If you have followed a link from another site straight to this page, you might want to visit the Introduction before you start reading, to learn what this is all about.
This is Kev and his daughter Alice. They’re living on a couple of park benches, surviving on free meals from work and school, and the occasional bucket of ice cream from a neighbour’s fridge.
When you create a person in The Sims 3, you can give them personality traits that determine their behaviour. Kev is mean-spirited, quick to anger, and inappropriate. He also dislikes children, and he’s insane. He’s basically the worst Dad in the world.
This is someone Kev met in the park. Kev implied this person’s mother was a llama.
Then he tried to apologise by giving him a romantic kiss.
His daughter Alice has a kind heart, but suffers from clumsiness and low self-esteem. With those traits, that Dad, and no money, she’s going to have a hard life.
Next: No hugs and no sleep
Alice and Kev 
Aww i already feel sorry for Alice
sounds like a fun idea, but too bad for Alice
So bizarre yet interesting.
I think it is pretty darn sad beacuse one day they would die of hunger and then that would be bad so if i was them i would get a cheat code and press ctrl shift holding both then press c and type in motherlode so they can get 50,000 bucks right there and can keep doing it as long as they like
Yeah…it’s pretty sad…but the point is to NOT let them have any money as an experiment of homelessness.
how can you make your sims homeless?? i want to a lillte story where maybe a teen ends up on the streets or something. just curious
They aren’t actually homeless Robin (the creator) just used all their money on dead trees and stuff. They live in Riverview by the way 😀
Don’t pay your house bills, and then i think they’ll kick you on the street…
If anyone would like to read a similar blog, check out The Life She Deserved at http://thelifeshedeserved.wordpress.com/wp-admin/
SIMply brilliant – please update asap!
meanwhile im trying to spread the word for you
come on give Alice a little hope tho bro!
Aw, poor Alice.
Poor Alice. She looks so sad 😦
Wow, this is exceptionally compelling stuff. Thanks for sharing. I just linked it up on my blog, Geek Force Five. And it’s really amazing that the AI has gotten advanced enough that it’s doing most of the storytelling on its own. I haven’t played since the early days of The Sims 2, but you’ve got me itching to make a comeback.
funniest thing on the internet
nice but sad story…
freaking hilarious!
HAHAHAH I like it, its funny as shit, I wouldnt want some one callin my mom a Llama then tryin to kiss me to apologize, i mean seriously lol, especially some grudgey dude lol
HAHA i know it’s very funny, execpt that Alice has a very hard life….
its not funny,its a sad and heartbreaking story….
Wow, just 1 week and stories are already being made. I feel sorry for Alice though… Having a father like that… Keep writing.
Best Regaurds,
Beta Fish7728
that story was soooo sad. whoever started this, i want u to keep on writing. i can’t imagine having a father lik that. i hope later on in the story she gets help.
thats sad but use the cheat code to get money and u wont run out
What’s the fun in that?
Ha ha ha ha ha! i agree…in sims 2, i used to always give my Sims money using CTRL+SHIFT+C and typing in ‘motherlode’ giving them $50. but i find it to be more fun if they work for it themselves.
awww that would be NOO fun DONT CHEAT!!! but you should invest in buying places for money ( tohugh the onyl cheat I us is fullscreen off and enablelamias
Whatdoes the enable llamas cheat do?
Why did you make a homeless story? Have you ever been homeless or know some one who is homeless? What point are you trying to make? I don’t get it! Sorry.
I think it’s to show off the power of the AI in this game. Plus, who doesn’t find a man calling someone’s mom a llama oddly hilarious? And then trying to kiss him. Baha.
…Maybe he’s trying to shed light on the complexity of homelessness and to do a social experiment–even in a game, is it possible to get out of this cycle? ALSO: Note that this is getting a lot of interest, and there is a “donate to charity” to serve homeless people.
This also does show the complexity of the AI and how we are getting closer to social modeling in a game than anyone ever thought would be possible. I work in gaming science and I gotta say, this is really cool and and running a “social” test makes a great point as well. Sorry if you don’t “get” it, but I think it actually helps to validate that people ARE struggling.
You obviously have been lucky enough to come from some sort of priveleged background. I can’t understand why you wouldn’t understand this experiment or the point that’s being made. I’ve never been homeless but I can sure imagine how awful it must be to have to live like that.
This story is most likely aimed more at people like you, who need to understand that not everyone has a wonderful life with no troubles.
To the story writer. I want to say thank you for doing this. I would never have thought of something like that. This indeed, does show the extent of the AI in sims 3, I doubt it would have worked in sims 2.
Keep going, I’ve book marked you and a lot of people are watching this. Well done.
I’ve been fortunate to be Alice. Parents were loosers. I know from experience that the only thing keeping these people on the street is themselves. There are half-way houses, and government programs to help them get on their feet. These “poor people” are anything but. Since I was here and now have a job, my own apartment, and a good life, I know that anything is possible.
It’s a game. A new one at that.Why does he have to have a reason to experiment with a homeless story.I imagine it was just to see what they would do.A challenge to see if they could survive.
