the sims
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Gaikai signs multi-year licensing deal with EA
Gaikai may not be ready for action just yet (the service doesn't have a release date), but the company was more than happy to drop news of a multi-year licensing agreement with Electronic Arts today. The news appears to be delivering on promises that the company's fearless leader, Dave Perry, made back in April of a big E3 announcement. Among the games Gaikai will be bringing to the web-streaming service are The Sims, the Battlefield: Bad Company series, the Dragon Age series, the Mass Effect series, Medal of Honor and Need for Speed. "Gaikai's innovations open whole new experiences for both current players and new customers looking for the best of interactive entertainment," EA's Richard Hilleman said of the licensing deal. We're open to both "whole new experiences" and "interactive entertainment," so that sounds just fantastic to us.
The Daily Grind: Should your characters age?
For a genre that prides itself on creating a virtual life for imaginary characters, many elements of real life are conspicuously absent. Like bathrooms. Why don't your characters ever need to go? What would be so wrong about having a third bar under "health" and "mana" titled "bladder?" Okay, bad example, but you get the gist. Seeing as how MMOs attempt to convey the journey of life and accumulation of knowledge and experience through leveling, it isn't hard to imagine a game in which your characters age as you progress. In strategy games like The Sims and some RPGs like Fable, aging is built in to the system, adding a layer of immersion as you see your characters grow older as time goes by. When you contrast this with the stuck-in-amber preservation of MMO characters, forever beautiful and flawless, a possible missed opportunity beckons. When developing Warhammer Online, Mythic got players excited about a "character growth system" where your avatar would gain size, facial hair and scars with age. While this got the axe, it also got players thinking and talking about the subject. So should characters age in MMOs? Would the immersion be worth the difficulty and debate over how such a system would function?
Sims 3 console trailer exposes the dark nature of humanity
"I did it with 312 girls in two months." That unsavory proclamation is the first in a long series of deep, dark confessions made in the debut trailer, currently hosted on MTV, for the console versions of The Sims 3. Watch as ordinary people -- by which, of course, we mean paid, professional actors -- air out their dirty, in-game laundry. We find the whole ordeal more than a little surprising. We've always conducted ourselves in the world of The Sims just as we do in real life -- that is to say, as fine, upstanding citizens. Not as murderers, thieves and unashamed hussies.
The Sims 'Medieval' web domains registered
A fan site of all things Simlish, called Infinite Sims, recently uncovered a handful of web domains registered by the ever-stealthy, third-party outfit Corporate Domains, Inc. These reserved addresses could be an indication of an upcoming expansion to the Sims universe -- one that could take the bright, cheerful world of Sunset Valley back into the Dark Ages. The reserved domain names all include some variation of "thesimsmedieval" or "thesimsgetmedieval," which might hint at the subject matter of the next batch of content for the highly successful franchise. Hey, we wouldn't mind trying to move up the Sim caste system. Maybe learn how to joust? Perhaps go pheasant hunting in the northern wilds? Learn how to relieve ourselves properly in a sturdy waste bucket? No, wait. That last thing sounds terrible.
