Making a Simmer

Making a Simmer Emma Nicole

Tell us more about who Emma Nicole (the person and the creator) is.

My name is Emma, I’m 26 years old and I’m originally from the UK! I currently live in Lisbon, Portugal after moving here only a few months ago from Berlin, Germany. Travel is a big part of my life and I love exploring new places and cultures, so I’m already excited to see where I end up next. I am a freelance producer working in fashion advertising, but I’m slowly transitioning into full-time content creation. In February 2021 I discovered the incredible online community for The Sims and I’ve never looked back since!

When did you start playing The Sims?

I started playing The Sims over 15 years ago, with the first edition of the game. I have vivid memories of inviting myself over to my best friend’s house after school because she had the game installed on her family computer and I didn’t. It’s quite funny to think that on a casual school night in 2005, I had my first date with The Sims and the start of a 15+ year relationship. I had a vivid imagination when I was a kid, using my Barbies to play out creative storylines where I would recreate my favorite tv shows and movies, and re-enact my own family and friends. But eventually playing happy families with my barbies transitioned into playing happy families with The Sims, and the possibilities were limitless!

What is your favorite way to play The Sims? What do you like most about it?

Storytelling has always played a big part in the way I enjoy The Sims, so whether I’m creating a family in CAS or building a home, I have a story in mind that I am bringing to life. I enjoy playing out scenarios from family life, owning pets, living in a city or on a beach, becoming a celebrity, exploring different careers - so I can get a

taste of a different lifestyle beyond my own. Through streaming and content creation, I’ve started to enjoy building the most, as I like to get the community involved in the process and it feels like a group activity. There are so many talented builders in the community and I find it really inspiring.

What is your favorite thing about the Sims community?

The Sims community never ceases to amaze me and I find myself constantly in awe of the talent online. From amazing builders to custom content creators, there is so much talent and imagination, and it’s really special that The Sims has been able to bring everyone together.

Your YouTube channel features several exciting series, from your recreation of classic Disney Channel shows in Throwback Street to your intricate reimagining of Del Sol Valley in Palm Sims. What do you enjoy most about making these videos?

The Sims online community is quite vast, so I wanted to find a niche that felt relevant and unique to the way I play. As storytelling is a big part of how I enjoy The Sims, I wanted to create video series that creates an immersive experience from beginning to end. From creating characters in CAS to building their homes in a realistic way, and then concluding it with a few episodes of gameplay, this is a format I really enjoy for Youtube and I attempt to come up with concepts with that in mind.

What tips do you have for approaching projects with this level of detail?

I think it’s important to stay true to the way you enjoy Sims because then the passion and excitement for projects will show. The game has many layers and there are many different ways to play it, so everyone’s experience is unique. If you can identify a few aspects that you enjoy the most, then projects will naturally start to develop organically and you’ll be able to make connections with other things.

You have a significant presence on TikTok in addition to YouTube and Twitch. What do you typically have to consider when creating content on these distinct platforms?

My content on TikTok has evolved over time as I started to learn what content was working and what wasn’t working. I realized that some of my most successful videos were more educational, teaching tips and tricks in The Sims, so this has become my main focus. With so many different social media platforms, it’s fascinating to see how different they are, and unfortunately, there isn’t one formula for all of them. However, that would definitely make things a lot easier!

As such a prolific creator, what do you do to stay healthy and avoid burnout?

This is definitely something I am still struggling with, especially recently with the lack of routine whilst moving between countries. I am someone who really benefits from a strict work schedule, and my planner keeps me focused on what I need to do for the week. If I have a clear direction of tasks and priorities, then I find it easier to relax and switch off at the end of the day. Burnout is very common amongst content creators, so I made a difficult decision to take an extended break over the Christmas holidays as it felt necessary for me. It was very hard for me to finally accept the decision, but I know it will allow me to come back stronger next year.

Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us for our first issue of 2022. What are you looking forward to most in the new year?

Thank you for inviting me to take part in this! I have had quite a hectic end to 2021 with the move to Portugal, so I’m looking forward to kickstarting the year with some productive months of work, and there might even be a secret project being announced in the coming few weeks…

Join Emma Nicole on

Twitter @hiemmanicole