In an awesome alternative universe, gamers are enjoying a Simpson's game patterned after The Sims at this very moment.

John Bridge, level designer of Dead Rising 2, has dropped a bunch of details on the long-dead project on his blog. He posts:

Another game that went through lots of hoops before finally tanking was a Sims inspired version of the Simpsons that focused on Homer.  You played the role of Jeebus, getting him to do your bidding.

We first developed it in 2D and reached a first playable with Homer in the living room.  You could get him to react to things that you interacted with in the room (turn off the TV and he got mad and turned it back on/turn off the lights and he would get scared).

The game was in development at Propaganda games, but sadly, it was never greenlit.

As big a fan of the Simpson's as I am, I can see the logic behind not pursuing this idea. Sims games work because you're creating your own characters and telling your own stories. How many times could you guide Marge through vacuuming or feed Homer some donuts before you got bored. I'm guessing exactly once. Still, it would have been fun for an hour or two, no doubt--if only to find out what the "Hole" in the screenshot above means...

I find this kind of insider-developer stuff fascinating. If you're like me, check out Bridge's blog: He has a whole section devoted to dead games, including, inexplicably, a Scary Movie game that sounds almost as terrible as the movies.

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