Well the Sims 3 has arrived and I believe the best way of testing the strengths and limitations of the Sims games is to try and build an exact replica of your house and family 
If you want to participate in this challenge, post screenshots on this forum page!
I live in a semi-detached so I might add the neighbours part to the house later complete with scumbag Sims 
Outside the house:
Front of house
Good: The wall is a perfect replica of the one outside, the mini white wall to surround the grass also matches the one outside my house. The hedge is just the right height and although the Sims game obviously does not stock Nissan Micras, I found a good substitute
Bad: Apparently every house on the Sims 3 requires foundations which I can’t ever remember being a part of the Sims 2. This means extra foundations around doorways so people have room to go out through a door and down the steps. My house does not have steps, the doors are built at ground level. Major setback to creating the replica as some doors had to be moved (back door) to fit.
Side of house
Good: Cat area has right coloured flat roof, every window is the right size and perfectly placed and they even had the exact side gate we have!
Bad: Because of the proportions in the Sims game, the front of the house was much longer than it is in rl. The muddy ground shown in the screenshot barely takes up a couple of meters squared in rl but here it takes up half the front garden because of the proportions of the house.
Flowers in garden
Good: Flowers can be placed over each other which made for interesting flower bed creation, also the little wooden fencing around the flowers was in the game in exactly the right colour The garage brickwork was also perfect.
Bad: We have this little den behind the shed which has thick wooden walls and a corrugated plastic roof. This could not be put into the Sims which is fine because it’s a bit of a weird creation anyway!
Back garden
Good: Back fence is perfect.
Bad: More annoying steps from the conservatory doors and the back door had to be moved to the back of the cat area to allow room for the steps.
Inside the house:
Conservatory
Good: Leather sofa, floors, walls and TV pretty much match the real thing.
Bad: What happened to the pool tables in the Sims 2? I had to put in a football table instead.
Living room
Good: Thanks to the style tool, the sofa and floor look much more realistic. The TV is also pretty much the same as rl. Use of diagonal placing is much better.
Bad: The sofa isn’t the right design – ours have large sides that come down. The fireplaces were really picky about where they’d go and so I couldn’t put one in the room – I put some counters up instead.
Dining room
Good: Window, table and stereo the same.
Bad: No ironing board (used a grey table instead) and pianos have gone as well cause apparently guitars are more cool 
I can’t remember whether they ditched pianos in the Sims 2 but still… had to put a bar there instead.
Kitchen
Good: Everything pretty much the same as rl.
Bad: Microwaves can’t be placed on shelves on walls which is what we have.
Downstairs loo/cat area
Good: Wallpaper and floor same, no washing machine but dishwasher will do instead. Love the little loo paper rolls – add ons like these make the game so much more rich and in depth.
Bad: No pets in this version. No doubt they’ll be bringing out a million expansion packs/updates costing 20 quid each and taking up more space than the original 6gb (which is a lot on my 70gb hard drive!)
Entrance
Good: Mini-wall can be easily replicated by counters.
Bad: Hallway is too wide due to proportions in the Sims game.
Bathroom
Good: Nice towel accessories and blinds.
Bad: We have a tub with a shower curtain not glass. No designs like that available.
Mum's bedroom
Good: Everything the same plus TVs can be placed on pedestals which raises them up.
Bad: She has full height wardrobes instead of little chest of drawers.
My bedroom
Good: With the style tool, my exact bedsheets are possible to create. The Sims game also has a little notice board like the one I’ve got!
Bad: No wardrobe (wouldn’t fit plus only chest of drawers available) and my bed side lamp is a little desk lamp and looks nothing like the one in the screenshot. No better design available.
Brother's bedroom
Good: Accessories for desks are great and TV can be up on a height.
Bad: No wardrobe and no messy piles of clothes!
Family
If anyone has a bit of spare time on their hands, this is an interesting challenge to do – look forward to seeing your posts on the forums!
Submitted by Tofu Lion
