For ValeriaM, The Sims gives her life. It not only empowers her professionally, as a bonafide career, it’s also a safe place for her to make genuine connections with fellow creators. “The Sims is my happy place,” Valeria told us. “I suffer from a disability and do not go outdoors. I feel free when I play The Sims.”

If you couldn’t tell by her vibrant homes, Valeria is a proud Panamanian. “My Hispanic heritage influences me a lot,” she tells us. “My houses are always full of color like in Panama, and always at sea.” She added, “In Panama you can find all the colors of the world in its streets. That is the most valuable thing we have. The diversity of people in any corner.”

Valeria’s favorite thing about The Sims however is the educational aspect of it all, whether she’s sharing her home country’s customs with people from all over the globe, or it’s her learning about and exploring new cultures. “We can learn from everyone, and there is always someone willing to tell stories.”

Davey, better known as Simlish4, has been playing The Sims since 2004. “Wow, when you say it out loud it sounds crazy,” he thought. At first he was hooked on the building and living elements of the game. “A friend of mine told me about this game where you could create digital people and their houses,” he told us. “I was totally into it just from hearing that idea.” He soon realized there was so much more to experience.

Living in Mexico, Davey later launched Simlish4.com, a news site dedicated to reporting on all things Sims. It was soon after that he found himself entrenched in a large community of hispanic gamers sharing a passion for The Sims and its creativity. As his site grew, so did his understanding of the world and what cultural exchange really meant.

“I have learned a lot about not only my heritage, but also how important it is for everyone to feel represented in the game or anywhere else.” He added, “This game has inspired me and has given me the strength to fight for a lot of things in the real world, such as equality.”

Whether it’s the experiences, the creativity, the people, the storytelling, or finally being able to build that taco restaurant he always wanted to, Davey has enjoyed his many years with The Sims. “I have learned so much and I have overcome so many fears that I know without this opportunity I wouldn’t have. I feel happy but also inspired everyday to keep doing things for a community I admire with a videogame that I love.”

When her brother introduced TialsaPetit to The Sims as a little girl in Colombia, she was amazed by the empowerment this game can give her. "Just imagine a 7-year-old little kid making the decisions for her Sims!" Ever since, The Sims has opened her up to new worlds and new adventures.

“Growing up, The Sims gave me the opportunity to make my own choices, even if it is just a decorated house or a pretty outfit. That kind of stuff helped me to know what I like and what I don’t.” TiaIsaPetit loved the ability to make the choices that affected her Sims lives, such as the decision to have a baby or go find a job.

It was the content of fellow Simmers that inspired TialsaPetit to start her career as a storyteller in The Sims. “I didn’t really know how to play it so I searched videos on YouTube, and I remember that I found some kind of ‘telenovelas,’ but The Sims version. I immediately saw the opportunity to create my own stories.”

Now a talented graphic artist, The Sims serves as TiaIsaPetit’s creative outlet. “[The Sims] makes me more creative and secure about the things I like,” she told us. As a graphic designer I really enjoy the aesthetic things, and the game gives you the freedom to create your own world.”

She hasn’t lost her storytelling, soap opera foundation however. When asked what her favorite creation has been, she said, “Crazy love stories with famous people.” Laughing, she added, “It's my own telenovela.”

Márcio began playing The Sims in 2004, but at that time he didn’t have his own computer to use, he had to play during the breaks in his school days. Today, Márcio, also known as MTsims for the build enthusiasts out there, has thousands of followers across different social platforms all learning about his next level constructions. His favorite being a “house geared towards people with special needs.”

The Sims helped Márcio find confidence in himself and his creativity, and now he’s sharing his passion with fellow gamers in his home country of Brazil and beyond. “I learned that regardless of culture, The Sims is a universal game and that each person makes their experience with The Sims unique. Each player plays and lives in different ways, and that makes us unique.”

Despite the building and storytelling, it’s The Sims community he helped create that he’s most thankful for. “[I’m proud of] the friendships and relationships I've built over these years playing and creating content for people, I made great partnerships and friendships for life.”

Gamer Mia Zaff began playing The Sims in 2008 when her dad gifted her a cell phone with The Sims 2 pre-downloaded. Nowadays, she takes inspiration from her Mexican heritage to tell dramedies to her half million followers across YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter. 

