Living the Simulated Dream: How The Sims Shapes Real Lives
Living the Simulated Dream: How The Sims Shapes Real Lives
Can a video game make you a better person in real life? These Sims players think so.
The Sims isn’t just about digital escapism; it's a blueprint for real-life aspirations. For some, this game, where avatars build homes, form relationships, and explore careers, has become a practical tool for personal growth.
Kristen Thom, for instance, used The Sims to design a bookstore layout before bringing it to life in Nampa, Idaho. Meanwhile, Madelyn House created her greenhouse business virtually before it blossomed in reality. For players like Kelsey Impicciche, The Sims seamlessly integrates into daily life, influencing her real-world activities and YouTube content.
These players are leveraging a simulation, played out in a video game, but how could video games help you improve your life?
Read the full article on Washington Post.
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Dr. Mark van Rijmenam
Dr. Mark van Rijmenam is The Digital Speaker, a world-leading futurist and global AI keynote speaker who helps leaders decide what AI, and the technologies that follow it, mean for their business. He speaks to leadership teams at their retreats and to conference audiences worldwide, and his WAVE framework gives them a way of deciding that they keep using long after he has left the room. His Intelligence Age Scorecard measures how ready an organization is across the four WAVE pillars.
He holds a PhD from the University of Technology Sydney, is a Certified Speaking Professional and Global Speaking Fellow, and ranks among the world’s top futurists on the Global Gurus list (#1 in 2025, #3 in 2026). Salesforce named him one of its 16 leading AI voices. He has written six books, most recently Now What? How to Ride the Tsunami of Change, writes the Synthetic Minds newsletter on Substack, and founded Futurwise. Talk to his digital twin on WhatsApp: +1 (830) 463-6967.