The Sims 3 coming to PS3, Xbox 360, Wii and DS this fall
As promised, last year's best-selling PC franchise is finally coming to consoles, and just in time for the holiday season. EA has announced that The Sims 3 is in development for PS3, Xbox 360, Wii and DS, with all versions planned for fall release. The console versions promise "all-new" features, like "Karma Powers" that determine whether your Sim can "get lucky" or, on the other end of the spectrum, experience an "epic fail." In addition, the PS3 and Xbox 360 editions will include Facebook connectivity, so you can share Trophy and Achievement updates with friends. The Wii version will feature an exclusive beach town, complete with its own residents, careers and "lifetime wishes"; and the DS version will introduce a new "Story Mode," a first for a handheld Sims game, allowing players to go through a "complete life simulation." "We're bringing players the best console and handheld game for The Sims franchise to date and are excited to offer a unique experience for all types of gamers on their platform of choice," said executive producer Sam Player in EA's announcement. And there's good reason for the publisher to be excited, too -- considering the franchise has already generated over $2.5 billion in revenue for EA. We can already hear EA's coffers quivering in anticipation. %Gallery-91900%
Renault saves the fake Sims 3 world with downloadable electric cars
Are you rife with guilt over the damage your Sims' extravagant lifestyles have done to their nonexistent environment? Now you'll be able to reduce your simulated carbon footprint and decrease your dependence on the imaginary world's dwindling supply of e-fossil fuels by driving an electric Renault Twizy Z.E Concept in-game. The tie-up with Renault is part of the "Electric Vehicle Pack," a free Sims 3 download to be offered in EMEA countries, comprising the car and other environmentally conscious items like solar panels and windmills. Despite the fact that all cars are electric in the game (because they're inside your computer, which is electric), driving the tiny Renault and using the other items will noticeably improve your Sims' lives -- by reducing their weekly bills. %Gallery-91140%
Hunt ghosts in the new Sims 3 Ambitions trailer
There's really only one important thing to take away from the new trailer for The Sims 3 Ambitions expansion. The expansion allows players to extend the lives of their sims, endowing them with many different career options, including inventor, fireman or a detective. None of that is important, though. What is important, is that the expansion allows you to be a Ghostbuster. Legal reasons probably prevent it from being called ghost busting, of course. Atari and EA's lawyers wouldn't want anyone crossing the memes, after all. Check out the ghost busting catching action -- along with the other professions -- in the trailer above. %Gallery-87729% [Via Big Download]
The Sims explore their 'Ambitions' in latest expansion pack
It's time for EA to announce the latest Sims 3 expansion: Ambitions. Arriving in June, the pack gives players the opportunity to pull the strings of the helpless electronic dolls throughout their careers. No longer safe from Little Susie's megalomania on the job, the Sims will now do their work as a conduit for an ethically ambiguous puppeteer. Although, we doubt it'll ever get to the visceral level of Five Minutes to Kill Yourself. Ambitions will apparently include a huge variety of jobs, including solving cases as a detective, hunting ghosts as a (wait for it) "ghost hunter," and "leveraging Build and Buy mode" as an architect. The expansion also includes a tattoo system -- so, go ahead and give your teenage Sim that tribal or barbed wire ink they'll regret every time they take a blurred-out shower as an adult.
Sims 3: World Adventures, Skate It announced for iPhone
Click image to flip through some screens EA's going iPhone crazy -- well, OK, maybe not crazy, but it's revealed today in a press release that entries in two of its ongoing series are destined for the touchy-feely handheld. The first item is The Sims 3: World Adventures, an expansion to the surprisingly addictive The Sims 3. It'll feature 52 new goals, four new mini-games and new "personas, careers and quests." You'll also be able to use your Sims between the two games, in case you've grown awkwardly attached to your virtual pals like we have. Then there's Skate It, a port of the skateboarding series that sounds like it keeps most of the features of its console brethren. There's a career mode and customization options for both characters and skate decks, a film feature that lets you capture footage and there's even support for custom soundtracks -- because hitting that spot you found on skafari is so much better when you've got "Caribbean Queen" bumping in your ears. Sadly, EA doesn't provide a price point for each, though Skate It is revealed for "May 2010." In the meanwhile, allow us to help you pass the time with some screens in the galleries below. %Gallery-87213% %Gallery-87212%
EA expands Salt Lake studio, announces 'groundbreaking' new project
EA's got something cooking in Utah, as a recent press release states EA Salt Lake is getting some plush new office space downtown, as it gears up to undertake a "groundbreaking" new project and looks to hire people for "several critical leadership positions." EA Redwood Shores is also apparently getting in the mix, as executive producer Ben Bell told IndustryGamers his studio will enlist the aid of some of the best and brightest from over yonder. Everyone is pretty mum on the subject of exactly what the project is right now, but, following EA's massive layoffs affecting 1,500 of its employees, Bell bills this expansion of talent to only "a few key positions right now." The new project will lean heavily on EA Salt Lake and EA Redwood Shores for most of the necessary personnel. EA Salt Lake is perhaps best known for producing The Sims line of games. Maxis obviously created the franchise, but since the release of Spore, has been focusing primarily on that series. EA Salt Lake also handles the EA Play line of games, and has contributed Nerf N-Strike and Littlest Pet Shop. Now, we wouldn't want to speculate on what this new project is, but if you look at the studio's track record since officially becoming EA Salt Lake, one can't help but assume it'll be something on the PC or a Nintendo platform. That, or it's a golf game.
