Screenshot manager

Starting with The Sims for PlayStation 2, GameCube and Xbox, the Sims franchise has had linear and focused gameplay modes designed to attract an audience who may not be interested in the open-ended gameplay the franchise typically promotes. While there have been various names for these modes throughout the different entries, multiple entries of the franchise have referred to these as ‘Story Modes’. 
Story Mode differs from the normal open-ended gameplay (often referred to as FreePlay mode), by navigating the player through either narrative based events or goal based gameplay to allow players to experience what gameplay is available to them in FreePlay mode. Also unlike the normal open-ended gameplay, Story Modes have a definitive start and end. 
Story Mode also refers to an option available in The Sims 2 used to create or view defined storylines for neighborhoods or households. It is located on the user bar on the bottom of the page beneath Build Mode. Screenshot manager, or Screenshot capture manager, is the equivalent of The Sims 2 Story mode addition in The Sims 4. It can be accessed under Camera Controls (the shutter button that's on the right side of the Time Control tool-tip bar).
Clicking the Story mode button will open up the Story Mode Editor, where users can create a "story" about their homes or neighborhood. Pressing "C" on the keyboard will take a snapshot with the game camera, which will be automatically uploaded to the Story Mode Editor. In the Editor, users can add a series of photos together to create a "story". Each photo can then have a description written to it.
The Sims 
The Sims for PlayStation, GameCube and Xbox has a story mode named ‘Get a Life’, that allows the player to make a single Sim, and walks them through leaving their Mom’s house and venturing off to start their life. This story mode has a series of houses that the player will move to, as they progress through the goals on the goals screen. There are pre-made Sims that have pre-scripted dialog that helps move the story along, however the Sims themselves still speak in their native language ‘Simlish’. 
The Sims Bustin Out
PlayStation 2, GameCube & Xbox: 
The Sims Bustin Out for home consoles has a “Bust Out” mode that operates in a very similar way to the ‘Get a Life’ mode from the original, with some expanded features. Each house now has a dedicated location that varies as you travel around the map. This the first The Sims game to have one large map that seamlessly joins all the lots together into one world. This would not be seen again until The Sims 3. Each location is designed to feel unique to one another, with different terrains, climates, weather events and scenery. The story is driven the same was as The Sims for console, however has been expanded to be more detailed and in-depth. 
GameBoy Advance & N-Gage: 
Unlike it’s home console counterpart, the handheld version of The Sims Bustin Out instead features a heavy narrative, with RPG gameplay elements and mini-games. While a few elements of the main franchise remain, such as a Sims needs, the majority of gameplay bares little resemblance to it’s PC and home console counterparts. 
The Sims 2
PlayStation 2, GameCube and Xbox: 
Like the original The Sims and The Sims Bustin Out for home consoles, this game has a dedicated Story Mode. This story allows you to create a single Sim and progress through goals that unlock new locations and narrative driven situations. Unlike the previous home console games, Sims do not speak to each other or the player to drive the narrative. Instead you get a glimpse inside what a Sims is thinking when loading into a new location, and the goals are focused around a Sim completing their lifetime aspiration. The story concludes once your Sim completes the final compulsory ‘want’ that varies based on the Aspiration the player chose at the start of the game. 
PlayStation Portable: 
Much like the previous GameBoy Advance games, The Sims 2 for PSP has no FreePlay mode, and is entirely story based. Your Sim is required to complete goals, engage in mini-games and speak to different Sims within the world of Strangetown, in order to progress the plot. There are large similarities between this game and The Sims 4: Strangerville. Both games take place in a desert location where unusual activity and strange events are occuring, presented as a mystery for the player to solve. There is a large emphasis on non-terrestrial lifeforms having a significant part on the events that occur throughout the story and the player in both games is encouraged to investigate and solve the mystery in order for the story to end. 
Nintendo DS: 
In The Sims 2 for Nintendo DS, the game also takes place in Strangetown. However, this time your Sim is running and managing a hotel and the narrative is driven by guests that stay in the Penthouse. While your Sim has an area in which they can customise and live in, your Sim is also responsible for decorating and maintaining several Hotel rooms that Guests will check in and out of. The player is also encouraged to build up a large shopping and recreational mall that is connected to the Hotel for guests and residents of the town to visit. 
