SimGuru Spotlight: SimGuruJill

Want to know more about the fine people working on The Sims 4? Good news! We’re starting up a new series: SimGuru Spotlights, where we talk to a different member of The Sims Studio and ask them to answer questions about their life, their passions, and, most importantly, their favorite ice cream flavor.

Let’s chat with SimGuruJill!

Can you give a brief introduction to yourself?
My name’s Jill Johnson or you might know me as SimGuruJill. I’ll also respond to “Johnson”, “Tronson”, “Bubby”, “Jilly”, “Jillary”, or even “Jillian” (which is my actual real name). I’m a Producer on The Sims 4 and have been a lucky member of The Sims family for almost 10 years now. I started out by working all three MySims games before The Sims Medieval and then ultimately joining The Sims 4 team to help build up our new Create-a-Sim. Most recently I had the pleasure of Producing the lovely world of Windenburg for The Sims 4 Get Together Expansion Pack!

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What do you do on The Sims 4?
One of the coolest things about being a producer is just how many different people and disciplines I get to engage with in just a single day. While about half of the time it might be conversations about open questions or bugs or status updates yadda yaddda, it’s most amazing when I get called over to see a quick animation playblast, sneak a peek at a fabulous new concept sketch, or I get to see a feature starting to come together and work at someone’s desk for the first time. It’s cool to see firsthand what a labor of love The Sims is, and watch it evolve from a concept on a piece of paper to a full-on experience.

What’s the best thing about being a SimGuru?
Hands down, my favorite thing about being a SimGuru is when I get to meet our players. You’re all such a refreshing breath of air and I love the energy and the feedback we get from friends that love this game just as much as we do!

What do you love most about The Sims franchise?
I can’t stop falling in love with my little people in the game, all day every day. Whether I’m playing for fun or just doing my standard day-to-day testing, I always need to click randomize a few times in Create-A-Sim before I leave – just to make sure I’ve got someone new that makes me laugh and makes me happy. Sometimes when I find they’ve been running around and doing things without me (like when I come sit back down and my guy is absolutely miserable and soaking in pee with a burning stove because I left him alone on a lot with no toilet), I’ll start yelling things at my screen like “oh no, I’m sorry I’m sorry don’t die!” while I quickly try and save him. I want to take care of my little virtual buddies.

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What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?
Can I pick three? I’m torn between rose ice cream, garlic ice cream, and black pepper ice cream. I love the unexpected flavors that make you go hmmm at first but then are surprisingly tasty.