“As a Mexican, I tend to be very dramatic in my stories. Soap operas were very fashionable in Mexico before, so I adapt that drama to my Sims so that my viewers feel that they are watching a story and not just the game.” 

Mia started playing The Sims as a form of escapism; it gave her the opportunity to use her creativity to make and enjoy stories crafted through her Sims. “At that point in my life I wasn't having such a good time, and the game helped me to entertain myself and have fun. I managed to forget the bad times with the crazy things that my Sims did.” 

What she now loves about The Sims is its vast inclusive community. “No matter what nationality you are, what language you speak, what skin color you have, what sexual orientation you have, you are a valuable and important member. There is room for everyone.”

From the creative storytelling, to the community building, Mia is most proud of herself. The Sims helped her open up and find the confidence to do things she never thought she could, like quitting a safe career to follow her dream of being a professional gamer, and traveling the world on her own. 

“Don't stop dreaming because if you believe in yourself and fight for what you want, you will get it. You can get it all.”

Argentinian Kronopia, started playing The Sims in 2000 with the very first iteration of the game. “There was only one neighborhood and shoe box houses,” she exclaimed.

Her reasons for playing have varied over the years, but the experiences have always been rooted in positivity and adventure. “At first it was a time killer, some years later it was an escape from reality -- I was able to be everything I felt I failed to be in real life.”

She continued, “Four years ago, I got diagnosed with generalized anxiety, and The Sims was there to chill my mind and help me shift my focus away from the dark thoughts I used to go through.”

Nowadays, it’s the creativity that keeps her playing and engaged, whether it's replicating a Japanese neighborhood or working alongside another community member in a build competition.

“My ideas and creativity may have never been the same without The Sims. And of course, my inner peace. The Sims franchise was a real lifesaver for me, and I will be forever grateful for it.”

Born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, GrumpyLynnSims came with her parents to the mainland U.S.A. when she was just 4 years old. Her parents only spoke Spanish, and it wasn’t until she was about 11 years old that she learned how to speak full sentences in English. She remembers being taken out of class for two hours a day where an E.S.L. (English as a Second Language) teacher would teach her how to properly pronounce English words. GrumpyLynnSims recollects coming home with her siblings speaking English and her mother saying, “¡Aqui no! ¡Aqui hablan en Español!” (“Not in the house! Here, you speak Spanish!”)

“I now proudly speak both Spanish and English to my mother, and even though she’s still shy about speaking English herself, she understands it. I am Puerto Rican and I’m very proud of my heritage. Wepa!”

GrumpyLynnSims first heard of The Sims at a friend’s house, and it immediately caught her attention. She has naturally gravitated toward outlets where she can really express herself, therefore building in The Sims completely took over.

While every build GrumpLynnSims creates contains something she is proud of, her most favorite are homes based on her memories from Puerto Rico. “At the time, it had been about ten years since I last visited Puerto Rico, but I sat down and built this house simply based on memories from vacations when I was younger. It was very nostalgic of my childhood,” says GrumpLynnSims. “I love showing my creations to my family and seeing how amazed they are by the game. When I showed my mother all the Hispanic dishes that were added to the game, she was grinning from ear to ear. It made me smile.”

While the Mexican-born Fritosaurio has amassed an expansive following for his builds, reviews and fun content pieces, it’s The Sims’ diverse and inclusive community that keeps him creating. “I've learned to appreciate the diversity that brings us closer as players, and the fact that heritage means something bigger, something that goes beyond our personal interests or local customs.”

Fritosaurio considers himself an introvert, but thanks to The Sims, he developed a newfound confidence in himself, where he’s now able to speak in public and to his thousands of followers across the world. “That motivated me to inspire others to share their experiences with the game and to be more open to the world.”

A proud Mexican, he’s especially thankful for The Sims spotlighting his hispanic heritage through a number of game additions over the last few years. “I got excited when I saw hispanic content in The Sims 4 -- clothes, food, and furniture. I felt I could finally represent myself and the people watching my videos in the game.”

CajuGPlay started playing The Sims in 2002. She was 12 years old when she first discovered The Sims through a friend who invited her over to play, and since then, she has completely fallen in love with the franchise, creating stories and decorating homes for her Sims. The Sims games have continued to amaze and inspire her to this day.

