It doesn’t matter how you do it, as long as the item is functional and has enough essences contained in or on it. Once you get the hang of the design process and figure out how the essences work, the possibilities are endless. It takes minutes to make a basic item according to the template, or you could spend hours making something unique. Whether you dive into all the tasks or spend your time making random gifts is entirely up to you. There’s also your own place to furnish.

Unlike Animal Crossing, the residents seem to get on with their own business completely independently. We found we spent more time with the ones we liked best, and often forgot to visit some of the further flung areas we’d unlocked, but the Sims don’t get in a huff if you ignore them.
It’s a bit of a negative point, in so far as there’s less of an emotional connection to the individuals within the town. The Sims don’t have much to say for themselves, either, and they don’t talk about each another. That’s one area in which Animal Crossing beats MySims.

On the other hand, the impression of a thriving town is enhanced by the way residents seem drawn to the player. You never have to search for them. If you want to give something to somebody, simply go to his house and he’ll show up within a few seconds...

As will plenty of other Sims. Instead of getting to know individuals, you’re always at the hub of the town’s activity. Rather than chatting to one person, you watch lots of them interacting and going through a wide range of immensely cute animations.

They’ll pop round to eat lunch at one another’s houses, then read books or watch TV together. They’ll listen while somebody makes a speech in burbling Simlish, and applaud enthusiastically. They have picnics and play in the fountain, and hold dance-offs around a stereo in the park. The more Sims you attract to the town, the more of this stuff you’ll see. You can join in, too.