While all this had been happening for Alice, Kev was performing his usual routine in the park at the centre of town.
But this time rejection seems to affect him differently.
Kev doesn’t normally get sad. His usual reaction to the world not going his way is to get angrier and angrier.
But before long, he’s crying on the shoulder of this kind-hearted old woman.
This is the first time I have ever seen him cry.
Next: Perseverance
Alice and Kev 
I think maybe he’s learning that this is what he has to do to get women. Show a weakness…that’ll hook them in!
haha good idea!
Haha good one XD
or could it be that in his old age he just so longs for companionship and for so long has had none-even as a result of own doing-that it is finally hitting him that he is alone-after all Alice will soon be grown and gone and who then will he turn his hateful brand of love on?
hmmm maybe kev needs a friend lol
This has become my new favorite show…
Second that. What about a Kev’s spin off?
Its not even a show!!!!!!!
a KEV spin off?! What about ALICE!! Kev will be dead and rotting in the ground long before Alice ever has to consider it!
lol.. yea he needs sum luvn attn lol.. good luck to him 😀
They could be beanie buddies.
finctank = win.
She looks like she’d be a good listener.
Aye, her ears are literally burning through her hat.
Thats how hard this dame listens.
It’s seems the sims 3 has a deeper social interaction and character personality that i thought it did.
Maybe Kev will take this new experience and be nicer to his daughter.
I wouldn’t hold your breath.
I second that
this is so beautiful
yeah, i LOVE it
Her ears are being cut off by her hat! D:
You’ve managed to find an amazing amount of emotional depth in such a simple game, I never thought I’d be intersted in the sims!
That woman has scary ears.
It’s because she’s not a woman at all. She’s a Munchi-Chi!
Photobucket Pic: http://media.photobucket.com/image/munchi-chi/lauriead23/wdw/wdw126.jpg
The resemblance is uncanny!
LOL.
When I clicked the picture I lol’d. XD
Love the story its going great… Inspired by your blog I’ve done my own version in sims 3, all was going pretty similar to yours until…
My sim become a friend of a local single mail after a few days … well lets just say I caught them kissing and then in bed together 😀
I love this story! Way to go. 😀
Oh 😦 thats sad. Good on Kev- maybe he’s learning 🙂
Awww, diddums.
oh my god…. i am thinking about getting sims3…never NEVER thought that would happen..
btw. this is fantastic! i wonder if the developer had this in mind when they made the game =)
Me too. This is the best advertisement The Sims could ever hope for.
Well, probably not, but it does help to convince people that it’s a much deeper game that we originally thought. (Or deeper than it really is.)
I was homeless for 7 years because of a husband like Kev. Except for Alice (my mothers name) being clumbsey and unlucky she sounds like me and alot of her life is simular to mine. My roomate even said Alice reminds him of me and my life stories. I have PTSD and a good memory of good and bad in my life. I will try your story idea using myself and my ex-husband to see if the outcome is the same as mine.
Aww..my heart goes out to you, woman power!!!!
He’ll probably use all her appliances then steal her stuff later.
Oh snap! I didn’t see it before but she’s got a ring on. Haha 🙂
Maybe that’s why he was crying. You know, because he asked her out and she said she was married.
Sims tend to not care during romantic interactions if they’re married or not, from my experience.
Don’t forget that he has the insane trait. He’s probably not learned anything, but is just acting out a random behavior.
And now I feel sorry for Kev.
Never thought that would happen.
Er this one was short & pointless, but I luv the series! Kev is messed up, but maybe he is changing. Still, I feel bad for Alice to have a father like him. gubbye.
This has to be some of the funniest writing I have ever read. Just had to read everything from day 1 and have been cracking up non stop. Great job! 😀
Found this site yesterday, and to repeat Az’s comment (sort of), I have never been interested in The Sims before now, but the way they’re portrayed on this site adds a level of depth to a game that I always viewed as being for cheap kicks.
Subscribed, and I look forward to seeing what happens tomorrow. Awesome work!
I love this story and it continues to twist with every post. As soon as I get all into it, it has to continue. It’s like watching an episode that has to continue when it gets to the good part. Dude I hope you continue writing good stuff until I get my game which is no time soon :{:(
Omigod, this is so awesome!
