These are the best tools out there for those in the Sims World.
We purchased the Prima Guide for each Expansion Pack, and they have been a wealth of helpful information for my wife, who is not only an avid reader, but a very organized player when it comes to these Games.
They have provided everything that you need.

I purchased this book at the same time as I purchased The Sims 2: Holiday Edition. Although the book did arrive before the game, it gave me more time to learn about the game and how to keep my Sims happy, advance in their careers, what to buy when I firsted moved in a family, how to build a house, how to construct a basement... it's all in there!!! The book also tells how to use tutorials, and what to do in them to be successful. This book is a great idea if you're a seasoned gamer and want a reference or a new player and want somewhere to look if you're confused. I haven't even gotten the game yet (I've only had the book for about two days) and already I'm in love with it and have many, many Post-Its marking "important" pages.

The book also shows all the levels of your career so you know how many friends, skill points, days off, etc. you'll have in the future and what to shoot for, and it also shows your salaries so if you have a MONEY Sim you can make a lot of cash and make them happy.

In the back are cheats, filmaking tips, storymaking tips, and bodyshop help.
I'll give you a sample of the TOC:
Part 1 The Basics (if you've never played before)
Part 2 Creating Neighborhoods, Families, and Sims
Part 3 It's A Lot Like Life (aging, dieing, skills, wants, fears, needs)
Part 4 All in the Family (a maxis made fun blog - no idea why it's there)
Part 5 Beyond the Game (bulid mode, story, fim, custom conten, cheats)

By the way there are chapters in those parts. There are 23 chapters in all. The most in P:3, the least in P:1. Also the cheats that they give are NOT all of them. There are about... ***thinking*** over 40 more. But the guide ones are all the Maxis made cheats, the others are hacks.
Important Guide Cheats:
moveobjects (on/off) move any object even sims
kaching $1,000
aging (on/off) sims do or don't age

This is better value than other Prima strategy guides as it is actually a guide for both Sims University and for Sims 2.... however it's not such good value if you've already bought the original Sims 2 book.
Prima, as ever, have packed a lot of information into their book and it is stuffed to the gills with useful tips and ideas. It gives a rundown on what your adolescent Sims need in order to survive, and ultimately graduate from college whilst still managing to party hard and have a good time. There are details on the new features to be found and goodies to be bought as well as a useful list of careers and what is needed to reach the top of career ladder.
The original guide, which is included here, gives a useful run down on playing the game and provides lots of additional information for the budding architect making building a lot simpler. Even the die-hard Sims player is sure to find new ideas and helpful advice in this book, it's worth every penny.

I found the information and tips in this book helped me play the game better. I bought this book a year after I played and found out lots of info that I didn't know about the game. The game is now more fun to play than ever, thanks to this book.

This is a good overall book for understanding how to play the game. Don't make my mistake though. I bought the Sims 2 and the Sims University Cheat Books. Sims University comes with a bonus copy of the Sims 2 book in it. So it was a waste of money to buy both. Save and just buy the Sims University Cheat Book. Also, don't expect a lot of cheat codes, and if you know how to play already, a lot of the info in here is redundant or can be discovered in the first hour of game play.

This is the guide book that every Sim gamers should have. It contains a lot of useful detailed information such as jobs, skills and aspirations. This is definitely one of those game-guide books that you should not miss!

You might need to play around with your Sims game first before reading this guide (if you are new to the game). Try out the in-game tutorials and experiment around. Once you know a little, this is where the guide comes in. Use it and guide your Sims paths.

This is a good guide for Sims 2. I have never played so this was quite helpful in getting me started and will be even more so once I get into the game. There is a lot of information though and it is difficult to find the answer to any one particular question without going through page after page. Perhaps with more use I will be able to find what I need quickly. Otherwise it would have been five stars.

This book really helps in getting around in Sims2. It even tells you how to make a basement in a house although it takes a bit of practice. I refer to it often to find out what skills my Sims will need in order to advance in their job. Its must for anyone who is a Sims2 addict like me.

This game guide has very little about the University expanision Pack itself. The book has nearly 500 pages and only abut 150 or so dedicated to the expansion pack. The rest is merely The Sims 2 strategy guide. When I first saw this in the store, I thought that it would be a mixture of both the original strategy guide and also with lots of HELPFUL information about the University expansion pack. I couldn't have been more wrong. While most of the information provided about the Sims 2 game itself from the original strategy guide is very helpful, the minimal info provided about the expansion pack is nearly as helpful. Many a times, it was very rare that I'd find the answer to a question I had about something in the expansion pack inside this strategy guide and I'd end up going online to find the answer. It's not worth the money.

