The Sims 3

EA (Electronic Arts) is giving us Sims addicts yet another Sims game to please our Sims appetite - The Sims 3! According to EA's web site, the game is set to release in 2009. For many of us that is too long of a wait. Well, I guess we will have to make do with Sims 2 and its expansion packs.

The caption on EA's Sims Web site says, "What if you had to live your whole life in one location... and then on day, suddenly, you could step outside and go anywhere in the whole neighborhood?" Hopefully, this means the gamer doesn't have to wait for a new place to load when getting in a taxi or car. The Web site says that your Sims will be able to walk around freely. Nice!

New features:

New and interesting Sims
Of course with every release of a Sims game they say that. But we'll see. The screen shots show that you can have an extremely thin Sim. You can make your Sim a little chubby or full of muscles. As a Sims 2 player, I'm sure we can appreciate the different body types instead of the standard three types we've come to get used to. Besides body shapes, you can choose what skin tone your Sim will have or their eye color and shape - which is pretty sweet. Now we won't have to download customized Sims from third-party Web sites.

Personalities
If we can create new Sims, that means we should be able to create new personalities, right? Right! Boys and girls of the Sims world can be fitted with various types of personalities. Your Sim, according to EA, can be romantic, clumsy, paranoid, brave, artistic, perfectionist, klepto, and so much more. Hey, maybe a combination of some!

Customizations
Flat out - everything can be uniquely customized to your taste. Yes, that means the floors, the clothing, the couches, and the beds. You can even customize the neighborhood! Of course, for the not-so-creative gamer, there are still pre-designed neighborhoods and furnishings. There's something for everyone. Looking over the screenshots, I've seen an interior wall that was green with what looks like cow skin borders. You're the interior designer, I'm sure you can create some interesting designs.