I’ve been homeless. With my son, we lived in shelters and on peoples couches etc… for about 3 years. I have had the hardest time finding a job as I am “over qualified”.. I would love to know what that really means, LOL. It is not easy especially when it came about do to a house fire that destroyed all I owned including my home based business, mortgage co. cancelled insurance without notice. So I am glad someone decided to experiment cuz that poor little girl is not as lucky as my son says he was and I have seen children in that situation, it sux. Keep the story going as my son and I are both curious to know if someone will ever help her. He said he would and he is only 10. Maybe that is the point to the story.
hahaha awwww.
alice is so cute.
i feel so badly for her.
ahhhh……. come on, throw Alice a nice crumb… poor girl.
i have been homeless before with my mom and having a father like that we had no money and im thirteen i was homeless till i was 10 so that isnt funny
I am so sorry. people should not be doing stuff like this. Their behavior is unacceptable. We need to change the things that we cant accept
I dont think its supposed to serve as a joke, Its a social experiment. Sorry though.
I don’t think it’s intended to be funny at all. This is a serious issue and the vreator obviously feels strongly about the issues surrounding homelessness. I don’t think you should be judging the story maker, the people who find it funny or don’t understand the reasoning behind it are the ones with issues. The rest of us love this story and think it serves a very good purpose, two in fact.
One, to highlight the plight of the homeless and two, to show the scope of this game
I don’t understand what the big deal is . Why are people getting so worked up over an experiment in a game. I think it is a good idea to let the game go on it’s own once in a while.You never no what will happen and it makes for more interesting game play.My husband actually found something out on accident.He found that having a child in the game was to much for him to keep up with.So he bought the birthday cake to age him up and just move him out, but there must have been a glitch because it would not allow it.He could age everyone in the house except the baby.Even people at the party.So he decided to let the social worker come for him.It took two days, plus the parents could not/would not sleep.They could do everything else but sleep while the baby was in asperation failier,and the kid wasn’t even in their house.You couldn’t make them sleep , nor would they pass out from exhaustion.
this is a pretty storie but sad
I have to say that the creators of Our stories make them very real.
Life it self is real & We pour it into our stories.
WE are playing God.
Being homless is very real.
Dont you ever look around when your walking or driving and say…
Look theres a sims house in the store and look at someone that reminds you of one of your sims…
they have baby sims potty chairs at Walmart..lol
It is as real as you make it. And some of you really put REAL LIFE into it..
THX for all your stories from the sims 2 and looking forward to more in the sims 3
Angel
Poor Alice! Hope somehow…she can get a better life!
I believe in the Sims world, it must be possible! :@)
Interesting concept and challenge. I look forward to following how their story progresses. 🙂
Okay this is the WORST story ever. There is nothing funny about being homeless. You people who are laughing at this are so putrid. I can still taste the puke in my mouth from you terrible people’s comments. THIS IS THE WORST STORY EVER!!!!! It’s worse than any stupid other story in the world. Why would you make fun of homeless people?!
they’re not making fun of the fact that they are homeless… people are making light of the circumstances surrounding them.. like the dad sayin that dudes mom was a llama…. then trying to kiss him to make up for it??… HILARIOUS.
This is not a stupid story it is a real life story, Rather you agree with the creators point of view is your choice.
This is a Great story.
She isn’t makling fun of any homeless people,she is making a point that homeless people have a hard life.
I hope this story has a good outcome to it. No fun that Alice’s dad is a loser and then she carries some of the traits too..poor girl!! Please don’t keep her homeless for too long!!
I found your site through the Something Awful Forums. Congratulations on all your press, including a spot on EA’s official Sims 3 website! Alice and Kev’s life is amusing, sad, and poignant all at the same time.
How did you make them homeless? =o
Very nice. I like how you build the characters by providing backgrounds for them.
very well done i read the whole story looking forward to reading the next part
First off, it’s a game people. It’s just a game.
It’s a sad story, but interesting. I love that the Sims game has progressed to the point that “real” stories can be told.
Hopefully this story will continue….
The HOMELESS… Always cast as an uncaring parent , verbally abusive with mental problems and lets not forget the loser children with NO future!
Being an advocate for the HOMELESS in my area I have to say that in the past 12 years the AVERAGE househole income of a average family of four that are HOMELESS is in the 75,000 range in America.
THINK about it…A lot of low income people living in projects are really in STABLE homes more so than the CORPORATE VP who has a high morgage..no rent based on income for him..and his JOB is LESS secure EACH and EVERY day! IF your income is below a certain guideline then you can get FREE health insurance…not so for the Sales Manager..he has to PAY..and pay big if it is a family plan…forget pre existing conditions. IF the VP of Operations gets his pay cut to ‘save the company’ then the Food stamp offices WILL NOT give him food stamps…cause he has ASSETS HE CAN SELL….THEN..if his kid gets sick…add a little car trouble or SOMETHING is bound to happen…BOOM! You lose it all.
I find it funny about the llama and the kiss but little else.
Check out INTERFAITH HOSPITALITY NETWORK AND THE HOMELESS COALITION for STATS on the HOMELESS FAMILIES…..
***YES I know this is real cause I have volunteered for well over 10 years and co wrote a book trying to chang the WAY WE ALL VIEW THE HOMELESS AS POOR, CAST DOWN, UNEDUCATED, MENTALLY NUTS,ALCOHOL OR DRUG DEPENDANT, SCHOOL DROP IOUTS, BAD PARENTS, ABUSIVE…THE LIST GOES ON AND ON…
LOVE
MAMMI SIM
The NEXT homeless family you make…have them college educated white collar, just lost home due to downsizing and oh…yeah…the BIG CATS putting SPENDULUS money in THEIR pockets…and not helping the workers….**THIS IS NOW THE REAL HOMELESS IN AMERICA!!
have you ever stepped foot in a homeless shelter? cause i’ve lived in one for 6 months.. the level of disconnect between what you see as reality and what IS the reality is astonishing. yes there are alot of white collar hard working people losing their homes right now, but that is not history’s norm. and alot of them would be in better shape, maybe not comfortable but better then they are now if they had not been living at the max of their means to this point… gorged with debt they can’t handle and living in homes they could never really afford but got the mortgage for because the banks wanted more business.
