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

[profbutters.livejournal.com]

I think my Pleasantview shipping has been permanently altered by playing reversed gender Pleasantview. I keep seeing Lilith as Lionel and Angela as Angus. I do see what you're saying about the high school sweetheart problem. Pairings for the Pleasant twins become interesting when they or their partner have to grow and change. I really became enamored of the idea of Dustin/Dusty putting his or her past behind and making something of him/herself. If Dustin/Dusty stays with Angus/Angela, that can't happen, because the thrill for Angus/Angela is dating a bad boy/girl. I have a hard time seeing Angela changing in any way. Lilith, on the other hand, has every incentive to change. I could see her with Dirk or another totally different partner. I like her and Ripp, too.

I think forcing Don to be with any one woman is cruel, whether he is Don or Donna. I look at him and I start humming the theme to “Born Free."

I think probably the only Maxis Sim couple I truly ship is Tybalt/Mercutio. That is my Maxis OTP. Conversely, I just can't get behind Romeo/Juliette.

But I think the larger question is how one's views have been shaped by reading other people's stories. Many of the ships I voted for weren't ones I played, but were ones I read about and thought were cool. I. don't play strange town at all, and I don't have access to Desiderata Village or Belladonna Cove. This is one reason I have become such a fan of Maxis-based stories. It is like giving a lot of people identical sets of paints or of dollies and seeing how different and creative everyone can be.

EDIT: Crazy cat ladies are ALWAYS win.