This game has been around for a while. You start a family. You can create them with by picking appearence, clothing, and personality traits. You are given money to build a house and see to your needs. You pick object to satify your needs and improve your skills. First one member in the house must learn to cook. If you don't a fire can start possibll killing the character. Generally more expensive items work better. You can decorate your house and find a job to generate the money to improve you live. You have a neighborhood with 10 lots to build on. A family can have up to eight member. Child can be created at the start or you have option later in the game. If you want more money at the start of the game you can fall in love and combine household. It is easier to improve your skills if wait a while before starting the first job. You must me careful with your money. Sims are social creatures so you must build friendships to advance in the game. It takes a while to get learn all the controls but you will get the hang of it fairly quickly. I have had large groups in house to generate lots of money. The hot tub is a great place to make new friends with starting fights. Also watching TV together works but slowly. To work your way up the ladder takes a large number of friends. When a child is born you must take care of it for three game days. If you don't welfare services shows up and takes the child. You will never get that child back. It is a good idea to save the game so you don't lose everything if something goes terribly wrong. It is worth the money because the game is fun. There are many expansion packs to add to the game. There are lots of downloads available also.