Sims posts (Subscribe to this feed)

Video: Nelly Furtado sings in Simlish, raids tombs, knows kung fu

by Richard Mitchell { Nov 14th 2009 at 12:32AM }

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.

SimCastle and SimMars scrapped in favor of The Sims

by Griffin McElroy { Oct 12th 2009 at 4:00PM }

After breaking our hearts by showing us the Road Rash remake which never will be, the gaming industry's Encyclopedia Brown, supererogatory, dug up another pair of intriguing titles which sadly never saw the light of day. The personal blog of game designer Ward Moore mentions two Sim games which were ultimately canceled in order to focus on the blockbuster The Sims franchise: SimCastle, a game based on the SimTown engine set in medieval times, and SimMars, which ... simulated life on Mars, we guess?

Moore's blog included a look at the called-off Martian endeavor, seen above. The blog of illustrator Corey Keller includes a few conceptual designs from SimCastle, one of which can be seen after the jump. SimAnt, which perplexingly somehow got made while these two promising titles didn't, can be seen here. Life can be awfully unfair at times.

Continued →

Sims 3 pirated 180,000 times in four days

by Griffin McElroy { May 31st 2009 at 10:00AM }

We certainly hope Electronic Arts built up some tough skin during the whole Spore piracy pandemic, as it looks like they'll be facing similar buccaneering with their upcoming plumbob-equipped title, Sims 3. According to media measurement group BigChampagne, the game was illegally download over 180,000 times between May 18 (the day the game hit the Torrentscape) and May 21.

Holly Rockwood, an awesomely named EA PR rep, responded to the downloads by explaining, "the pirated version is a buggy, pre-final build of the game," and that, "it's not the full game. Half the world -- an entire city -- is missing from the pirated copy." Based on the image seen above (sent in by an anonymous pirate), we don't think Rockwood is bluffing. For a more full-bodied Sims 3 experience, you'll have to wait for it to hit store shelves June 2.

EA announces MySims Agents for Wii, DS

by Griffin McElroy { Apr 22nd 2009 at 10:45AM }

We always had this sneaking suspicion during our time in MySims' adorably rendered township -- an inkling that some great criminal presence was operating just below the surface of those colorful suburbs. Your quiet, saucer-eyed neighbor, Julia? Drug pusher. Mike, the lawyer from down the street? Human trafficker. Allie, the six-year-old daughter of Julia? Terrorist.

If bustin' scoundrels makes you feel good, you'll be pleased to hear Electronic Arts just announced MySims Agents for the Wii and DS. Though there will probably be some slight variations in gameplay, both titles place you in the patent leather shoes of a special agent tasked with bringing down some scurrilous lawbreaker using gadgets, Columbo-esque clue tracking and a little help from some similarly skilled neighbors. Look for the games to sneak out this Fall.

Will Wright to keynote SIGGRAPH 2009

by Jason Dobson { Mar 5th 2009 at 9:06AM }

There's just something about Will Wright that makes us melt. His choice in games. His geeky good looks. His ability to play god. Whatever it is, maybe the esteemed game designer will shed some light on our infatuation when he takes the stage as the keynote speaker at SIGGRAPH 2009.

His presence marks an "expanded" gaming focus for the CGI tech fest, which normally centers on what's new and bleeding edge with all things graphics. The topic of Wright's discussion has not yet been released, though we'll be listening with bated breath when the show opens its doors in New Orleans in early August.

Nib frabbit: Sims 3 release date in question [update]

by Alexander Sliwinski { Jan 26th 2009 at 11:30AM }

EA is apparently "evaluating the launch window" for The Sims 3, reports Eurogamer. The game was given a February 20 release date last August, but now European retailers are being told by the publisher to expect a delay. EA stated that it would have more information in the near future, presumably tying into EA CEO John Riccitiello's desire to make the third Sims a "huge success." The publisher sure could use the cash.

We've contacted EA to find out if it's "evaluating" the release date for North America as well. We'll update if we hear anything.

Update: Uh oh. EA responded: "We are evaluating the launch window. The game looks great and in the near future we'll have more information." Our Magic 8 Ball defines this as "outlook not so good."

Gallery: The Sims 3

New Sims 3 trailer shows you how to create a Sim, yet again

by Ross Miller { Dec 22nd 2008 at 6:21PM }

Look, there's not a lot we can tell you about this. With something like 100 million copies of the Sims, Sims 2 and their various expansions sold worldwide and you, dear reader, being a person with at least a rudimentary knowledge of gaming, there's a good chance you know both what a Sim is and how they are made. This video isn't going to blow your mind or anything.

The graphics look good, it has a pretty groove-tacular soundtrack and your mom will actually contemplate upgrading her PC to play it. Electronic Arts also released three new images, which you can see in the gallery below.

Gallery: The Sims 3

Download in HD (10MB)

Rod Humble promoted to The Sims label lead

by Jason Dobson { Oct 7th 2008 at 11:00PM }

When we last spoke to The Sims' studio head, Rod Humble, he was applauding the franchise's retail success. Now the exec has another, albeit more personal reason to celebrate, having climbed up another rung on the corporate ladder, laying claim to the role of The Sims' brand's executive VP. The move follows the recent hiring of Jeff Green, who left the world of game journalism last month to throw his body on the gears of EA's expansion factory as well.

Humble replaces former lead, Nancy Smith, who EA notes will handle "special" The Sims-related projects before eventually moving into a new as-yet-undefined role in the months ahead. We offer congratulations, and suggest he celebrate his new position by locking co-workers in the bathroom or pushing them in the corporate pool before deftly removing any means of escape.

