It's mostly agreed that Little Computer People (LCP) is the ancestor of The Sims. The basic concept is the same: you interact with an artificial "being' via your computer. LCP emphasizes the whimsical approach to this concept: the game box contains some explanatory booklets used to educate you the buyer that, indeed, there are tiny beings living in your computer. The LCP software enables you to finally see and play with (to an extent) one of these diminutive, potential friends. Unlike the Sims, you can only interact with one of the LCP at a time.
It's mostly agreed that Little Computer People (LCP) is the ancestor of The Sims. The basic concept is the same: you interact with an artificial "being' via your computer. LCP emphasizes the whimsical approach to this concept: the game box contains some explanatory booklets used to educate you the buyer that, indeed, there are tiny beings living in your computer. The LCP software enables you to finally see and play with (to an extent) one of these diminutive, potential friends. Unlike the Sims, you can only interact with one of the LCP at a time. The LCP ultimately comes across as more of a pet, sort of what you might expect raising a super-intelligent hamster with opposable thumbs to be like.
Activision released LCP on several
platforms, with the Amiga receiving this title last. The Commodore 64, Apple II, Atari ST and even the Spectrum ZX all enjoyed releases of this game. Given the differing specs of these systems the level of graphics detail varied considerably (to the extent that "graphics detail" means anything for games released in the mid-80s). In my opinion the Amiga release offered the nicest display (although I would be hard pressed to point out any major visual differences between the Atari ST and Amiga versions).
So how does LCP play? Well, it doesn't. Not exactly. You fire it up and enjoy a sideways view of a nice 3-story house, complete with kitchen, living room, bedroom, bathroom, office (with computer) and even a multimedia room in the attic (well, a TV and an organ, remember, this is from 1987). After a while, a Little Computer Person shows up to check out the place. He (they are always "he’s) eventually decides to move in, telling you his name in the process. For a while, all you do is watch him putter around the place, visiting the rooms and looking around. He'll even bring his dog when he's comfortably settled. At this point, you can become a bit more involved in his life.
Interactions are simple but amusing. You can send and receive messages to/from your LCP, play cards, listen to him play the organ, and so on. He can even attract YOUR attention by rapping on the glass of your monitor (I suppose that act loses something in translation for those of you using LCD monitors). Most importantly, you can feed your LCP. Food is important. Even though you can't make out exactly what it is he eats, really, it's important. Normally your LCP knocks about the house in a fairly energetic way, curious and motivated. If you indulge your inner sadist by withholding food, eventually your LCP turns green and stays put in bed. No more impromptu organ recitals are forthcoming until you up his calories again. I never made it as far as actually offing him via starvation, so I'm not certain that you can. But after a few days of looking at his emaciated (green) face staring forlornly up at you from his bed, you'll probably begin feeding him again. Or it just may be that you're bored.
Apparently each game shipped with a different "personality" configured for the LCP. I can't personally attest to that, but I can tell you that my LCP watched a lot of TV. Or maybe I was just projecting. Either way, I never got to play cards with him as much as I had hoped...
Overall, Little Computer People is quite enjoyable and an excellent alternative to an aquarium screen saver. 9/10.
