Changes: The Sims 2: Open for Business

Revision as of 10:36, 12 January 2021

The Sims 2: Open for Business

Expansion pack for

The Sims Wiki's Featured Article for January 2019.

The Sims 2: Open for Business

Your Sims Get Down To Business
Development
Developer(s)	Maxis Emeryville
Publisher(s)	EA Games (PC) Aspyr Media (Mac)
Ratings	ESRB: T ACB: M PEGI: 12+
Series	The Sims series
Release date(s)	Windows ^NA March 2, 2006 ^EU March 3, 2006 Mac OS X ^NA September 4, 2006
Technical information
Version	1.3.0.351
Mode(s)	Single-player
Media	1 CD
Input methods	Keyboard, mouse
Game features
Genres	Life simulation game, God game
Themes	Business
Creatures	Servo
Neighborhoods	Bluewater Village
Related pages
Patches and updates
Cheats

The Sims 2: Open for Business is the third expansion pack for The Sims 2, released on March 2, 2006 in the US and on March 3, 2006 in Europe. The Mac version was released on September 4, 2006. It allows Sims to run a home or community lot based business. Its concept of owning a business returned in The Sims 4: Get to Work.

Running a business is the main theme of this expansion pack. Open for Business gives the player the ability to run a business, either on a playable Sim's home lot or a separate community lot that they own. It also adds a new type of sub-neighborhood called a shopping district, with Bluewater Village being a pre-made one. Open for Business also introduces a new life state to the game: the servo. Sims can build servos on the robot creation bench and they can either be sold in a business or activated, where the servo becomes a member of the family.

Description

Now your Sims can create their own businesses. They can design their own clothing boutique, beauty salon, florist, high-end electronics shop, bustling restaurant chain, or virtually any other type of business. Hire your staff as the business grows and put talented Sims to work making toys, running the register, crafting floral bouquets, giving sales pitches, or manufacturing robots. But watch out for slacker employees and be prepared to fire them on the spot. From clever tinkerer to master craftsman, develop your Sim's talents to best suit your business needs. Will they build a thriving business empire or become eccentric entrepreneurs designing the next big thing?

Overview

The main change to the core game introduced by Open for Business is a new neighborhood type — the Shopping District, the default one being named Bluewater Village. A number of Sims live there, such as a toymaking family, a woman who owns a home-based flower shop, a family that owns a furniture shop, a family bakery, and a rich tycoon who owns a nightclub and an electronics shop.

Community lots are more flexible now. Removing many of the gameplay restrictions that were present on them in the original game makes a large improvement. Players can now save the game while their Sims are visiting community lots, reloading their household will take the player to the community lot where the Sims are located. Buy mode and build mode are now accessible on owned community lots, so that the players can customize their business.

Like the other expansions, new wants and fears and interactions are added. They include a new lifetime want and several new interactions for children. Some changes to items from the base game are also present. For example, doors are now lockable. They can be set to allow only one Sim, the whole family, or just employees to enter.

There are new objects in this expansion. Furniture styles and the build-mode selection have been expanded. The biggest difference, however, is the addition of business-oriented items such as cash-registers, shelves, elevators, and crafting centers that Sims can use to create things to sell.

Features

Create Thriving Businesses:

Open up shops selling just about anything from clothing, electronics, and toys to flowers, baked goods, robots and more. Customize any business to your choosing by tailoring the store theme, layout and prices. Hire employees with high sales skills and employ independent managers to run things while your Sim is away. Watch as your business grows from a mom and pop shop into a booming empire.

Be The Boss:

Train employees, promote the best, and fire the rest. Cater to different customers including browsers and loyal shoppers. Dress your Sims in outrageous mascot outfits that resemble Knights, Ninjas, Gorillas, and more. Promote your best employees, but beware of slacker workers and be prepared to lay them off without hesitation!

Learn The Tricks Of The Trade:

Customer is king. Develop your Sims' sales skills and determine if your employees should use a hard sell or drop the price to close the deal. Win the Best-of-the-Best Award to establish your Sim's business rep. Will your Sim's business make more money selling low quality products at basement rates or luxurious goods at scale-tipping prices?

