The latest expansion pack for the Sims 2, as of the writing this review, is Open for Business (OFB). With in comparison to the other expansion packs, OFB is by far, the most ambitious. The additions that this expansion pack has to offer are enough to be classified off as a whole different game. University dealt with the future of your Sims, by laying a solid foundation of skills and providing direction; Nightlife enhanced your Sims’ lives, making them more human; and OFB provides an offer that your Sims, nor yourself, can refuse.

It's strictly Business
Just as the name of the expansion suggests, OFB is all about your Sims entering the unforgiving "dog eat dog" world of Capitalism. Making money and getting rich is the name of the game of this expansion pack. It's all business in this expansion, as all simulation activities become side-noted.

The usual main concerns of your Sims' were getting them to work; making them eat and sleep; and not peeing on the floor. A small wish of mine was to go to work with my Sims and see what he or she is doing in the corporate workplace, OFB lets some of that fantasy become true. Sims can now follow the American dream of being lucratively rich, as well as having a stable home life. Going to work on a regular basis in the original game just didn't cut it; pay was low and static, and promotions were few and far between, plus it was time consuming. The chance to get rich, Sims style, is a firm possibility if you play your cards right.

From a Home Business to a Business Lot
Starting a business requires major funding in order to purchase a lot and the goods required to start it. Sims can start small by opening a home business, which allows you to transform a part of your home to a business to attract customers. There are no fees required to be paid in order to start a home business, but you still have to purchase the items needed to make your particular service to function. I find home businesses to be more convenient and efficient than purchasing a business lot because it did not require any extra loading to move from home to business. Sims can wake up early, set up shop, close up and go to back to sleep. A problem with home business is the careful planning of the layout of your business along side your house. The location and layout of your business determines the flow of customers and how easy they can find their products. The same concept applies to business lots but home businesses requires a little more, tweaking. Placing your business to close to your house will often result in a customer walking into your house instead of your shop; this causes the customer to be lost and angered at your business. Angry customers hurt businesses.

Thankfully a lock system has been incorporated to help solve this problem. Any door can be locked to only allow the household only; a certain Sim only; or no one at all. Be careful with lots that have garages attached to houses. Apparently, any Sim customer can open up the garage door and walk around and be lost.

Business lots are a lot larger in space and solely dedicated to your business. As stated above, business lots are very expensive; ranging from 10,000 to 500,000+ simoleons. Purchasing a business lot will give your Sims a certificate of ownership to show around and place on counters. These lots are almost a requirement for those Sims living in the neighborhoods included in the original Sims2 , as their lots are already pretty full and will require major renovations and time to convert them to a home business.

The Shopping District
A new area has been made available to your neighborhoods and it is your shopping district. Much like your campus and downtown areas, the shopping district has to be attached to a neighborhood and is only exclusive to those Sims. The shopping district offers many Sims to play with, each of whom have their own businesses already set up so it is a good tutorial for learning the basics. There are also houses for Sims to live in.

Skills of the Trade
Before enter the world of Sims Business, you're going to have to prep your Sims beforehand or else there's going to be money lost. To coenside with your Sim's Skills, a Talent category has been added. Unlike the Skills where there are 10 levels that can be fulfilled; in talents, there is only 3 levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold. Gaining a talent badge(not point) is simply a matter of performing a specific talent successfully over and over again, similar to reading a book to gain a cooking skill. However, unlike the Skills, Talents do not give you any indication of when you're going to get a badge.

There are multiple talents that are essential to work world, there is: selling, stocking, inventory, cashier, toy making, flower arranging, and robot making. As you can see, there are numerous specific talents that are necessary a specific type of business. You will have to hire other Sims to help out. It makes life that much easier.

I can make toys, robots AND arrange flowers! Take that!
These specific talents require a workstation to earn those badges. Each of those talents have their own workstation. It's a treat to watch your Sims build a toy out of a brick; a robot out of metal; and arranging flowers. First, you must start off small. The creations that your Sims will be able to make will not be interesting at first but, in due time, more selections will be available. Unlike Skills, there is room for failure when performing talents. There is more of a chance of creating a defunct robot at a bronze level than there is at a gold level. Expect the process of gaining these talent badges for these skills to take a long time. After when you're done your creation, there is an option to sell it right there, for a few extra bucks; place it on a shelf or counter, so customers can view them; or simply play with them yourself.

More Items!
Of course with such an ambitious expansion pack as this, there has to be more items at your Sim's pleasure. There is more furniture and fun items to be around your house, like new chairs, tables, rugs, and sprinklers in the yard. For more of the business oriented items, there are: counters, shelves, cash registers, open/close signs and an admission system.

The Business Model
There are many different types of businesses you can create when opening a business. You can make a Salon, where you can convince other Sims to get ann outrageous hairstyle for a good buck; a store of any kind, where any item can be sold; and a pay-by-the-hour type business, where Sims have to buy a ticket and will have to pay a price every hour.

We have touched on selecting a location of the business; the right employees and talents; and buying the right objects. Now, it is time to see them all put into practice. The running of a business is very fun if you manage your Employees, if any, and help customers around the store correctly.

When in business mode, a new window will appear showing your Business's stats and its ranking. The more customers you get and the higher the profits you receive, your business will rise in popularity and rank. Doing so, will garner you with a reward that will help your business tremendously. You can also view which customers are loyal and who are not; object prices, which can be set; business profit or debt; rewards you have chosen; and employees and their status and wages.

The actual business of selling is mainly getting someone to man the cash register, someone to stock and do inventory, and someone to sell. Any Sim is able to perform any of those tasks but those with talent badges in those specific areas will do them faster. I found it quite funny to run a business with only one Sim because after he was selling to multiple customers, there was a large line-up at the cash register. Of course, Sims also get bored and angry when they have to wait in line. My poor Sim did not have the cashier talent badge and the whole process took ages and most of the Sims that I've successfully sold to, threw their bags on the ground in rage and stormed right out of the door.

Selling is a game on its own, where you must gauge the Sim's mood at the moment and try to sell your way in. Powerful sales person are able to see the Sim's mood right away and are able to make them buy an item that they already have. It's all about shmoozing and complimenting the customer and then executing the sale.

The admission system is a very versatile method of getting money from your tenants. The types of businesses that use the admission system are fitness gyms, swimming pools, clubs, and art galleries. The customers will ponder if the admission price is right much as they would if they were going to purchase an item. They will take into account what services are available and if the facility can fulfill most of their needs, and they balance that with the price you've set. Of course, you can persuade them by the selling the ticket to them.

A huge problem that I have noticed with the admission system and creating a gym type facility was that Sims who used the facility did not gain any body points. I ended up closing that place up and converting it to a different type of business.

What a learning curve to the Sims?!
The OFB expansion pack will be a big change for those who've been used to just moving their Sim around and getting them to perform tasks. OFB requires careful planning and execution of layout, goods, employees and talents. There will surely be risks involved; businesses that don't make enough profit will be shot down to bankruptcy. Businesse that are successful will be generating insane amounts of cash.

The full experience
Hate it or love it, the OFB experience will not be complete without the other expansion packs. You will still be able to play it without them but the lack of items that the other expansion packs have to offer will dramatically reduce your sales options. For example, Nightlife offers cars and in OFB, you are able to sell those cars to other Sims.

Also, with the other expansion packs installed, the loading times will be increased. And trust me, it can be a long time.

Conclusion
Just writing this review makes me want to play the OFB expansion pack right now. It is a refreshing change from everyday activities of your Sims. It's hard, exciting and rewarding. If you are wondering what type of expansion pack you should definitely get, this is the one.


Recommended: Yes