Okay simmers. I know you’re out there. Put your hands up and let me see you.
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How do I know you’re out there? Because I am one of you – I have just officially outed myself. My name is Julia D. and I am a simmer. Yes, in my nonexistent spare time I can be found building and decorating homes and playing God to my Sims 4 creations.
If you’re a simmer, you already know that the eagerly-awaited Cats and Dogs expansion pack has been released.
What you may not know, though, is that EA Games have teamed up with the RSPCA for a campaign that is a lot of fun to get behind – raising awareness of the RSPCA’s Adopt a Pet program and the many benefits of animal adoption through playing The Sims 4 Cats and Dogs.
You may not know, that is, unless you watch Australia’s top Sims YouTubers – The Sim Supply, Deligracy, and Kaleidow – as I do.
The power trio were invited to visit their local RSPCA shelters to meet real cats and dogs looking for their forever homes. They have been working on recreating the animals they met using the new Create-A-Pet tool and moving them into their virtual furever homes, and sharing their adventures with their combined audience of more than 1.8 million fans.
Watching their initial videos, an idea hatched. Should I out myself? Should I bravely face the world and risk howls of laughter and finger-pointing, rolling eyes and shaking heads? If it helps one animal get adopted into it’s furever home, yes, I decided, I should.
I chose a greyhound from the Yagoona shelter to recreate – I couldn’t resist those eyes and the demure expression on his face. But, of course, I couldn’t stop at one. So I chose a cat from my nearest shelter, Port Macquarie, and his name is Hector. You can meet them in the videos on this page.
The lengths I go to for my job … I have never recorded game play, and I am not a YouTuber. As you will clearly see for yourself if you have already watched one of the two videos I have prepared for you. The learning curve was huge and there were a few nights of lost sleep. But I did it – and I want you to do it, too!
Sims players around the country are now being challenged to help create the adoption drive. Here’s what you do:
- Visit the RSPCA Adopt-a-Pet page and choose a furry friend in need of a home.
- Film your gameplay recreating your chosen animal in The Sims 4 Cats and Dogs and film it in its forever home.
- Upload the resulting video on YouTube, including the profile link for the animal you chose in the description.
- Tag it #Sims4RSPCA and share it far and wide on Twitter and Instagram.
If you can’t participate this way, perhaps consider adopting a pet yourself. If you can’t do that, maybe you are able to help out at a local shelter – they are always looking for volunteers. Or making a simple cash donation is a simple way to help, as the RSPCA is a non-profit organisation and relies on donations.
By sharing these creations using #Sims4RSPCA, players can help raise awareness and hopefully help these animals find their new home!
Julia Driscoll
Julia Driscoll has worked as a journalist for the Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Times for seven years. She values the deep connection with community that being a rural and regional journalist brings. Career highlights have involved environmental stories - bringing the plight of the little known endangered Manning River helmeted turtle to the attention of the public, resulting in wide-spread knowledge in the community and conservation action; and breaking the news of the Manning River ceasing to run for the first time in recorded history.
Julia Driscoll has worked as a journalist for the Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Times for seven years. She values the deep connection with community that being a rural and regional journalist brings. Career highlights have involved environmental stories - bringing the plight of the little known endangered Manning River helmeted turtle to the attention of the public, resulting in wide-spread knowledge in the community and conservation action; and breaking the news of the Manning River ceasing to run for the first time in recorded history.