Turn Talents Into Cash:

Arrange flowers, make toys, and create robots to catch thieves at home or clean up the shop. Develop master-skilled Sims to make the most prized and expensive goods. Settle for an entry-level crafter and churn out pet bricks or faulty toy robots. Just bring home the bacon any way you can!

More Than 125 New Items:

Stock up on essentials for your Sims' business, including display cases, a beauty salon chair, a toy workbench, a floral station, cash registers, and more. Complete your shop atmosphere with awnings and elevators for easy store navigation, or matching uniforms for all employees. With all the new items, there will never be another dull day building a business!

Running businesses

Main article: Business

The game's concept is running a business, hence the name "Open for Business." This is a brand new direction for The Sims 2 due to the fact it now includes elements of business simulation. Open for Business allows the player to control various aspects of running a business including picking which products to sell, crafting goods, hiring and firing employees, and restocking shelves. The game also rewards the player for meeting several predetermined goals. Also, a "Mystery Shopper" may visit the business and critique it.

If a Sim has a business on a community lot, and the player sends Sims from another household to visit it, the owner, manager (if any), and employees will appear. Employees with assigned tasks will do them. If there are fewer employees than tasks, then the owner and/or manager will eventually assign tasks autonomously.

Sims must earn talent badges to increase sales and productivity on workbenches (such as the Robot Crafting Station), and gain customer loyalty to have their business reach a higher rank and gain business perks.

Players can choose a mascot, customize a menu, and sell almost any object available in the game.

Around the house

Open for Business adds new functionality to a Sim's productivity around the house. Sims are able to craft new items, including toys, flower arranging and robots. Additional items include those aimed specifically at enhancing the business setting like an old-style cash register, beauty salon chairs and child-oriented toys. Also added is the servo, a household robot, which can perform basic tasks and function like a Sim in regards to social interactions. Some new items, called "Bots" in general, aim to increase productivity on a lower scale than servo's operation, usually performing one task, such as cleaning the floor, watering plants, bringing food or stunning burglars. Servos also appeared in the original game's expansion pack The Sims: Livin' Large as it's known in North America and Australia and The Sims: Livin' It Up as it is known in Europe.

Servos

Main article: Servo#The Sims 2

A robot that Sims can build if they have a gold robotics badge. Servos can be activated as either a female or male, then become playable Sims for the player to control. A servo will copy the traits, aspiration and the turn-on/offs of the Sim that activates it, and usually has maximized skills. Servos have only four needs; power, fun, social, and environment. Power can be restored by recharging during the day (solar based recharging), or sleeping in a bed if the sun isn't out. A program servos perform is to do chores automatically, and will clean, cook, or repair for the normal Sims around the house. Being robotic, servos do not age, so will not die from age. If a servo's needs are neglected from too much, it will end up destroying itself.

Architecture

Open for Business adds more functionality to build mode. New elevators both open a new possibility for public interactions and create a risk for fatality by plummeting. Domed, conical and octagonal roofs in different sizes are now available. Players may also add awnings.

Talent Badges

Main article: Talent badge

Open for Business adds a new "talent badge" system. A Sim must repeatedly perform an action to raise that badge's level. The talent badges include:

Sales: The ability to convince a customer to buy an item. A successful sale will raise the sales bar, which, when full, will cause the customer to buy the item. The sales can be accepted or rejected depending on customer loyalty, mood, and the badge level of the salesman or saleswoman. The different actions include the basic sale, the cheap offer, the "hard sale", and the dazzle. The higher level sales have better pay offs, but more serious consequences. A salesperson can also select a customer that looks confused, and use the "Sales... May I Help You?" command. This badge is raised by using a sale interaction.
Register: The register badge affects how quickly an employee can ring up a customer. With this badge the process will take less time, and reduce the chance that customer loyalty will be lost by long wait times.
Restocking: The restocking badge affects how quickly an employee can restock an item after it has been purchased. This is raised by restocking items.
Cosmetology: The cosmetology badge increases the chance that an employee in a barber shop will successfully perform a makeover. Bad makeovers reduce customer loyalty.
Flower Arranging: This badge allows a Sim to make a bouquet of flowers. The flowers can then be sold, placed on sale, given as gifts, or used to improve the room score. A higher level badge increases the types of flowers that can be arranged.
Robotics: This badge allows a Sim to make robot toys and devices. The robots can then be sold, placed on sale, given as gifts, or used for fun and services. A higher level badge increases the types of robots that can be built.
Toy Making: This badge allows a Sim to create toys. The toys can then be sold, placed on sale, given as gifts, or used for fun by children. A higher level badge increases the types of toys that can be built.

