Electronic Theatre has today received an updated release schedule for Electronic Arts' forthcoming videogame titles. Obtained through partners in the independent retail sector, the schedule reveals the intended European release dates for a handful of titles due to arrive on shop shelves throughout both May and June.
WorthPlaying writes: The Sims 3 gives you the freedom to create unique Sims and immerse them in your own living neighborhood of endless possibility! The Sims 3 features a brand new engine that allows you to immerse your unique Sims in an open living neighborhood where they can roam and explore all new surroundings including the beach, mountains and town center. Sims 3 fans can rejoice, the game's gone gold and will be available on June 2, 2009 as planned."
TVGB: "EA has just announced during its financial conference call that there will be an entire downloadable city for The Sims 3 available on day one for free. EA is doing big marketing campaigns on the street, the internet and on television as well to get the word out. It will be available at retail and online with no DRM on June 2."
TVGB: "The retail campaign for The Sims 3, which includes specially designed end caps and in-store displays, is EA's biggest yet, Rod Humble, head of EA's Play label said today during the company's Q4 earnings conference call. The company has also started an aggressive outdoor campaign in major US cities and Sims-themed smart cars, trains, buses and mall displays will be seen worldwide. A significant TV presence of planned as well."
Electronic Arts' upcoming Sims 3 could sell over 4 million units in 2009, says Janco Partners analyst Mike Hickey -- although he expects that a demographic transition toward newer entertainment forms like Nintendo's Wii and DS might weigh on the title.
WorthPlaying writes: "The Sims 3 gives you the freedom to create unique Sims and immerse them in your own living neighborhood of endless possibility! When The Sims 3 launches, the game will have a second town, in addition to the one already included in the game, available for download. The official website will also allow players to create and share their own movies, manage their online content and purchase additional in-game content."
Will Wright: designer of the best-selling PC game of all time and all-round videogame legend. But his recent departure from EA hasn't had an impact on the development of The Sims 3, according to Associate Producer Grant Rodiek.
Grant Rodiek of EA has said the reason for The Sims 3 delay from February 20th to June 2nd was to cram in more quality checks, spit polish some more.
The Dutch website GamesGuide.nl has uncovered the first cheats for The Sims 3. This highly anticipated game is due to release world wide on the fourth of june. The cheats that were discovered are for earning some quick bucks and moving all objects.
The Spore DRM copy-protection backlash won't be happening to The Sims 3, given the news that broke just minutes ago. EA has announced that The Sims 3 will only use serial-number copy protection. Buy the game, input the serial number that comes with the game, and you're good to go.
Electronic Arts has announced the launch the official The Sims 3 Page on Facebook this week.
Gamedaily writes: "Nope, the heart bubbles aren't going away. The team behind The Sims 3 is giving the sims in its upcoming game a little more self-aware. While you'll still have control over their love lives, relationships and careers, they'll take care of their basic needs by going the bathroom and cleaning themselves up."
With The Sims 3 being the first full new Sims game for four years, Maxis has said it's intent on taking risks to push the series forward.
Gamedaily writes: "Going to work in The Sims series has always been a bit of a chore, thankfully the makers of The Sims 3 are giving players incentives to push higher with a new feature called Lifetime Wishes.
EA has announced that two of the company's biggest upcoming PC games are now shipping later in 2009. "The Sims 3" is now slated for June 2. "Dragon Age" has slipped from early 2009 to the second half of 2009, matching the release window of the console verison.
RealGamer has posted a story that The Sims 3 may not make it's previously announced release date.
It's no surprise that The Sims 3 has been rated Teen by the ESRB. However, there's a nifty new feature of the ESRB ratings, and that is many games now come with descriptors of gameplay that explain the rating.