GameBoy Advance: 
The Sims 2 for GameBoy Advance operates the same way The Sims Bustin Out and spin off franchise, the Urbz: Sims in the City for GameBoy Advance operate. You create a Sim that will engage with complete goals and engage in mini-games to earn cash. However, the major difference this time around is that the game presents itself as a television program that is being watched by the Goth household. As you play, your Sim is unaware that they are being filmed for the entertainment for Sims in the PC/Mac versions of the game. 
The Sims 2: Pets
Only the GameBoy Advance version of The Sims 2: Pets has a story mode that operates almost exactly the same as the previous Sims games for GameBoy Advance. Features a graphics overhaul, the player must engage with Sims, and complete a list of goals with Pets taking a large focus on what actions your Sims take as the story unfolds. 
The Sims 2: Castaway
PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable and Nintendo Wii: 
Unlike previous The Sims games for home console, this game is the first to only offer a story mode and does not include an open-ended Freeplay mode. There are also no story based narrative in this game outside of the opening and ending cutscenes which are simply snapshots giving some context to your Sims situation. Unlike previous story modes, players can create multiple Sims that they can control to work through the various goals. There is no cutscenes or written dialogue within the game, which  allows the player to tell their own stories within the structured goal nature of the game. This is something that would continue into The Sims 3 for Nintendo Wii, and is a complete contract to The Sims: Castaway Stories for PC/Mac. 
Nintendo DS
The Nintendo DS version works similar to the GameBoy Advance versions seen previously, with a larger focus on mini-games and RPG elements. 
The Sims Stories
The story modes seen on the console games had started proving popular with players, and Electronic Arts wanted to capitalise on this popularity on its PC and Mac platforms. As more players were moving to Laptops, they also wanted to have a series of games they could market to Laptops not capable of running the mainline The Sims 2 games satisfactorily. The Sims Life Stories, Pet Stories and Castaway stories all have heavily scripted narrative based story modes, with Life and Pet stories not allowing the player to create their own Sims. This allowed the developers to create very detailed narratives and give background and a specific personality to the character the player will play as. Each game also features an open-ended FreePlay mode that has limitations in place to allow the games to run better on Laptop computers. Each game was certified as being “PC Laptop Friendly”. These were the only The Sims games to be certified Laptop Friendly until The Sims 4. 
The Sims 3
The only version of The Sims 3 to include a story mode is the version for Nintendo Wii. Just like The Sims 2: Castaway for home consoles, the game does not include a specific narrative, however instead sets up the situation for the player that they have 50 Days to make sure any Sims the player controls live the best life possible. This is done by completing optional goals and completing their Lifetime wishes. If at the end of 50 days the player is successful in living 50 Days of Happiness, the player is rewarded with a larger Free Space limit when starting a new game, which ultimately allows them to choose homes from the catalog that were too large to place with the standard Free Space limit. 
The Sims Medieval 
Similar to The Sims Stories titles, the game allows provides singular wants that the player must complete to advance the story. Just like The Sims Castaway Stories, the player can choose from two premade Sims or create their own. The player controls a single Sim as they rule over the kingdown. The Sims Medieval: Pirates and Nobles offers additional goals for the player to complete. 
The Sims 4
Strangerville
Released in 2009, Strangerville is the first story mode since 2010. The player aims to solve the mystery of Strangerville, and must speak with scientists and military personnel to help defeat the threat that is imposed on the town. There are a large amount of similarities between Strangerville and The Sims 2 for PlayStation Portable.
Star Wars: Journey to Batuu
This is the second pack to feature a linear story mode specific to a singular world in The Sims 4. However unlike Strangerville, Batuu is a vacation only world and cannot be lived in. The player can choose 4 paths which lead on 4 different stories, each with a different outcome. Batuu has three large neighbourhoods, each with hidden areas that are unlocked as the story progresses. 
Welcome Scenarios
In August 2022, The Sims 4 added three story based scenarios to The Sims 4 for free. These scenarios operate exactly the same as The Sims Stories titles, where the player is provided with Sims that are pre-made with heavily scripted goals and dialogue between Sims that is not available in FreePlay mode. They are smaller than the previous story modes for The Sims 4, however developers have left the door open for more to be added to the game in the future. 
Category:The Sims 2
Category:The Sims 4