Due to my Sims connection, I enjoyed playing The Sims Online from an early stage. As with most games, the novelty inevitably wore off quickly. But some people and some companies take these things very seriously indeed; seriously enough to make the front page of the New York Times. It seems that despite the game being PG13 that - shock horror - sex is frequently discussed and acted out. From this promotional screenshot of The Sims2, I can't imagine why people might think there's anything like that in the game. Will someone please think of the children?

The Alphaville Herald
A Real-Life Debate on Free Expression in a Cyberspace City [New York Times] (registration required blah blah)
Blood on the virtual carpet: tempers flare as 'editor' is thrown out of online town with 80,000 inhabitants [The Independent]