Gallery

This section contains audio and/or video files.

If you are having difficulty playing these files, see media help.

The Sims™ 2 Open for Business Official Trailer

Media

This section contains audio and/or video files.

If you are having difficulty playing these files, see media help.

Track	Real-world preview!
The Sims 2: Open for Business theme
The Sims 2: Open for Business Loading Screen
Simantics
Simply Hot
Extra Simple
Kiss My Sims
Suffer Well
Things can only get better
It Wouldn't be so bad
Too Shy
Synthesized
Touch and go
The Sims - Buy Mode 1
The Sims - Buy Mode 2
The Sims - Buy Mode 3
The Sims - Buy Mode 4

External links

The Sims 2: Open for Business on TheSims2.com

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 |image=TS2OFB Gallery 1.jpg
 |pagetype=Expansion pack for {{Eraicon|TS2}}
+|subtitle=[[File:TS4 star trophy icon.png|22px|link=The Sims Wiki:Featured article|Featured Article]] The Sims Wiki's [[The Sims Wiki:Featured Article|Featured Article]] for January 2019.
 |offset=100
 |generation=The Sims 2
-}}{{Game
+}}
+{{Infobox game
 |name= The Sims 2: Open for Business
-|image =[[Image:Openforbusiness2.jpg|250px]]
+|image = [[File:Openforbusiness2.jpg|250px]]
 |caption= ''Your Sims Get Down To Business''
 |series= [[The Sims series]]
@@ Line 22: / Line 24: @@
 |creature     = [[Servo]]
 |neighbor     = [[Bluewater Village]]
-|patch     = yes
+|related pages = yes
-|theme music  =
 }}
 [[File:The Sims 2 Open for Business Icon.png|left|link=]]
-'''''The Sims 2: Open for Business''''', or '''''OFB''''' is the third [[expansion pack]] for ''[[The Sims 2]]'', released on March 2, 2006 for US. It was released on March 3, 2006 for Europe.The Mac version was released on September 4, 2006. It allows Sims to run a home or community lot based [[business]].
+'''''The Sims 2: Open for Business''''' is the third [[expansion pack]] for ''[[The Sims 2]]'', released on March 2, 2006 in the US and on March 3, 2006 in Europe. The Mac version was released on September 4, 2006. It allows [[Sim]]s to run a home or community lot based [[business]]. Its concept of owning a business returned in ''[[The Sims 4: Get to Work]].''
-Running a business is the main theme of this expansion pack. ''Open for Business'' gives the player the ability to run a business, either on a playable Sim's home lot or a separate [[community lot]] that they own.
-''Open for Business'' also adds a new type of [[sub-neighborhood]] called the ''Shopping District'', and includes a shopping district called [[Bluewater Village]].
-''Open for Business'' introduces a new [[life state]] to the game: the [[Servo#The Sims 2|Servo]]. Sims can build Servos on the robot creation bench. They can either be sold in a business or activated, where the Servo becomes a member of the Sim's family.
+Running a business is the main theme of this expansion pack. ''Open for Business'' gives the player the ability to run a business, either on a playable Sim's home lot or a separate [[community lot]] that they own. It also adds a new type of [[sub-neighborhood]] called a shopping district, with [[Bluewater Village]] being a pre-made one. ''Open for Business'' also introduces a new [[life state]] to the game: the [[Servo#The Sims 2|servo]]. Sims can build servos on the robot creation bench and they can either be sold in a business or activated, where the servo becomes a member of the family.
 ==Description==
-[[File:The Sims 2 Open for Business Logo.png|90px|left|link=]]
+[[File:The_Sims_2_Open_for_Business_Logo_(Original).png|left|90px]]
 ''Now your Sims can create their own businesses. They can design their own clothing boutique, beauty salon, florist, high-end electronics shop, bustling restaurant chain, or virtually any other type of business. Hire your staff as the business grows and put talented Sims to work making toys, running the register, crafting floral bouquets, giving sales pitches, or manufacturing robots. But watch out for slacker employees and be prepared to fire them on the spot. From clever tinkerer to master craftsman, develop your Sim's talents to best suit your business needs. Will they build a thriving business empire or become eccentric entrepreneurs designing the next big thing?''
