'Westworld' as re-created in 'The Sims' is almost too perfect

By Gabe Gurwin December 29, 2016

The Sims 4 I WESTWORLD I Dolores Abernathy

Following Westworld‘s explosive season finale several weeks ago, we’ve been clamoring for more of HBO’s fantastic mix of old-school western tropes and science-fiction mystery. Though the show isn’t expected to return with new episodes until 2018, several players in EA’s The Sims 3 and The Sims 4 have been keeping themselves busy with re-creations of Westworld‘s iconic scenes and characters.

YouTuber Katverse released a video showing just how she designed Evan Rachel Wood’s “Dolores Abernathy” character in The Sims 4, opening the how-to with a shot of Dolores waking from her bed — a shot we see numerous times during the first season of the show.

The final design not only has Wood’s jawline and hair color matched perfectly, but also the blue dress that she wears for many of the show’s early episodes.

Using The Sims 3, Redditor Eurofutur was able to re-create a piece of Sweetwater, which serves as one of the primary locations in Robert Ford’s monstrous creation. Madam Maeve, as well as Dolores, Ford, Bernard Lowe, and what appears to be the “Man in Black” are all visible. While perhaps not intentional, the decision to leave the surrounding area green and undeveloped appears to show the dichotomy between Westworld and the “outside,” filled with modern technology and self-control.

The irony of re-creating characters from a show that is essentially The Sims inside of The Sims isn’t lost on us — the prospects of a software-led revolt here are terrifying. What if the Sims become self-aware and realize that they’re being controlled by a player? What if they realize that the “language” they speak is a bunch of nonsense and they can actually communicate with each other? What if the Sims are able to change their own values to make themselves more intelligent? Perhaps it’s best we never find out.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Gabe Gurwin has been playing games since 1997, beginning with the N64 and the Super Nintendo. He began his journalism career…

Gaming

Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is almost perfect, but it could use these tweaks

Link looking shocked holding rice.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is a monumental game. It unleashes player creativity with Ultrahand and Fuse, features three vast open worlds for players to explore, and still tells a rich and enthralling story that expands the mythology of The Legend of Zelda series. Still, no game is perfect. While Tears of the Kingdom will likely go down as my game of the year for 2023 and potentially one of my favorite games ever, there are still a few things that the game could do better.

And no, I’m not talking about removing weapon degradation. After spending hours upon hours with Tears of the Kingdom, some user experience quirks became more annoying and noticeable. None of them are game-breaking, but they are still areas where Nintendo can stand to improve as it updates and expand upon Tears of the Kingdom or potentially do another game in this style. Here's what I hope to see change to make this version of Zelda an even smoother and more seamless experience.
Make disconnecting Ultrahand creations easier
Ultrahand is a revelation for Tears of the Kingdom that allows players to create some really creative things and solve puzzles in any way their minds can imagine. That said, one aspect of its controls still baffles me: the only way to "Unstick" objects stuck to each other is by moving the right stick back and forth or shaking a Joy-Con remote. It's a bafflingly clunky way to do things for what is otherwise such a delicate and precise building system.

Gaming

The Sims 4: Growing Together adds babies and bladder problems

A family of Sims plays around and on a large treehouse that features a slide and lights hanging in a tree.

The Sims 4’s newest expansion pack, Growing Together, is all about family. Initially announced in February, the DLC offers more storytelling options for Sims families -- from familial activities like building a tree house together to new social features that will help create stronger bonds between your Sims.

In a press preview event, several Sims 4 team members including lead designer Scott Dai and lead producer Graham Nardone walked the press through a range of new features and gameplay mechanics that come with the pack including family dynamics, the new world of San Sequoia, and a slew of social interactions and aspirations for all age groups.

Gaming

Is The Sims 4 on Nintendo Switch?

Characters in the Sims 4.

First released over eight years ago, The Sims 4 recently went free-to-play across the board, bringing brand new players and returning vets back to the series on their favorite platforms. If you're looking to start a virtual family for fun, love the idea of playing god over a whole town of Sims, or are just burnt out on your other favorite cozy village games like Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Stardew Valley, now is the perfect time to jump into The Sims 4.

But if you were looking to pick up the game on your Nintendo Switch, we've got some bad news. Here's everything we know about The Sims 4 coming to Nintendo's favorite handheld console.