I just love to see peoples reactions to a game, how some find it hilarious, and others, don’t get the Idea of the fact that it’s a game. Yes, I can agree, being homeless sucks, I know, trust me, but this is, just a game. People Have fun different ways, people think differently, just cause you think someone is “putrid” for laughing at a “Virtual Story” Doesn’t meant you haven’t been “putrid” before or thought up of bad story plots in your sim games. Hell, Enjoy the stories people write or think of, its a way to show how advanced the Sims 3 has gotten, even though it has its down points. And if some of you don’t like it, Go read another story.
I look forward to seeing the development in this story.
Okay yeah I still do think that they are acting “putrid” for laaughing at the homeless. why don’t you live homeless for 2 years and see why. Oh, yeah, ’cause you could’nt last two seconds. It does not show how far the Sims 3 has gotten by making fun of homeless people! Nice comeback by the way “go read another story if you don’t like it” Kinda lame dontcha think.
Well put , i agree with youPeople are making way to big a deal out of a virtual game.Do something else with your time if you don’t like what people are doing and shareing with their game play
im going to become homeless soon.. bad economy and my mother is kicking me out
well thast really sucks and i hope everything works out for you
Interesting Reply’s,
I dislike people who misunderstand somebody’s post and go rank over it spewing out insults left right and centre, don’t get so angry so quickly, tell us your thoughts constructivily without hurting other people. Otherwise your getting yourself nowhere.
It is very funny what the silly sad man did to the random in the park. If this actually happened I Wish I could be there to see the random persons reaction.
I love the idea of throwing in a funny story to get peoples attention to how much the homeless need our help.
This is a great idea and the story is very well written.
It’s a stereotype and somewhat of a parody like everything else in the Sims. You know… Because it’s a virtual world. That is, not real life.
You’re defending homeless people because you feel they’re being misrepresented by a virtual family in a computer game. And not even mass-produced, one person’s created virtual family. You can defend the homeless as much as you want, and I’m glad you do, but stick to the realm in which they actually exist: the real world.
On another note, I am enjoying this story very much. Very creative use of the materials given to you in game, especially with the ability to roam around the neighborhood. And congrats on getting featured on TheSims3.com’s front page! Dang, I bet you’re glad you’re not hosting this blog on your own server.
What a great job you’re doing here! Bookmarked so I can keep up with the story.
“Yo mamma’s a llama!” Too funny! Being a mom of 2 teen boys, I can just imagine a hilarious seen with this as a “yo mamma” joke. Bwahahaha. Other dude would be like…”I don’t get it…”
Gotta love the sims. 🙂
I love the SIMS, I cant wait to get SIMS 3. This new sims is totally the thing. I love the storyline already I am a sims-a-holic
i also love the sims but not as much as sims 2! im a sims2_a_holic also a chocolate_a_holic i love chocolate!!!!!!
Oh I feall so sorr for her
How can I make MY story have comments? P.S. Great story!
What I want to know is how did these two sims come to be homeless…? I feel sorry for Alice, her dad sucks.
That would suck 0.0
Hello :)!!! I read a review on your story and how you came about to creating it and all…this was a really kewl idea and neat story :)!!! I LIKE!!! Great job :D!!!
-Rebecca 🙂
On the comments: It is so amazing to see the humane side of society’s response to this story. I truely admire people who have involved themselves in social causes, and strive to promote the betterment of humanity. At the same time, this changes them forever. You can never go back to a state of ignorance regarding something like this. And you can never again have that well psychologically defended typical response that people who haven’t been exposed to RL can have. For those of us who have not been exposed, or who have not had the experience of working with, living in, or in any way having RL contact with the homeless, please understand, that the comments made by people who have, are totally about them and their experience. The intensity of their response is part of the experience of having chosen to be involved. I personally give lots of room for this in my contact with people like this. The impact that RL has on human beings who choose to get involved is profound. They don’t walk away unaffected–we are not hardwired that way as human beings–one of the beautiful parts of humanity.
One the story: Totally creative use of the tools! A wonderful act on the part of humanity that has not been exposed to the reality of homelessness, but still tries to relaste. I truely admire this, as a human act of attempted sensitivity and of identification–given the limitations of yjr creator’s experience. Congratulations on a truely creative use of the tools at this point in humanity’s development. A magnificent creative attempt to give voice to that part of humanity that when exercised, remains beautifully alive, and stiving.
Come on people, it is just a game. I have been homeless in the past and believe me it is not funny to be homeless. But I take into consideration that this is a game, and I do find this story funny. I am looking forward to seeing what happens next.
By the bye, what is the cheat code to get your Sims more simoleons? My Sims are hard working but struggling financially. Too much like real life! I would like to buy them a nicer house, but can’t!
a cheat is motherlode it gets you 50,000
“Motherlode” just like the sims 2 it gives you $50,000. Another is testingcheatsenabled true, it is like the “boolprop” cheat from the sims 2, except not nearly as powerful.
Poor Alice. :O(( I feel so sorry for her … having a father like that, and being a child with no way to better herself. *sniffle*
Actually the girl has plenty of avenues to better herself. She can go to the Public Library and learn good skills (even without great traits). She can start collecting stuff like gems, seeds, etc. and learn things that way…growing a garden in their vacant lot (technically they are homeless but not “lot-less”)
Oh my God, I have tears in my eyes.
Wow, this is really cool. I just found the blog and plan on reading the other sections as well! Cool idea, can’t wait to read the next installment (which I shall find shortly)
Haha that’s awesome, but I feel sorry for alice she should get a home and ditch the old man haha.
Hahahaha rofl, I love the way you write this column!
You’re a genius, creator of the homeless family!
Do you think you could make the family downloadable so I can have the same homeless ppl in my city? 😀
Btw, the llama thing was TOTALLY taken from Monty Python and the Holy Grail– well the idea– cuz in the intro credits there was a large bit about a moose, and its the same idea, basically.
Bahaha.
you guys have a typo on the title it says alex and kev but its alice and kev
Can’t we all just enjoy being human, homeless or not? I do understand freedom of speech, but there is also so much animosity in this World now-a days…just enjoy the game and leave the unconstructive remarks for your own negative reality (obvious whom I’m referring to !) ! I’m SURE the person whom wrote this story did NOT write it to hurt anyone’s feelings or start a ‘riot’…all she was doing was trying to express her artistic side and in the process created a very interesting story (FICTION)…people write about all kinds of situations and circumstances in a fictitious manner regardless of the conclusion…give the poor gal a break…why not congratulate her on a well composed story (good grammar maybe…good plot…etc…etc..), rather than criticizing her for expressing this fantastic work of art!!!! …life’s hard enough for everyone no matter who we are, we all have our OWN trials and tribulations, we all suffer in different sorts…don’t make someone else who you know nothing about personally suffer unnecessarily due to this obvious immature behavior! 🙂
Take a hint…stop and smell the roses, life is to short :D!!!!
-Rebecca 🙂
(I also agree w/ MerzWorld :)…I’d like to D/L it as well!!!)
Reffering to Rebecca
Okay so who exactly is she reffering to then because if she is trying to say that people should stop being mean then she should stop doing it herself. What she said is just plain mean!!!!! Really, WORK OF ART!!!!! more like… nevermind I dont think that anyone that she is talking about is trying to hurt the person who created this things feelings but she/he is probably trying to express their opinions thierself so if you are trying to prove your point then you might want to try to do it in a nicer way insteead of dowing people then telling them that they should not do the same thing to others. It’s like an alchoholic telling somebody not to drink and drive. So you might want to take the plank out of your eye Rebecca before you try to take the prick out of somebody elses.
o i love that! it’s sooo sad! i feel so bad for her…
Please post how you made your sims homeless? Or did you just make their home lot empty with a couple of benches?
that sdi pretty much wehqat Robin did, yeah
Clearly the Social Worker should get involved beyong the toddler stage. Children can be adopted I know so it’s odd she hasn’t come around to take the girl to a better “home” (or A home).
And mental hospitals are for guys like the dad, or jail.
If he has a job why doesn’t he have at least an apartment? I guess in real life he’d be a meth addict or something that they won’t show in the Sims game itself. That would be where all his money goes I guess.
In the Sims, the game recognizes a lot as a home whether there is a house on it or not. And they can’t take your children away strictly for being homeless in real life either.
As for the dad, why do you think he belongs in a mental hospital just because he’s homeless? I have a job and I can’t afford an apartment. Thankfully I have a place to live anyway.
He is insane. That would explain the calling for a mental hospital.
Oh my gosh I was thinking the exact same thing about the social worker. I guess the social workers dont care as much in the sims 3. You used to neglect your baby for five seconds and they rushed to your house but my younger sister didnt want her baby and she neglected it for sooooo long and they wouldnt come!
Took my husbands game at least two days before the social worker came.The baby was in complete asperation failier.He had to build a seperate room so he wouldn’t have to hear it crying.I was surprised to see how long it took, but also relieved because now i no i don’t have to rush to the baby as soon as it starts crying.Much more realistic
so you CAN be a hobo this changes everything p.s. Alice needs a foster home and the dad needs to be locked up.
We reviewed your blog and think it is fantastic.
JOnathan
owwhh that’s so sad.. but it’s fantastic! go and make another stories please 🙂
I love this story. I downloaded it and have been playing it. Alice got a part-time job cause she was so tired of having nothing and that helped a little at first but then Kev went to jail and my game sort of hiccuped. In the top corner it said wait and had a pic of the cops so I assumed he went to jail and went back to playing Alice. Poor Kev never moved again. He just stuck there. Nothing I did worked so finally I gave up. He was stuck like that for several days (Sim time) before the grim reaper showed up and put him out of his misery. As for Alice, her part-time job paid the bills and for food she planted apple trees, grapes and tomatoes. She also fished and sold them at the market. Every day she went to the gym to shower and use the bathroom and the library for learning. When Kev first died I expected Social Services to show up but they never did. She graduated high school with a B average. Her experiences as a child have affected her greatly and she is fighting to get out of poverty. She still lives on the same lot but has managed to build a little one room shack on it. Poor thing still can’t afford plumbing but the gym is still free. And she has begun to work out while there. Her goal is to rule the free world. A tall order but she’s a tough cookie.
