Sims News

Electronic Arts today announced that The Sims™ turns three this month.

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The Sims Franchise Celebrates Three Years at the Top of Worldwide PC Charts

The #1 PC Game of All Time Remains a Cultural Phenomenon

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., February 11, 2003 – Electronic Arts (Nasdaq: ERTS) today announced that The Sims™ turns three this month. The Sims, the wildly popular computer game, now available on the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and online, skyrocketed to the top of the charts when it began shipping to stores in February 2000 and remains a top seller in virtually every major game market worldwide.

“Three years ago, no one believed that a videogame about people and social interaction, without shooting, driving or what passes for action, could be published successfully," said EA President and CEO John Riccitiello. "Today this game, The Sims, has evolved to become the world’s most successful PC game and a global multi-platform success. The Sims’ incredible appeal among teens and young adults, and especially among female players, has broken all the old established rules about videogames.”

The Sims Three Year Highlights

• The Sims franchise has shipped over 24 million units, including more than eight million units of the core product, The Sims.
• Since the launch in 2000, The Sims franchise has spawned five expansion packs and a deluxe, console, and online version. The Sims has been translated into more than 17 languages and is sold worldwide.
• An estimated 60 percent of The Sims players are female, most of them young teens.
• The Sims for the PlayStation 2 console launched in January and quickly vaulted to the top of charts in both North America and Europe. In the UK, The Sims for the PlayStation 2 console was number one on ELSPA's official UK game sales chart as compiled by Chart-Track week ending February 1, 2003.
• According to The NPD Group, The Sims base product was the number one selling PC game in 2000, 2001, and 2002.
• The Sims franchise games held five of the top ten spots on the 2002 best-selling PC games in North America chart, released by The NPD Group.

The Sims has insinuated itself into pop culture consciousness with features on ABC Television’s, “Drew Carey Show,” in an episode of Fox Television’s “Malcolm In The Middle,” and was parodied last week on the Jon Stewart “Daily Show” on Comedy Central.

The game’s long list of honors has included being selected “Game of the Year” for 2000 by the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences and by numerous other publications in the United States and abroad. The creator of The Sims, Will Wright, was inducted into the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame in February 2002, joining such industry legends as Sid Meier and Shigeru Miyamoto. Will Wright has also been recognized by ISDA in 2002 for his extraordinary body of work and enduring legacy he has established in the interactive entertainment industry.

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 five 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; and The Sims Unleashed, which allows Sims to adopt pets. The Sims has recently transitioned online with The Sims Online™ and to the console with the launch of The Sims for the PlayStation 2 console. Soon The Sims will make its’ appearance on the Xbox™ video game system from Microsoft and the Nintendo GameCube™.

Electronic Arts (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is the world’s leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, Electronic Arts posted revenues of more than $1.7 billion for fiscal 2002. The company develops, publishes and distributes software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTS™, EA GAMES™, EA SPORTS BIG™ and EA.COMSM. More information about EA’s products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://www.info.ea.com.

Electronic Arts, EA SPORTS, EA GAMES, EA SPORTS BIG, 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.

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The international version of this object is now available in the Get Cool area.

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