Johnny Smith - Freshman Year

Johnny's first playable day with his family in Strangetown is here; Ophelia's Freshman Year is here.

It is 5:00 am at Oasis Dormitory, part of La Fiesta Tech's campus, when Johnny Smith arrives here. He has of course chosen this Dorm because his best friend and teenage love Ophelia Nigmos has a room here; she is one year ahead of him. 

This is the place where Johnny will live during his Freshman Year. Funnily enough, the first wish he rolls upon arriving is to move out! But I will let him stay here at least for a while.

Ophelia is happy to see her childhood friend; she has been showing a wish for him to go to college as well. 

Unfortunately, during the last time I've played here, Ophelia and one of her dorm mates autonomously developed a crush on each other. Maybe things will turn around, now that Johnny is here; Christopher Hart is actually in love with Tiffany Riley from the Tri-Fruhm Sorority anyway. 

Here is Christopher, who is a Sophomore like Ophelia. This semester, he is the first of the group to complete his Term Paper, and he looks suitably proud of it.

River Smith, who is a Sophomore like Ophelia and Christopher, must be a distant relative of Johnny's. They don't know each other yet, but immediately on his arrival, River wishes to be friends with him. He is in love with DJ Verse and wants to get engaged to her. 

After he has claimed his room, one of the first things Johnny does is to ring his loved ones back home to tell them all is well. By the way, he is a Popularity Sim who wants to have 20 best friends; he started out with three, but the phone call to his little sister Jill makes her his fourth best friend. 

Oh no! Resident Campus Coach Curtis Love appears. Johnny is safe, as he has just left for his first class. But Christopher Hart is ordered to work out, and does so until his hygiene bar is deep orange and he finally has a shower. 

Back from class, Johnny sits down for some skilling. He knows that the earlier he finishes these tasks and writes his Term Paper, the sooner he can do as he pleases.

And before his first day at college is over, he can press the "send" button for his Term Paper! 

Speaking of Term Papers, a strange phenomenon occurs with Ophelia: She has not yet written hers this semester, but when I click on the computer and choose the "college" option, all that is available to her is to change major, which she won't do. I have her do an assignment instead, hoping that this will be enough for her to pass this semester, or the option will reappear on the computer. 

The next morning, instead of Ophelia and Johnny rekindling their old flame, a different kind of fire breaks out when the dorm cook manages to burn breakfast. The sprinkler quickly puts the flames out, but now everyone badly needs a shower, and the cafeteria wants cleaning up. 

Later, I have Johnny dance with Ophelia, but nothing comes of it.

My hopes are up when later I catch Christopher talking to Ophelia, and she clearly rejecting the conversation.

But my hopes are seriously dashed when, moments later, she playfully pinches his bottom, and as they engage in an energetic dance, red hearts appear over their heads. 

What about Tiffany! I shout at Christopher, and what about Johnny!! at Ophelia, but they don't hear me.

The next morning, I find Christopher and River playing punch you punch me, and I notice that they wear the same PJs (not that this is of any relevance!). 

The Cow Mascot seems to wonder about Johnny, while Ophelia is thinking of getting engaged... she has not yet rolled the wish, but I'm afraid Christopher Hart is the more likely candidate right now. 

River makes an attempt at getting to know Johnny better over a game of chess.

The first half of Johnny's Freshman year is over! 

Like Ophelia, River and Christopher (who finished a little earlier than the others), he has passed his exams with best grades, and each of the four receive the full grant of 1,200 Simoleons. Dorm improvements, anyone? I decide on better bathroom equipment, which will reduce the time needed for showers, and increase comfort every time a student uses the toilet. 

Of course, everyone is very busy at the start of their second semester. Skilling and Term Paper writing are in order, and classes need to be attended. 

The two distant cousins River and Johnny are now friends, and engage in a game of catch when they return from class late in the evening. 

Christopher has rolled the want to give his first girlfriend Tiffany a backrub, and so he invites her over. The backrub is duly given, with Ophelia in sight, and I expect a slap fest to break out any moment, but all that happens is that Christopher goes to bed - he is very tired after a day of studying and writing.

Ophelia and Johnny have breakfast together the next morning, and she congratulates him on having five best friends.

Actually, her count was wrong - there were six best friends, and "cousin" River becomes # 7 a bit later that day. 

The next day, I catch Ophelia and Johnny talking in the cafeteria. And it very much looks like he is telling her that they will be best friends for life, no matter what (but probably not more). 

Aaaw... I was really, really hoping these two would continue where they left off as teens! 

Instead, Johnny has a wish to see the adult Jill, and invites her over. Oh dear... isn't she something like a distant auntie? Obviously not!! 

And so Johnny helps Jill to take one step further to reach her lifetime want. Thank you, Johnny!! (NOT!) 

And here it is, the final moment of Johnny's Freshman year - or, actually, the fist moment in his life as a Sophomore. 

Christopher, River and Ophelia are now Juniors. 

Phew! This was a difficult year. Not that it was particularly challenging to keep track of four playable students, making sure they did what was necessary to pass their exams and fulfill some of their wishes. But I really struggled with the idea of Johnny giving up on Ophelia, but had to see sense eventually - not once did he roll any wants about her, while she kept rolling wishes to play with him and tell jokes, but nothing romantic. (Maybe I should have granted him his first wish upon arrival, when he wanted to move out straight away!)

What Christopher really wants - Tiffany or Ophelia or someone else entirely - remains to be seen. The only one who seems to be absolutely sure about having found The One is River, who will at some stage get engaged to DJ Verse. We're still not done with the Smith surname in my game! But who's next?