 ==Overview==
-The main change to the core game introduced by ''Open for Business'' is a new neighborhood type — the ''Shopping District'', the default one being named ''Bluewater Village''. A number of Sims live there, such as a toymaking family, a woman who owns a home-based flower shop,a family that owns a furniture shop, a family bakery, and a rich tycoon who owns a nightclub and an electronics shop.
+The main change to the core game introduced by ''Open for Business'' is a new neighborhood type — the ''Shopping District'', the default one being named ''Bluewater Village''. A number of Sims live there, such as a toymaking family, a woman who owns a home-based flower shop, a family that owns a furniture shop, a family bakery, and a rich tycoon who owns a nightclub and an electronics shop.
-Community lots are more flexible now. Removing many of the gameplay restrictions that were present on them in the original game makes a large improvement. Players can now save the game while their Sims are visiting community lots, reloading their household will take the player to the community lot where the Sims are located. [[Buy mode]] and [[build mode]] are now accessible on owned community lots so the players can customize their business.
+Community lots are more flexible now. Removing many of the gameplay restrictions that were present on them in the original game makes a large improvement. Players can now save the game while their Sims are visiting community lots, reloading their household will take the player to the community lot where the Sims are located. [[Buy mode]] and [[build mode]] are now accessible on owned community lots, so that the players can customize their business.
-Like the other expansions, new Wants and Fears and interactions were added. They include a new Lifetime Want and several new interactions for children. Some changes to items from the base game are also present. For example, doors are now lockable. They can be set to allow only one Sim, the whole family, or just employees to enter.
+Like the other expansions, new wants and fears and interactions are added. They include a new lifetime want and several new interactions for children. Some changes to items from the base game are also present. For example, doors are now lockable. They can be set to allow only one Sim, the whole family, or just employees to enter.
 There are new objects in this expansion. Furniture styles and the build-mode selection have been expanded. The biggest difference, however, is the addition of business-oriented items such as cash-[[register (object)|registers]], shelves, [[elevator]]s, and [[workbenches|crafting centers]] that Sims can use to create things to sell.
@@ Line 61: / Line 59: @@
 == Running businesses ==
 {{Main|Business}}
-The game's concept is running a business, hence the name "Open for Business." This is a brand new direction for ''[[The Sims 2]]'' due to the fact it now includes elements of business simulation. Open for Business allows the player to control various aspects of running a business including picking which products to sell,crafting goods, hiring and firing employees, and restocking shelves. The game also rewards the player for meeting several predetermined goals. Also, a "Mystery Shopper" may visit the business and critique it.
+The game's concept is running a business, hence the name "Open for Business." This is a brand new direction for ''[[The Sims 2]]'' due to the fact it now includes elements of business simulation. ''Open for Business'' allows the player to control various aspects of running a business including picking which products to sell, crafting goods, hiring and firing employees, and restocking shelves. The game also rewards the player for meeting several predetermined goals. Also, a "Mystery Shopper" may visit the business and critique it.
