While Alice is a title that truly suspends reality, an expansion to the highly popular The Sims title, The Sims: Livin' Large, will bring players back to a virtual reality of sorts. Originator Will Wright has been putting in quite a bit of effort along with the rest of the Maxis team to really enhance the fun and addictive simulation of life. There are three new categories of styles that will add to the décor of the world. The tacky décor is for those who want their sims to live in a Vegas-like heaven, Castle influenced homes and furnishings allow sims to really feel like a king in their own home and "home of the future" offers a 60's and 70's take on what modern was to be. While each design style will add a new feeling to the sim's homes, there are plenty of generic additions that range from classic styles to ultra camp like starburst patterned wallpaper to bubble windows to adorn the house.

The enhancements to the game do not end with the aesthetic additions. There are tools that provide a fix for some of life's little problems, while other new items will enhance activity among the sims and will be further enhanced by online play. One of these new items is a science lab where players can experiment with chemistry and create concoctions that might or might not affect their game, but there are certainly a few ills that can be set right, like a certain hamster problem that many Sim gods downloaded. A robot can also be helpful for doing some work around the house though it is probably the most expensive item to buy. Anyone considering a purchase of a robot should certainly brush up on his mechanic skills, as this is one appliance that will easily break down and otherwise be quite expensive to fix. Adding to the quirkiness of The Sims, new situations will add more life to the game as untidy sims will have to deal with a roach problem, and some sims may face a larger problem if they are abducted by an alien!

The enhancements that will bring the Sims to the online and potentially persistent world are mostly items that encourage activities. One such item, a coin operated bed with a heart shaped headboard that almost cost Livin Large its general ESRB rating, will simulate players having a romp in the hay, and has the potential for some surprising actions when the couple emerges from the obscured view.

For more added extras, Maxis asked the fans to submit their own skins, though it was tough as only 10 new skins were picked to be included, and the Web sites of these lucky winners will be easily accessed through the game. Most astounding was probably the entry of a Marc Antony and Cleopatra – no word on whether they will be included since they don't exactly fit with the castle theme.