“It's a game that relaxes me, in addition to allowing me to get out of reality a little, also allowing me to sharpen my creativity,” says CajuGPlay. “What really influences my way of playing is to be always focused on inserting [Brazilian] joy, [Brazilian] dances, [Brazilian] colors to the stories I tell. Latin culture is very rich!”

To CajuGPlay, dancing is important to her and her view of Latin culture because “it brings joy and the desire to live longer and smile more.” When The Sims 4 Jungle Adventures launched, it came with new styles of Latin-inspired music and dancing, in addition to colorful clothes which made CajuGPlay very nostalgic. “This made me more willing to create new stories with my Sims, making them even more immersed in this world. With that, I could learn that I can be whatever I want, whenever I want, with my way, my dance, my happy songs, without judgment. It made me a better person.”

“I was so thrilled when The Sims 4 added Día de los Muertos through an update in 2016. Thanks to that, I was able to incorporate my heritage into my let's play for the Get Together Expansion Pack,” says Andrew, also known as Andrew Arcade on social media. “My Mexican Sim went to a graveyard to leave offerings for her deceased parents at their ofrenda. This allowed me to talk about my own experiences with Day of the Dead growing up and share my culture with my own diverse audience.”

While playing the original The Sims game, Andrew remembers wanting to fill up neighborhoods with his family members and asking his mom for help. She sat next to him as they made her parents and siblings in the game. “Through that experience, I was able to learn about my ancestry and how life was for my mother in Mexico.”

“One of my favorite creations is on my gallery titled ‘Mi casa es tu casa,’ and it's a house that I built using my childhood home from Mexico as inspiration. I love the way it turned out, and every time I play in it, I can't help but feel nostalgic.”

eyAnton was six years old when he first stumbled upon The Sims. Despite a rough start (the Goth family may have met an unfortunate, fiery end), today he spends his time building Lots on his Twitch channel—and building friendships. “I love to be a part of the community,” he says. “I love when we help each other out or give each other inspiration.”

As an LGBTQ+ streamer and Game Changer, eyAnton is no stranger to being an inspiration himself. “I was assigned female at birth,” he says, “but I really never felt like that was me. I have pretty much always felt like I am male. I am now an adult and proud to be a transgender man.” Playing The Sims actually helped him escape gender dysphoria. “The Sims really do[es] normalize that love is love and doesn’t have to be restricted by genders or identities. My favorite gameplays have been romancing Bob Pancakes and [having] his babies, as The Sims allows you to create transgender males that are still able to get pregnant!”

eyAnton’s advice for the community? “Be sure to encourage and help each other out. Play fair and have fun!”

Simfan923 remembers watching his dad play The Sims when he was a kid, and he’s been playing ever since. “It’s probably been the biggest part of my life and honestly my go-to game whenever I’m feeling anxious or sad or just when I want a good laugh,” he says. “The Sims was originally the only place I felt safe to be 100% myself, and that included being gay.”

Growing up, Simfan923 reflects, he didn’t feel able to live that part of his life, but the community around the game really impacted him. “Being a part of such a large group of people across the world who feel that they can share their stories and their creativity with everyone is just amazing,” he says. “Over time, I grew as a creator, and while I used to be very shy in real life, The Sims gave me countless moments to share my voice and be who I originally felt I couldn’t be outside of the game.”

Whether he’s creating Sims in honor Black History Month or building a single-dad house, that creativity and community support “fills [his] heart.” “I love being part of a community that embraces everyone. I’ve grown confidence, and last year, while it wasn’t a huge shock for me, I realized that I identified as non-binary. So I’m grateful I’m able to be myself both in-game and out of game.”

You might recognize BeyondSims from his eponymous site BeyondSims. “The Sims franchise has been one thing in my life that has remained constant and has always been present,” he says as he explains why he started the site in 2011. “[It] allowed me to play in a world and create storylines that had no boundaries or discrimination—just love and acceptance. Where I grew up wasn't the most open-minded area, so the first experiences of realizing I was gay were negative. The Sims was one of the things that helped me eventually come to terms with my sexuality once I had accepted it and understood it. Without being able to see positive representation or being able to explore in that way, perhaps my story would be different.”

