The Sims 2: Open for Business Expansion Pack Review

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(More customer reviews)Before the Sims 2: Open for Business, Sims owners could be in control of every aspect of their sim's life, save for one: work.They would make relationships, gain skill points, go to college, even become vampires, but for a few hours every day they would dissappear from view, leaving a hole in the day for the game's players.Well, that's not the case anymore.With Open for Business, you can now govern their economic ambitions, too.What it becomes is a fun, if more challening than expected, mini-game that tests the micromanagement skills of Sims players.

You can open up any number of business types: from bakeries to furniture stores to salons.You can even charge sims to just come over and hang out at your place if you want to.The flexibility is there for you to sell almost anything (because that's essentially what it all comes down to); I personally found it easiest and most profitable to sell televisions and artwork (somtimes in the same store), but you can do whatever you want.You can hire managers to do the work for you, you can buy real estate and sell it, you can sell cars; there truly is a lot to do in the game.

Now there are some game imbalances to take notice of.First of all, you need a truckload of cash to start a business.Without cheating it's usually quite difficult to pull the money together to start even the most basic of businesses.It would have been nice to have some sort of investing process, where you could invite others as investors or even stock owners, but as is, it's a pretty basic business simulation.The second imbalance comes when you do eventually create a successful business: it's so successful that you have more money than you know what to do with.Granted this isn't really a gripe, but it's certainly in stark contrast to the beginnings of your business.

The actual running of the business can be one of two things to different players: a fun, challenging break from normal sims gameplay or a boring, tedious excercise in micromanagement.I personally felt the former, but I could see why it could be tedious.Not only do you have to worry about your own needs, you need to worry about giving your employees breaks, and making sure your customers are happy.Also, they are in constant need of reminders why they are in the store in the first place; the sheer number of times I used the "sell" command on various customers is staggering.However, this is all exectued quite well, and it is really rewarding to see repeat customers coming in everyday to buy your cakes and pastries (although it gets a little suspect when they buy a new television every day).I enjoy the challenge and feel that most people will.It's a departure from the guarranteed-to-win dating mini-game from Nightlife, also.

I also have to mention the awesome robots that have been re-introduced to the series.You get to build your own robots from the ground up, from cleaning robots to fully functional Servos that work as people without needs (with the exception of the occasional recharging).

Other people are having trouble with bugs in their games, but I have yet to run into any (other than standard Sims 2 bugs).I did find it particularly difficult to run some businesses, though - i never could get that trendy new nightclub/salon off the ground.Oh well.

Pros:
Great new mini-game for Sim owners
Adds a lot of new content and options
Fun
Rewarding businesses
Robots!

Cons:
Lots of micro-management
Some might find the challenge a turn-off
Buggy for some people
Slight game imbalances

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Product Description:
Set your Sims up in their own businesses. Build trendy boutiques, bustling bakeries, hip salons, thriving cafes and countless other businesses. Hire a staff to stock the shop and sell goods to a variety of customers. Will they build the favorite neighborhood shop or the next entrepreneurial empire? The Sims™ 2 Open For Business is loaded with over 125 new objects to help your Sims get down to business.

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