Here’s ten fresh controversies for the nutters with microphones. (Keep in mind some of my suggestions are actually saner than others. I needed ten things, OK?)

1. Promiscuity. Well, it is a goal of gameplay in TS2 to have sex with 20 different people. Though you have to play the game to know that, unlike certain critics wailing about penises and labia.
2. Same-sex marriage, acceptance, tolerance, etc. All that stuff the Bible supposedly doesn’t let you do.
3. Insensitive portrayal of persons with mental health issues. EA: insane kleptomaniacs = funny.
4. Exploiting kids with pay stuff. “Dad! I get $10 for free if I sign up!” Dad cracks out the credit card. Next thing you know, the kid’s spent $1000 on Sims stuff and you have one very angry parent appearing on Fox 8 News.
5. Child abuse. AKA leaving babies on cold concrete floors for several hours.
6. Paid organ donation. Well, it’s a pet peeve of mine. Exploitation of people in developing countries, EA?
7. Biking without helmets. DANGER!
8. Godless heathens.
9. Bullying. Or the possibility to do it through repeated poking.
10. Vegetarians. I dunno, something has to be offensive about the way it’s implemented … Oh wait, VEGANS!

Disclaimer: not necessarily a reflection of my own personal opinions.

SimSocial, the so-called “free trial” of TS3 went live this weekend. I currently have horrendously slow internet but I did play it for about half an hour, and found the most interesting aspect of it the careers. We now have some information on career tracks that will probably make it into the final game! There’s probably a list elsewhere on the net, but here’s the one I’ve been compiling. As you may tell from the snarky comments, I’m not a big fan of them.

MEDICAL

Identical to TS3.

Organ Donor (ethics aside…)
Bedpan Cleaner
Paramedic
Medical Intern
Resident
Trauma Surgeon
Gene Therapist
Infectious Disease Researcher
Neurosurgeon
World Renowned Surgeon

POLITICS

Identical.

Podium Polisher
Ballot Counter (OK, it’s pedantic, but ballot counters aren’t permanent full-time positions.)
Campaign Intern
Yes-Man
City Council Member
Local Representative
Mayor
Governor
Vice President
Leader of Free World

JOURNALISM

Paper Child
Automated Spell Checker Checker (Ha ha. No.)
Freelance Writer (defeats the meaning of freelance if you ONLY work for one employer.)
Professional Blogger
Anonymous Source Handler
Investigative Reporter
Meteorologist – TS3: Weather-person
Lead Reporter
Editor-In-Chief
Star News Anchor

SCIENCE

Test Subject
Useless Contraption Manipulator
Lab Tech
Fertilizer Analyst
Carnivorous Plant Tender
Genetic Resequencer
Aquatic Ecosystem Tweaker
Top Secret Researcher
Animal Something Crossbreeder
Mad Scientist

CULINARY

Kitchen Scullion
Spice Runner
Vegetable Slicer
(none) - TS3: Ingredient Taster
(none) – TS3: Line Cook
Pastry Chef
Sous Chef
Line Cook
Executive Chef
Five-Star Chef

LAW ENFORCEMENT

Snitch
Desk Jockey (I don’t know what this means. What’s wrong with a real title?)
Traffic Cop
Patrol Officer
Lieutenant
Wiretap Reader
Crime Scene Technician
DNA Suspect Recon Simulator
(Forensic Analyst?)
(Intl Super Spy?)

MUSICAL

Music Fan (A paid one? SELLOUT!)
Roadie
Stagehand (isn’t that substantially the same thing as Roadie, except less music-specific?)
Band Manager
Talent Scout
Vocalist (because vocals < guitar)
Lead Guitarist
Pop Icon (because pop idolism < being a guitarist)
?
Rock Star (pop <rock. Value judgments!)