The Sims 2/Needs

Every Sim has basic needs. Hunger, Bladder, Energy, Comfort, Fun, Social, Hygiene, and Environment. This table gives a basic view on how to satisfy needs for your sims. Environment functions differently to other needs so isn't recorded here.

Hunger
Hunger is one of the most complex needs in The Sims 2. It is fuffiled by consuming food of any sort. However not all foods satisfy the same amount of hunger. This section shows how to get a good idea on how much hunger each food will satisfy.

Firstly, the need decays at different rates for different age groups. This is the order from slowest to fastest. Next, the hunger need is on a number plane ranging from -100-100. Each food has a different point value. When consumed it is added to the amount of hunger still remaining. If food is consumed and hunger is full, then the remainder of the points are added to fatness level. Let's take a look at the different meals in The Sims 2 and the cooking level required for it. Other foods that can be consumed are pizza and garbage. These are not listed because they do not influence cooking skill. Each of these foods are also available at different times of the day. Breakfast is available from 2:00am till 10:30am, lunch can be cooked from 10:30am till 4:30pm and dinner can be prepared from 4:30pm till 2:00 am.
 * 1) Elder
 * 2) Child
 * 3) Baby
 * 4) Toddler
 * 5) Adult
 * 6) Teenager

Cooking skill is not required to make food, however your sims won't be able to cook much without it. Whenever a new cooking point is learned, new foods are unlocked and other unlocked foods are cooked faster. Cooking skill points also reduces the chances of fire and burning for previously unlocked foods.

Every food has a base amount of points when cooked, this is added to as each food is prepared. This number is invisible. Checking food supplies does not give you the base number. First of all is the fridge. It is required for almost any food. Next the food must be prepared. This can be done on the countertop or a food processor. The more expensive, the more points are added and the food is prepared faster. Next is an appliance to heat the food, there are four appliances in The Sims 2.
 * Grills: They cook hot dogs, hamburgers and ribs. They are also available on community lots. Community lot grills can't cook ribs.
 * Microwave: Only cooks TV dinners. They can't cause fires.
 * Toaster Oven: Their food range is limited. It includes toaster pastries, grilled cheese sandwhiched, salmon, pork chops and TV dinners.
 * Ovens: Cooks all foods except hot dogs and ribs. The more expensive the oven the more points are added to the food.

When food cooks, there is a chance that it can burn. This is reduced when cooking skill points are unlocked. This also depends on the food been cooked. Note that it means that lobster thermidor has the same chance of burning, no matter how many times it is cooked. If food burns, it loses all the points added and only its base points add to the hunger.

Food spoils after six hours so eat it quickly unless you want your sims to get sick. There are exceptions however.
 * Cereal spoils after four hours.
 * Gelatin spoils after twenty-four hours.
 * Instant meals spoil after twelve hours.

When you check food supplies in the fridge, you will be presented with a number. This is the amount of food that is stocked in your fridge. When you make a meal, this number decreases. Eventually, it'll go down to zero. Food can be restocked through two ways.
 * Ordering over the phone or computer. This costs an additional $50 for delivery
 * Buying groceries. No extra cost.

There is another food source that your sims don't need a fridge for. Pizza can be ordered over the phone. However it does cost $40 so you must decide whether this is better than cooking food from a fridge.

If this need fails then your sim dies of hunger. If the sim is a child or younger then the social worker takes them away.

Comfort
Comfort is the need for relaxation. It decays differently for different age groups. This list shows the decay rate from slowest to fastest. Toddlers and babies don't have the comfort need. Comfort can be decreased in the following ways Comfort is increased through the following methods. Each object has a rate of satisfaction. Some of them do not satisfy the need to maximum.
 * 1) Child
 * 2) Teenager
 * 3) Adult
 * 4) Elder
 * Any object that requires your sims to stand up
 * Dancing
 * Exercising
 * Electrocution
 * Sleeping on the floor.
 * Any object in the comfort category
 * Using the hot tub
 * Looking at the fireplace
 * Stargazing/Watch Clouds interaction
 * Taking a bath or bubble bath

When this need gets to the bottom, the sim will waste a lot of time complaining.

Bladder
Bladder is the need to go to the toilet. It's rate of decay for age groups goes as follows. Elders also take longer to satisfy this need. This need decays regularly. This process speeds up when consuming coffee or drinks at the bar. The most obvious satisfation is going to the toilet. However their are other ways. If this need reaches the bottom, the sim pees on the floor. This causes a bad memory. An even worse memory is if the sim does it during the party.
 * 1) Child
 * 2) Adult
 * 3) Teenager
 * 4) Baby
 * 5) Toddler
 * 6) Elder
 * Sloppy sims will relieve themselves while using the shower.
 * Sloppy, Outgoing or Lazy sims will relieve themselves on a shrub.

Energy
Energy is the need for relaxation. The decay rate is as follows. Energy is depleted any time your sim isn't sleeping, however some interactions accelerate the decay. Energy is generally satisfied by sleeping in a bed. The more expensive the bed, the faster the satisfaction rate. There are other ways to gain energy. Energy has no effect on mood.
 * Teenager
 * Adult
 * Elder
 * Child
 * Baby
 * Toddler
 * Exercising
 * Gardening
 * WooHoo/Try for Baby
 * Couches: Sims can nap on them. They won't, however completely satisfy energy.
 * Recliners: See above
 * The floor: If energy hits the bottom, then the sim will collapse and sleep on the floor. This causes a bad memory and decreases comfort.
 * Coffee or espresso: Adds a small amount of energy to your sims but decreases bladder.

Fun
Fun can be raised by, TVs, toys, playing with another sim or entertaining, swimming, reading and lots more. If a sim is serious it would get more fun out of reading a book, if it is playful a toy would be best.

Social
Social can be raised by clicking on another sim a choosing any interaction, calling someone on the phone, the social bunny, talking on chat can all raise social. Kissing and woohoo are the most social raising interactions.

Hygiene
Hygiene is important to your sim so buy it any of these: a bathtub, shower, tap or a mirror, which allows your sim to bush its teeth.

Environment
Environment can be raised by simply not being in a trashed room that has decorations in it.

Need Benefits
When a sim's needs are met their work performance will improve, they can preform more positive interactions between other Sims, they can study better and they will spend less time throwing tantrums. While it may be fun to watch Sims suffer if their needs are not meet they may die and you will need to go to more effort to make another one.