Now, BeyondSims has brought that representation out of the game and turned it into a conduit for community. In addition to running BeyondSims.com, he has also hosted the Simmers Meetup in the UK. “I have always felt at home and accepted in this community, no matter what. The thing that makes me most proud is how supportive the community is of everyone, and I think that's such a rare thing to find in the gaming world. If you need help with something, someone is always there to assist, and if you just want to share your latest build, there's always someone there to celebrate it!”

CaroloVazquez spends a lot of her time nowadays creating herself and her girlfriend as Sims. “We laugh because our Sims are so accurate!” she says. “We love to plan our future house in the game and post it on our social media.” Recently, she and her friends even hosted a contest in Argentina where Simmers designed a home for the two.

She remembers being 7 when she first began playing the game—and how it impacted her. “I really think The Sims was my first approach with same-gender relationships, and that was awesome. I was a 7-year-old girl in [the] early 2000s, so nobody was talking about LGBTQ+ issues.” Being able to experience that in-game meant a lot to her. “Representation is very important, not only on TV shows and movies, in video games, too,” she says. “I think the first time I kissed a girl was playing The Sims (actually, it was my Sim version hahaha), and everything worked fine, so here I am now, very in love with my real not-Sim girlfriend.”

As for her community, building a home for CaroloVazquez and her girlfriend isn’t all they’ve accomplished. “Everyone [in The Sims community] wants to help you and teach you how to improve in the game, make it more realistic, how to create amazing houses. I think that's the best thing about The Sims community: everyone wants to share their work with you! I'm proud that we are a part of a community that encourages people to live their lives as they want, to be free and love anything (or anyone) they want in a very wholesome way.”

Content creator Dimissauro found The Sims at 13 and immediately knew it was the game for him. “The LGBTQ+ characters [on TV] were always portrayed in an unrealistic way compared to the other characters, as if they only existed for comic relief,” Dimissauro reflects. “The Sims was the first time that I could build a relationship with anyone that I wanted, boy or girl. An LGBTQ+ Sim looked like and was treated the same way as a non-LGBTQ+ Sim. That freedom and respect that the game showed me was very powerful, and I was able to finally understand that it was okay being who I am and offered me much-needed representation.”

Growing up in Brazil in the ‘90s, there wasn’t much of that in media. Dimissauro found comfort in the game, and when he started streaming, The Sims helped him overcome his shyness and connect with others. “My YouTube Channel and Twitch live streaming are only happening today because of how accepting The Sims community is,” he admits. “I love how diverse the community is. They inspire me by sharing their own stories and creations, both in-game and real life. None [of the] other game communities I've ever been part [of] created such a comfortable environment for each person's individuality.”

“Creating Sims and telling their stories actually helped me gain my confidence,” says DOTsim, the founder of Polish fansite DOTsim. “In my country, being part of the LGBTQ+ community hasn’t always been easy. When I realized I was gay, I couldn’t share it with others. I think that the opportunity to freely express myself in a safe environment of the game has given me the courage to finally come out.”

Now, he dedicates himself to the community of DOTsim. “I’m trying my best to encourage the visitors of my site to be proud of themselves and to help them with self-acceptance,” he says of the project. Almost ten years ago, he started it by writing news and guides for just a few people, and now it’s one of his greatest achievements. “Thanks to DOTsim, I belong to a fantastic community, which is an important part of my life. I think it was the accepting community that contributed to my coming out. Without the passion, comments, and ideas that we share, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

Of course, it doesn’t hurt that he met his partner through DOTsim forums, either! “It all started with talking about The Sims, then we started spending more time together, and today, we can celebrate a long-time relationship. It’s really beautiful!”

Known for her YouTube channel and being part of the runner-up team on The Sims Spark’d, EnglishSimmer views her Belong There series as her biggest achievement. The series, dedicated to telling LGBTQ+ stories, reinforces the need for more representation in the world.

“Simmers deserve to tell their own journeys through their Sims and deserve to see themselves represented in the game,” says EnglishSimmer. “I never thought I’d feel comfortable enough to put my sexuality out there enough to do a full story dedicated to telling LGBTQ+ stories, but every single time I get a comment telling me that it’s someone’s comfort series, or it helped them feel seen because they had never seen themselves represented and included in traditional media, my heart soars.”