 If a Sim has a business on a community lot, and the player sends Sims from another household to visit it, the owner, manager (if any), and employees will appear. Employees with assigned tasks will do them. If there are fewer employees than tasks, then the owner and/or manager will eventually assign tasks autonomously.
@@ Line 70: / Line 68: @@
 == Around the house ==
-''Open for Business'' adds new functionality to a Sim's productivity around the house. Sims are able to craft new items, including toys, flower arranging and robots. Additional items include those aimed specifically at enhancing the business setting like an old-style Cash Register, Beauty salon chairs, child-oriented toys, and . Also added is the ''Servo,'' a household robot, which can perform basic tasks and function like a Sim in regards to Social interaction. Some new items, called "Bots" in general, aim to increase productivity on a lower scale than ''Servo's'' operation, usually performing one task, such as cleaning the floor, watering plants, bringing food or stunning burglars. Servos also appeared in the original game's expansion pack ''The Sims: Livin' Large'' as it's known in North America and Australia and ''The Sims: Livin' It Up'' as it is known in Europe.
+''Open for Business'' adds new functionality to a Sim's productivity around the house. Sims are able to craft new items, including toys, flower arranging and robots. Additional items include those aimed specifically at enhancing the business setting like an old-style cash register, beauty salon chairs and child-oriented toys. Also added is the '''servo''', a household robot, which can perform basic tasks and function like a Sim in regards to social interactions. Some new items, called "Bots" in general, aim to increase productivity on a lower scale than servo's operation, usually performing one task, such as cleaning the floor, watering plants, bringing food or stunning burglars. Servos also appeared in the original game's expansion pack ''The Sims: Livin' Large'' as it's known in North America and Australia and ''The Sims: Livin' It Up'' as it is known in Europe.
 == Servos ==
 {{main|Servo#The Sims 2}}
+A robot that Sims can build if they have a gold robotics badge. Servos can be activated as either a female or male, then become playable Sims for the player to control. A servo will copy the traits, aspiration and the turn-on/offs of the Sim that activates it, and usually has maximized skills. Servos have only four needs; power, fun, social, and environment. Power can be restored by recharging during the day (solar based recharging), or sleeping in a bed if the sun isn't out. A program servos perform is to do chores automatically, and will clean, cook, or repair for the normal Sims around the house. Being robotic, servos do not age, so will not die from age. If a servo's needs are neglected from too much, it will end up destroying itself.
-A robot that Sims can build if they have a gold robotics badge. Servos can be activated as either a female or male, then become playable Sims for the player to control. A Servo will copy the traits, aspiration and the turn-on/offs of the Sim that activates it, and usually has maximized skills. Servos have only four needs; power, fun, social, and environment. Power can be restored by recharging during the day (solar based recharging), or sleeping in a bed if the sun isn't out. A program Servos perform is to do chores automatically, and will clean, cook, or repair for the normal Sims around the house. Being robotic, Servos do not age, so will not die from age. If a Servo's needs are neglected from too much, it will end up destroying itself.
 == Architecture ==
-''Open for Business'' adds more functionality to Build Mode. New [[elevator]]s both open a new possibility for public interactions and create a risk for fatality by plummeting. Domed, conical and octagonal roofs in different sizes are now available. Players may also add awnings.
+''Open for Business'' adds more functionality to build mode. New [[elevator]]s both open a new possibility for public interactions and create a risk for fatality by plummeting. Domed, conical and octagonal roofs in different sizes are now available. Players may also add awnings.