I just wanted to put a heads up out there to anyone who is hoping to find tips on the handheld versions of the Sims 2 game (GBA & DS users). Unlike the previous console guides for the Sims/Urbz games, this manual DOES NOT offer any guide to the hand held versions. Apparently this was overlooked by Prima this time around, which is very unfortunate for those of us who like our Sims on the run! Prima guides are still great, but buyers beware that this guide is for consoles only this time!

i thought it was brilliant graphics and the actions were good too but why do the sims start of with no money! you cant buy or make a house!!! you can not do anything unless you know the cheat! (press ctrl shift c on your keyboard then at the space at the top type in motherlode people!' i thought it was a good idea of the sims growing up though! so thanks

Rebecca aged 14 ( well nearly!!!!! only 1 month to go!)

Ok, im a mac user so i don't even have this game yet. BUT IT WILL BE OUT VERY SOON!!! but i did play this game @ my friends house, and this guide was quite helpful. Plus, for those of us that have macs (and are sims 2 freaks) will enjoy just reading about sims 2 university (fantasizing; if only i had sims 2 university). This book has all the little tips and tricks you need to know, true, you could just find it all scattered across the web. But its always nice to have all the answers in the palm of your hand (those of us who have really big hands). AND WITH A INDEX TOO!!!.

This is great for someone who wants to understatnd EVERYTHING. It was convenient for shopping. I could just look in the book and find what I want rather that looking on the computer.It saved me a lot of time when I was building and furnishing. However, if you buy this book, don't bother getting The Sims2 Strategy Guide; that is what the first half of the book is.

After buying the game I didn't play it much because I couldn't get the hang of it. This book helped quite a bit, although I think the writing would be a bit confusing for younger players. It gives good tips and strategies as well as some known and some not known cheats. I was finally able to send my "son" off to college, get on the dean's list and graduate without being placed on probation or getting expelled. It made the game more enjoyable.

This is by far the most complete and comprehensive game guide for any PC game I've played so far! This book will reveal any questions and help you through any aspects of The Sims 2. Anyone who has played knows this game never gets old because of the endless possibilities. This guide won't spoil any of the fun but will help make the most of it!

This guide is well worth the money as all of the simple questions are answered for you saving you the hours of trial and error.

Chances are:

....that if you picked this book up, then you probably saw "Bonus Original The Sims 2 Guide Inside" written in big BOLD RED letters on the cover. Not "Half The Guide".....not "1/4 of the guide".....not even "1/8 of the guide". It says "ORIGINAL The Sims 2 Guide Inside". It's also emblazoned on the spine of the book. It's almost impossible to miss. So why expect something other than the original guide?

.....that if you picked up the original guide, then you already knew what the "bonus" material already contained and knew how thick that guide was.

......that if you had such knowledge and picked up the new one (like me) then you had some idea that this guide wasn't much bigger, therefore, not much had been added on.

My point: Pay attention. It's that simple. Don't blame Prima for your oversight. Do I think there should've been an entire guide devoted solely to The Sims 2 University? Absolutely. But at the same time, I was also fully aware that the previous guide was roughly 350 pages long and that this one wasn't much bigger. And let's not forget about that little "Bonus" label on the cover that I previously mentioned.

And what about the folks that may not have the first guide? This may be a great way for them to get up to speed. I also find the guide to be a lot more convenient than thumbing through two guides whenever I need to look something up. The book is very helpful, especially if you don't have this info already. But if you do have the 1st guide, this guide probably won't tell you anything outside of TS2 University that you don't already know.

The ultimate guide for playing Sims 2, because it tells you all the details for playing Sims 2, which can't help but improve one's game play.

This is a fantastic guide, filled with useful information throughout the entire book. I've bought several other Prima Guides for other video games, and I found this to be the most well put together of the ones that I have purchased. Buy it, you will find it to be guide that you will refer to often.

I think its the best game in the world and it keeps you busy!!!

I love sims two its got great new features and graficks! Ilove how you can do everything like face structure and all that stuff. It is awsem!

This book is fabulous, it has everything that you need to know... if more simmers read this book, there would be fewer of them online in chat rooms asking silly questions... all the answers you need are in this book..... it is a must have...

Ahem, the title of this book is THE SIMS 2 UNIVERSITY: PRIMA'S OFFICIAL STRATEGY GUIDE, with emphasis on university. There's not an unlimited amount of material here! Okay, you got the Sims, you got university! There's too much stuff for the little booklet that comes with the game, and not enough for the whole book. Let's say you got the Sims 2 and University at the same time. You haven't played the Sims 2. If anything, gratitude should be employed because now you have two game guides in one. Also, now you can be a good samaritan and sell the original on e-bay or give it to the salvation army. Get your money back, you know. This guide told me everything I needed to know, and I didn't even have to keep reverting back and forth between it and guide A.

How can you spend your money on something so worthless? You can buy the game The sims1 for this price. worthless...

