Can casual game Virtual Families take a chunk out of The Sims?
Last Day of Work is launching a new casual web game dubbed Virtual Families today. It’s a family simulation game that hopes to carve out a market in the shadow of the giant Electronic Arts franchise, The Sims, which has sold more than 100 million copies and which launches its third version in June. Arthur Humphrey, co-founder and lead designer of Last Day of Work, says he isn’t intimidated by the comparison because Virtual Families also incorporates elements of Nintendo’s Animal Crossing cutesy simulations. Humphrey also sees Virtual Families as fixing some of the flaws of The Sims, which is a complicated game and appeals to people who want to sink a lot of time into an experience. By contrast, Virtual Families is a casual game, more akin to a Tamagotchi virtual pet. You help your families live their virtual lives, get them through the day’s chores or assist them with huge life decisions, always paying attention to a budget. We had early look at Virtual Families in February before it l
