and khaki pants. Though it doesn't seem like a particularly exciting outfit, it would have given the base game a little more variety.
14 Always Know The Date
The Sims' user interface went through several changes before Maxis settled on the bright blue bar with Comic Sans font. The bar contained little information about the world. If you wanted to know what day it was, you couldn't. Gamers could only see the time. The original UI also included the calendar date.
Knowing the date wasn't important during this stage of the game, but would have added role-playing options. Though seasons weren't introduced until The Sims 2, you could decorate Sims homes for various times of the year.
13 A Place For Neighbors To Socialize
Sims were stuck at home in the first game. They were only allowed out in the Hot Date EP. This expansion added community lots where Sims could partake in fun activities or meet other Sims.
The developers didn't always plan on keeping Sims at home.
Community lots were planned as soon as the very first game. With the time crunch that always comes with game development, Maxis spent their time focusing on quality control and other essential features instead. It took some time, but Sims eventually went home.
12 Double-Check Your Cooking Skill
Similar to real life, Sims don't automatically know how to cook. They have to learn the skill by reading books and increasing their cooking expertise. Making a Sim cook had the potential of catching the entire house on fire.
A helpful feature that was cut would have prevented this. Some pop-ups warned users of what could happen if their low-skilled Sim made a meal: "Warning: Cook Object is going to burn. Do you want to allow this?" This help system would have made players think twice before their Sim made a meal.
11 Makes More Sense Than Teleporting Inside
The Sims was advertised as a life simulation game. Many gamers treated the game as realistically as possible. They made their Sims go to work, keep a tidy home, and raise a family.
There were additional animations in the game that brought life to the game. Sims would be seen crouching down and getting inside of a car. The vehicle would then transport the Sim to work. When the Sim came home, they would do the same animation to get out of the car. The animation wasn't vital to gameplay but brought additional realism to the game.
10 Unleash The Magic In Children
Fairy tales state that kissing a frog could release a curse. It would turn the frog back into human form, and that human may be a member of royalty. The Sims wanted to play off this mystical rumor.
There was a friendly interaction between children and toads removed from the final game.
A child could kiss a toad, which would make it stop creating Toad Sweat, which is a magical ingredient for spells. The developer may have decided that this action was an unnecessary addition to the final game.
9 Plants To Comfort Your Sims
Vacations are a time when Sims can relax from school and work. They could travel to Vacation Island, hope to campsites, beaches, and wintery destinations.
Some Sims may be in desperate need for a getaway. If their needs are particularly low, there was an animation to hug trees. Sims would embrace a tree the same way they hugged another Sim. It's unknown why this action was added to the game or why it was removed. Sims can spend more time enjoying their vacation instead of worrying about plant life.
8 Keep Guests In Or Out
Guests have free reign of a Sims' home. They can walk through any room with few issues. The only room they may wish they could lock is the bathroom.
Lockable doors would not come to the series until The Sims 2: Open for Business. There was incomplete code to lock and unlock doors as early as the Superstar and Makin' Magic EPs. The code was never finished in the classic games. Players would have had the option to keep their Sims' guests from entering a private room.
7 Make Clowns Less Tragic
When a Sim's social meter falls too low, they may get a visit from the Tragic Clown. This Clown was meant to brighten a Sims's spirit but usually made the Sim feel worse.
The developers initially made the clown have a happier purpose.
A more joyful clown would have appeared at children's parties. The character may have performed tricks to brighten the mood of all party participants, similar to special guests that appeared in the Livin' Large EP. Seeing a clown would have brought cheer instead of gloom.
6 Added Classy Elements
The Sims fans remember the original UI. It was very basic but made the characters on the screen stand out. There were several interfaces planned. They included a classic-style catalog with the full time and date, clear photos of Sims in a household, and the need bars appeared on pages of a book.
The older-style UI was much classier but contained many elements that distracted from the game. Gamers may have spent more time staring at all of the menu options instead of watching over their Sims.