The Sims 3 celebrates the 15th anniversary of its initial release today, and, as someone who excitedly took a fresh copy of the base game with them when they moved into their university halls of residence, allow me to take a break from booking myself in for a hip replacement to look back on one of the most lauded - yet divisive - entries into The Sims franchise.
]]>The Sims franchise celebrates its 24th anniversary this weekend, which is a much-needed reminder for me that as your resident Sims fanatic, I've got exactly a year to plan some fun coverage for its 25th (and that I should probably use some of that time to come to terms with the formal departure of the last vestiges of my youth, as someone who's been playing since practically the very start).
]]>The Sims has a new official merch store and, provided you’ve got a decent amount of disposable income to spend on things with green diamonds on them, it might be worth checking out.
]]>EA is in a generous mood; in an attempt to consolidate their PC games under the Origin banner, the company is providing an incentive to register your copy of The Sims 3 with an Origin account: doing so will get you a free copy of the Town Life Stuff Pack through this link. You also get it if your copy of the game is in Origin. If you already have that pack, well, sorry.
]]>The Sims 3 is getting its Great Gatsby on with the Roaring Heights pack which features Art Deco skyscrapers and a "bustling beachside scene". It even comes with some nifty classic car that's just the bee's knees. The content contains: the Fixer Upper Car, new Sims to meet in the Roaring Heights, dozens of all-new exclusive objects and clothing, and the "Classic Sims 2 Capp Family". You can grab all of the above through the Sims Store today. Screenshots are below.
]]>The Sims 3: Into the Future Expansion Pack is now available across North America on PC and Mac through Origin. Into the Future contains the Ceate-A-Plumbot feature allowing you to customize unique Plumbots with traits of their very own and the ability to affect the outcome of the future based off the Sim's present day action. Into the Future releases in the UK, Friday, Into the Future is out October 25.
]]>There's a new Humble Bundle in town, and it is sponsored by EA. But this is no THQ-esque cash grab; EA will be receiving not even a penny of the proceeds, opting instead to make this a charity drive of sorts.
]]>The Sims 3 is getting a couple new packs titled: Movie Stuff and Into the Future.
]]>The Sims 3 has gained a new piece of DLC called Dragon Valley, available via the in-game store. The $25 pack adds a new storyline about rival families and includes baby dragons as well as a slew of medieval-themed costumes and the like. Hmm. If you're keen to recreate Game of Thrones - even after last night's episode - then perhaps you'll enjoy the trailer through the break.
]]>The Sims 3: Island Paradise is out next month, and EA has released a video walkthrough for the expansion in which the producer introduces you to the sunny shores and glistening waters of Isla Paradiso. Sims can build and customize houseboats and resorts, and scuba dive to explore the ocean floor. The Sims 3: Island Paradise will be made available on June 25.
]]>The Sims 3: Dragon Valley has a new trailer available from EA. The game extension contains "mystical surprises," now locations and pet dragons which can be used to boost moods, and other nifty things. Depending on the color of your dragon, it will do different things: a red dragon shoots fire which can be used to attack enemies. Didn't know sims had a lot of enemies. I learned something today. Check out the trailer below and head over to the official website for a better feel of it. It's out in stores and through digital download May 30.
]]>The Sims 3: University Life expansion will launch on Origin across North America from tomorrow.
]]>The latest content drop for The Sims 3 is called Aurora Skies, and is due sometime this month. The pack promises "breathtaking scenery and vast, unspoiled nature within a quaint coastal town". It includes a hot air balloon which can be used for romantic or friendly outings, new locations and items, and a Sims 2 Legacy family called the Beakers. It's expected on both Mac and PC; see some screens through the break.
]]>The Sims 3 has a new pack of goodies available called The 70s, 80s, & 90s Stuff Pack. It features the obvious clothes, hair, and other retro goodness.
]]>Republican Diane Franklin of Camdenton, a representative of Missouri, believes a sales tax should be placed on violent video games following the elementary school massacre in Newtown, Connecticut.
]]>The Sims 3 has lined up two new expansions - University Life and Island Paradise - as well as two major Stuff packs this year.
]]>The Sims 3 Seasons Expansion Pack is now available at retail and through Origin on PC and Mac, EA has announced.
]]>The Sims 3 is all set to receive its eighth batch of extra content. Seasons seems like a jolly old time for all, right? Wrong. If you own the Supernatural expansion, Maxis has got one or two tricks up its sleeve.
]]>The Sims 3 developer, Maxis, has announced its to release an expansion in January 2013 that will add content from the 70s, 80s and 90s. The expansion is cannily titled "70s, 80s & 90s Stuff".
Grab the full video broadcast on Origin, which features updates on The Sims 3 and SimCity. Details of the 70s, 80s & 90s Stuff pack are around the 1 hr 12 minute mark.
