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The Plumbob Report

SimGoodie: A Solo Dev's Life Sim Where Gossip Actually Walks Through Town

A first look at a one-person life sim: Sims 2 depth, Sims 3 breadth, wants and fears, memories, gossip that travels, weather, build mode, a pear trophy and honest bugs.

PublishedOct 13, 2026GameLife Sims

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Show notes

In this episode of The Plumbob Report, Becca and Danny look at a fan-made life sim built by a single developer for Mac and Windows. The game is in development and is called SimGodi in the hosts' notes, though the official site now uses the name SimGoodie, so the branding may still change. The hosts set the stage, then play the developer's own walkthrough of what he is building and why.

The project aims for the depth of The Sims 2 combined with the breadth of The Sims 3. Listeners get an early, candid look at a work in progress, including what exists today, what is still broken, and where the developer is asking for help.

Character systems: Each character is a Godi with wants, fears, a life aspiration, personality traits, moods and visible buffs such as feeling rested.
Work and skills: An info panel covers basic needs, friends, skills with 10 levels each and jobs, using Ada the level-one baker as an example. Moods and needs affect job performance, and characters can receive homework to improve it.
Memories and gossip: Characters hold long-term and normal memories (about 25 active), betrayal lasts about five days, and gossip travels physically through town within roughly eight meters. A test panel also shows weather, including rain, thunderstorms and forecasts.
Build mode and known bugs: Build mode is planned to support up to five floors and curved walls. The developer openly lists current problems, including the build grid, small objects and second-floor building.
World and lore: Goodhaven is an open world with the mountain neighborhood of Linden Rise, different cultures and story progression that continues elsewhere while you play. The humor draws on The Office and Parks and Recreation, and a prized pear is a symbol that everyone wants.

The developer also explains his call for 3D animators and world builders, since he is working on the game alone in his free time, and shares why he is building it: he has been a Sims fan since age five and once ran a Sims fan site.

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Talking points

1:53

Honest Early Look

The developer opens by admitting the game is only a couple months old and still foundational, setting honest expectations before pitching a blend of Sims 2 depth and Sims 3 breadth.

4:25

Homework for a Baker

Even a baker like Ada, a level-one counter hand, gets homework to improve her job performance, and her moods and needs directly affect how well she works.

5:07

Gossip That Travels

Gossip in this game has to physically travel through town, spreading only within about eight meters, while betrayal sours a character's mood and work performance for roughly five days.

6:50

Weather System Demo

A test panel shows off a dynamic weather system with rain, thunderstorms with lightning, temperature, and a forecast that changes the UI.

8:48

The Trophy Pear

The game's quirky lore centers on a pear that everyone knows about and wants as a trophy, with humor inspired by The Office and Parks and Recreation.

9:14

Bugs Said Out Loud

The developer lists his bugs out loud, including being unable to build a second floor, which the hosts note sits awkwardly beside the promised five floors.

9:43

One Dev Seeks Help

He is a solo developer working in his free time and seeking 3D animators, since getting the right animations in the right place is a top challenge.

FAQ

What is SimGodi?

SimGodi is an in-development life-sim game in which every character is a Godi. It aims to combine the depth of Sims 2 with the breadth of Sims 3 in an open world. The world is still bare bones, and characters have wants, fears and a life aspiration that nudge their actions.

How do moods, needs and skills work in SimGodi?

Moods change as the game goes on and show visible buffs, such as a character feeling rested. The Godi info panel lists basic needs, friends, skills with 10 levels each, and jobs. Moods and needs affect work performance, and characters get homework assignments to improve it.

How do memories, betrayal and gossip work in SimGodi?

Characters have long-term and normal memories, with up to about 25 active. Betrayal lasts about five days and hurts mood and job performance. Gossip travels physically through town, spreading within about eight meters. Personality traits, aspirations and a weather system with rain and thunderstorms are also part of the game.

What can you do in SimGodi's build mode?

Build mode is planned to support up to five floors, curved walls, foundations, doors, windows and stairs. It was only shown briefly, with the actual tools and stairs deferred to later videos. The developer's goal is a powerful, customizable build and buy engine.

What known bugs does the SimGodi developer mention?

The build grid does not follow the lot path, small objects fail, and a second floor cannot yet be built. The developer shares these openly.

Who is making SimGodi and what help does he need?

One developer works on it alone in his free time. He is looking for 3D animators, since getting the right animations in the right place is a top challenge, and for world builders. He has been a Sims fan since age five and once ran a Sims fan site.

What is Goodhaven and Linden Rise in SimGodi?

Goodhaven is the game's open world, and Linden Rise is a mountain neighborhood within it. The world includes different cultures, and story progression happens elsewhere while you play. The game also features a pear that everyone knows about and wants as a trophy.

Episode desk

PublishedOct 13, 2026

GameLife Sims

Episode chapters

0:12Introduction
2:16Meet the Game: A First Episode and a Work in Progress
3:07Sims 2 Depth, Sims 3 Breadth, and Every Character Is a Godi
5:12Moods, Buffs, and Feeling Rested
5:55Ada the Baker: Needs, Skills and Job Performance
7:02Memories, Betrayal and Gossip That Physically Travels
10:55Build Mode: Five Floors and Curved Walls
11:45The Pear Everyone Wants
12:40Known Bugs, Said Out Loud
13:34A Team of One, Looking for Teammates
14:25Goodhaven and the Linden Rise Neighborhood
15:18Why He Is Building It
16:22Outro

Listen on

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Sources

SimGoodie · Build a life in GoodhavenSimGoodie · Build a life in Goodhaven
SimGoodie Network – PlaylistsSimGoodie Network – Playlists
SimGoodie Network (YouTube)SimGoodie Network (YouTube)

Topics

Life Simulation GamesIndie Game DevelopmentSims Inspired GamesGame DevlogBuild ModeNeeds and MoodsSolo DeveloperGame Bugs