The Legacy Challenge is the Ultimate in Sims Experience!

The Sims 2 gave us not only a three dimensional world in which to play with our sims, but it also gave us amazing genetics. For the first time, Sims were born, grew up, grew old, and died, all the while passing their genetics on to the next generation, generation after generation.

The concept was so fascinating (and so buggy) that it sparked players and forum members to try new things with their sims. I was one of the first to conduct genetic experiments with my sims, meaning that I was at the forefront of the discovery of the First Born Effect (an effect which causes each sim born into a family identical to the first born -- this can be prevented by going into Create A Sim and rolling the dice several times to mix genetics. Yes, it really works).

Many challenges were born of The Sims 2, but my favorite, and the apparent favorite amongst sims writers, is The Legacy Challenge, a ten generation challenge that allows you to experiment to your heart's content with genetics and playing with the various NPCs and Townies.

For the first time since The Sims, The Sims 3 gives us an entirely new way to play The Sims. While the most recent game in the series does build upon what was created in the original and expanded with The Sims 2, there are so many new dimensions that The Sims 3 is practically an entirely new game.

The Legacy Challenge hasn't changed much from The Sims 2 but because there are new careers and a new way of keeping track of lifetime happiness, I find that the challenge has gotten all the more interesting.

If you are playing The Sims 3, the Legacy Challenge is a great way to get the feel for the game, including the new life spans. Have fun with it!