GameSpy enjoyed a demo of The Sims 3 at the Leipzig Games Convention and have posted a preview of the game.

Two big changes separate the new game from its very successful (and elegantly designed) prequel. For one, the Sims themselves are much more dynamic, defined with a series of traits that make them more compelling and (at times) even more creepily human. More on that later. The biggest change is the seamless world.

They also videoed part of executive producer Ben Bell's talk, which I've embedded below:

 > The Sims 3 preview at GameSpy

The fifth The Sims 2 Apartment Life comic strip has been posted on TheSims2.com: Meet the Socialites. This strip shows Kristina going off in her helicopter to buy a new apartment, where her father gets the butler to watch her, and she finds a secret room to escape to. As usual, all the screenshots from the strip have been added to the screenshots page.
 > The comic strip at TheSims2.com
 > The Sims 2 Apartment Life screenshots

GameZone has published the first review of new expansion pack The Sims 2 Apartment Life, and have given it an OK 7.2 out of 10.

This is more entertaining than Free Time and the apartment roommate element spices it up a touch.

 > The Sims 2 Apartment Life review at GameZone

A walkthrough video of The Sims 2 Apartment Life has been posted on TheSims2.com. Lead designer Lakshmi Jayapalan moves a family into an apartment, gets a roommate, visits a neighbour, and takes a taxi to a new park.
 > The Sims 2 Apartment Life videos at TheSims2.com

It was confirmed during the recent The Sims 2 Apartment Life chat that the open windows shown in screenshots can only be closed by replacing them with closed versions in build mode. It didn't surprise me, but it was still pretty annoying. This month, I want to know whether you feel the same way. It makes them sound like a waste of time to me, especially if you have Seasons as well. Vote now to the right.

Last month, I asked whether you think you'll ever buy anything from the new The Sims 2 Store. Well, the results are in, and it looks EA's new way of making money from us isn't very popular - not one person said they've already purchased something, or definitely will at some point. See the full results and comment by clicking below.
 > Poll Results

IGN have posted an eyes-on preview of The Sims 3.

Although we've heard a bit about the Sims 3 in the past, I had the opportunity to sit in on a demonstration here in Leipzig at this year's German Games Convention. Although our time to check out the Sims was limited, especially considering the scope of the game as a whole, I was still able to get a grasp on what Maxis is doing for the next full installment of its greatly-loved franchise.

 > The Sims 3 Preview at IGN

EA has announced at the Leipzig Games Convention that The Sims 3 will launch worldwide on 20th February 2009, six months from today. (Unless you believe the US version of TheSims3.com, which thinks it has already been released on 20th February 2008.) A collector's edition will also be released on the same date which will, according to the news post on the UK EA website and the press release, include the following:

- The Sims 3 Game for PC
- The Sims Plumbob USB Drive with matching Green Carabiner
- Exclusive In-Game Italian-Style Sports Car
- Tips and hints guide
- The Sims 3 Plumbob Stickers

  > News post at EA UK
 > Press release at Business Wire

The official website for The Sims 3, TheSims3.com (oddly enough), has re-launched with a new design and new sections. One of the new features is a developer blog, with the first post executive producer Ben Bell.

Hello from The Sims 3 team,   This is the first installment of a regular blog in which you’ll hear from developers about what we’re creating, how we’re building it, and other random stories about life.

There are also more pages about the game and some new screenshots which I've also posted on this website.
 > TheSims3.com
 > Developer Blog
 > New Screenshots

IGN have posted a preview of the latest expansion pack for The Sims 2, Apartment Life.

The big new supernatural element in Apartment Life is witchcraft. (Previous expansion introduced vampires, robots, zombies, and more.) By becoming a witch you gain access to spells both good and bad, and if you use one type more than another you become a good or bad witch, which can unlock new types of spells. You also get to wear a nifty pointy hat that looks stylish.

 > The Sims 2 Apartment Life preview at IGN

The transcripts for the two The Sims 2 Apartment Life chats on Thursday have been made available on TheSims2.com.

onmymind04 (Aug 7, 2008 6:08:16 PM)
Is this the last expansion pack for the Sims 2?

MaxoidShannon (Aug 7, 2008 6:08:16 PM)
Currently, there are no plans for any future Expansion Packs. We will be adding content once a month to The Sims 2 Store.

 > First chat transcript
 > Second chat transcript

EA have announced the soundtrack for The Sims 2 Apartment Life, according to WorthPlaying and gamezine.co.uk. The soundtrack includes songs from lots of artists I’ve never heard of, such as Bob Schneider and Janelle Monae. See the full list on either of the source websites linked below:
 > WorthPlaying
 > gamezine.co.uk

Two chats on the subject of the latest expansion pack The Sims 2 Apartment Life have been announced on TheSims2.com, presumably with some people involved with its production.

Both chats are on Thursday. I'm assuming they're running two to better allow us in the UK to participate, as one of them is early enough for that. The first chat runs between 10 and 10:45 am PDT, which I think is between 6 and 6:45 pm BST, and the second runs between 4 and 4:45 pm PDT, which I think is between midnight and 12:45 am BST on Friday.

At around one of those times you'll want to click below if you want to participate, where there should be a link to the chat auditorium.
 > Chat page at TheSims2.com

A new The Sims 2 Apartment Life comic strip, Meet the Gearheads, has been posted on The Sims 2 UK, the official UK website. It had not been posted on TheSims2.com yet at the time of writing. The strip tells the story of Biff and Jane's first date. As usual, I've added the best (actually, that's all of them this time) screenshots from the strip to the Apartment Life screenshots page.
 > Meet the Gearheads at The Sims 2 UK
 > The Sims 2 Apartment Life screenshots

It's that time of the month again - new poll time! The Sims 2 Store launched this month, and I want to know whether you'll ever buy anything from it. Vote to the right of any page.

A poll has started, so one must have ended, too. Last month, I asked whether you're going to buy The Sims 2 IKEA Home Stuff. Click below to see the results, and the one comment.
 > Poll Results

The Sims 2 Apartment Life trailer has been made available on TheSims2.com.
 > Apartment Life videos at TheSims2.com

Two more The Sims 2 Apartment Life comic strips have been posted on TheSims2.com: Meet the Bohemians and Meet the Jocks. As before, I've added the best screenshots from both to the screenshots page here.
 > Comic strip at TheSims2.com (Meet the Bohemians, click through to Meet the Jocks)
 > Apartment Life Screenshots

GameSpy's Dave 'Fargo' Kosak has interviewed Rod Humble about The Sims 3.

Fargo: So for all the fans out there who've invested a lot of time in Sims 2, what would you say the big selling points are with Sims 3? What's going to make people hungry to upgrade?

Humble: We've brought in a lot of Sims 2 players to play Sims 3 as we've been developing it -- 'cuz we're not going to mess this one up! [Laughs] -- so we're pretty confident we're delivering what our customers want. We're definitely Sims players as well, and the first thing we did was take away things that annoyed us.

  > Interview at GameSpy

EA have released the first video of The Sims 3, as well as a few new screenshots.
 > New screenshots
 > New video at TheSims3.com (select your country, then click "Play Video")

EA have released the trailer for the latest The Sims 2 stuff pack, IKEA Home Stuff.
 > See it now at TheSims2.com