Dead Space 2 and EA's Epic shooter slated for early 2011
EA's tentative release schedule for Q4 of its fiscal 2011 (or, as us normal people call it, January–March 2011) contains more than a few intriguing entries. You already heard about the new Dragon Age game -- but listed just below that is an untitled "Shooter from Epic TBA." Of course, this can only mean one thing: Gears of Madden 2012 is within spitting distance of becoming a sweet reality! Wait -- what's that? Oh, right, the listing more likely points to new speculative details about that possible "Bulletstorm" project from Epic's People Can Fly studio. How ... unofficial. Also listed under the early 2011 releases is Dead Space 2, which EA had previously promised would drop before next March. The excitement level of the remaining games drops off like the deep end of a pool: The list includes (deep breath) a new Need For Speed on consoles and PC (in addition to an apparent Holiday 2010 release), a downloadable "action" game, a new fighting game designated as a "sports" title, a new Hasbro game (more Family Game Night?), and new installments in the Sims and Spore franchises.
The Sims franchise celebrates 10th anniversary today
It's hard to believe it's been 10 years since we discovered how hilarious it was to lock a Sim in a doorless room with nothing but ovens to keep him company, but there it is: The Sims franchise has turned 10 years old today. The press release announcing the series' first decade also reveals that the franchise has sold 125 million units lifetime-to-date, which is an impressive figure -- especially when you consider EA is only reporting the PC franchise numbers. That figure doesn't include console ports. The Sims franchise has managed to generate $2.5 billion in revenue for EA. The latest iteration in the series, The Sims 3, was 2009's top-selling PC game and has sold 4.5 million copies so far worldwide. While one could argue the latest game's success is in large part due to the series' ability to appeal to just about every type of gamer, we'd argue that the inclusion of Ludwig Kietzmann really helped push it over the top.
WSJ: Playfish creating social game based on 'well-known EA brand'
The Wall Street Journal today examines "Why Playfish Sold Itself to EA." Um, wouldn't you sell yourself for $300 million? While such an investigation might seem trivial, the WSJ calls in Playfish president and GM Kristian Segerstrale, who reveals that several hundred million is merely chump change. Playfish certainly considered a road to riches paved in the arduous process of going public as an independent company, but "as we advanced our conversations with EA, what became clear was that this would be genuine opportunity to accelerate our pace of growth and build a billion-dollar business faster," Segerstrale explains. To realize this dream -- to get rich really quick -- Playfish clearly saw it would take more than its prowess as a stand-out developer in the burgeoning social games arena. It would take brand power. According to the WSJ, as suggested by Segerstrale, "there will be a social game based on a well-known EA brand this year." Hardly a revelation, to be sure, but it's at least confirmation of a killer strategy. Take an established IP -- likely EA's The Sims -- and adapt it for a network of social gaming experiences that spans persistent platforms like Facebook and the iPhone. Oh, so that's why Playfish sold itself to EA. [Via Develop]
EA: Sims 3 is top selling PC game in 2009 worldwide
It seems virtual voyeurism never goes out of style. A recent Electronic Arts press release has informed us that The Sims 3 was last year's best-selling PC game across the globe, according to Chart-track UK, NPD Group, GfK and the publisher's own internal estimates. We imagine a bit of number crunching went into the aforementioned estimates -- we don't think they'd leave that kind of thing to water cooler talk. "So, what do you think, Mark? Best game ever? Yes, great. It's official." The EA presser also boasts the company's optimistic outlook on 2010, as the Sims 3 community continues to tinker around with the Create A World tools. Check out this neat, Robinson Crusoe-esque Machinima to see what these tools are capable of!
