"In 1999, a programmer named Patrick Barrett joined the video game studio Maxis to help develop the video game that would become The Sims. Working from an out-of-date design handbook, he coded the game to allow for same-sex relationships-even though the studio initially decided not to include queer relationships for fear of backlash. The game was demoed to press with a wedding scene at E3 1999, and during the demo two female Sims kissed."
"On Monday, video game publisher Electronic Arts-which owns The Sims -was acquired for $55 billion by a group made up of a number of different investment firms, the two biggest being the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund and Affinity Partners, an investment firm whose CEO is Jared Kushner, son-in-law to Donald Trump. EA publishes a number of popular video game series you've probably heard of: Apex Legends, Battlefield, Mass Effect, Dragon Age, EA Sports FC (formerly FIFA), Plants vs. Zombies, and, of course, The Sims."
In 1999 Patrick Barrett joined Maxis and coded The Sims to allow same-sex relationships despite initial studio reluctance and fears of backlash. A demo at E3 1999 featured a wedding scene in which two female Sims kissed, making queer content impossible to quietly remove. The Sims became a bestselling franchise and provided players, especially queer players, a sandbox to explore identity, relationships, and nonbinary family structures. Electronic Arts, owner of The Sims and many major franchises, was acquired for $55 billion by investors including the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund and Affinity Partners, linked to Jared Kushner.
Read at Slate Magazine
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