EA Reveals The Sims 3 Details

Electronic Arts has announced details of the next installment in its Sims franchise, The Sims 3, anticipated to launch globally in 2009. EA says the game will feature a new engine the company spent three years developing, and promises an "open neighborhood" environment and new Sim-creation features. "The Sims 3 is being designed to be the next-generation flagship game from The Sims Label," said the company in a statement. In addition to new customizable details that allow varying physiques for Sims, the latest title adds five distinct personality traits to shape Sim behavior and interactions. Overall, EA says there will be over 700 distinct possible combinations for individual Sims. EA notes that 98 million games in the franchise have been sold around the world, translated into 22 different languages. The Sims Studio head Rod Humble commented, "In The Sims 3, Sims can go beyond the boundaries of their home lot, and immerse themselves in an open, living neighborhood, interacting with other Sims using our new deeper personality system. It is this type of open-ended gameplay that inspires endless creative possibilities. In addition the new goals and rewards systems will give players of all kinds from core gamers to storytellers the ability to enjoy long-term gameplay."