What we need is someone to come up with a hacked cardboard box (for sleeping in), a pushable shopping cart full of recycled treasures and rags for blankets so we can add a measure of realism for innerSimcities.
The imagination and gameplay by Simmers is astonishing and amazing. I’ve been playing since the original Sim’s version and truly enjoy reading the stories that are published.
Keep it up people and don’t let those who are highly critical scare you off from exercising your creativity.
She may have a dad who looks as though his attitude would scare even the bravest of Sims, Alice looks like – with a bit of help from the creativity of sim players – she could go far. Good luck to her!
awww poor alice!!! hopefully she turns out much better than her dad…
when she grows up she should have the “good” trait! that might help her a bit… 8]
her dad’s a buttt..
She does have it!
how do you make the sims homeless? please tell me
I’ve seen this on the Sims 3 facebook page but never looked into it until now. Totally awesome! I’m excited to read on. 🙂
How cool that The Sims 3 has inspired a sociology debate and such creativity from its players!
Sorry about the lame comeback thing. I’m just REALLY sick and tired of all these peoppole shunning and jeering at the homeless people like it’s their fault that they are homeless.
That story is a great one but also it is quite sad. It has really touched me. The young girl, Alice is a very unfortunate kid indeed with a very mean dad. Overall good story, can’t wait for more.
Ps: you should make a movie out of it for sims 3 website.
wow. poor alice. :[
Dang. That thats got to be one of the worst families ive ever seen. And dpoor Alice
Wow that was a really great story! You have so many admiring fans! Like me! I hope to one day have a site like yours! I made mine and discovered yours! You are truly amazing and so if you visit my site and give me a few pointers or recommendations I would gladly attempt them! I am still working on getting some stories up so bear with me but enjoy the little I do have up! Thanks so much for being such an amazing writer! ENJOY LIFE! P.S. I cannot wait to see what Alice will do next… Oh and Kev too! Find that ghost again??? I hope so! 😉
How do you make your sims homeless? ^_^
This story is truely amazing and even though it is just a game, it shows you what can really happen in this horrible world.
Even though I have never been homeless there are very close calls that I have had, sometimes i’ve had to give up things that matter to me.
I think that if we had just a bit more love in the world then maybe we could live better lives.
I am a long player of The Sims 2 and 3 and I must say that the realisim in this game is the most amazing I have ever seen, I love making stories though I’ve never thought of a homeless one.
Reading this gets you thinking, ” What is this was real? What is this was me? ” but to start thinking this, put yourself in the picture first. Imagine yourself sleeping on a park bench with your daughter, or imagine yourself as Alice, barefooted and having an insane father calling peoples mothers llamas. For once think that this ISN’T JUST a game. This is really happening all around us, and most of these people simply die on the streets without anyone caring at all. I saw a video once of a homless man falling down and dying, you know what everyone else around him did? Instead of calling 911 they left him. he had an hour to live before someone finally called, but it was too late. he had been dead and nobody cared.
Just for once, I wish people would care and put others first, putting themselves in that situion.
Thank you all who have decided to read this. There truely are good people out there, and I’ve seen many of them on this post.
As to the writer, thank you for opening peoples eyes. this is not a game, its real.
Seriously – you guys are arguing over this?? It’s a game folks… let’s not lose perspective…
I think it’s great – I love the way people get creative in their stories…
I suppose the same people would read into the Black Widow’s Garden as some sort of serial killer ploy too. It’s a game…
coool how do you make them homeless???
This is fascinating…I am going to tell my friends to follow this story with me…
Why is everyone so uptight? It’s an interesting socialogical experiment! I dont understand why so many people in this world take everything SO seriously…It’s just a game, no one is REALLY homeless… Keep going with your story it sounds so cool. What a great concept, I cant believe it’s possible! How do you make a sim homeless by the way??
I do agree with you, Sims 3 is a game in which fictional live their lives. I feel that this story is not to enthuse about homeslessness but rather give us a good story from a fictional life on Sims 3. I think we all need to relax a little and enjoy a story, much like we do when we watch a movie or read. P.S. You cannot actually make them homeless, you have to move them onto an empty lot and just buy trees and benches to waste your money.
Well, YOU brought up sociology 🙂 so I have to say, a make-believe world that does not approximate a true capitalist economy can not in any way show us anything about homelessness in the real world. This is contrived homelessness that had to be forced in a game that, unlike in real life, makes homelessness a choice rather than a consequence of natural, political, sociocultural and economic events (think Katrina, wars, recessions, bankruptcy due to medical bills, etc.).
By the way, I doubt that the author would have posted this article if she didn’t want feedback, positive or negative – she studies gaming, after all. The purpose of the Sims3 is to give people a chance to simulate the life course. I think all of the responses are interesting.
HAHAHAHAHA…… nice story!
Awwwww! poor Alice she looks so sad 😦
You should definitely give Alice a mom.
How did you keep the social worker from coming to get Alice??
This is really brilliant! Great job! I just love the Sims 3. You gave me some ideas too 😉
Just ’cause the dad’s insane and all that doesn’t mean he’s a “horrible person”. Meanie.
This is the best Sims adventure I’ve seen since I made the Justice League in Sims 1. Aquaman refused to leave the couch, got fired, made a mess all day while everyone was at work, and then insulted them when they got back. What a champ.
I love the personalities in these games.