]]>The Sims 3 Supernatural has launched and EA is celebrating the fact with new screens and a launch trailer. The shots below show folks casting spells, looking goth, fairies kissing, and a monster under a child's bed. The video shows all sorts of things, courtesy of GreatScottOTT.
]]>EA has released its latest Update video featuring host Matt Cuttle. Posted below, find out all about the new cover stars for FIFA 13, a community boxart competition for Medal of Honor: Warfighter, SimCity, The Sims 3 Supernatural and the demo for Madden NFL 13.
]]>EA's Summer Showcase today confirmed both FIFA 13 and Mass Effect 3 for Wii U launch later this year, as well as nailing Army of Two: The Devil's Cartel for a gamescom reveal.
]]>EA has released a new set of screenshots and character renders for The Sims 3 Supernatural, and some gameplay details to go along with the images.
]]>EA Maxis has announced the Supernatural Expansion Pack for The Sims 3. The expansion allows players to live as a witch, werewolf, vampire or fairy. Players will have new traits as well as new gameplay aspects for each character such as spell casting, "volatile elixirs and magical abilities in a world of strange happenings, spooky surprises and even the occasional zombie attack." The expansion will release on Mac and PC worldwide in September. Those who pre-order will receive an upgrade to a Special Limited Edition with an exclusive Plants vs. Zombies content pack. Screens and an announcement trailer are below.
]]>Thanks to the latest expansion for The Sims 3, you can have bike made of candy, and ask your virtual dates to ride back to your gingerbread house on it. Life goal achieved.
]]>GAME is once again stocking EA titles on its website, including Mass Effect 3.
]]>GAME is to once again stock titles from EA beginning next week, VG247 has learnt.
]]>The newest expansion for The Sims 3 contains an array of candy-themed items 'capture Katy Perry's spirit', because video games are beautiful madness.
]]>A new video for The Sims 3 Showtime has been released featuring a behind-the scenes with popstress, ex-Mrs. Russell Brand, Katy Perry. It is what it is. The Katy Perry themed Collector's Edition and a Limited Edition version of The Sims 3 Showtime feature the Ultimate Stage bonus venue. Get more information through Origin and the official website.
]]>EA's announced a collaboration with Katy Perry that sees the popstar get her very own collectors edition of upcoming Sims 3 expansion Showtime. The CE will come with a bonus stage, stage props, fashion and others that will be Perry themed. Other items surrounding Perry will also make their way into future Sims titles. There's a trailer of it all in action below the break.
]]>EA has announced The Sims 3 Showtime expansion pack for PC and Mac is in development and will launch worldwide in March 2012.
]]>EA has released a new batch of holiday-themed screenshots for The Sims 3 Pets, which released in October as a stand-alone game for 3DS, PS3, Xbox 360, and as an expansion pack on PC and Mac. Pets allows Sims 3 players to use the Create a Pet tool and provide their furry kids with Karma Powers.
]]>A link to a massive batch of screenshots, Garriott tooting his own horn, information on a new mobile/social games developer, and more is below the break.
]]>Hooray. It's Saturday. Time to kiss and make up with the previous days of the week and go on about your business.
]]>If you've ever played any Sims game, you'd know that - honestly - creating your little computer person is just about as much fun as controlling their little lives. Fortunately, EA know that too, which is why, in the lead-up to the new expansion pack, the company has released a demo for The Sims 3: Pets - and it's all about Create-A-Pet.
]]>Reading this gives you a fair idea of what we do all day when we're not busily typing for you.
]]>Sales, special deals, and - I gotta tell you - a basically hilarious video of Ono and Harada competing in various ridiculous games. This is just a taster of the excellent material hidden through the break.
]]>It's time for your second round of Tuesday shorts. Enjoy.
]]>Your second batch of shorties for the day is below. Or tenderonis. Whatever you call them. Just click the break, already.
]]>The latest video for The Sims 3 details upcoming expansion Generations, from the perspective of the producers responsible. What were they thinking? Now we know.
]]>Some things in life are hard to explain. This post isn't one of them. It's just more shorts. .
]]>Assistant producer Ryan Vaughan has explained that the next The Sims 3 expansion pack, Generations, should bring "life stories" to the freeform sandbox title.
]]>Those crazy and kooky Sims are at it again. EA just announced that it will release the latest expansion pack for those quasi-virtual people with the expansion pack The Sims 3 Generations.
]]>Time for shorts. Read some headlines and look over the small fries below.
]]>A recently discovered and very nasty bug in the console versions of The Sims 3 has caused dismay among players, and e no explanation from EA.
]]>"I am not interested in playing virtual soap opera dollies," you tell yourself. "And anyway, I only buy games through digital distribution on account of living in the future."