EnglishSimmer picked up The Sims at a young age, so “LGBTQ+ relationships have been very much a norm” for her. “The game definitely gave me time to come to terms with my sexuality and explore it in a very safe environment between my Sims, at my own speed, without feeling any pressure,” she says. “Ever since I’ve embraced it, LGBTQ+ themes have been a pillar of my channel because I aim to be the representation I wanted, so it has helped with how I approach my content. I hope people never want to stop seeing positive changes for The Sims and it can continue to evolve to be the most inclusive life simulation it can be.”

“As a bisexual woman,” maedi says, “playing The Sims is being able to try on a million different lives and the freedom to experiment without judgement.” This sense of creativity and freedom has permeated her entire life. From playing with dolls to streaming The Sims, maedi has “always wanted to play with life.”

“I remember going to my friends’ house and playing [The Sims] House Party during sleepovers instead of talking about boys,” she says. “It helped me realise that sexuality is a spectrum. The thing I treasure most about my LGBTQIA+ journey with the Sims is that my Sims can be as fluid as I am.”

maedi also acknowledges the sense of freedom she gets from The Sims community. “[It’s] so welcoming, supportive, and inclusive. I’ve never felt more at home with a vast community of people who are actively trying to make the game a more inclusive space,” she says. “The imagination that goes into The Sims is incredible.”

Whether she’s inspiring others to play or pushing boundaries herself, maedi keeps her sense of humor and pushes on, because, “if a Sim can become a surgeon with no experience, I can do anything,” she jokes.

“At my 28 years old, [The Sims] is still my refuge and my inspiration,” says Spanish YouTuber Mprin. “I can say that the first time I was myself, it was in The Sims. It helped me through the process of self-discovery without fear of anything or anyone. While the real world around me rejected me, I felt accepted by the Simmer community.”

Today, Mprin uses his platform to inspire his viewers as they inspire him, “taking advantage of [his] position on the internet to give visibility to the LGBTQ+ collective.” He hopes his videos are a “window to the world” and reach people who need to see themselves represented or even those who just need something to smile about on a bad day. “I still remember how I played in The Sims 2 with my LGBTQ + Sims and thought, ‘I too want to be that happy someday with my boyfriend and my dog,’” he says. “And to this day that I have achieved it, I want my followers to know that it can be done! Thanks to projecting my feelings into the game, I knew it was time to stop wasting time and dare to come out of the closet with my family and friends. It was incredible to feel that it was time to be happy like my Sims were!”

Mprin considers The Sims community one of “the most varied” out there. “There are all kinds of players here and they all have their place in the game,” he says. “But above all, I am inspired by those people who fight to make the game more and more inclusive—for example, the black community. Being part of the Simmer community is undoubtedly a source of pride and satisfaction.”

Gamer and author Lili Cross knows how difficult it can be to remember to laugh at life. “It's easy nowadays to fall into depression, and we all struggle not to do it, although sometimes it's very hard because our environment is too intense,” she admits. “As a woman in video games, [people] have tried to sexualize me; they have tried to undermine my physical appearance or the tone of my voice. But you know what? The box they want to put us in can stay broken and buried. It's time to do what we [women] want.”

In 2015, she launched her YouTube channel, where she encourages tolerance, love, and joy while playing The Sims. “An absurd laugh or a funny, odd moment can brighten a person's day without [them] even realizing it,” she says. “I like to look for the positive side of things. That's what I'm here for, to try to change that in every person who sees me.”

Her adventures in The Sims encourage her to push against the expectations of society: “Don’t dwell on how life should be instead of how it could be. Dream big and live with passion for what you do.”

When her family first got The Sims, Negaoryx recalls, she and her sister would wake up early on weekends to start up the family PC. They’d take turns playing while the other watched—as Negaoryx says, “I was hooked, right from the start.”

Twenty-one years later, that hasn’t changed. “I still play The Sims today (and stream on Twitch!) because it brings me as much joy now as it did when I first discovered it as a kid. I love that no matter what’s going on in the world, no matter where my life is, I can boot up the game and create a time and a place to escape to.”

Growing up, Negaoryx sometimes needed that escape. “The Sims was immensely impactful for me in terms of embarking on a process of self-discovery. The first queer representation I ever saw was in Sims machinima I watched on YouTube. Before I ever came out to anyone offline, I felt seen and accepted by the LGBTQ+ community thanks to the creators I discovered back in The Sims 2 days.”