Muy interesante! I can’t wait to see how it turns out.
You should make a sequal.
Omg I love the idea haha poor Alice though
This is so horrible!
Awwww,
I kind of want to make them though.
Hahaha, this brought on inspiration. 🙂
Remember that the cultural values of the game’s designers are built into the Sims3 game. What they expect is for every Sim to get a job, build skills, and spend, spend, spend on more and more expensive objects and services. The game is subsequently geared towards GIVING Sims jobs, so it is highly improbable that a Sim would become homeless in the Sims3 world unless the Sim had only negative personality characteristics and the player turned down every job handed to the Sim. Now, does this not play into our negative cultural beliefs about the homeless? Our “Us vs. Them” and “blame the victim” mentality? Yikes! Uncritical thinkers playing this game will totally buy into that shallow thinking.
I hope these players- many of them teenagers- realize that the games designers are perpetuating a stereotype and cultural beliefs about the homeless. In the Sims3 world a homeless person would HAVE to be blamed for his or her condition due to being eccentric, antisocial, lazy, neurotic, etc.,and for purposely turning down every job offered or losing every job obtained.
In the real world, of course, jobs are not handed out to any person who walks into a place of business. Family Funds do not exist to be applied to any class you want to take, and cabs do not show up at the wave of a hand to get you to school or work. The majority of homeless people are employable and want to be employed, but can’t earn enough to make it – particularly in this recession.
I can understand the concerns of the people criticizing the way you have characterized your homeless Sims. I sincerely hope that the stereotypes you have applied to them do not reflect your view of real-life homeless people.
Thank you for that comment, Allison.
It does pain me that Kev has turned out very reminiscent of a negative stereotype. Particularly now that the blog has become so popular.
When I first began planning this, there was only going to be one abandoned teenage sim, with a life as difficult as I could make it. When researching traits in anticipation of the game coming out, it occurred to me that her life might be harder with a parent with a particular set of traits than with no parent at all.
And that’s the thinking that went into the personality of Kev – any trait that might make it more difficult for the people around him. Some of the things that came out of that personality amused me, and it’s only when I look back on it now that the blog has received so much attention that I realise what I’ve ended up with is a negative stereotype of a homeless person, and I feel guilty.
I don’t think you should feel guilty.It was not your intention for this to be a stereo type,it was an experiment conducted with the best intentions.
I think you have done a good job, and people are taking this way to seriously.It Still is JUST A GAME.It’s still, JUST A STORY.Like reading a book.I hope people also read your response to this because they would then no for sure that it wasn’t ment as a negative look on the homeless.
Kudos for you work.
Looks like someone needs to call Betty the social worker. LOL!!
BEST. COMMENT. EVER.
Wow, thanks for that last post! I was trying to think how to say almost exactly that. The most succinct I came up with was to ask why not make normal Sims with ordinary array of characteristics and then pound them with life events instead of making them awful people who maybe deserve it.
A hardknock life is possible for regular Sims, and not all that hard — my first Sims family ever was a mom and a dad with two little girls, and by the end of my first week playing the mother had burned to death in a house fire (in front of the girls), the girls were screaming teenagers at each others throats, the father was still a lowly whatever-his-job-was, there were weeds all over the yard, and all they had for fun was the little stereo (broken) and a swing set. They only had the starter stove (I didn’t understand that some stoves cook better nutrition than others), and they slept on cruddy beds so they were never comfortable or rested. Needless to say homework was mostly not getting done, and the Social Worker warning box was popping up a lot. This was before University so I couldn’t send the rotten girls off to school to give the poor dishwashing dad some peace. Somehow though the girls finally made it to adulthood and the old dad ended up having some good times before he died. I am scarred for life.
My point is, mean or nice, bad things happen to good Sims, and there’s no reason for Alice (or her dad) to be so dislikeable. What if you used the great stuff you’ve built (the lot, etc.) to make a comparison, ran the same scenario exactly but changed their personalities to a more natural mix of positive and negative? It would be interesting to see what values/beliefs about human nature EA has programmed in. In general, Sims is pretty good — as example, I was struck and really touched when I realized that my Sim family members had to actively make friends with one another. Wow.
Overall, this is an amazing, creative, fascinating project you’ve come up with. I hope you can use it to get a PhD or write a book or something. I’m sitting here admiring you, Robin Burkinshaw.
Oh! You have read “Hamlet on the Holodeck” haven’t you? 🙂
Robin
Oh come ooon!!! Give her a chance!!! She looks pretty though… Gawd, it must be hard playing those two… especially the Dad… Awesome idea, just don’t be so harsh on Alice!
i’ve been homeless, and i’ll say a couple of things.
1. this is freakin’ awesome!
2. in RL, if alice planted a garden in that lot, she and her father would be asked by cops to move because it would bring it to the attention of ppl who “don’t like homeless.”
3. if they didn’t instantly leave–maybe or maybe not being given time to get their belongings by the cops–they would be taken to jail for trespassing, or maybe just ticketed.
4. if they got a ticket and ignored it because they couldn’t pay the fine, they would then have warrants. they could then be tossed in jail for quite some time for some minor infraction later, or even if they weren’t doing anything but a cop decided to run an ID check.
5. in RL they have no viable way to better their lot. alice certainly might be able to down the line, and studying never hurt anyone. but she probably would have trouble concentrating, and would have nowhere to keep notes, art work, and so on. keeping physically safe–from disease, the elements, and other ppl would take priority over other things.