"The Sims 2 : Prima Official Game Guide" is exceptionally helpful for The Sims 2 players, particularly if you're a novice in the Sims world. The instruction book that comes with the PC and PC/DVD computer game only covers very basic skills, but if you want information about how to task your Sims well, flourish in their careers, meet their Wants, and have many generations, then this guide is simply a must. It's very effortless to read; author Greg Kramer wrote in a very conversational, easy-going style, making reading this guide enjoyable and uncomplicated. If you're new at playing any kind of Sims game, or of you're a mogul, wanting to get your Sims 2 family ahead in everything, then you must get this guide. I recommend.

The University portion of this book is pretty informative and has information that you could not find elsewhere. I actually did purchase The Sims 2 guide, but the digital version (which is $9.99) so I decided to purchase this one as well. Now, I have the digital version and I can use that to easily search for information, or I could just flip through The Sims 2 - University book version as well and find what I need using that. I would rather prefer the print version because it is something that is physically in my hands, I can read it anywhere else; well, you get the point.

Anyhow, yes, it is a disappointment that Prima put the previous The Sims 2 guide in this one as well. Although, there is not much content that CAN cover the University version, and therefore this is probably the only option they have, short of having a really thin University guide (which actually might have been more effective, actually.)

This book is not worth twenty bucks. Most of the book is taken up by a reprint of the original Sims2 guide. They did not even bother to correct the errors (of which there were plenty) in the original guide before simply reprinting it and selling it all over again. The part of the guide that is actually about University is sparse, leaves out too many details, and only takes up a few dozen pages. You can find all the information they have in there (and MORE) by doing a google search on Sims2 University. Trust me. Save your money.

What a total disappointment. It's too bad that Prima thinks that they can put about 100 pages of University information together with 300 pages of a repeat of the Sims2 guide and expect us to pay $19.99 for it. This is one comsumer who's walking away. I have the Sims2 guide already, I'm not forking out more for a piddly amount of information on the new expansion pack. I'll spend the time searching the fan sites for what I need to know. And you can bet I let all my Sim buds know- don't bother with this book UNLESS you don't already have the Sims2 guide. If Prima wises up and prints guides of just the expansion packs- I'll be the first to buy. Otherwise, forget it.

So here's my story. I go to the book store with my allowance thinking I could go look at some music, (I think I was either at Barnes and Nobel or some other place) when suddenly, out pops this book that says the sims 2 on it. I already have the game so I was thinking it wasn't that big of a deal. But I decided I would just look it over, since I am the biggest Sims 2 freak around. A little infomation will never kill you. But this thing was loaded!! It had some stuff about Body Shop (which I didn't get AT THE TIME) and then some stuff about how the genetics worked, and how they die (I never knew there could be death by flies) and more. Even though this book was $20.00, (which is 4 weeks of my allowance) It was absolutly worth it! I read the whole thing in 3 hours and then got up and played the game. My mom normally grounds me from The Sims 2 when I am mad, this book made me like the game more, and my mom doesn't ground me as much because I am SO NICE :-) and I am SO NICE not only because it is a good thing to do, but I get to play The Sims 2!

This book is about 1/4 new material dedicated to S2: University. The remainder is a complete and total reprint of the strategy guide Prima put out for the core Sims 2 game. If you don't have the first strategy guide I can see where this might be a money saver, that buyer gets two for the price of one, essentially. But otherwise, Prima is asking consumers to pony up money for what they might already have. Shameless.

I just wrote a post about the sims 2 game and now I am going to write about the book. This book helped me out a lot with the game. Here are a couple of things this book teaches you about
1) The Sims 2 body shop
2) Making houses
3) If your a first time simmer, it teaches you about the game
4) Each stage of life
5) Jobs and school
6) Genetics and families

I could go on. Go order or bye this book asap! I request buying or at least READING the book before buying the game so that your up to date with everything that you will be doing. Happy Simming!!

I was very happy with this guide because it explains almost everything in the game! It gives helpful tips that I never would have thought about otherwise. I've heard that it doesn't have a table of contents, but it does on the page right before part one begins. It is in the small print. Overall, I am very happy with this 366-paged, full color guide

I usually do not purchase the game guides, however I am a huge fan of Sims2 and I wanted to know how to effectively maximize my Sims2 game experience. This guide does the trick.

I now have a clear understanding of the various levels of the careers within the game. How to achieve these levels and what level will be next.

There is also a comprehensive listing of all the objects content within the game. This helps gamers understand how these ojects affect their Sims.

I have read this guide cover to cover at least three times. Each time I read it, I become more and more knowledgeable of the ins and outs of The Sims2.

I recommend this guide to anyone who wants to maximize their Sims2 gaming experience.

I really love this game! Create yourself, your friends and the one you love... Make your dreams come true in a game if it didn't happen in real life. Marry the one you love, have kids and watch them grow as you get older! Enjoy the social life, sometimes get in the fights with people...Make a good carrer in the field you like and so on. It is a real world in a CD game.So don't miss it

Well, the title says it all! The Sims 2 would have been much more challenging (not necessarily a bad thing) without this book. And it was cheap, too (gift certificate). For that Sim Addict in your family, I have to recommend this guide! It's great!