Welcome to WishLinia. This is Revision 2 of the AFR journal, with more turns and less explanation of the rules. If you're wondering what an alpha family race actually is, look at http://forums.electronicarts.co.uk/ in the Sims 2 section. Turns last 45 human minutes in this AFR.

This is the first part of the map: 'Arrival Road'. It is up to the family as to whether they want a larger plot or a smaller one. All starting with 20,000 simoleons, they can have a house built, and then move into it (saving them some money). In order to progress to the next stage, they must have 50,000 simoleons in net worth.

This is 'Progression Lane', the second stage in the big climb. Once they have 50,000 simoleons, they can choose a lot, build on it, and then move into it. They won't be going beyond here, though, until they have the 80,000 simoleons net worth to go on to Advancement Avenue

If 80,000 simoleons have been well earned, the families are entitled to Build on and move into a plot in Advancement Avenue, the third stage of the climb. You'll notice there are only three plots at this point - that's because there's a good chance that by the time a fourth family needs a lot here, one of the first three would have moved on. There's a big leap for our sim families now - to move further up the hill, their net worth must be over 125,000 simoleons to continue to Success Street.

And here it is! Success Street is quite exclusive, with only two large plots either side of that community lot. The top two locations are even more so - Sim families will need a whopping 250,000 simoleons to advance. Let's take a look....

Here it is. At the back is 'Runner up Ranch', where the second family to win 250,000 simoleons will live out their line. Closer to you is the big one: 'Alpha-Family Acommodation'! The first family to meet the final goals gets to build their mansion here, and overlook the whole of WishLinia in the Grandest house of all!

WishLinia is not without its community lots. These lots must be community owned, and no family can buy them. This one here is WishLinia Lakeside Shopping - it sells everything that sims can buy at community lot stores, and is a good place to exercise and socialise too.

However, more custom-built for social encounters is this venue here: 'Uptown Bowling and Party Scene' - with both a Bowling Alley and a Nightclub, thereis plenty of fun to be had here!

At has to be said though, that there is a considerably less fun venue here - every sim that dies goes into this family graveyard - five fenced off partitions, one for each great name. It will grow to become a record of who started this great race. Now without further ado, let's meet the founders of each of the five great houses....

Outgoing Freddie and Accomodating Suzie are the first of the house of Arden. They live with their labrador Jamie. Suzie will probably become a Freelance painter at home, to suit her family, stay-at-home, maternal instincts, while Freddie will look to start a career in sports. The Ardens are people people, who enjoy mixing and socializing. They will be the first to choose a plot and build a house.

Next up are the Boomers. A keen chef, Brian hopes to make his fortune in cooking, his true passion, while his wife Kara wants to earn as much money as possible however she can - she hasn't decided what job though yet. Not having an animal companion may be a Money-Saver, but will the house seem empty without one? We'll find out when they pick their plot, and they will be the second to choose.

Compassionate and caring, Edward and Grace Caira are a model example of the ideal pair. Eddy has high hopes for his work, and Grace for their cat, Foggy, who she hopes will begin a career as well, but the Cairas want a child more than anything else, and this where they will be aiming once they have moved into WishLinia - they will be the third to do so.

Next up, Rocky Diras and his wife Nina. Doctors and Scientists through and through, they will be each looking to gain something out of the medical/scientific professions, and they have high hopes that their Beagle Smokey will earn his keep too. Let's hope they can keep their relationship alive despite the relentless flow of their work, as they move into WishLinia in fourth place.

Finally, the shrewd and competitive Endevur couple will be looking for victory in WishLinia. Cunning, abrupt Nigel will be looking to climb to the top of a well-paying career, and glamourous Kara won't be far behind. This single-minded focus might help them acheive their goals, but will their slightly cold natures put people off from befriending them? Wait and see as this fifth and final couple takes up residence in the WishLinia neighbourhood! Let's take a look at what's being built...

A-ha! Five houses on Arrival Road, but which one belongs to which family? From this point, turns are played in forty-five minute cycles in the order Arden, Boomer, Caira, Diras, Endevur - one album entry per turn.

Well here are the Ardens at 2 Arrival Road. They spent the first 45 minute turn settling in. Using the computer that Mr Rod Humble had gifted them with, Freddie found a job as a dishwasher - not quite what he wanted, but a start. Suzie bought an easel and started to paint, and got Jamie a job as a security pet. Freddie and Jamie have since been promoted, and Suzie has sold her first painting (for a measly 12 simoleons). They have picked each other's aspiration as their secondary aspiration, hopefully drawing them closer together. They consummated their marriage in the last five minutes...and a Lullaby sounded in the background, much to Suzie's excitement.