(her dad is unhireable, and probably couldn’t keep housing except in a very structured situation with psych staff living on-premises).
6. in regard to the negative commenters: i’ve found that if you have to tell someone how to be a decent human being, you may as well save your breath. experience may teach them. or i may not.
7. again: freakin’ awesome idea, on every level!
That’s so sad. I feel sorry for Alice. The last picture is amazing =)
jajaja buenisimo el game y mas le das una history notorio buena conclusion del game.
I understand the “experiment” but not why you enjoy this type of difficulty in your sims 3 files. For me Sims 3 is about giving my characters the good life which is impossible when I do things to ratchet up the difficulty of ganmeplay. I am not above allowing Sims to suffer or even killing them on occasion. But for the most part the fun of the Sims is me giving them a better reality than my own, which includes,to the consternation of a few prudes at Maxis HQ, the reckless and completely irresponsible pursuit of indiscriminate WOOHOO.
I play my game in this fashion as well.I cheat to et money and then decorate how i might like my house done is i had that kind of money.My sims are spoiled.The usually get what ever they want.Sometimes when creating a story on 2 i would kill some of them off like it was some mysterious bad curse.
Congrats on making it to the sims official website. Great story line, the things they have made possible with the sims is great. they have come along way since the original.
I agree that this social experiment is a good idea. Poverty is a major problem of the world and this story is showing a somewhat dire circumstance of it (I say ‘somewhat’ because there are worse conditions in countries such as Africa and Asia) It is hard to believe that people can find humor in this story- also seeing as this man (or sim, but he represents a man) has mental problems- as this is the cause for many to be put on the streets. While I am not trying to be harsh or critisize, I am still trying to prove a point to all who do not take the issue seriously enough..
I hear Alice and Kev are getting their own reality show on FOX.
FOX doesn’t need Alice and Kev they could just do the same bit with Megyn Kelly and her co-anchor. LOL
So neat how you, think up stories for your Sims. I have yet to get that far, I do good to keep mine happy.
If you all have a soft spot for these characters, realize that there are thousands upon thousands of people like them roaming the streets of America. If you really have soft spot for them, then actually do something. Give to a local charity, give the bum on the side of the road a few bucks, or better yet, write your representative to create funding to help these people. We have many programs to help different types of people around the country but there are very few that actually help the destitute. Just something to think about when you say you feel sorry for a computer animation. There are real people out there struggling to live.
economic Reality Bites:But thay know how to survive,Unlike the new Reality show;yuppys on the skidds.Brought to you by unchecked greed.
This idea is really interesting. And I may even do something like that with my game. (Not homeless though, that’s already done. I will create something even more bizarre! Bwahahaha)
This is a really fascinating use of the Sims 3 game. I currently don’t have a computer that’s good enough to run the game, but I can’t wait until I do, and can. This story is inspiring! 🙂
Does Alice’s Mom ever show up in the picture? I noticed Kev still has his wedding ring on.
You’ve inspired me to make a short film based on Alice and Kev. Man by the time I read Violence – I was rolling laughing. Kevin Spacey would make a great kev lol
I tried making a homeless family in the Sims 2 and they used Freestyle for Tips to get by. They lived in tents, too. They had a cool sort of gypsy lot when I was done.
This is at least fifty times cooler than what I did. I love reading it everyday, keep it up! 😀
This sound like a neat idea. Homeless AI. Unfortunately, you have split your content onto way too many pages. This first page has about 5 tiny paragraphs. On principle, I can not continue. I do not endorse abhorrent, anti-social behavior, except for, or course, my own.
Just love it.. keep it up lol
love love love love this story! im completly addicted!
i just wish there was some backsory to the characters…like who is alice’s mother and what was she thinking
I’m making a homeless family like yours, except I’m giving the kid good traits… I just didn’t have the heart to doom them for life. Good story!
I love this concept! hehe keeping me very entertained, keep it up! =)
lolz so good you should make more scenarios
I think it’s very cool story, love it 🙂
i dont get why people are disliking this… i understand tht they r poor in all but this is for fun. not to make fun of homeless people. but i have a q. can u actully make people homeless?
Yes, You Can. Just Give Them An Empty Spot O’ Land, Build It Like A Bit Of The Environment Or A Deserted Park, And BOOM; There You Have It! Fresh As A Daisy.
Lolkittehz Weel Rool Teh Weurld!
this is such a unique idea
i love it!
This is an interesting story 🙂 Unique
I like this interesting “investigation” if you will, haha and to whoever said, do you even know what it’s like to be homeless? or something like that, if everyone could just read the imtroduction, that would be a good help to this girl. 🙂
How do i become homeless like that on the sims 3 ???
Do i just stop paying my bill sor put them on a lot with no house or items ??
Please tell me !
All Robin pretty much did was move them into a residental lot resembling an old park and moved them in. Then he somehow depleted the money(whether buying a bunch of trees or just using a hceat maybe). You can do the same thing by moving your “homeless” sims into a vacant lot and spiffing it up anyways you`d like to!!
Hope i helped!
There’s enough poverty and violence in the world already… no point in intentionally making more, even if it is virtual.
he is not intentionally more, if anything Robin has sympathy for the homeless people and helps the best he can by putting links on to charity donation sites and he has pointed it out several times already, although you may be to dumbfounded to realize that.
