The Sims 2 Game

audience

The Sims is a simulation game that allows users to create people, families, houses and neighbourhoods. The game lets users bring their creations to life on the screen, with characters having their own language, goals, thoughts and ambitions. The goal of the game is to keep the characters happy by attending to their needs. As a popular game, the Sims 2 has a wide audience. It is intended for audiences of thirteen years and older, as rated by the Entertainment Rating Software Board (ESRB). Since the Sims 2 is a second edition of the popular game the Sims, many users will already be familiar with the format of the game.

purpose

The purpose of the game case is primarily to attract the attention of possible buyers. It is used to store the four discs of the game, the instruction manual and the key commands card. The case is also intended to convey important information about the game, such as legal copyrights and the game rating.

context

The Sims 2 is available wherever software is sold and can also be ordered online. This version of the Sims 2 is designed for a PC, but it is also available on the Nintendo Wii, Game Cube, DS and Game Boy Advance; the PlayStation2 and PSP System; and Mobile platforms. As a PC game, this version will be used with a computer. The user will most likely be sitting at a desk, probably in a computer chair and will be using a combination of keyboard commands and mouse clicks to control the game. Since playing computer games is a leisure activity, the game will probably be played in soft lighting. The box itself does not need to be present to play the game, only initially when loading the disc(s) into the drive. The distractions that may arise while playing this game can include computer programs interrupting the game, a ringing telephone or other leisure activities such as television and movies.

materials

The case is made of hard, black plastic, and measures 5.3” x 7.5” x 1.1”. The outside of the case is covered with a clear plastic paper protector that is thin and flexible. The coloured paper sleeve that slides under the paper protector displays the name of the game, graphics from the game, and important information about the game. The corners of the box are rounded, so there are two flat surfaces on the bottom of the box that allow it to stand upright on a shelf. The flat surfaces measure about 0.4” and are located about 0.8” from the left and right edge.

When the case is opened, the user finds a left panel and a right panel. The right panel contains the discs, all piled on top of each other on a DVD/CD holder that has a larger centre than usual, to accommodate all four disks. The centre where the disc holes sit measures 0.5” tall from the base of the DVD/CD holder. The centre peg is comprised of three pieces of plastic shaped into a circle, creating blank space in the middle that looks like the letter “Y”. On each piece there is a small lip to hold the discs in place. When the three pieces are squeezed together, the discs can be easily removed. There are also borders to hold the DVD/CD holder stand up the same half inch from the base. Inside the round borders, there are four thumb holes, so the user can easily grasp the discs.

The left panel contains three prongs on the left hand side. The top and bottom prongs are used to hold the “Key Commands” card and the instruction book in place within the box. The centre prong is an additional way to keep the four discs in place and also separates the discs from the documentation in the left panel when the box is closed.

typography

The front of the box is made up of display fonts or logos. The name of the game in the centre is a trade-marked logo of Electronic Arts, Inc., as well as the “EA” logo in the bottom right corner. The rating in the bottom left corner is registered with the Entertainment Software Rating Board. However, the bar at the top of the cover reveals a font choice from the designers. The letters PC CD and PC CD-ROM are presented in a sans-serif font, which looks somewhat like an old operating system prompt. As such, it stands out distinctly from the rest of the information on the page.

The back of the box contains some of the same logos, but also information about the game, displayed in a sans serif font with some colouring and highlighting. The sans-serif font makes the information look clean and well organized, in addition to making the small print at the bottom easy to read.

images

The images that appear on the front, back and spine of the box are images from the game. On the front of the box, however, the images of the characters have been edited, to make them look more life-like. They are highly saturated and very detailed. The images of the characters on the back are not close-ups, but are still quite detailed. They resemble the images seen in actual game play a little more closely. In addition to these images, there are three boxed images on the left hand side of the back of the box that are actual screen shots from the game. They are smaller and separated from the rest of the images to give the user a small peek of what the game will be like while emphasizing the larger, more detailed images.

usability

This case is highly usable for the context it is intended for. Its bright colourful outer appearance attracts buyers and allows for easy storage and retrieval on a shelf or in a desk, while the inside allows four disks, an information book and a quick reference card to be stored in a simple two-panel layout. Previous versions of the game came in a double “jewel-case” DVD/CD holder with an awkward middle section that was always breaking. This version had even more discs to hold, therefore a new design was necessary and welcome to the viewers.

*** note: although it may seem the case is not as usable as it could be because there is no information about system requirements, it must be noted here that the system requirements were printed on a sticker located on the bottom of the package when the item was purchased. This is a rule of thumb for the location of system requirements on PC games.