EA: Medal of Honor, Dead Space 2, Crysis 2 before March 2011
During EA's half-hour investor callstravaganza yesterday, CEO John Riccitiello unleashed a flurry of game titles set to be released in the company's "FIscal 2011." For EA, that falls anywhere between April 1, 2010 and March 30, 2011 -- a window that now holds the release of "a great new version of Medal of Honor, a revitalized Need for Speed, Sims on console, FIFA in a World Cup year, an innovative and new take on Madden, Dead Space 2, Crysis at full margins, a new MMA game, and many others." Considering this laundry list of games is getting little more than a 12-month window for release, we're taking the logical next step and throwing darts at images of the games on our cork-board calendar. According to our impeccable aim... everything is coming out in November. Not helpful! [Via Eurogamer]
PETA chooses The Sims 3 as its GOTY 2009
Usually when we post something about PETA here on our gamez blawg, it's about the company protesting this or complaining about that. Not so today, as PETA's awarded EA Maxis' The Sims 3 with a Proggy Award for being the 'Most Animal-Friendly Game' of 2009. You may remember PETA gave the same award to Fable 2 last year. The award this year is in recognition of The Sims 3's ability to put your virtual pal on a vegetarian diet. PETA also adds that "vegetarian Sims, like their real-life counterparts, live longer, age more slowly, and feast on cruelty-free delights -- from tofu dogs to ratatouille." Sounds well and good, but we're not sure we'd totally attribute any supposed increased life span to a diet, because we all know from the great Xena: Warrior Princess that if anything happens, it's because a wizard did it. [Via Gamasutra]
The Sims 3 World Adventures downloadable now, hitting retail this week
Is your Sim sick and tired of its usual routine of skipping work, improving its skills, making well-timed bathroom trips and attempting to WooHoo every single person in the neighborhood? Good news: The Sims 3's first (but certainly not last) expansion, World Adventures, is downloadable now for $39.99. If you're an oddly selective Luddite who plays video games but shuns the practice of downloading them, you can pick up a copy of the expansion in retail outlets when it arrives at some unspecified time this week. The expansion allows your virtual representation (be honest, you modeled him/her after yourself, right?) to collect treasures, learn new skills and travel to France, China and Egypt, where we assume they'll attempt to WooHoo everyone there as well. You should really talk to your Sim about getting that under control, okay? %Gallery-70339%
Video: Nelly Furtado sings in Simlish, raids tombs, knows kung fu
The latest of the previously announced Simlish music videos promoting the expansion Sims 3: World Adventures has been released. This time, it's Nelly Furtado's turn to try her hand at the nonsensical language, adapting her song "Manos al Aire." We've watched the video and, sure enough, we can't understand a word of it. Of course, the original song is in Spanish, so we couldn't understand it in the first place anyway. But that's really all beside the point. What you should be focusing on is watching Nelly Furtado's Sim explore Egyptian tombs, doling out some kung-fu kicks and taking part in the longstanding tradition of obscure French film making.
The Sims transformed into a horror movie
"They won't let me pee, they won't let me sleep, they won't let me eat." – doomed Sim citizen Ah yes, the life of a Sim. Not so funny when one sees what life would be like if our actions were controlled by the unholy Plumbob (which is itself controlled by little Damian Van Horne of 999 Wisteria Lane). We understand that CollegeHumor was trying to be funny in its The Sims movie clip, but it actually encapsulates the pain and suffering of every Sim murdered by sadistic teenage girls around the world. Watch the full clip after the break. Save a Sim.
Sims 3 price dropped to $30 for one day only
The streak of brief yet impossibly frugal discounts continues! Until the end of the day, EA is selling The Sims 3 for the price of $29.99 -- a full twenty bucks off the standard cost of the game. Maxis' life simulators tend to retain their launch price long after hitting store shelves, so if you want to grab the title on the cheap, today might be your only chance for quite some time. Act quickly, though! We're losing daylight.
