DESCRIPTION

The Sims 2: Pets expansion brings animal companions into Sims neighborhoods and households. Pet-friendly Sims can adopt birds, guinea pigs, or dogs and cats of one of dozens of different breeds. Enterprising animal lovers can even design a custom pet, by choosing coloring, body size and type, and personality traits in the game's "Create-a-Family" mode. Plenty of pre-designed four-legged friends can be found with a call to the animal adoption agency, and even more are available for purchase at the local pet store. Players may also look for new pets online, where animals can be exchanged just like customized buildings, objects, and other Sim characters.

Sim pets have needs similar to those of Sim people. Food and friendship are the most immediate, but pets also need toys for play a place to go when nature calls. Just as in real life, it falls on Sim pet owners to keep their pets happy by feeding and watering them, playing with them, showing them affection, taking them to the park or pet store, and teaching them new tricks such as sit, stay, and fetch. With the right training and attention, pets can even be put to work, in security, service, or show business careers.

Animals will need to be disciplined from time to time, for actions such as chewing a favorite shoe or scratching up the couch, but firm training (and a toy the pet can chew or scratch without doing damage) will help keep valuables safe from kitty claws and puppy teeth. When players develop a perfect pet, they might want to pass on its genes to future generations. Nearly any two dogs or two cats can be crossbred, to create a new litter of puppies and kittens that carries the best (or worst) features of their parents. The Sim family can sell the new pet babies, keep them, or offer them for adoption. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide