Two Seven of Nines for free:
Does it really add up?

The growing menace of Simsite plagiarism took centre stage today as The Sim uncovered evidence of widespread website pilfering.

SimStars vs. Cheap Frills
Two unlikely?

Our in-depth investigation, revealed exclusively today only in The Sim, shows conclusively that even well-respected sites such as SimStars and Cheap Frills will, when it suits them, stoop to low acts of theft and plagiarism.

Take the skin pictured above. BOTH sites offer this skin for download. BOTH sites have named the head "Seven of Nine". And BOTH depict an ex-Borg drone, tragically assimilated into the Borg Collective as a child, then freed and partially restored to humanity, in a tight, spangly catsuit.

The Sim challenged the two errant webmasters to defend such obvious fraud.

"It's just a coincidence" stormed Jason, of the popular SimStars website

"We probably used the same photo. I must say, I think FingerMouse has achieved a wonderful skintone. Much better than mine. Nice lips, too."

In response, FingerMouse, self-styled 'Director' of the much-visited Cheap Frills website, ranted "Yes, I think it really is just a coincidence. Although, can I just say that I really like the hair on Jason's version? I'm really not very good at hair.

"Oh, and I don't include the spangly bodysuit in my download"

Despite these blanket denials and evasions, The Sim pledges to its readers that it will continue to expose wrongdoing and dishonesty.

Especially when doing so will improve the circulation

Neighbourhood Five welcomes new arrivals:
Soprano family moves in

Upmarket Neighbourhood Five today bade farewell to the much-loved Baxters and welcomed its newest residents, the Soprano family. Despite his recent arrival, Tony Soprano has already impressed Baxter family friend, Ted Dexter.

Tony Soprano: Family man

"I'm really pleased" said longtime resident Ted, "Tony Soprano is a real family man. To be honest, I'm just glad to see the back of the Baxters"

Ted Dexter: Delighted

"I mean, what could be worse than living next door to them?"

The Baxter's surprise move came as the result of 'negotiations' between Mr Baxter and Tony Soprano.

"Apparently, they played cards together at Tony's club, and it just came up in conversation" revealed Ted "Hey! And Tony's invited me over for a game. That's the kind of guy he is"

Tony Soprano himself was unavailable for comment, citing business commitments and the fact that it was "None of your _______ concern, you _________". He then chased our reporter off the property.

Tony's expressive vocabulary has already brought him to the attention of the Neighbourhood Five Residents Association, where he has caused widespread offence.

"It's true" said Ted "Tony's language is a little colourful for these parts"

"But that's hardly a crime, it it?" he continued.

Hopes for the safety of webmaster Claw were fading yesterday as he spent his fifth day trapped in the maze-like structure of his own site, the Seven Deadly Sims.

Lust. In space

Taking his name from a crab's appendage, Claw recently shot to fame with his radical design skills, setting the standards for sites that are hard to navigate, yet contain stuff you really, really, want.

"He's been in there since Tuesday" said an assistant "He'd just completed a major update, then dropped back in to correct a spelling error"

"We haven't seen him since"

Evidence suggests that Claw may be seeking exit via Lust, or possibly Wrath.

Wrath and Sloth. Probably

"Well, he went in via Envy, you know, the two squiggly shapes? Or is that Wrath? Anyway, he must have stopped off at Gluttony to pick up supplies. That's the one shaped like a cog. Or is that Envy?"

"You see how confusing things can get round here?" he added.

The emergency services are currently on standby, but refuse to enter the site without a clear site-map.

Your guess

"There are...things...in there" said rescue coordinator Fleur De Lys "One wrong turn and we could find ourselves involved a DeathMatch situation. Or worse"

"Though I'd quite like to get my hands on a Harley" she added as an afterthought.

In a final twist of irony, Claw's keynote address at the Conference for Clarity in Web Design was due today.

"I guess techniques for simple navigation are the last thing on his mind right now" reflected his assistant

"Although I suppose that's always been true"
he added, ruefully.

Close call

A week of speculation for the entire Sims community ended today with the selection of Steve Bonham as the People's Choice for editor of The Sim.

A record number of 70 votes were cast, representing a massive 0.0001% of the Sim-speaking world. With 23 votes cast directly for Steve Bonham, plus a further three from the user-suggestion category, the Sims Resource website supremo eased ahead of his closest rival, Santa.

But the clear-cut result only came after a week of confusion and controversy.

Steve Bonham: Way out in front

On Monday, it was revealed that the poll website was administered by Bonham brother, 'Jeb' Bonham. Jeb was forced to stand down and was replaced by independent supervisor, Katherine Harris-Bonham.

On Tuesday it became apparent that some voters from the Florida area were 'confused' by the presence of more than one name on the ballot form.

And on Thursday, a late appeal from the lawyers of Bill Simser was rejected by the Courts. "We maintain that votes for 'The Man who pretends to be Bill Simser' should accrue to our client" insisted Rick Shaw "Even though he would still lose. He just doesn't want to come in behind Santa"

In the event, one-time favourite Bill Simser came in fourth, tied with Sims originator Will Wright. He took defeat lightly, saying "I'm disappointed, of course. But I've lost more important things. Blueprint, for example"

Steve Bonham himself was reported to be 'chuffed' with the result, saying at a press conference yesterday "I thought running the largest and best Sims site was an all time high-point, but this is just the icing on the cake"

"The thought that all those people associated my name with the five-minute wonder that is The Sim is a humbling experience indeed"

The Sim says: The people have spoken!