Discussion: Reflections on Maxis Sim Shipping

[strangetomato]

I think the thing that really stands out for me now that I'm seriously considering my Maxis character shipping preferences is how I do not see either Dirk/Lilith or Angela/Dustin working out in the end. I never really have. Well, actually, I did have an early notion, when I first started to sim in Pleasantview, that Angela WOULD marry Dustin and live a terribly dissatisfying life of semi-poverty (Broke-style), with a criminal husband and a yard full of scary domerman pincers. (Have I mentioned my active imagination? This was way before I had any concept of sim storytelling for others. Just myself.) But now I just see Angela moving on to greener pastures, leaving Dustin to find someone else (Ginger Newson being my favourite contender at this point, given her parallel to Brandi, which is a life he knows all too well.)

I can't ever stop seeing Dirk eventually cheating on Lilith with Angela, causing a huge rift there. In my game, he always, always cheats on her, in fact. Usually with Angela, but sometimes with someone else, and often without any input from me. I don't know if he ends up with Angela, or if he eventually reconciles with Lilith, but somehow that HAS to happen for me. Lilith is all over the place for me. She nearly always gets tangled up with Don Lothario at some point in my game (*lowers voice* sometimes even while still a teen... Oh Don, you're just... yeah), and then I just see her as this amazing free spirit who maybe stays single forever. You know those amazing old ladies who were movie stars or artists or musicians, who were lovers to many famous people over the years (mostly men, but there were some exceptions, if you believe the rumours), but always stayed true to themselves and didn't settle down? Yeah, that's how I see Lilith Pleasant.

Also, Tara Kat/Chester Gieke is the nerdiest couple EVER, by far. Geeky nerds trump bookish nerds any day of the week. (That's one of mine, by the way, from my uberhood. The red hair is a bonus, but they also remind me of my cousin and her husband in an uncanny way, right down to the cat lady-ness and the too geeky/socially awkward to live hardcore videogame geek factors. I am so sold on that pairing. I've seen its proven results in RL, people! XD)

So, I'm opening the floor to other shipping chit-chat here. Please try not engage in any full-on shipping brawls, but if you feel the need to pen an impromptu shipping manifesto, then who are we to stop you? :D Go on and share your insights, amusing pairing stories from your game, and so on.

Comments

[aledstrange.livejournal.com]

Agree about Vid/Botton. I like them in S,HWC, but personally can't get over the age difference easily. I'm just too picky about ages for my own game, thought it's always fun to see pairings I would never do played, in other stories and games. :)

And I especially agree about the lack of F/F paring. I was pretty disappointed, even thought about trowing some myself, but I had already abused of 'mod's power' by adding Ripp/Johnny (plus my original nominations), because no one did!

Those two were probably my earliest taste at M/M action when I first stared playing. Johnny seemed to enjoy dancing with Ripp way too much for his bday party, and that was all I needed to see! XD Never played them as couple too seriously, though, but it was fun in college :P (That was before I even knew about LJ, so now I'm curious about your J/R shipping for what I read in other comments ^_^)

[pixelcurious.livejournal.com]

Mod power abuse! Just wait till Friday's secrets! >:D

Yeah, my Johnny was much more interested in Ripp than Ophelia at that party... and then he's an adult, so he can't date her anyway. While Ripp was already an adult and fair game.