amazon has used copies for under $5 and new for much more Glyde wants $13.50 with S/H for good condition GameStop wants $10 for pre owned. It is unlikely that you can walk into any store and purchase...
so you want to murder some sims, eh? that's my fave thing to do on that game. here is a list of ways and adaptations to murdering your sims: Burning; its fast, funny and best of all its double-funny....
The Sims 1, 2, and 3 are all the same thing. But the higher the number the more features the game includes. So if you've played the Sims 2, that's kinda how the Sims 1 & 3 are.