The Sims 3

Well, it’s time to find a countdown to 2009 widget, because sometime next year the next installment of Electronic Arts’ Sims is going to be released, and it’s looking like it could be one of the most anticipated games we may see next year. I can’t wait.

I’m a fan of the Sims. Have never tried the online version, but I had a lot of fun playing both previous single player titles. Think I may have even taken a spin on a console version too at one point.

I recall fond memories of pursuing and eventually impregnating the sexy maid in the hot tub, and having the love child out of wedlock as my significant other in the house looked on in disbelief.

I thought The Sims 2 really introduced a lot of major improvements to the original title that at the time couldn’t have forseen it possibly getting any better than this. Well, it’s definitely getting better.

Probably the most welcomed new feature will be the seamless neighborhoods. Here’s what EA has to say:

Your Sims can roam throughout their neighborhood, visit neighbors’ homes, and explore the surroundings. They can stroll downtown to hang out with friends, meet someone new at the park, or run into colleagues on the street. If your Sims are in the right place at the right time, who knows what might happen?!

Thank God. The loading screens when traveling the neighborhood not only dampened the immersion, but also became pretty annoying if you spent any length of time living in The Sims.

Along with that the Sims themselves will get some kind of overhaul.

I’ve read somewhere that the needs bars will be simplified. Which is welcome news to me… I’m not sure how many times I overlooked sending someone to the bathroom, much to my Sims’ embarrassment.

There will also be personality improvements:

Create realistic Sims with distinctive personalities. Select from dozens of personality traits and combine them in fun ways. The combination of traits you choose—brave, artistic, loner, perfectionist, klepto, romantic, clumsy, paranoid, and much, much more—help shape the behavior of your Sims and how they interact with other Sims. Your Sims can now rise above their basic set of every day needs. They are complex individuals with unique personalities.

And a new easy to use (and boasted unlimited) customization features, which will undoubtably offer a lot more flexibility and realism when creating your Sims.

Find out more, here.