The player starts with one adult Sim by themselves in what is known as a "legacy lot" (a lot, usually 5x5 or 6x5, with only the bare necessities for the Sim). The use of cheats and who the family members can marry are strictly regulated. Every generation there is supposed to be an heir who keeps the legacy going. The townie rule is different in The Sims 3, because everybody is from the same neighborhood.