Have you ever thought about making this into a TV show or something? Pitch it. It’d be awesome.
Love it. ^^
Agree with Alexis there about TV show.
While reading through everything yesterday it almost felt like a tv-show. A show with that touch of humor but also deep hearted emotions.
I have to admit I now come to your blog first thing when I wake up in the morning to see what you have posted. In fact today I even checked it before i had my coffee…
Oh my god. If The Sims 3’s physics is such that a character can fake emotions to hook the opposite sex, I’m getting it tomorrow.
Same! Im alwayz up n readin this b4 i do ANYTHING!! 😀 GOOD LUCK WRITIN!
I just want to say FUCK YES to the donate to charity link. Fucking fuck yes!
That’s the beauty of the Sims games: they can be played for kicks, they can be used as a storytelling tool. You can micromanage or you can sit back and observe. It’s all up to the player and his/her interpretation of the Sims’ behaviors. Robin has taken this sandbox and built something unique and intriguing.
Indeed–this is one of those things that is very much defined by ‘You get out of it what you put into it’.
Does anyone remember the old (very old) computer game (as in Commodore 64) called Little Computer People?
Sims 3, particularly this story, reminds me of LCP. You didn’t control your little guy so much as suggest he do things, and you could even just fire the game up and let the little guy do his own thing at his own pace.
LOL the only commodor 64 game I remember was about a little homeless dude and you’d walk him up and down “main street” begging food, collecting cans, collecting newspapers etc, hoping to have enough money at the end of the day to buy a bed at the shelter for the night. LOVED that game.
What an interesting blog. I just discovered it yesterday, but i’m intrigued, and I actually want to play sims 3.
I love the way the characters are evolving themselves 🙂
maybe Kev is finally seeing his life as it truly is…sad. Maybe he’s discovering the way he’s acted towards everyone and his own flesh and blood is SO not cool. MAYBE Kev will straighten up his life???
MAYBE 🙂
Grey Sky.
Yes that’s my actual name…GOSH! lmao
This is AWESOME. Please keep up the good work. And if you do stop with this family, please start another one and do the same storytelling that you do so well.
Thanks
Awww, poor Kev.
I LOVE this story!!! it is so awesome! Keep up the good work
Have you considered turning your Sim story into a novel or a graphic novel, complete with illustrations? I think you’ve captured something that has really drawn everyone’s attention to your characters’ stories.
The woman looks like a mouse! Juat saying. But these story is amazing!
Looks to me like Kev is finally having those walls around his heart crumble.
I’m loving this though, now I definitely want the sims3
I wonder if Alice can buy an old broken down bed with her part-time job money. Maybe she can hide it in the marshes by the pond in her park.
Aren’t there public showers and toilets at the gym? I wonder if Alice can be resourceful and sneak in when no one is looking.
One of my sims was so inspired by the story of Alice and Kev, she decided to stay in town for three days without going home. She ate fruit from trees and plants around town, slept in the cemetary and showered at the gym. Her sleep was insufficient like Alice’s but she survived. She came to really appreciate her home and her family and is now contemplating a career in politics so she can advocate for the all the homeless people in the Sims world.
Just to warn you, you’ve been Boinged – I found your blog through Boing Boing this morning. I read through everything up to today, and I find the story amazingly compelling. I’m looking forward to reading more!
I’ve been playing Sims 3 like an addict for the last two weeks, and none of my stories are this good! I almost cried when Alice gave her money to charity. You really should turn this into a graphic novel. In addition to the awesomeness of the Sims, you’ve managed to express a great deal about the way we normally live. I am truly astonished. Well done.
Kev deserves it, after all that Alice has been through. *shakes head*
my only complaint is that the words used to describe the traits in these games are highly subjective.
Also, my personality has changed a lot since I was a kid, and the optimism I had as a child disappeared quickly after I got my first job, strangely enough, at a grocery store.
Being homeless isn’t something that creates complex social interactions, as such, I think they’d be more closely connected with the hand to mouth style of life they lead.
You ever been homeless?