Sim Bothering Animals

by JC Fletcher { Sep 16th 2008 at 5:20PM }

EA has released a new trailer and screens for their Sim spinoff SimAnimals. Like the initial assets released during E3, this trailer, while putting on a happy-go-lucky face, illustrates a game almost exclusively about being a total jerk to animals.
"Oh, look, a happy little bear cub with his family," the interior monologue of the imaginary player seems to say, "Let's kidnap him! I wonder if bears eat squirrels? I wonder if this bear cub can swim!" The floating, gloved hand continues to disrupt the lives of once-peaceful forest residents like that while the narrator cheerily describes how much fun it is to interact with animals. This is horrifying.

Gallery: SimAnimals

[Via press release]

E308: SimAnimals simulates animals

by JC Fletcher { Jul 14th 2008 at 8:10PM }

EA has just announced a new Sim satellite game called SimAnimals, in which, much like you mess with virtual families' lives in The Sims and ruin people's houses in MySims, you control a floating hand that interacts with various wild animals. You can "reach out and touch, pick up and move everything in the game from foxes and bears to trees and flowers." See those bears? You can throw 'em.

If you can refrain from being a jerk, you'll be able to gain the trust and friendship of the various animals that populate the SimAnimals forest. SimAnimals is planned for Wii and DS this January.

Gallery: SimAnimals

EA reveals SimAnimals for DS, Wii

by Kyle Orland { Jul 14th 2008 at 6:55PM }

While everyone was distracted by EA's ongoing press conference, EA went and uploaded a bunch or screenshots and some basic information about a bunch of games, including a new one called SimAnimals for the DS. According to EA's Web page, the game lets players "control more than 60 animals" with an "on-screen animated hand that allows you to reach out and touch, pick up and move everything in the game from foxes and bears to trees and flowers." Animals will grow to like or dislike this disembodied, manual overlord based on how it treats them. Remind you of any other popular simulation game? Look for SimAnimals in January of 2009, and more about the project as we hear it.

Update: An official press release includes a few more details and some enthusiastic quotes from EA execs. Fun!

Gallery: SimAnimals (Wii)

Gallery: SimAnimals DS

Sims 2 Store live today, microtransactions abound

by Alexander Sliwinski { Jun 30th 2008 at 7:00PM }

Hagimona pana! Guranda epska tali tari ta. Eska, eska, esti toni wa?

*turns on Simlish to English translator*

Better? Good! EA announced that its Sims 2 Store is now live for US and Canadian shoppers. The online retail location practices the fine art of micro transactions by offering items available in Sims 2 expansion packs and "all-new exclusive" content.

The store works by converting real money into "SimPoints" at an exchange rate of $1 for 100 SimPoints, and most items we saw appear to be between 75 - 100 SimPoints. Sims 2 fans can decide for themselves if it's worth micro-transactioning through the Sims 2 Store or picking up the full expansions at retail. The store seems like the type of thing that's perfect if your Sim just needs to have that new shower head and nothing else.

[Via BigDownload]

Sims Carnival is now in open beta

by Justin McElroy { Jun 17th 2008 at 7:30PM }

In the future, there will be no game developers. Well, to be more accurate, there will be no paid videogame developers, just a legion of unpaid game slaves, toiling away for a chance at e-stardom. Today, the inevitable future looms just a bit closer with The Sims Carnival going into open beta.

Right now, you can play some of the offerings from closed beta folks, who've come up with some really bizarre entries like this terrible take on Mario Kart and this brûlée caramelizing sim. You can also design your own games for the general populace to partake of, enjoy and never, ever pay you for.

MySims Kingdom: The Home of Princess Butter

by JC Fletcher { May 14th 2008 at 12:30PM }

In a press release sent out this morning, EA revealed some details of the new MySims sequel, MySims Kingdom. Fascinatingly, Kingdom is designed as more of an adventure than its predecessor, with things like a story and goals other than "build stuff and make friends."

That's still the basic gameplay, but this time you're building (medieval) stuff and making (ye olde) friends at the behest of King Roland (and his daughter, the amusingly-named Princess Butter), who charges you with improving his kingdom. As you build and achieve goals, you'll unlock new building capabilities including bridge-building (or at least bridge repair). These will allow you both to increase the size of your kingdom and to expand into other kingdoms, each with their own unique inhabitants.

Surprisingly, given the setting, you'll also be able to create electrical devices. We assume you will then be run out of town by a frightened mob.

Gallery: MySims Kingdom

EA spills the beans on MySims Kingdom for DS

by David Hinkle { May 14th 2008 at 10:15AM }

Ever since MySims Kingdom was revealed, we've been patiently awaiting details regarding the title. Now, we've got a bit more to go on, as EA lets us know what this game is all about. It is "a story of adventure, discovery and exploration to help King Roland and his subjects revitalize the Kingdom." Okay, sounds simple enough.

The DS version of this game, specifically, will offer several different mini-games and very much resembles Animal Crossing. EA's Rod Humble (is that not an awesome name?), whom heads up The Sims division, said MySims Kingdom will contain "rewarding quests, building houses, bridges or even making contraptions powered by electricity or water." It sounds like the title will have a lot of customization options, however we wonder if it won't be the simple little game that EA promised it would be back at launch. Is this not getting to be a bit too big for a casual title?

Be sure to hit up our gallery below for first screens from the game.