When I reviewed the original single-player game of The Sims about two years ago, I found it boring, unfulfilling and repetitive. It went on to become one of the best-selling games ever, spawned five expansion sets, and even today takes up about five slots on the top-20 best-selling list.
What I found boring - developing skills to execute more animated expressions and buying new items for houses - others found exciting. I suspect the house-building and interior-design aspects of the game are a big draw.
Recently, I saw a beautifully designed bedroom set with a bed, drawers and a pair of paintings, all done in Japanese style that you could download. There are many other examples of interior designs created by fans, free to download into your Sims world.
One reason that sales of this game are so high is that many non-gamers find it appealing. For example, many women who do not play other computer games are addicted to The Sims.
The Sims Online is a subscription-based game that requires a fee of US$9.99 per month, with the first month free. All the players live, play and interact in a virtual world. You are encouraged to buy property, design your own house and find house-mates.