PC Game: The Sims 2University Expansion Pack

	Publisher:	EA Games
	Developer:	Maxis
	Genre:	Strategy
	Release Date:	February 28, 2005
	ESRB Rating:	Teen (13+) Crude Humor Suggestive Themes Violence

I bought the Expansion Pack last March 23, 2005 but installed it only April 17 because I haven't had the hang of the original Sims 2 yet. I'm addicted to the game as a whole that I could play it all day. I could stand not reading the latest Harry Potter installment as long as I have my Sims 2. Maybe I had it coming when the PC conked out last July 17 after I played the game for nearly 24 hours. My computer is working now but it's still not in good form ... so I'm not playing Sims 2 again just in case I totally destroy what's left of my PC.

In my opinion, it's too soon for an expansion pack budget wise, but I bought this one anyway because:

1. I wanted to be able to combine households;
2. I liked the idea of Sims stuck in a dormitory, interacting with NPCs that live in the same house; and
3. I enjoy creating houses so I must have those new objects

One thing I don't like about this game is that the play game is so short for a character. A semester is over too soon, and the Sim ends up studying a lot. Before you've made the Sim actually enjoy college, it's graduating! There may be cheats, but I generally hate using cheats. Another thing that annoys me is that some NPCs just freeze. I have no idea if it's the game or if I need to upgrade my PC.

Things to note:

• In making dormitories, you must use the dormitory door (with the corkboard/other stuff pinned on it) for the bedrooms if you want NPCs to arrive and take residence.
  
• In dorms, use the stove that came with this expansion pack (I think it's called the cafeteria stove) if you want a cook to come in every morning to prepare meals the whole day.
  
• In dorms, your Sim can work as a cook part time by clicking either the real cook or the stove.
  
• Your college Sim can skip studying if he or she is chummy with a current professor - which is a professor that student met for the first time for that particular semester.
  
• Your college Sim need not cook and can live on pizzas if he or she lives in a fraternity/sorority house.
  
• If there's a newly vacated dorm room, it will remain vacant for the rest of the term unless you have a Sim move in. A new NPC will arrive to occupy it only when the next term starts.
  
• If your Sims do not move into a fraternity/sorority house or dormitory at the same time, then the start and end of term will be different for each Sim, depending on when they moved in.
  
• Your college Sim gains more days per term if he or she stays in a community lot, while the others in the "household" (not NPCs) remain in the dorm/house. You can extend a Sim's stay in a community lot without passing out from lack of sleep. Sims can't sleep in a community lot but they can also skip sleeping by drinking lots of coffee. When the Sim finally returns to the house, it's as if no time has elapsed. It's different though if your Sim is alone in the "household".
  
• A good way to meet secret society members is by hanging out in community lots. The same member often goes to a particular lot at the same time of day.
  
• Some guests tend to disappear into a dormitory room upon arriving. Your Sim may find himself having to stay in that room just to chat with the guest.
  
• You can enter another occupied dorm room as long as there is no "Do not disturb" sign hung outside of it. It's one way to corner an NPC that's been avoiding hanging out with your Sim.
  
• Your Sim can work part time as a barista in a community lot by clicking the coffee machine or the NPC barista.
  
• Since Sims cannot sleep or even nap in community lots (yet), you cannot place beds in them too.

I've gotten tired of making houses lately, I'm looking into making stories next.