You’re right about “hand to mouth style of life” requiring a lot of daily effort. But what that means, if you don’t let yourself sink, is a hyper-alertness that people going through normal day-to-day routines simply don’t have to maintain. You learn to recognize who lives on the street and who doesn’t. You learn who’s insane and dangerous, and who’s insane but protecting wounds deeper than physical (and these stereotypes are not seen only among the other homeless). You come to see a much broader range of human behavior… there’s not a lot of “Good morning, how are you?” “Fine, you?” on the streets.
In truth, being homeless can create the most complex social interactions that most people hopefully will never have to encounter.
Great series, but are the posts getting shorter and shorter?
You’ve done a great job with this story, who thought it could be possible with a game?
I’m totally hooked on this story!
I went and picked up Sims 3.
Using this program to tell a story is a great idea. It reminds me of a “XYZ High School” TV show.
Also, seeing how this program mimics human behavior is fascinating. When you give a set of basic rules to a population of “bots”, unexpected interactions, patterns, and trends develop before your eyes.
It not like A.I., where you try to interact with a single complex personality.
But what we are seeing here is clearly more than the sum of the individual parts.
It also appears that these ‘bot characters have a limited memory, and seem to be able to ‘learn’ things. That will lead to some really interesting things.
The “mnemonic” language the ‘bots use with each other is brilliant.
I love this story! You have an amazing talent. To make it easier on Alice you know that you can take her to the gym for a free bath and a quick meal free of inappropriate behavior right? Keep writing this story! I have to have a daily fix
damn you for making me care robin! hehe keep it up, I’m definitely onboard for more.
Poor Kev… he looks so depressed in pictures 2 and 3!
MOAR, I neeeed moar!!
Makes me want to buy the game and watch it play itself.
Good for him! Older women are hot 😉
Kev with an emotion other than anger, how interesting. Hopfully he can become friends with this person. Maybe she will be a good influence on him.
I really like your story. I’ve seen a comment on the previous page, complaining that it’s “not real” and saying that the sims can’t have these complex emotions, etc.. They said we are placing our own human emotions into them. Well, they are exactly right! However, that isn’t a bad thing. That is the point of a story like this. You are a wonderful story teller. Using the sims simple actions and your screen shots you are crafting an amazing, complex and very emotional story around them. THAT is the point of this, in my opinion. You have taken the game and used it as a tool for art. Keep up the wonderful work.
Have you been capturing video as well? It would make a great sim movie when you are done.
Cheers!
i am now addicted!! i might even have to go home and make my own homeless family tonight!
We all break down and show our humanity eventually; whether it be after a nap in the park or in a strangers living room or a random person on the street. It’s not easy being me, it’s not easy being you, and times are hard all over.
You do know you can give 50,000 simolians to the game right? Just press Ctrl+Shift+C in game and when the blue bar comes up at the top type in TestingCheatsEnabled and press Enter. Then do it again only type in Motherlode this time then prss Enter. You can use it as many times as you want and it really works!
The point is that they have no money though 😛
You can also type in Kaching instead of Motherlode for a more resonable 1,000 simolians
THIS SHOULD BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE EVENT!!!!
haha, just kidding. It’s good and all, but man people are going overboard.
Have read all the posts up until now. And its brilliant… just brilliant.
LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT. good thing i bookmarked this baby, i read 4 missed chapters on the spot 🙂
BEAUTIFUL!!! xoxo
Kev, you disgust me!
In my version, he worked out and got buff! Not too bad looking, except for the grungy clothes. That’s what drew the woman in, his looks, but the smell, attitude, and dumpy appearance soon had them running for the hills.
In my game he started chatting with one dude…was hitting it off as friends, and then suddenly turned on the poor guy! That left the other guy wondering “WTF just happened?!”
But alas, maybe he’s turning over a new leaf here. I doubt it seriously!
Keep up the great work Robin!