The Boomers, however, have opted for the Bungalow lifestyle, and they have made use of the cash they've saved. They did end up lonely without a pet in the end, so Kara went out and bought a Parrot called Lorri Keet and he now perches in the lounge. Kara has realised what she wants to do for a living - she is currently searching for a job out at sea, as an oceanographer or something similar (she has had no luck finding a vacancy yet). Brian, however, has decided, after four nights selling fries out of a Drive Through hatch, that a career in cooking isn't for him, although cuisine will remain his true passion. Instead, he's searching for something a bit more perilous to do for a living...

The Cairas really have got off to a flying start. Edward got himself a job in one of the big SimCity corporations and has since earned three promotions. Grace has trained up Foggy well, and this wonder-cat has got a job in Animal Services and earned a promotion too.

As if this wasn't acheivement enough, the Cairas have set two WishLinia records. Grace has given birth to the first of the new generation - welcome to the neighbourhood baby Adam Caira! Edward has also managed quite a feat - he has bought windows for his house - the first one in WishLinia to to so (this photo was taken beforehand, obviously)!

Keep on Cairas, you're doing great!

Fourth to play a turn are Mr and Mrs Diras. Nina was very quick to grab a good job in the Science career, and she has since had a couple of promotions. Rocky wasn't working...he was too busy being abducted by aliens, getting pregnant with alien spawn and giving birth to it. Enter baby Zino! By Alpha-Family-Race (Let's say AFR from now on) rules, this baby, biological child of Rocky, can carry on the Diras line and win the competition for them like any 'normal' baby. Nina is treating Zino as if he were her own.

They also managed to buy windows for their bungalow, and a couple of other appliances indoors. This is certainly the most weird turn yet played (not because of the windows or the appliances, the baby!), so keep up the odd work, Diras household!

Living true to their 'Work > Everything' ethos, the Endevurs didn't even stop to pose for a 'new home' photo, instead rushing in and using their computer to find a job! Both husband and wife have worked hard to find a job, and earn some good promotions. Kara Endevur (not to be confused with Kara Boomer) is climbing up the career ladder (in the same corporaton as Edward Caira, incidentally), while Nigel, after spending 3 boring days in a dead-end bank job, has decided the lawless life is for him, and jumped at the chance of a criminal career, which became available mid-turn. While they have no child on the way, the observant may notice that Nigel has something else to call 'his baby' - the Endevurs are the first WishLinians to buy a car - how interesting.

Arrival Road, WishLinia after turn one. Some windows, a telescope and a car added to the scene - and two and a half new sims (Remembering that Suzie Arden is pregnant). I wonder if you've picked a favourite by now? I have *guilty, shifty look*, but that doesn't mean I'll be playing them any differently! Of course not!

It's the Ardens' second turn - and it's been a very mixed bag. Jamie the security dog came home hungry...starving actually, and refused his food - here you see the policewoman lecturing poor, pregnant Suzie, before taking her beloved companion away. She and Freddie sold their computer and much more besides, in the hope of saving up enough to buy their dog back out of care - they need 2,500 to do so. Oh a brighter note, baby Owen was born - the third WishLinian child. Suzie sold another two paintings, and Freddie earned another promotion - let's hope that they can rescue poor Jamie from the clutches of the care system!

Turn 2 in the Boomer household. Brian certainly got that perilous job - what could be a more perilous job than being a Private Eye in the intelligence industry? Here's Brian now - who's been starting to get fit to improve his chances at work - with Lorri Keet. Kara Boomer is in bed, feeing a bit rough - she has just been put on maternity leave and is expecting a little one too! The Boomers are certainly moving forward, carving out their place in WishLinia.

Another encouraging scene for the Cairas here. Baby Adam has grown into a toddler, and has already learned to talk and has nearly mastered the potty. Grace is pregnant with another baby, so she's been very busy looking after herself and her firstborn. Edward has been struggling at work - he earned a demotion from a bad chance card decision and he's trying really hard to overcome this blip. Aside from baby stuff, the Cairas haven't bought much (although a wardrobe would be good - that way they can take photos fully dressed!), but they are very happy with the rate their family is growing.

Happy birthday to Zino! The Diras household is steadly progressing. Although Nina is finding the work tough, she's coping okay and should get a promotion next turn. Rocky will be using his three days off to train Zino (now a toddler, pictured here) and Smokey the dog. Nina has paid for some lights in the family home, so now the environment is brightly lit during all hours. The atmosphere is good for the family, and they are well placed to improve their quality of life next turn.