Now, Negaoryx wants to be that same beacon of hope for others. “There are so many young girls and women who grew up unable to see themselves in the game. If even just one person has felt seen or represented from watching my content, that’ll have been the most impactful thing I have ever done with my career, I think.”

That’s not the only good thing to come out of the community, though. “Thanks to Simmers like XMiraMira and EbonixSims, The Sims has changed and evolved to be better, more diverse, and more of a reflection of the women who play the game,” Negaoryx says. “I love that The Sims community inspires each other so continuously, and how we make the game feel so much bigger and more inclusive with our feedback, hard work, and content we create for one another.”

“Don’t be afraid to speak up and advocate for what you feel is right and what you want to see in the gaming space. A better future is worth fighting for, and gaming is for everyone.”

OyakeLemon is no stranger to those who have watched her 36-episode legacy challenge, Zhengs' Legacy. “I really enjoy creating different lives and careers for Sims,” she says about playing. “I prefer immersive gameplay, and The Sims has always been a game of diversity and inclusion. There are characters waiting to be discovered and many different lifestyles to be lived.”

It ultimately led her to start her YouTube channel, where she plays through challenges and digs into Sim backstories. “Sometimes, fans tell me that my videos accompanied them through their rough time. It is so great that I can help them this way, and I'd love to engage myself in The Sims more for this purpose.”

That relationship goes both ways for OyakeLemon. Last year, her community inspired her to launch an Android app based on some of her own live streams. “The app features some time-limited objectives for Sims, and gives rewards or punishments depending on the outcomes. It was originally serial content in my live streams, and many of my viewers wanted to try it themselves.”

Whether she’s uploading creations to the Gallery, playing through long Sim lifecycles, or just interacting with her community, she says, “I think The Sims would probably be the game of my life.”

When her dad first brought home The Sims, Priscila Paes was 13 years old and had no idea what the game would come to mean to her. Now, twenty years later, Priscila Paes plays to relax and forget about her problems. “It’s almost like going back in time,” she says about her hobby. “I have anxiety, but when I’m playing, I get so focused that I forget my bad feelings and worries.”

Priscila Paes often creates Sims inspired by the people close to her, characters in books, and even her beloved dog. Her profile on the Gallery features many of these Sims and a few builds, and last year, she started a YouTube series focused on introducing them through gameplay. “The videos were moments that amused me and kept me away from so many bad events,” she says. “The followers also disconnected from the world for a moment and followed them like a soap opera. It is almost like therapy.”

Still, as a 33-year-old woman, Priscila Paes acknowledges she’s faced some challenges. “I have been judged on social media for playing,” she admits, but it doesn’t discourage her. “I believe it is okay for you to have an adult life and enjoy a game from when you were younger. The game helps me clear my mind and work on my creativity. It inspires me to do new and different things at work.”

She’s also met many others who love the game—and she has inspired even more to play again. “Allow yourself to do what is good for you, what you feel like, and don't be ashamed of it. There will always be someone with the same taste as you,” she advises.

Some of the most rewarding opportunities stem from problems. Prior to getting married, Simba World faced difficulties in her work environment that forced her to leave her job. “There is definitely a wall in Korean society that women cannot easily break,” the prominent YouTuber says. “It was so hard to get a job after I became a married woman. I'd been busy all my life, but when I became unemployed in the morning, every day was so long and empty.”

That’s when Simba World turned to The Sims and YouTube. “I fell in love with The Sims because I like to make my own special story, and when I first started my YouTube, there were no YouTubers in Korea who made content comprehensively with The Sims. Now, we are transferring know-how to new YouTubers and forming a community! I've influenced other people's lives.”

She currently acts as the leader of The Sims Creators YouTube channel, and her own channel is full of imaginative stories, beautiful builds, and tips for playing. (Viewers can also download some of her work from the Gallery, where she uploads many of her builds.) Whether she’s inspiring the next generation or simply having fun for herself, Simba World lives by her own advice: “Do not give up, and do your best until the end. Sometimes there are unexpected opportunities!”

TabathaPacer sometimes struggles with getting out of her comfort zone and sharing her creations, even as a gamer and content creator. “If I’m being completely honest, I got used to having a very personal game, since I played from a very young age,” she says about her experience with The Sims. “Maybe this is an opportunity to show my community what I can do.”

