I think there is a considerable overlap in the two markets. I got The Sims before I got Poser. I didn't like the game at all. Stupid and boring, IMO. Doom 3 is more my style. :-)

What I did like about the Sims was the ability to make my own virtual worlds. I'd have enjoyed the game a lot more if I could just do that, and not have to worry about tedious stuff like getting idiots to the bathroom on time.

Poser turned out to be much more what I wanted, and once I got it, I stopped using The Sims. But not everyone can afford Poser and the content for it, and not everyone has the patience to learn to use it. The Sims has a much shorter learning curve.

In many ways, Sims users remind me of Poser users. Yes, some like the game, but a lot of users seem to want to use it the way many of us use Poser. They try to make their characters look like their dream man or woman, or like celebrities, including modifying the mesh, designing special skins, hair, clothes, etc. There are nude skins that eliminate the "blur" around the naughty bits. They use hacks so they can pose their Sims in certain positions (many of which would not be allowed in Rosity's gallery). They make "graphic novels" that may be hundreds of pages long, all illustrated with Sims screen shots.

Yes, the Sims is very limited. But eventually, I can see it evolving to the point where it can do a lot of what Poser does, more easily.

And yes, selling content for the Sims 2 might be quite lucrative, if it's allowed. Prices would probably need to be lower than for Poser content, but you could make it up in volume. People who are willing to pay a buck or two for a ringtone would probably be willing to pay a buck or two for a Sims skin.

Message edited on: 09/29/2004 06:15