The industrious Endevurs, here seen whiling the night away picking up useful skills for their respective jobs, have done well this turn. Nigel and Kara have both been promoted again, and they have picked up the skills they'll need for their next promotion as well. Also, something you wouldn't expect has happened - they took a break from the relentless grind just long enough to get Kara pregnant. They are, quite late, starting a family soon! Their house now has lights and the second floor is well on the way to being furnished. Keep it up Endevurs!

Arrival Road after two 45 minute turns.

Let's recap the families:
The Ardens are living at 2 Arrival Road (Freddie, Suzie, Baby Owen and until recently, Jamie)
The Boomers are living at 1 Arrival Road (Brian, Kara, Lorri Keet and Kara's unborn baby)
The Cairas are living at 5 Arrival Road (Edward, Grace, Adam, Foggy the Cat and the unborn baby)
The Diras are living at 4 Arrival Road (Rocky, Nina, Zino and Smokey)
The Endevurs are living at 3 Arrival Road (Nigel, the other Kara and their unborn child)

Let's have another three turn cycles.

Freddie and Suzie are....struggling financially. Buying all the equipment for Owen has knocked the fund that the Ardens are saving up to buy back Jamie. They have about half the money now. Owen is now a toddler (happy birthday) - it look like he's going to be a serious grump, with only 1 point in Grouchy/Nice.

Yes, that is Brian Boomer on the right - Freddie, being the popularity-centred socialite that he is - has made friends with several people, both townies and other AFR rivals.

Suzie has sold another painting - for nearly 70 simoleons now. She's getting somewhere, with creativity skill 8 and decent cooking skills to boot.

Speaking of cooking, Freddie's exploits in the culinary industry has earned him promotion to 'Host' of a swanky restaurant, and he has all the skills he needs to climb the ladder.

The loss of Jamie is hitting them hard - let's hope that their efforts can reunite them with their beloved lab!

The two Boomers after three turns...hang on, that's not two. Meet baby Liam, the first Boomer child. Brian can be seen here in athletic gear still working on getting into shape. He's now got an official want for it, so the benefits are numerous. He's making his way up the ladder, and left for work in an unshakebly good mood with all requirements satisfied - a promotion seems inevitable. Suzie still hasn't found her ideal job, but it isn't suprising as she has been heavily pregnant for most of this turn. The Boomers are great fun to play and it shall be interesting how their world develops next turn.

The house of Caira is...well...large. A baby, a toddler and a pregnancy all under one roof. As with the Ardens, money is tight, but Edward is putting food on the table and working hard for a promotion while training Adam. Edward Junior was born this turn (another boy! We haven't get had any girls born into WishLinia, so lets hope that Grace produces the first!) and the happy parents have once again conceived. Not only does this satisfy heaps of wants for the loving couple, but guarentees a lot in University bonus money if and when the three children graduate.

The first child to mature in the game, Zino has just had a platinium birthday! His success at learning the toddler basic skills set him up nicely for an entry into childhood. once the weekend is over, he could well be looking at an A* when he hands in his last piece of homework. He's been studying all the skills, but his speciality will be cleaning, no doubt - he is an obsessive, with 10 points in Sloppy/Neat. He should become a studious and intelligent young man. Nina has given birth to a girl! Baby Martha was born in the turn's closing minutes, so it'll be interesting to see what happens in the rounds to come.

What a turn for the Endevurs: three lucky chance cards earning at total of 12,000 and several promotions (with bonuses!), three rooms in their hosue refurnished with highest quality goods, and one heir to their estate: baby William was born in the second half of the turn. Despite their financially-orientated personalities, William satisfied big 'have a baby' wants for both sims. The house is a very happy place to live indeed. Kara is only two links from the top job in business, and Nigel is in the second half of his criminal career. What's more, their net worth is close to the 50,000 needed for Progression Lane. This will get interesting...

As the snow falls on this WishLinian winter and the lakes freeze up, let's have a look at each family's net worth.

- In fifth place is the Ardens (2 Arrival Road) with only just over 16,000 simoleons
- In fourth place, the Boomers (1 Arrival Road) with 17,500 simoleons to their name
- In third place, the Cairas (5 Arrival Road) with around 18,000 simoleons

Depreciating objects and some bad luck at work have meant a net loss for those three, but...

- In second place, with a laudable 21,000 simoleons are the Dirases (4 Arrival Road)
- However, in a clear first place with an astounding 45,000 simoleons net worth are the Endevurs (3 Arrival Road)!

Let's see how turn four pans out...Good luck to all five great houses!

The Ardens have turned thir game around! Owen is now an super-neat Child, with 9 points of cleaning skill already! He's found a friend in a little girl at school, Brittany Parker, and...wait for it...Freddie has earned two consecutive promotions, and the bonuses have reunited them with their labrador Jamie! And if that wasn't enough, Suzie has maxed out her creativity skill, and her hobby passion has hit the roof - she sold a 550 simoleons masterpiece this turn. She's spent the whole 45 minutes in Platinum Aspiration! And...wait for it....she's pregnant with her second child! With all this good news, the Arden household is a great place to be!