That community veers young for TabathaPacer, so she tends to focus on the entertainment of the game. “I feel that The Sims gives me the space to enjoy a different kind of game. I enjoy creating different personalities in my characters, being able to live really complex adventures, and the families always have so much to tell us. It’s a new universe, and a very exciting one where you can really have a sense of community.”

The Sims also showed her an “entire universe of chances” in the world of video games. “Gender roles have nothing to do with the video game industry. We have to fight to be who we want to be. Nothing is truly difficult or impossible, and us women can do everything. We’ll keep showing to everyone that we are people.”

When xmiramira released her custom content melanin pack a few years ago, it “sparked a huge conversation on changes that not only needed to be made within The Sims franchise, but gaming overall. All I wanted to do was make it so that Black Simmers and Simmers of color can be themselves,” she says. Now, The Sims Spark’d winner continues to do that every day.

In addition to her TV appearances and Sims videos, xmiramira also speaks on panels and advocates for better representation in the game. “If a person of color is somewhere playing their game just how they want to play it because they saw me do the same, then I think I’ve had a decent impact on the community,” she says.

Every day, that impact grows. Lately, she’s been working with The Sims 4 dev team to improve the new base game skin tones updates. When she reflects on all she’s accomplished, she says, “[The Sims] has indirectly empowered me quite a bit. Being in this industry has consisted of quite a few things that were not dreams, because I didn’t know they were even attainable.”

As for what advice she’d give to others trying to change the game—and the world? “Do you. Set your goals and push for them. Ignore the naysayers. Don’t let folks get in your head—you can bring about change, whether it be big or small.”

"I want to be able to create content that I see in my real world, from people who look like me. I could be walking on the street and see a hairstyle that I'd want to create for the game. That's how important it has been for me when I say representation matters. It's for anyone to be able to open the game and be able to see/create themselves!"

“The Sims is a simulation game that means so many things to so many of us. For me, if I'm simulating life, I need to bring the diversity and melting pot of a world we inhabit into my game/content. I make Sims that people can relate to. I want my viewers to feel something when they see my Sims. I try to steer clear of cookie-cutter Sims now and genuinely tell a story from their race/ethnicity, culture, sexuality, and even down to their clothing choices. The Sims is a global game, and if one person can watch my video and feel represented, I've done my part.”

“When it comes to builds, I build usually what I need at the moment. Similar to the sorority house I built for University. I really wanted to play that type of household so I built one. Something functional. If we’re talking about Sims, I tend to go towards the same style.”

“The Sims has been more than a game for me. The Sims has been an outlet through the hard times in my life. This game has changed my life where I’ve been able to make it into my career. It has put me in the position of having many amazing opportunities. My inspiration for my creations doesn’t just come from one place. However, my creations are basically a summary of my life. The stories I tell are a mixture of my upbringing and what influenced it. It could be my personal experiences, my community, or tv shows and movies I watched growing up. My story options are endless.”

“I wanted to create a life that I couldn't make in real life, so I told myself why not try it in The Sims to see what would happen. Surprisingly, I got hooked on playing with pixelated people. I encourage more inclusivity and representation within The Sims community by creating diverse Sims ranging in skin color, body size, profession, sexual orientation, and how I set the backstory for them. I strive to develop each Sim or house differently through research and personal experience.”

“As an introvert, it was the perfect game for me. I could create a world of my own and get lost in it. I'm grateful for all the friends I have made through this community and the bond we've created over this game. Being a part of this community has truly changed my life in ways no one can really imagine.”

“I was a young girl with a big imagination. I saw this game in the store that was simulating life and its possibilities. That’s what inspired me to start playing. As cliche as it might sound, I would say you find your community by being yourself and being open to experiencing other people being themselves. Don’t be afraid to explore and talk to people.”

“I love creating stories with inspirational themes or events, or just showing how my Sims can meet adversity and overcome it to be stronger in the end. I'm always hoping people who view my creations can get something out of what I create that they can possibly apply to their lives. Think outside the box, and don't be afraid to tell the story you want to tell! You never know who you can reach and inspire when doing so!”

“As a little girl, I always like to play make-believe. Playing Sims was sort of like that. I could create people and make them do what I wanted. That’s all I needed. Your community is the people who love and support your creative expression! It can be 2 people or 2 million people! But share your work! Be proud of it!”