Alice and Kev rules
Many literatures and movies used the lives of the poor or homeless as their main themes. Do you consider Charles Dicksons & Charlie Chaplin to be having “no point”?
alice has bushy eyebrows
Virtual poverty and violence is just peachy. People have been painting and making movies of these subjects since practically forever. Why? To move people, entertain them, make them think, and make them sympathize with the way these characters feel. I don’t know why so many people are having a cow over this interesting use of a game. Especially with the snapshot option, you can really tell a story in an emotional way. Just look at that picture of Alice, she seems so sad and without confidence. Even her teddy bear has its back turned to her. That’s just good artistic expression.
Why are people giving a virtual person so much sympathy and then ignoring all the REAL people like this on the streets?
How can you tell that the people interested in this blog are ignoring the REAL people on the streets?
Isn’t it obvious that most of the people here are?
omg, she is such a sweet girl i feel so bad, but what happened to her mother???
Feel sorry for Alice :(.
Very interesting idea.
i can’t belive i just realized that hoboes should be good people. i mean, if they’re bad people or losers, who’ll give them money or food?
I totally feel sorry for her.
Graphics could have been better =D But overall Love the concept ur going for 🙂
Nice keep on coming 🙂
Kev is my mom…. )= but we r not homeless but i am grateful 🙂
So, how is Alice and Kev doing now? Sims 3 is a great game but, of course homlessness in the real is very sad.
Best thing so far someone has done with the Sims 3, congrats!!!
btw, what computer are you using??? The graphics look nicer in your pictures.
Pretty cool post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say
that I have really liked reading your blog posts. Anyway
I’ll be subscribing to your blog and I hope you post again soon!
Just by reading some comments on here I’ve really come to the conclusion people have gotta chill out. Seriously, this is JUST a game! It’s seeing how far the game can go. Different ways of having SIMS interact. No one’s making fun of anyone. You’ve obviously taken it so far as to read about this stuff but if you’ve played, you’re going to realize it’s for fun. Homelessness is part of reality. It’s sad, but true. And most people out there aren’t doing much to help the real people, they just talk about it. Instead of complaining about it on here, go out and do something about it.
REMEMBER… it’s just a game! Have fun!
Homelessness is not a game and I resent that you even made that implication. Kev frowns upon your shenanigans as well.
DIE SHIRLEY DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They are not homeless.
Their home is in their heart if they believe.
What traits does Alice have? Like, I get the first two, but which one is the third one?
My sympathy with her, good Alice.
This looks promising. I’ll keep reading. =]
Hahaha, poor Alice…
Alice, poor alice
I love the story of Alice and Kev. Sometimes I feel sorry for them but then they give away their money or blow their friendships.
That poor little girl! She looks so asd and I can already tell her life is going to suck!! 😦
I don’t understand how people are under the impression that the creator is trying to make a joke of the situation, I think it’s pretty obvious this was made to both tell a story and to test the game’s AI. As for the story aspect, it has as much a right to be about homeless people as any novel does.
I love your blog. I feel bad for alice
That is soo cool but yet so sad I would hate it if my Dad were like that.
Do you mind if I copy that family and stuff but i’m not gonna like post anything on it i’m just gonna play it on my laptop.
Don’t you think it’s a little harsh for these sim to have nowhere to sleep?
Sweet! =)
i luv ur blog!!
Hi, I love your story! It made me cry, litterally. I posted this link on my blog:
http://thesims3challengesyouwanttotry.blogspot.com/
just comment if you want the link taken down.
Poor Alice…
Very interesting idea, way to play outside the box. You have inspired me to try something similar.
Forced homelessness is this like sim abuse?
the game’s unrealistically easy cash routes
I understand the decision to avoid this, but what did you consider “off limits” for this purpose?
Nice idea. Makes me wanna play sims3 again.
lol… I also tried this idea with my very first sims and I got a whole lot of kicking! XD
~breisa
motherlode=happy alice
I love this story…I’ve read it twice, and both times I have really enjoyed it. It’s beautifully written and very understated. It’s by far the best sims story I’ve ever read. 🙂
This is a very interesting post, just thought you could use this for so many types of applications, making up a person and just watch… awesome. I got to get this game, you definitely got me interested, thanks alot!
poor alice, I feel for her. I’m inspired to do this too. I’m always for making my sims successful having more money, I’m gonna try this for a change.
It was reading this post that made we want to do something similiar.
Great story, thank you.
This is an amazing story. I was hooked the moment I started reading. I’m sad there isn’t more to read, but I still love the story. You did great!
Hello! I read this story years ago, and I thought it was brilliant. It was the first Sims story I ever read. Before then, I didn’t even know that people made stories with the game. I was so moved by this story, I made my own homeless guy to play with. I felt like my guy could have a made a good story too, but I didn’t want to be a copy cat so I just played with him without writing. I didn’t read another Sims story until TS4 came out. I even started my own legacy challenge. Now I can’t stop writing Sims stories! It all started with Alice & Kev 🙂 I’ve thought about this story a lot over the years and wanted to revisit it, but I couldn’t remember the name. Luckily someone on the forums knew exactly what I was talking about and gave me the link. Now I can read it again! I wish I could do something like this in TS4, but it’s not much of a challenge to have a homeless person in that game. It would be too easy. Anyway, thanks for the inspiration!
This was one of the first Sims stories I ever read and you inspired me to start my own. I’m going back and rereading all the chapters. If I were Alice, I’d suffer from low self-esteem too. Poor dear.