"The Sims 3 will be released in two months and if you're like me, you're psyched at the opportunity to not play it. But is your computer powerful enough to offer you the choice of not playing it? EA has just released the minimum system requirements for laptops and desktops."
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Speaking to Kikizo, The Sims 3 executive producer Ben Bell has revealed that EA Maxis will release a free extra downloadable town at launch for registered users.

Here's the key snippet:

"Kikizo: I'm aware that you have 97 lots max in each neighbourhood. Is the layout randomised?

Bell: It is a set town, but you can change the location of any of the houses and you can change all of the people who are there. We're also... for anybody who registers their game, you'll be able to download a second town. That's a free perk when you register the game.

Kikizo: Will that be available at launch?

Bell: Yes."

The interview also covers the new Sims 3 community site, the emphasis on telling your own story rather than managing your Sims' bladders, and Tony Soprano.
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Electronic Arts have today released a Question and Answer session discussing the PC exclusive release of The Sims 3. It's not stated exactly who was asking or answering the questions, but as a piece of PR bumf it's fairly revealing. The entire Question & Answer session follows below, ad-verbatim...
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Daily Joystick writes: "Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced that award-winning composer Steve Jablonsky will score the theme music for the highly anticipated next-generation flagship PC game from The Sims Label, The Sims 3."
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Select North American retailers are now accepting pre-orders for The Sims 3 Collector's Edition, $69.99 worth of virtual people, a drop in the bucket compared to how much fans will spend on expansions over the course of the game's lifespan. Included in the super mega mega edition of the game is the game itself, which is always handy, a The Sims Plumbob USB drive with a matching green Carabiner, an exclusive in-game sports car, a tips and hints guide, and some Plumbob stickers.

The whole shebang should be hitting stores on February 20th, giving The Sims 2 fans around 4 months to collect all of the expansions for that version and then uninstall them to make room for the next batch.
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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."
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When "The Sims 3" launches in February, the popular video game promises to be more realistic than ever, thanks to improved graphics, better processing power and an increase in ads.

Yes, an increase in ads.

Electronic Arts, maker of "Sims 3," is working with IGA to provide dynamic in-game ads -- which can be switched in and out of the game via an internet connection -- to the latest version of what has become the world's most-played PC game. In its first new version in five years, "Sims" players will be able to venture beyond their houses and lots out into Pleasantville, where they can go to the movie theater, the sports arena or the grocery store. It's a more open experience, akin to newer online virtual worlds, although it's still a single-player game.
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EA Mobile has announced that the iPhone will be getting versions of The Sims 3 and SimCity

"LOS ANGELES, Calif., – September 5, 2008 – EA Mobile, a division of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS), today announced that Spore Origins, an original game for the iPhone and iPod® touch, will be available this month. The game takes full advantage of the devices' built-in accelerometer as players tilt, turn and twist their way through a world made of primordial ooze. In conjunction with the launch of Spore Origins, EA Mobile also announces a list of nine games in development for both the iPhone and iPod Touch platforms.

Eat-or-be-eaten in Spore Origins! Designed specifically for the iPhone and iPod touch, Spore Origins uses the platforms' motion-sensing technology to let gamers navigate a primordial tidepool on a quest to evolve. Feast on the weak and flee from the strong through two exciting modes and 35 challenging levels. Pinch, pull, and poke your creation in the Creature Editor, customizing the texture, shape and body parts to improve your offense, defense, perception and movement as you evolve over millions of years.

""We're really excited to bring Spore Origins to the iPhone and iPod touch," said Travis Boatman, Vice President Worldwide Studios at EA Mobile. "By leveraging the unique capabilities of these devices, players can customize their own creatures and shape their destiny in an exciting evolutionary journey. "

EA Mobile today also announced nine titles in development for the iPhone and iPod touch, pending regional availability. This list includes YAHTZEE Adventures, EA Mini Golf, Lemonade Tycoon, Mahjong, MONOPOLY: Here & Now The World Edition, SimCity, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 09, Need for Speed Undercover, and The Sims 3.

