Sims News

Last week was Camp EA and Press from all over the world were invited to EA to preview our latest games. Here are some previews of The Sims GBA, Makin' Magic, and Rush Hour.

Makin' Magic
PC

• Go To IGN
• Go To GameSpot
• Go To GameSpy

The Sims - Bustin' Out
PlayStation - GameCube - XBox

• Go To IGN
• Go To GameSpot
• Go To GameSpy

The Sims - Bustin' Out
Game Boy Advanced

• Go To IGN
• Go To GameSpot

Although not officially announced, Maxis gave a select group of North America and International press a sneak peek of the next expansion pack for The Sims, Makin' Magic*. Look for an official announcement in the coming weeks.
*This is a working title.

Learn More Here

Details About Makin' Magic*

* working title.

Brace Yourselves! Your Sims have Magic! In The Sims™ Makin' Magic Expansion Pack*, Sims are granted magical powers with the ability to cast spells that are playful or deviant. Players can venture to an all-new magical, carnival-themed destination, experience exciting new gameplay, gain over 150 new items, and encounter a whole new cast of quirky characters in this powerful pack of magical high jinx. See what happens when you challenge the fate of your Sims as you concoct and cast magic spells with good or bad intentions. In The Sims Makin' Magic, expect the unexpected.
*Requires The Sims™ or The Sims Deluxe Edition to play.

Key Features

New Gameplay

• Unlock spell recipes one by one in the family Spellbook, and mix individual ingredients to create dozens of original spells.
• Cast Spells to take care of your Sims' needs, keep up the house and cook meals, meddle with relationships, bring objects to life, or turn your neighbor into a frog.
• Every spell has a unique Backfire, including toad plagues, snakes, and lightning strikes.
• Interact with new Questing NPC's, and earn the most difficult and powerful spells by performing tasks and solving puzzles.

New Location and Objects

• Travel via the Magic Portal to the all-new Magic Town location where Sims perform magic and duel to earn access to spell ingredients.
• Perform at the Side Show, Spook Show, Magic Dueling Arena, and Magic Trick Table. Tricks and routines include everything from rabbit out of a hat and levitation to summoning ghosts.
• Build custom carnival rides, such as the Fun House and Haunted House.
• Satisfy hunger needs with the Popcorn Maker, Cotton Candy Stand, and the Ghoul-ash Cart.
• Magic items for the home include: the Wand Charger and Charm Maker, Faerie Toy Box, Magic Crystals, and a Dragon Nest that hatches a Pet Dragon.
• Create basic ingredients with new skill objects, including the Bee Hive, Spinning Wheel, Butter Churn, and Nectar Press.

New Cooking and Kitchen Features

• New Vine Plots let Sims grow and harvest grapes and berries in their yard and make and serve nectar.
• New Baker's Oven lets Sims bake breads, pies, and cakes.
• Revamp your kitchen with an all-new Mediterranean Kitchen Set, featuring a new fridge, sink, stove, dishwasher, and a brand new Tea Set.

New Characters

• Get your first taste of magic from the MagiCo Traveling Salesman, who brings you the Magic Starter Kit.
• Perform magic with the Side Show Assistant and Snake Charmer. Summon Ghosts and Mummies at the Spook Show.
• Trade, quest, and shop with Gypsy Vendors, the Vampiress, the local Apothecary, and the Faerie Queen.
• New domestic minions help keep your house going. Purchase a Skeleton Closet that houses a maid. Cast spells to turn the Flamingo into a sexy hostess or the Garden Gnome into a gardener.

Over 150 New Items

• New decorator set, including moving paintings, creaking stairs, and twisted trees.
• All new Walls, Floors, and Roofs.
• Brand new food items and dozens of new character skins.

Creator Will Wright Attributes Franchise Success to Fan Support.

Read Press Release

Fans Celebrate The Sims with Over 100,000 Family Album Postings on The Sims Exchange

Creator Will Wright Attributes Franchise Success to Fan Support

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., (July 7, 2003)- Electronic Arts (Nasdaq: ERTS) today announced that over 100,000 family albums have been posted online at www.thesims.com by fans of The Sims™ around the world. Fans of The Sims, the best selling PC game of all time, continue to share the hi-jinks of their Sim lives online by posting photo albums, setting up hot dates, and exchanging lots from the various Sims expansion packs.

"The success of The Sims is due in no small part to the on-going support of our fans. They continue to amaze and astound me with the various ways they are able to customize the content and evolve the overall game experience of The Sims," said Will Wright, Chief Game Designer at Maxis™, a division of Electronic Arts. "With The Sims 2 on the horizon, I can't wait to see what the fans will create. There will be an even greater potential for creative storytelling and content."

The albums include photos of Sim family members, their house, or pictures that tell the story of experiences not only from the game, but what is happening in their real lives. The photo album is a great way for fans to connect and share the details of their experiences with other fans. Plans are already in place to greatly expand these capabilities in The Sims 2 for PC.

About The Sims™
The Sims computer game allows players to create a neighborhood of simulated people (Sims) and control their lives. The Sims has inspired six add-on packs that have all been top sellers; The Sims™ Livin' Large, which allows players to put their simulated families from The Sims into new extreme situations and settings; The Sims™ House Party, which gives players the chance to host outrageous parties for their Sims; The Sims™ Hot Date, which gets Sims off the couch, to an all-new downtown area and into the dating game; The Sims™ Vacation, which allows Sims to get some rest and relaxation with their families and friends on a fun-filled vacation island; The Sims™ Unleashed, which allows Sims to adopt pets; and The Sims™ Superstar, where players can pursue fame and fortune. The Sims has also made an appearance online with The Sims Online™ and in the console market with the launch of The Sims on the PlayStation® 2 computer entertainment system, Xbox™ video game system from Microsoft and the Nintendo GameCube™.

Electronic Arts Inc.(EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is the world's leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, Electronic Arts posted revenues of $2.5 billion for fiscal 2003. The company develops, publishes and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under three brand names: EA SPORTS™, EA GAMES™, and EA SPORTS BIG™. EA's homepage and online game site is EA.COMSM. More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.

Electronic Arts, EA SPORTS, EA GAMES, EA SPORTS BIG, Maxis, The Sims and The Sims Online are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. EA.COM is a service mark of EA.com Inc. PlayStation is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Microsoft and Xbox are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries and are used under license from Microsoft. Nintendo GameCube is a trademark of Nintendo. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Er staat een nieuw uitbreidingspakket voor The Sims aan te komen, en wat voor een!

In dit uitbreidingspakket kunnen the Sims magische spreuken gebruiken om hun liefdesleven te verbeteren, chaos te bezorgen bij boze buren of een einde maken aan al hun zorgen!

Een geheel nieuw magisch carnaval-achtige bestemming, spannende nieuwe gameplay en een hele hoop nieuwe karakters staan je op te wachten in dit magische juweeltje!

Stuur the Sims naar Magie Stad om hersenkrakende tricks uit te voeren en geheime recepten te ontdekken voor snode spreuken.

Verander vervolgens thuis je dagelijkse objecten in persoonlijke hulpjes, hypnotiseer je zogenaamde vrienden of verander die saaie buurvrouw in een pad!

Zorg er wel voor dat je Sims goed genoeg zijn in hun toverkunsten want voordat je het weet gaat er van alles mis, verwacht het onverwachte in The Sims Makin' Magic!

The Sims Makin' Magic zal 30 oktober in de winkel liggen, voor Belgie en Nederland zal het spel een aangepaste naam krijgen.