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Apple Games' busy feature week continues with an examination of The Sims Life Stories. Created by Aspyr Media, the laptop friendly Sims spin off is the first in a new series offering compelling storylines and a more user friendly experience. Apple's article offers a review of the game and a list of cheat codes for those needing a helping hand.

In addition to streamlining the gameplay mechanics by introducing keyboard shortcuts for important commands and making relationship development easier, Life Stories was designed for quick sessions. The game runs in a window, allowing you to check email and surf the web while playing, and its graphics were optimized to run on laptops, so you can take Riley’s and Vince’s drama anywhere. Life Stories even features a laptop battery indicator.

Life Stories doesn’t mesh with The Sims 2 and its expansion packs, but it offers plenty of its own content, with more available for download. Bitville and Four Corners both include community lots where Riley and Vince can go shopping, work out at the gym, enjoy a nice meal, and, of course, meet other Sims. Riley and Vince can also get to know their neighbors while hanging around their homes, building amorous and platonic relationships in the process.

Sims in Life Stories earn special rewards as they achieve their goals. You’ll find those objects in their inventory panels; you can drag them to the appropriate spot in their homes, or leave them there for easy retrieval later. Riley and Vince start their stories with cell phones that make communication with other Sims easier when they’re visiting community lots.

Apple Games: The Sims Life Stories

Aspyr Media (add to watch list)

The Sims Life Stories (add to watch list)

Buy The Sims Life Stories

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