Spore Origins will be available globally from the Apple App Store on iPhone and iPod touch, or by simply visiting www.eamobile.com from an...
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HEXUS.gaming has details of the collector's edition for Sims 3, which will be released on Feb 20, 2009/
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"During the EA Sports press conference, EA Sims studio confirmed that Sims 3 will be released for PC early next year 2009. EA also previewed the trailer and it sure looks like sims fans will not be disappointed."
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Toni Dimayuga of Ripten writes:

"Apparently, EA's master plan to saturate the world with expansion packs for The Sims 2 isn't complete. They've just announced The Sims 2: Apartment Life for the PC. This will be the 8th EP, not counting the 7 "stuff packs" which only consist of clothing and/or furniture."
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HEad of EA's dedicated Sims divisions says "we'll see where we go" after single-format release next year.
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MCV: EA's The Sims Studio is looking to lure traditional gamers to the next installment in the franchise, The Sims 3, with more 'goal-orientated' gameplay.

Speaking exclusively to MCV, the division's creative director Rod Humble also revealed that his MMO background would help the franchise move away from its simulation past.

"I think there is a lot more 'gamer-ness' in The Sims 3," said Humble. "The team has added a lot more challenge and depth for gamers.
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What if you had to live your whole life in one location ¿ and then one day, suddenly, you could step outside and go anywhere in the whole neighborhood?

Note: The website is running a little slow and some links may not work being that it was just updated today.
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Here we have the first batch of screenshots and character renders from EA's The Sims 3. Speaking to PC Gamer UK, Sims creative director Rod Humble says, "The fact that it's a seamless world means that eventually - not to give away too much of our expansion pack strategy, but in theory - The Sims 3 could expand into an entire seamless world. You can imagine a Sims country which you could just live your life in."Check out our first ... » Read More

Daniel Mitchell, "The latest edition of UK gaming mag PCGamer comes with a massive 5 page preview of the Sims 3, with the first released in-game screen-shots. PCGamer is a reliable magazine which we trust which makes the fact that the graphics are horrible even harder for us to swallow. On the bright side, the thought of seamless integrated communities and neighbourhoods sounds fantastic as do most of the other features outlined in the feature. Also, the pictures are from an early beta so there is still time for (much needed) graphical improvement."

To make the magazine scans larger to read, right click the page and select zoom-in.
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CVG reports via PC Gamer UK that the first details on The Sims 3 have been scooped up by PC Gamer UK and can be found in its latest issue, in subscribers' hands now.

What's the first important point about the sequel is that, according to the article, it appears that EA's development team has established the goal of reeling in the hardcore PC gaming fraternity. You know, the one that's previously turned its nose up at what's been perceived as a casual gaming experience that appeals only to girls.

The second important point is that Rod Humble, creative director of the Sims label, wants to break down barriers in the series with The Sims 3.

As reported in the magazine he explains how the team "let Sims wander freely through a town, take in the sights, not be constrained by the prison-like 'lots' of old games. He wants to turn the game into an open world, where Sims can stroll, meet their friends, go to work, interact with each other. And piss themselves in the gym. It's GTA: Pleasantville."
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Judhudson writes, "I had this in my inbox for a few days but didn't get a chance to post it. Benjamin Bell, Executive Producer for The Sims 3 has sent out the first round of fansite emails. It's a lengthy read, so here is a short breifing of what you can expect:

-Sims now live in a completely seamless, living neighborhood

-No loading screens for the neighborhood

-View other sims and their lives (even by spying on them)

-Reinvented and realistic Create a Sim

-New realistic personality system called Traits

-Everyone will be able to customize the appearance of everything ingame

-Won't need developer tools to make visual changes to the game."

Click the link to read the full e-mail.
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"When we started work on The Sims 3," explains creative director Rod Humble, "I had two directives for the Sims team. One: It's not going to work unless you can cross the street and see your neighbour's kids playing. And two: No more hamster cages". ... » Read More

Consider this: The Sims franchise is the best-selling PC series in the world. Yes, bigger than games with the WarCraft name. Stack it up against console games, and The Sims' global sales are second only to titles that bear Mario's moniker. Yet many gamers still seem to associate The Sims with its dollhouse parts -- clothing packs, furniture exchanges, MySpace pages with soap-opera movies -- forgetting that there's an intricate game there, too. With The Sims 3 (teased yesterday), Sims Studio head Rod Humble and his team are trying to bring that aspect back to the front.
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