Ever wondered what would happen if the world of The Sims 3 and Fallout collided? Sunset Valley was not spared the destruction of the Great War, when nuclear fire rained down death on October 22nd, 2077. Fortunately for some they were able to take refuge in underground shelters known as vaults.
Our vault is Vault 69 - built to Vault-Tec specifications to house one man and five women. It is fully equipped with everything our sims will need to survive for the rest of their lives. Vault-Tec will offer no guidance to the Vault Dwellers - it is up to them to survive and co-operate using their own free will. Our Eye-On-You cameras will relay the happenings in the vault as they occur.
The entrance to the vault is unassuming, set on the outskirts of Sunset Valley. The blast door will protect against all radiation - however, once inside our sims can never leave. An overview of the entire vault - our safe haven from the post-apocalyptic hell outside. The diner in red is where food-dispensers and trash incinerators will keep sims hale and hearty. The Overseer’s quarters are outfitted with the finest equipment in the vault - the comfiest bed, fastest computer, en-suite bathroom with the warmest shower. There is no designated Overseer. Will our sims establish a patriarchy? Will they rotate the job? It remains to be seen.
The first view of the vault atrium - the doors to the diner and reactor are visible below. On the second level, the most unique feature is the vault’s pool and exercise hall to keep our sims in shape while underground. The vault’s library and computer room provides all the reading materials our sims could need, along with portable video cameras, artists’ easel and chess set to improve logic in the vault. On the right the reactor room is visible - containing the power generator, water chip and laundry facilities.
Looking back from the library into the atrium, which contains tvs for holotape viewing and comfy Vault-Tec issued sofas, as well as a foosball table. Beyond is the music room, with piano, guitars, bass, drums, stereo and dance floor. A bird’s eye view of the living quarters on the vault’s third level, which contains sleeping quarters and shower units. There is also a laboratory, providing access to chemistry set, inventor’s table, tattooists chair, sculptor’s wheel and make-up storage.
But who are the fortunate vault dwellers who we will observe? They have been selected entirely at random and are strangers too each other. Howard Sutherland is the only male in the vault. His psych profile indicates he is childish. He also has issues with romantic commitment, which is bound to be problematic in his situation, is easily impressed, a natural cook and who loves to throw parties.
Maranda Mullen is the next to be profiled. Don’t let the pretty face fool you - she is certifiably insane, as well as having a green thumb, being a mooch, loving books and being a workaholic. Her green thumb will find no outlet underground, potentially increasing her insanity.
It will be interesting to see how our next sim fits in with rest of the vault. Lisette Perry is the only vegetarian among the vault dwellers - eating meat makes her ill. Even the sight disgusts her somewhat. She considers herself a loser, a shy animal lover she is also the neatest inhabitant.
Camille Julian like Lisette is quite shy, but the similarities end there. As an athletic and artistic sim she will get a lot of use out of the vault’s facilities, however her kleptomania is bound to cause conflicts. She’s also absent-minded which may frustrate her fellow vault dwellers.
Emma Martell is next into the vault. She is the most romance-inclined sim in the vault, and a great kisser to boot. However she is a couch potato and hates children, should any be born into the vault. Her friendly nature will stand her in good stead.
Elizabeth MacKenzie is the final vault dweller to be profiled. She scored highest on Vault-Tec IQ tests, but lowest in a crisis situation. Like Emma she dislikes children, but unlike Emma she is not romantic - flirting with her is a tough proposition. She’s the most technically apt in the vault, in the unlikely event that any vault equipment breaks.
What awaits our ragtag band of vault-dwelling survivors? Will they work together to make each others lives easier? will they form cliques and outcasts? Will they even survive, or will they set fire to the place, starve to death or manage to drown in our pool? The observation awaits…next time.