The Sims 2 FreeTime

The Electronic Farmyard writes: A few amazing facts regarding our Virtual Neighbourhood A Decade later. The EA Play Label of Electronic Arts Inc. announces the celebration of the ten year anniversary of The Sims, the groundbreaking game that allowed players to create and live a virtual, simulated life on a computer. Since the original The Sims debut on February 4, 2000, the unstoppable, award-winning franchise has produced three core games – The Sims, The Sims 2, and The Sims 3 – supported by dozens of expansion and stuff packs with lifetime unit sales eclipsing 125 million worldwide. As the best-selling PC game* in nearly every major video game market worldwide, The Sims has continuously reset the bar over the past decade delivering new content, gameplay elements, platform support, and partnerships that resonate with its global fan base in meaningful ways and take the play experience to new levels of fun and entertainment.

GI.Biz writes: Electronic Arts has promoted Rod Humble to executive vice president and head of The Sims Label at EA. Under this role, Humble will be responsible for The Sims Label, while the former The Sims head Nancy Smith will manage special projects until she begins a new executive role at EA, yet to be announced. Like Nancy Smith before him, Rod Humble has demonstrated strong leadership in defining EA's The Sims brand as a stand-alone product label. Rod has great creative instincts, uncompromising quality standards, a deep connection with the player community, and most of all, the respect of the team he works with, said John Riccitiello, CEO of Electronic Arts.

GamesIndustry.biz writes: The Sims 2 Double Deluxe was top of the US PC chart for the week ending August 2, according to the latest data from NPD. That was followed by Nancy Drew: The Phantom of Venice and World of Warcraft: Battle Chest in second and third places. The taster to the forthcoming Will Wright title, Spore Creature Creator, was fourth followed by the original World of Warcraft release and the IKEA Home Stuff Expansion for The Sims 2 in fifth and sixth.

GamesIndustry.biz reports that Electronic Arts and Vivendi are dominating sales of PC games in the US, according to the latest data from NPD. EA's budget title Spore Creature Creator is the top seller for the week ended June 28, with two other EA titles ¿ The Sims 2 IKEA Home Stuff Expansion and The Sims 2 Double Deluxe ¿ at two and three in the charts. Vivendi's World of Warcraft Battle Chest is at four, with the original World of Warcraft at six. Sandwiched between the two is Eidos' plucky upstart MMO Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures.

If you haven't purchased all the expansions or you have and want some new tricked out gear for your sims, the folks at EA have launched The Sims 2 Store Beta for online shoppers in the U.S. and Canada. Right now there are about a 1000 items to choose from with more than 100 of them released exclusively via The Store. Look for constant upgrades to The Store over the next several months. Will we see a slick conversion for The Sims 3? Check back for more details as they are released. For now, click through for a look at the press release:

Electronic Arts announced today that The Sims franchise has sold over 100 million units worldwide. Since the first game in the series launched in 2000, it has gone on to be the best-selling PC game franchise of all time. Currently, The Sims is sold in one form or another in 22 languages and 60 countries around the world. At this milestone, we want to thank players of The Sims everywhere for making The Sims such a worldwide phenomenon, said Rod Humble, Head of Studio for The Sims Label. The Sims has been an interactive experience for people around the globe to explore their passion for creativity and we're thrilled to be a part of that. From building houses and relationships, from the first kiss to a toddler's first step, from kitchen fires ¿ and even visits from ghosts, players have told more than 100 million unique and fun stories!

From IGN: Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced that The Sims 2 FreeTime, the newest expansion pack from The Sims, is available on store shelves across North America and Europe. A wide range of all-new activities, hobbies and cool careers are now available to your Sims with this expansion pack. New life pursuits based on your Sims personal interests mean that even more creativity and unique stories are now at your fingertips. Sports, music & dance, arts & crafts, science, and film & literature are just some of the new storytelling options connected to your Sims discovery and pursuit of their individual hobbies.

Kotaku: Electronic Arts today announced the line-up of artists who will be making musical appearances in their upcoming Sims 2 expansion pack FreeTime.

EA has today announced The Sims 2 FreeTime, an expansion pack which will introduce a host of new activities and hobbies for your Sims. Players of The Sims love to bring stories to life by exploring new and wonderful areas of their Sims' existence, said Rod Humble, Head of The Sims Studio. Now with The Sims 2 FreeTime, your Sims can explore a range of interests to discover new fun and appealing life options and diversions. Realizing these all-new talents adds depth, humour and appreciation for the moments that make life entertaining.