Have you ever played one of those games that makes time seem to disappear? Before you know it, it's suddenly been hours since you started playing? The Sims is exactly that kind of game.

You have the opportunity to build a simulated neighborhood, and run the lives of those who live there. Develop your characters, look for a job, and control their day to day and minute to minute activities - working, playing, sleeping, eating, and making friends or enemies. There's definitely a reason why this game is so popular.

Plus, there's now an expansion pack - The Sims: Livin' Large - that offers additional career paths, new objects, and new neighborhoods. And if even that's not enough, there's a ton of sites that offer additional add-ons, such as objects and characters - check out Lycos for additional links.

Electronic Arts has also put together an Official Sims Web Site, and if you need help (because it's not always easy to manage someone's life), check out The Sims Official Strategy Guide.