What House Party adds
House Party is the second expansion pack for The Sims, developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. It released on March 28, 2001 for Windows in North America, with a UK release following on April 6, 2001. A Mac OS X version published by Aspyr Media arrived on July 30, 2001 in North America.
The expansion is built around social gatherings. Sims can throw a party by using the phone to invite guests over. How well the party goes determines which special NPCs show up. A successful party can bring Drew Carey to your lot in a limousine, while a poorly received one might attract a mime instead.
Party themes and objects
House Party includes over 80 new objects spread across three themed decor sets: Cowboy, Luau, and Rave. These sets let players style a home as anything from a tiki retreat to a country dance hall to a neon rave den.
Key new objects include dance floors, dance cages, a mechanical bull, punch bowls, campfires, a DJ booth, and catering tables. The costume trunk is a standout addition that lets every Sim at the party change into matching outfits, from togas to hula skirts. Five new music styles (rap, techno, country, beach, and disco) and five matching dance styles round out the party atmosphere.
NPCs and party guests
Several non-player characters can appear during parties. The caterer handles food, the entertainer performs for guests, and the DJ keeps the music going. A party crasher may turn up uninvited and cause problems. Drew Carey serves as a celebrity guest who arrives by limousine when a party is going especially well.
Reception and sales
House Party received a Metacritic score of 74 out of 100. GameSpot gave it 8.3 out of 10, while IGN scored it 7.0 out of 10. Critics praised the new objects and focus on social gameplay but noted the expansion did not change the fundamental structure of The Sims. Despite mixed reviews, House Party was the fifth best-selling computer software title in the United States in 2001 and continued to chart into 2002.