🙂
I am intrigued by your story. I played the original sims a lot (up through Vacation), but I never really got into Sims 2. I was, however, pretty excited by the idea of a sim’s life continuing to progress in a realistic fashion while still being able to micromanage the sim’s activities (which is why I was disappointed when simsville was canceled), and it seems like The Sims 3 helps to deliver in that sense. You have definitely helped convince me to purchase it.
a truly heart touching tale! keep up the great work!!1 im hooked robin! cant wait to c the next post. its like theyre real ppl!
Hah, I love this.
Ive even tried making my own Kev and Alice .. Ill admit, it isnt really going as well as i’d hoped… But oh well, its something to do.
Keep going dude 😀 Your doing a Fantastic Job
Is it bad that the only thing I keep thinking as I look at the pictures is…OOOOH!!! A seed is in the background! Go plant it Simmie!!
I love how people are giving advice to characters that are not real. On the otherhand I am totally in love with this story. Keep it up!
motherlode is for 50,000 and kaching is for 1,00 it would really suck if you typed kaching 50 times when there is a cheat that works better then kaching and its motherlode not motherload that gets kinda confusing when someones sleepy.. does familyfunds work???
While this story is good, i wonder how much is controlled by the game. im thinking little to none, especially Alice’s job. but a good story youve made, thats for sure.
And Kevin’s heart grew three times its size that day.
this blog is great!!!! I luv it so much its my favorite!!! I wish u would blog more than once a day though!!! keep up the good work! can’t wait till I get sims 3 in a week!!! yippee!!!!
Poor kev. ;(
Poor kev. 😦
Love it! Kev is becoming more human like and less of a jerk (though I sure it’s still there). I can’t wait for the next episode!
Really, really good web site, story, and concept. And kudos for posting links to real life charities. I’m honestly moved, and I’m a callous jerk! Keep up the great work.
wow- there are so many amazing things to say about this series!
it makes you feel/think so much in so little words.. ._.
well, It seems that we have a breakthrough on our hands.
Oh my god. I just read this from the beginning and I loved it. It’s such a wonderful, yet sad, story. Cant wait to see what happens next.
dang it… i need to know the ending…. how will it turn out???
AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggghhhhhh!
This reminds me of the book “My Abandonment” I just read. It’s about a father and daughter who are vagrants living in Forest Park, a wilderness that is right in the city of Portland Oregon. It’s based on a true story… and there are moments that are much like the book. This is so poignant… and sweet and your narration is delightful.
Can’t you make Alice a love-interest who’ll take her in and make her happy?
AWWWW!!!!
You need to post more often! I check all the time even though theres pretty much no chance of more each time I check
the blog is updated only once a day… but it is… EVERY day.. that’s pretty regular… o.O
Great story. Keep up the good work!
This is very funny and well done. Keep it up because it’s very much brighting up my day at work!
Makes me want to buy the game!
This story, while sad and hopeful, is very heartwarming and could be going on this very day for some unlucky teenager this world. I love this story and I’m very proud of you, Robin, for writing this compelling, interesting story and for sharing it. I give you an A+ and keep on writing. If someone knows of a publishign company, hook Robin up!
Wow! 94 comments and counting…awesome! poor Kev…
Dawww I feel sorry for him
Maybe he realises he is a weird maniac
Wow, man, your blog is getting really popular! 🙂
And Kev is crying?! Maybe you just broke the game. 😀
I think with the ghost lady part he actually felt some emotion going to work (I know they are only sims) and wanted to feel that feelings again and when he got rejected again he bursted into tears, thats what it looks like to me… Am I right..?
All that built up anger was just a front. There must have been a psychologist programming this game. Poor Kev.
How do you get it so his clothes are all dirty? do they becoime like that over time?
It’s strange to think that he of all people can be kind.
My bad, I meant “could cry”
That’s a nice old woman. Hehe
From something earlier..it bothers me that most people on here act like only sims 3 characters have personalities and emotions, ect. even in sims 1 and 2 you they have different pre-programmed emotions and you give them personalities….just because we don’t exactly have “traits” system in sims 2 doesn’t mean our sims don’t have personalities or “traits” (they are more like hidden or “made up” but they still have “traits”)
You don’t have to have sims 3 in order to have a sim that is a “workaholic” or “paranoid” or clumsy, ect.
anit1983, love your post!
Anyway, aww he got a hug.