User:Social watchdog/sandbox

Dotfriends is a Virtual World application on Facebook which presents users with a world map utilizing the google maps API.

Description
The Sims Social is a Facebook videogame developed by Playfish and EA, taking place in a fictional town called Littlehaven. A mobile application for smartphones is also in development as a companion app to the Facebook version, which will be available on the current generation of smartphones. The game also features remakes of real life famous people such as Lady Sim-Sim (Lady Gaga), Elvis Plumbob (Elvis Presley), and Sims Cara (Sin Cara).

Skills
Like other games in The Sims series, Sims can develop skills. There are currently six skills: art, cooking, music, writing, athletic, driving, and various project skill items which are tied with specific themed collections. Developing higher level skill levels allow Sims to obtain new objects. Sims develop skills when the player interacts with an art object (such as easel or computer when level 30), a music object (such as a guitar or keyboard when level 10), a cooking object (such as a microwave, a coffee maker when level 10, or a stove when level 15), or a writing object (such as a computer or typewriter when level 10). At times, skills are a part of quests given to the player for their Sim to achieve.

Careers
Careers in the The Sims Social are, however, much different than those of previous Sim games. Sims can aspire to three different career paths: Rocker, Chef, and Artist. Each career consists of 5 levels each with three sub-levels. To advance in their given career players are required to submit appointments for various jobs. After the given appointment time the player can send their Sim to work and earn Simoleons and Career Points. Career Points help further careers leading to promotions. After each promotion players receive a special object only acquirable through a career. Upon completion of an entire career track, players can select a new career track at the cost of forgoing all past career history.

Traits
There are currently 12 traits for Sims in The Sims Social and only can be purchased with Lifetime Points. All traits feature between three to five levels; each needing to be bought at a higher price of Lifetime Points than the last one. The traits are slob, steel bladder, neat, super mechanic, insane, ogre, ninja, great kisser, night owl, expert cook, music maestro, and art virtuoso. When the player upgrades the level of a trait, the trait becomes more prominent in the Sim's lifestyle. The most visible example of this is in the ninja trait. When a Sim has the level one ninja trait, the Sim walks faster. However, when a Sim has the level five ninja trait, they can teleport from place to place. The ninja trait is useful if the player has a larger house. In the insane trait, Sims can reduce the need of being social and can talk with plants without visiting people (in previous versions, talking to plants also eliminated the energy needed to fulfill Social). For example, a level 4 insane trait lets the sim talk to themselves to fulfill fun and social need without eliminating energy. Certain career traits, like art virtuoso, provide the benefit of earning more Simoleons while using the respective skill object. However, these traits can only be unlocked by reaching specific career levels.

Needs and Energy
In The Sims Social, Sims have needs, just as with other games in The Sims series. However, unlike other games in the series, Sims cannot die. There are six needs: social, fun, hunger, hygiene, bladder, and sleep. When all of the needs are fulfilled, the player's Sim will become inspired. Inspired Sims earn more Simoleons when performing skill tasks. Sims with a bad mood will not follow the directions of the player. Instead, they will fulfill their own needs by autonomy. All mood meters cycle from deep green (good) to lighter green, yellow, orange, red, and finally gray. All needs can be improved from the Sim's home. Another feature located right beside the needs is the fun meter. This can variate largely depending on the Sim's personality. For example, a Sim with an athletic personality will not find playing computer and arcade games as enjoyable as a Sim with a geek personality. Sims will take care of themselves using autonomy. If left to their own devices, Sims will perform actions that will help out the lowest meter, provided they have an appropriate object nearby. This cannot go on extended periods of time, as eventually the game pauses and tells the player "Your Sim Needs You!", or to keep playing the game.

Currency
The Sims Social has four currencies: Simoleons, SimCash, Social Points, and Lifetime Points. These currencies are used to purchase items in the game. Simoleons are the most basic currency and can be most readily earned by performing almost any non-autonomous task. SimCash can most readily be obtained by purchasing them with real-world currencies; however, a recent update to the game permits users to earn up to 10 SimCash as a reward for playing the game on 5 consecutive days. SimCash allows the player to purchase special and limited edition objects. When the player begins the game, they will receive 40 free SimCash. Social Points are obtained by performing social interactions with other Sims. These can be used to purchase objects that are not available using Simoleons. You can exchange the Social Points for Simoleons by buying a Social Point item and selling them. Similar to Lifetime Happiness Points in The Sims 3 and The Sims 2, Lifetime Points are a currency only used for buying specific traits. They are the only currency that cannot be bought through SimCash but rather earned by completing various quests or leveling up on skill objects.

Social Interaction
Unlike its predecessors, The Sims Social uses the socializing features of Facebook to allow players to send and receive gifts in order to finish certain quests or objects. For example, when a Sim levels up to a skill, they must have certain items to unlock the next level. Most of these items are obtained by sending requests to other friends or by interacting with friends' Sims. This has proved problematic to players who do not have a large amount of friends. When the player cannot obtain objects from friends, the only other option is to skip the task using SimCash. Furthermore, certain items, such as double beds and couches, will have a hammer icon in the right corner, denoting that some assembly is required. To assemble these items, a player will need certain items that usually can only be obtained by sending requests to friends.

Players can pursue three different relationships with their friends NPCs. They can become friends, rivals, or enter into a romance. There are various relationship levels to be unlocked, going from acquaintances to friends to BFFs or friendly rivals. Each relationship path gives the player different social interactions, as well as different tasks that can be performed at friends’ homes. For example, rivals can be rude to one another by insulting each other, playing pranks, messing with household appliances, and other negative interactions. Once the player reaches a new relationship level. Certain relationship levels require the other party to first approve the relationship status before they are reflected in the game.

Crafting
In addition to building items and unlocking skills, players can use items found by performing tasks to craft special potions and complete collections. Players can craft numerous potions that can provide benefits to Sims. For example, a fun potion will instantly max out a Sim's fun level, or a bad mood potion will instantly tank all a Sim's needs. Depleting needs is helpful when finding certain items. Items can be crafted by going to the crafting section at the bottom of the screen. Other crafting items include free energy and Simoleons. Hovering over items that are required will show the ways to obtain them in-game. Once all of the required items are obtained, players can click on the crafting button and craft the item. The crafted item is then stored in the player's backpack. Many ingredients can also be gifted to other players.

Reception
Since its release to the public, the game had accumulated over 30 million players, with over 16 million added in its first week alone. It was one of the fastest growing Facebook games of all time and was the fifth most-used Facebook application in less than a month of release. Starting on September 9, 2011, The Sims Social temporarily became the second-most popular Facebook game. After two months at #2, its decline dropped its ranking, with unfixed glitches and errors and lack of content updates that other top games (like FarmVille) maintain largely to blame.

FIFA Superstars promotional stadium
After The Sims Social has been launched, Playfish had given The Sims Social Stadium for EA Sports FIFA Superstars. The promotion had started at mid-September 2011 that player need to reach level 10 in The Sims Social to claim them, before it is removed. The promotional stadium has been added on September 23, 2011.

Awards
On February 9, 2012, The Sims Social won the Social Networking Game of the Year award at the 15th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards and on February 15, 2012, The Sims Social was nominated for best online browser game by the British Academy Video Game Awards - a subsidiary of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.