Business is 'Booming' in this household (if you'll pardon the pun!). Brian has received a couple of promotions - and the hefty bump in salary which goes with each one. Kara too has earned two promotions, but she isn't overly happy because her career in Oceanography cannot start until a job becomes avaialble. She's had no luck so far. On a much brighter note, Liam has grown into a precocious toddler currently in Platinum aspiration, and Kara is once again pregnant. Brian is now 'in the zone' whenever he cooks, and I have rewarded him with a new kitchen. All joy for the Boomer clan!

This turn was very mixed for the Cairas. Adam became a child in Platinum aspiration and has since maxed out his creativity skill and developed several others. Edward Junior has grown from baby to toddler to child this turn - his birthday was Platinum too. Edward Senior, meanwhile, has finally earned a promotion, and is nearly ready for another. Grace has given birth to a baby girl - Amelia - but the pregnancy took a lot out of her. She has been closest to death in WishLinia so far as her basic needs dropped below red. The Cairas agree that their family is large enough, letting Edward and Grace concentrate on the development of their household as opposed to its growth. Foggy has earned her first promotion in a while, and the turn has ended very positively considering the disaster that was how it started.

Quite a routine turn for the Diras lot. Zino has skilled and got an A* report card, while Rocky and Nina swapped to a career they preferred - Rocky has earned a promotion since then. Smokey is still the champion bacon-bringer, on his wage as a film star dog. Martha is still a little baby, but it won't be long until she too becomes a playable toddler.

Back from work after a hard night as a Burglar, Nigel poses beside the new car I've bought him. It's been a good turn for the Endevurs, although depreciation around the lot has brought them back below the 40,000 simoleon mark. Nigel has earned three promotions, and Kara is making friends for her next step up the ladder. Little William, now a toddler, is working hard towards his basic skills and the money keeps rolling in.

It has been a long, hard winter, but it's finally coming to a close around WishLinia. At the end of this fourth turn, lets have a look at another vital statistic - family size

The Ardens (2 Arrival Road) have Owen, and a pregnancy (Two children)
The Boomers (1 Arrival Road) have Liam, and a pregnancy (Two children)
The Cairas (5 Arrival Road) have Adam, Edward Jr and little Amelia (Three children)
The Dirases (4 Arrival Road) have Zino and baby Martha (Two Children)
The Endevurs (3 Arrival Road) have William (One child)

Remembering that uni graduates have a 20,000 simoleon grant from the game, being a large family has its advantages...

Bearing all that in mind, lets enter the fifth turn....

The Ardens have had a decent turn. Baby Kathy was born this turn, and a couple more paintings have sold well. Owen has maxed out his cleaning skill, and it's been a work-free turn - a day off or two for Freddie and Jamie and a snow day for Owen, it looks like the Ardens finished this chapter in relaxation!

Liam has grown into a child! A serious logician and a pernickety grump, it's no suprise that he brought Owen Arden back from school and they've since become friends. Meanwhile, the bump you see which was Kara's pregnancy is now baby Derek, the newest addition to WishLinia. Kara has finally got the job as an Oceanographer that she wanted so much, and Brian has been promoted twice! It's been a really good turn for the House of Boomer.

It's also all good for the Cairas. Adam has earned anoher promotion and was at work with all the skills and friends required - and a stellar mood - when I left them. Grace and Edward have done a good job of training up Amelia in her basic skills. The boys Adam and Edward Junior have both earned their A*s and are will stay in platinum as long as this continues. Amelia and Adam have a birthday next turn, and we'll be seeing our first teenagers soon. Well done, Cairas!

In fact we'll be seeing our first teenager just enxt turn! Zino has become a highly successful and intelligent teen, with an A* report card, a middle-level youth career and the 'Summon Aliens' interaction to get him some more scholarship money. Rocky and Nina have earned three promotions between them and Martha has grown into a friendly, intelligent toddler. The industrious Diras family is making excellent all-round progress and makes fierce competition for the other four!

The Endevurs have done it! They are the first to have over 50,000 simoleons net worth. Kara is the CEO of a large corporation, and Nigel the overlord of an illegal smuggling gang. The promotions and the gigantuan bonuses that they bring have prompted the Endevurs to uphouse to Progression Lane next turn. Also, William has grown into a child and started at school, although as of yet he isn't doing as well as he should. Congrats to Nigel and Kara, they lead the way to Stage Two of the AFR.