 == Talent Badges ==
 {{main|Talent badge}}
+''Open for Business'' adds a new "talent badge" system. A Sim must repeatedly perform an action to raise that badge's level. The talent badges include:
-"Open for Business" adds a new "talent badge" system. A Sim must repeatedly perform an action to raise that badge's level. The talent badges include:
 * [[Sales]]: The ability to convince a customer to buy an item. A successful sale will raise the sales bar, which, when full, will cause the customer to buy the item. The sales can be accepted or rejected depending on customer loyalty, mood, and the badge level of the salesman or saleswoman. The different actions include the basic sale, the cheap offer, the "hard sale", and the dazzle. The higher level sales have better pay offs, but more serious consequences. A salesperson can also select a customer that looks confused, and use the "Sales... May I Help You?" command. This badge is raised by using a sale interaction.
 * [[Register (talent badge)|Register]]: The register badge affects how quickly an employee can ring up a customer. With this badge the process will take less time, and reduce the chance that customer loyalty will be lost by long wait times.
@@ Line 93: / Line 89: @@
 ==Gallery==
+{{Mediahelp|section}}
 <tabber>
 Screenshots=
-<gallery hideaddbutton="true">
+<gallery>
 TS2OFB Gallery 2.jpg
 TS2OFB Gallery 3.jpg
@@ Line 134: / Line 131: @@
 TS2OFB Gallery 38.jpg
 </gallery>
-|-|
+|-|Renders=
+<gallery>
-Videos=
+File:Sims2obpcrendjacknbox toddler.jpg
-<gallery hideaddbutton="true">
+File:Sims2obpcrendep3 toy store bop.jpg
+</gallery>
+|-|Videos=
+<gallery>
 File:The Sims™ 2 Open for Business Official Trailer|''The Sims 2: Open for Business'' Official Trailer
+</gallery>
+|-|Box art=
+<gallery>
+TS2-OFB-JP.jpeg|Japanese box art
 </gallery>
 </tabber>
 ==Media==
+{{Mediahelp|section}}
 {| class="wikitable heading-blue"
 !Track!!Real-world preview!
 |-
-|''The Sims 2: Open for Business'' Theme||[[File:TS2 Open For Business Theme Sample.ogg|noicon]]
+|''The Sims 2: Open for Business'' theme
+|[[File:TS2 Open For Business Theme Sample.ogg|noicon]]
+|-
+|''The Sims 2: Open for Business'' Loading Screen
+|[[File:The Sims 2 Open For Business Startup Theme.ogg|noicon]]
+|-
+|Simantics
+|[[File:Ts2 simantics.ogg|noicon]]
+|-
+|Simply Hot
+|[[File:Ts2 simply hot.ogg|noicon]]
+|-
+|Extra Simple
+|[[File:Ts2 extra simple.ogg|noicon]]
+|-
+|Kiss My Sims
+|[[File:Ts2 kiss my sims.ogg|noicon]]
+|-
+|Suffer Well
+|[[File:Ts2 suffer well.ogg|noicon]]
+|-
+|Things can only get better
+|[[File:Ts2 Howard Jones - Things can only get Better.ogg|noicon]]
+|-
+|It Wouldn't be so bad
+|[[File:Ts2 It Wouldn't be so bad.ogg|noicon]]
+|-
+|Too Shy
+|[[File:Ts2 Kajagoogoo - Too Shy.ogg|noicon]]
+|-
+|Synthesized
+|[[File:Ts2 The Epoxies - Synthesized.ogg|noicon]]
+|-
+|Touch and go
+|[[File:Ts2 Touch and go.ogg|noicon]]
+|-
+|The Sims - Buy Mode 1
+|[[File:Buy1.ogg|noicon]]
+|-
+|The Sims - Buy Mode 2
+|[[File:Buy2.ogg|noicon]]
+|-
+|The Sims - Buy Mode 3
+|[[File:Buy3.ogg|noicon]]
+|-
+|The Sims - Buy Mode 4
+|[[File:Ts1 buy4.ogg|noicon]]
 |}
 ==See also==
-* [[Comparison between The Sims 2: Open for Business and The Sims 3: Ambitions]]
+* [[Comparison between work themed expansions]]
 ==External links==
 * [http://thesims2.ea.com/about/ep3_index.php The Sims 2: Open for Business on TheSims2.com]
+{{Feat art|January 2019}}
+{{wikipedia}}
+{{Sims|state2=uncollapsed}}
+[[nl:De Sims 2: Gaan Het Maken]]
 [[es:Los Sims 2: Abren negocios]]
 [[fr:Les Sims 2: La Bonne Affaire]]
 [[tl:The Sims 2: Open for Business]]
+[[ru:The Sims 2: Бизнес]]
-{{wikipedia}}
+[[pl:The Sims 2: Własny biznes]]
-{{Sims}}
-[[Category:Open for Business| Open for Business]]
+[[Category:Open for Business| ]]
-[[Category:Games|Open for Business]]
+[[Category:Games|Open for Business, The Sims 2]]
-[[Category:Expansion packs|Open for Business]]
+[[Category:Expansion packs|Open for Business, The Sims 2]]
+[[Category:The Sims 2|Open for Business]]