Noun: "(video games) a subgenre of simulation game that replicates real-world systems or experiences (such as businesses, communities, ecosystems, social relationships)"
1985, Chris Jenkins, "PCW Show: promises, promises!", Commodore Horizons, November 1985, page 10:
Activision's Autumn titles were up and running, and some Winter games were previewed, including Alter Ego, a "life simulation" game, and Fast Tracks, a slot car racing program.
What's a "life simulation"? It's the name I've given to a whole new class of games which - what did you expect - simulate life. And this is the game that got the ball rolling. These days there are plenty of clones, and most of them are very good. There's Utopia, there's Powermonger, there's Railroad Tycoon, and soon there'll be Sid Meier's Civilisation.
2002, advertisement, Computer Gaming, December 2002, page 87:
The Partners is a life simulation game that puts you in charge of a fast-moving law firm where over 250 daily actions and 100 different cases keep everyone from the sports loving playboy to the career driven professional busy.
2010, Tristan Donovan, Replay: The History of Video Games, page 157:
Life simulations and dating games also influenced Yasuhiro Wada, the designer of the gentile farming sim series Harvest Moon, which first appeared in 1996 on the Super NES.
2010, "Animal Crossing: Wild World", in 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die, page 610:
While the mechanics changed very little in the DS version, Nintendo's snarky little life-simulation title [Animal Crossing] found its perfect ally.
