While SimCity DS was already released for -- having been developed by -- Japanese gamers, the simulation hasn't gotten much coverage for is upcoming American release. At a recent EA event, it was apparent that the title should get the recognition it deserves soon enough, with its June release.

Based approximately on SimCity 3000, SimCity DS seemed about as complicated as the most recent versions of the title. While the graphics represent a throwback to earlier SimCity games, the core gameplay is current. The title looks like it'll be a great match for portable simulation fans because of the touchscreen interface.

We've been waiting for this announcement a while now. In a very irregular press release from EA Japan this morning, originally causing us to think this was a hoax or accidental release, we contacted an equally confused EA rep and confirmed SimCity DS is going global. She let us know that the information distribution is being handled outside of EA's corporate HQ -- hence the confusion. The rep only had one screen to show us of the English version and told us that the game will be out in June.

SimCity DS will allow players to put out fires by blowing on the DS's microphone, "wireless data exchange," sign off on proclamations using the stylus and do all the other things that urban planning junkies have been experiencing with the series for 20 years. The game is expected to be rated AO due to intense scenes of sexuality and violence -- oh please, it's SimCity!

CheapyD over at CheapAssGamer.com has put together a really nice little video review about the Play Stand DS Lite from Hori. We were dubious at first, but after watching this review, we've ordered one ourselves from Play-Asia, to the tune of fifteen bucks.

This little sucker will make playing games with one hand a snap, and it also looks swanky as well. Cradle your DS Lite in some goodness, and wait patiently for the SimCity DS game to come out. It has the ability to hold the DS Lite horizontally and vertically, so basically any of your games will look sweet in its plastic and foam goodness.

Nice work, CheapyD. Now we'll wait patiently for this to arrive so we can pimp out Animal Crossing: Wide World as it was meant to be seen.

EA of Japan's upcoming SimCity for the Nintendo DS has been looking good, via screenshots ... now we have video to go with it. The goodness of SimCity combined with the uber-portability of the DS?

The system seems tailor made for this game, what with the dual screens, the touch function, and the ... Nintendo-ness of making your own little tiny cities. Wrap this all up in a bundle with all the the different shades of the DS and you'll make a fortune. You hear that retailers? Please, feel free to steal from Joystiq's bag of ideas.

What's hard to buy is that they haven't announced a US version yet. What gives, EA?

[Thanks, J]

NeoGaf posted screenshots of the upcoming SimCity DS being released in Japan next month. Based on the so-last-gen SimCity 3000, we'd typically scoff at something not SimCity 4's equal, but Simcity DS does look and sound sweet.

We understand that it takes forever and a day to translate and localize Final Fantasy. We're even OK with no release date set for Tingle's RPG. But why no stateside love for an American franchise, originally created by an American developer, who bears a striking resemblance to the "SimCity guide" in the screenshots? There's something seriously missing that we don't understand explaining why this game has no U.S. release announcement. It's not like there's something we silly Americans wouldn't "get" about the franchise. Nothings going to be lost in translation or go over our flighty little heads. We know SimCity and we do like it -- now just translate it out of Japanese and we'll be good to go.