The Sims Bowling facts for kids

The Sims Bowling is a fun mobile game from The Sims series. EA Games made it for iPod and other mobile phones. It came out on July 18, 2007. This game is a new version of a popular bowling game called JAMDAT Bowling from 2004.

The Sims Bowling mixes a life simulation game with bowling. Players earn points by bowling in different ways. They use these points to decorate their virtual home and buy cool bowling gear. People who reviewed the game had mixed feelings. They liked the good graphics and different ways to play. But some thought the way the bowling pins moved wasn't very realistic or new.

How to Play The Sims Bowling

When you start the game, you get to create your own Sim character. You can choose if your Sim is a boy or a girl. You also pick their hair and clothes. Your Sim then goes to a bowling alley to play against other computer-controlled characters.

Bowling Gameplay

You play the game from a first-person view, like you're looking through your Sim's eyes. You decide where to aim the bowling ball. Then you choose how much power to use when you throw it. Your main goal is to get a perfect score of 300 points in a game.

Sim's Life Goals

Your Sim also has a special life goal in the game. They dream of becoming a bowling star! As you get better at bowling, your Sim's "aspiration level" goes up. This means they feel more successful and happy.

Game Modes to Try

The Sims Bowling has four different ways to play:

• Classic: This is a normal game of bowling.
• Strike-o-thon: In this mode, you try to get as many strikes as you can. A strike is when you knock down all ten pins on your first try.
• Spare-o-thon: This mode is similar, but you focus on getting spares. A spare is when you knock down all ten pins with your first two tries.
• Practice: This mode lets you work on your bowling skills. You can try to solve tricky situations, like when only two pins are left far apart.

You can also play with a friend using the Pass' n Play mode. You take turns passing the phone back and forth to make your moves. There's also a Bowl Now mode. This quickly starts a game against a random computer opponent. Some phones, like the LG VX8100, even let you play against other real players! The iPod version of the game only works on 5th generation iPods.

Buying New Stuff

As you earn money from bowling, you can buy new things for your Sim. You can get new clothes or special bowling equipment. The game has a store right in the bowling alley where you can shop. You can buy different bowling balls and bowling gloves.

If your Sim visits the store often, the owner might even give them helpful tips! As your Sim becomes a better bowler, they get special rewards. They might get a better-paying job. This lets them buy even more cool bowling gear.

You can also go back to your Sim's home. You can use your money to buy new items to decorate it. Imagine getting a big TV, an air hockey table, or even a dance floor! You might even see familiar characters from other The Sims games, like Don Lothario.

Making and Releasing The Game

Before The Sims Bowling was made, a game called JAMDAT Bowling was very popular in 2004. Electronic Arts later bought the company that made JAMDAT Bowling. People thought this would make the game even more famous. But it actually stopped being sold.

However, EA decided to release a new, improved version. They updated the graphics and added more ways to play. They also connected it to The Sims brand. EA Games was interested in making The Sims games for iPods. The people who made the game said The Sims Bowling showed what The Sims was about. They also said it was a well-made bowling game for the iPod.

Game Announcement

The game for iPod was officially announced on July 12, 2007. It was presented as a mix of a life simulator and a bowling game. Players could spend their money on different items and play in various modes. You could buy the game in the games section of iTunes. It was made especially for the fifth generation iPod.

Release and Reception

The Sims Bowling came out on July 18, 2007. Even though some critics had mixed feelings, most players liked the game. It was the sixth game released for the iPod. It's remembered as one of the first games available on that platform.

In August 2008, Electronic Arts made a deal with a company called Handango, Inc. Handango helps share mobile games around the world. This deal meant that The Sims Bowling would be available on more devices. It could be played on Symbian phones. The game was also available in English, French, Italian, German, and Spanish.

What Critics Thought

Peter Cohen, a reviewer from Macworld, said that most iPod games before this were simple arcade or puzzle games. The Sims Bowling was different. It was more than just bowling with The Sims characters. He felt that even though the game seemed simple, it was still a life simulator, just like its name said.

The reviewer even thought that bowling wasn't the hardest part of the game. He said players would get used to the controls and easily beat opponents. He also liked the game's graphics and music. The game had its own nice songs. Players could even choose what music to listen to or turn it off. Overall, he called the game an enjoyable mix of life simulation and bowling, but not too difficult.

A reviewer from IGN noticed that the game looked a lot like JAMDAT Bowling. They said The Sims Bowling was really just an updated version of that 2004 game. The game's main system felt a bit old. The reviewer also thought the mix of bowling and The Sims was a bit strange. They liked that you could create and change your character. But they felt the "aspiration system" (your Sim's goals) didn't mean much after a while. The game also loaded slowly on some phones.

Even though the game looked good, the way the bowling pins fell wasn't very realistic. Still, the IGN reviewer gave the game 7 out of 10 points. They liked the different game modes and the multiplayer option. They were also surprised by the good graphics and fun gameplay, even with the older system.

Chris James from Pocket Gamer had a more careful review. He said that not all games from big brands are successful, just like movies. He pointed to The Sims 2 Mobile as a good example, but The Sims 2 Pets Mobile and The Sims Bowling as less successful ones.

At first glance, the game seemed to meet EA's quality standards. The visuals looked bright and the animations were neat. He also praised how easy the game was to control. However, he found problems with the game's physics. It felt like the ball rolled sideways instead of straight. When the camera changed, the ball seemed to fly super fast. The pins also fell very quickly. This bothered him a lot. He said the bad physics led to weird things happening. Pins would spin on the floor or even bounce.

The reviewer also felt there wasn't much real competition in the game. He thought buying new items wasn't enough to keep players interested. He concluded that many The Sims fans would download the game just to have it. But he didn't think the game lived up to its name. He suggested playing another game called Midnight Bowling instead.

Images for kids

• Файл:The sims bowling 4.jpg

  A look at the gameplay in The Sims Bowling.