The Sims 2 is a strategic life simulation computer game developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. It is the sequel to the best-selling computer game, The Sims, which debuted on February 4, 2000. Mark Mothersbaugh composed the music for the game.

The Sims 2 essentially revolves around the same concept as its predecessor. Players are free to control their Sims (as they interact with their virtual surroundings) engaging in various mundane activities and forming relationships in a manner similar to real life. The Sims 2, like its predecessor, The Sims, does not have a defined final goal; gameplay is open-ended. Sims 2, however, has life goals, wants and fears, the fulfillment of which can produce both positive or negative outcomes. All Sims age, and can live over 100 Sim days depending on the degree of which their aspirations are fulfilled (although some items can extend a Sim's lifespan further).

The Sims 2 builds on its predecessor by allowing Sims, the simulated human characters, to age through six stages of life and incorporating a more powerful 3D graphics engine. It was first released on September 14, 2004 and became an instant success, having sold a then-record one million copies in its first ten days. In addition to its commercial success, The Sims 2 was well received by critics. As of July 26, 2007, The Sims 2 has sold more than 13 million units worldwide and is the best-selling PC game of 2004. A sequel, The Sims 3, was announced by EA in November 2006 and is scheduled for release in 2009. As of April 2008, The Sims 2 website celebrated 100 million copies of The Sims series sold.

Player Sims

Sims may also experience more fantasy like events, such as seeing ghosts; being abducted by aliens, which will cause male pregnancy; or being visited by the Grim Reaper, who appears after a Sim passes away.

Life stages

Like humans, Sims operate based on certain drives: they have needs, develop dreams and goals, and exhibit personality. They can progress through six life stages: baby, toddler, child, teen, adult and elder (the expansion pack University adds an additional life stage, Young Adult, for Sims who choose to attend college). Sims die naturally after a certain number of days in the elder life stage, determined by how high their Aspiration Score was when they first became Elders. The different life stages present different challenges, such as the reduced mobility of elders, children not being able to cook, the managing of the unpredictable toddlers, and the constant care of infants. Although after a sim gives birth, the child is at the baby stage, you cannot choose that life stage when creating a family.

Characters

There are three pre-made neighborhoods in The Sims 2, Pleasantview, Strangetown and Veronaville. Other ones come with various expansion packs. Many pre-made characters have their own storylines and history. The main neighborhood that has run through The Sims, The Sims 2, and soon The Sims 3 is Pleasantview. It contains the canon storylines for the games and are a prominent element in the gameplay. There are a long list of various characters, eg. Cassandra Goth, Daniel Pleasant and Jennifer Burb, just to name a few.