But EA know the deep secrets of your Sim-torturing heart. The Sims 3 is now available on Steam.
]]>Following yesterday's 3DS info-vomit for the US and Europe, EA's bunged out some shots of The Sims 3 for the machine.
This is listed as one of the "launch period" titles, so you'll be playing this before E3 in June.
]]>Because nothing says "easy" like dancing on a bar in your skivvies.
]]>Update: As Destructoid points out, EA's also register TheSims5.com, TheSims6.com and TheSims7.com. Guess there's no need to call the Hardy Boys.
Original: EA has registered TheSims4.com, suggesting its currently working on yet another title in the series. Bet you never saw that coming.
]]>EA has released a bunch of new screens for The Sims 3 on PS3 and Xbox 360.
Catch them after the break.
]]>EA used its Summer Showcase to debut the next Alice title from American McGee, a first trailer for 38 Studios' Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning and more this evening, but fell short of a proper megaton.
Get all the news, press releases and media after the break.
]]>EA has announced that The Sims 3 will land on consoles and DS this fall.
]]>EA's confirmed the console versions of The Sims 3 will release in the Holiday season this year.
]]>EA and Dr Pepper are teaming up to offer people gaming codes for chugging the popular soft drink.
]]>A new video for The Sims 3, which had an expansion called World Adventures come out this week, has surfaced.
It makes fun of the Twilight saga, by parodying New Moon.
Actually, it looks loads better to us. We would actually pay to see this in theaters.
Watch on below.
In other Sims news, there's also a patch available and you can get it here.
]]>EA has announced the first expansion pack for The Sims 3, known as The Sims 3: World Adventures, which will ship worldwide on November 16.
The expansion sees your Sims taken out of Sunset Valley as they go across around the world to countries including China, France and Egypt.
Press release and the first three screens are after the jump.
]]>A Sims 3 video called Living the Life is posted for you after the break.
Shows families, picnics, videogames, butterflies, kissing, dancing, fishing, happy people - the usual stuff you'd see in a Norman Rockwell painting, along with exercise and walking around in your underwear.
Play UK has the game listed for a June 5 release in Europe, while the US gets it on June 2.
]]>A few new shots of The Sims 3 after the break, two of which were labelled "gone gold" on Gamespress.
This may mean the game's gone gold. Watch for a press release later.
It's out on June 5.
]]>A second Sims 3 town will be available for the game from launch, EA just announced.
The extra play space, named Riverview, is one of a set of online features to be provided for the game, which also include a shop, a community "launcher" and a website with movie creation features.
A lifetime's Christmases, all at once. Press release after the break. The game's out on June 2.
]]>EA's announced that The Sims 3 is available for pre-order now.
In it, you get:
- The game for PC
- The Sims Plumbob 2Gb USB drive "with matching Green Carabiner"
- "Exclusive in-game European-styled sports car" - this tipped it for us
- Tips and hints guide
- The Sims 3 Plumbob stickers
Press release after the link.
]]>After the break. There's a lot on information in there about the thinking behind the game, new features, animation process, and so on.
It's out on February 20. Thanks, RPS.
]]>Ben Bell, Sims 3 executive producer, told the crowd at Games Convention how for the first time you can play with your Sims in a town and "interact with anything at anytime."
However, don't just take our word for it, watch the whole conference beneath the link.
By Mike Bowden
]]>IGN has posted a few new screenshots of Sim 3 for your perusal. Not much to look at, if we're honest. Just some people standing around in houses.
]]>HEXUS has details on the "exclusive content" that EA announced at Games Convention earlier today.'
]]>EA has just announced at Leipzig that Sims 3 will be released worldwide in February 2009.
]]>EA's put out the first in-game footage of the Sims 3, as part of its E3 press conference last night. It's on Shacknews. No other Sims 3 info doing the rounds this morning from what we can see, so this will have to do for now.
]]>Here. It's the lifting of the global embargo on Sims 3 information today, so expect to see plenty more on the game later.
Update: There's more here.
Update two: Press release after the link. Eurogamer's published a giant preview here.
]]>PC Gamer has published new details on the next in EA's slightly popular Sims series, such as more natural skin, better animations, and "Buff" and inventory systems.
]]>The Sims 3 has already been shown to press at an NDA'd event in the US, we're reliably informed, with all preview content going live on March 19. Apparently you can expect to hear a great deal on the game based on what was shown at the EA showcase, which focused on differences between the new outing and The Sims 2, as you'd expect.
]]>The official site for The Sims 3 is now online, and promises that a solid update on the game will be released on March 19. And that's it. No one knows what's going to be shown, but the site features the famed "lozenge", so a dramatic departure is unlikely. Rather obviously.
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