What year did you start playing your first The Sims game?

I brought the Sims1 or some of it's packs in 2000 but did not load it up until 2005 and from there I played everyday and I brought Sims 2 in 2004 and did not play that until shortly after I played Sims 1 and seeing Sims 2 I dropped Sims 1. :)