Just in time for Valentine’s Day, The Sims 3 Master Suite Stuff pack adds some sizzle to the game with the addition of luxurious bed and bath décor, sultry sleepwear and flirty hairstyles . The Sims 3 Master Suite Stuff pack for PC/Mac is now available in stores and as a digital download for PC at www.origin.com and participating retailers.

Spice up your Sims’ lives by upgrading bedroom furnishings with a romantic canopy bed, a 1940s-inspired chair and a lavish fireplace. Then move over to the bathroom and update its look with a beautiful vanity, sleek and stylish tub and lit candles to create a spa-worthy space. Vases, rose petals and new window treatments will add just the right finishing touches to complete an all-new master suite.

Your Sims will enjoy relaxing in their redesigned environments even more with new intimate apparel and sleepwear, perfect for a night with that special Sim. Complete your Sim’s overall look with casual yet modern hairstyles that will complement their new commitment to a lifestyle of relaxation.

The Sims 3 Master Suite Stuff is £19.99, rated PEGI 12 and available on PC/Mac at your local retailers and as a digital download for PC at participating retailers.

Whether you are looking for a spontaneous rendezvous, an in-home spa experience or a lifestyle of comfort and tranquility for your Sim, you are sure to find it all in The Sims 3 Master Suite Stuff pack.

Shop for the Sims 3 Master Suite Stuff pack on Amazon.

As a magician, your Sim begins their career on the streets performing magic tricks for tips. They’ll visit new venues and meet with the owners to book larger gigs and gain experience. Magicians have unique social interactions that give them the ability to perform small-scale tricks on other Sims such as pulling a coin from an ear and making butterflies and doves magically appear. As magicians level up, they acquire new objects that can be used on-stage. For some magical fun, your Sims can use the Box of Mystery to perform the “swords of destiny” by carefully placing knives through the box without stabbing the Sim inside. Beware the Box of Danger! If a Sim fails at correctly executing their tricks with this object, death may come calling.

Singers are unique in the Sims 3 Showtime as they can accept paying jobs such as performing singing telegrams to gain experience. Singing telegrams are also a social feature, and the types of jobs your Sims will receive will directly correlate to the happenings around town. If a Sim in town has just lost their job, cheer them up. If it’s a Sim’s birthday, sing them a song. Like the other careers, singers can also take their talents to the public performing for tips in parks and local hang-outs. As singers progress, stage props, costumes and new songs will be unlocked to help them look the part and sing a variety of tunes. Singers will want to make it to the top to star in their very own big venue concert.

In addition, all careers – acrobat, magician and singer –will unlock special objects and outfits directly relating to that career. All outfits can be customised in Create a Sim to match the look of the venue and stage for your Sim’s performance. Also, all careers in the Sims 3 Showtime are able to participate in SimFest – a giant talent show for acrobats, magicians and singers to compete against one another in town. For Sims who particularly love a challenge, a new dual interaction is available in-game for Sims to compete against one another outside of SimFest.

The Sims 3 Showtime is currently available for pre-order*. While supplies last, all Sims 3 Showtime pre-orders will be upgraded to the Limited Edition expansion pack which includes an added venue and stage for players to place in their world. This stage is fully customisable, using the in-game backgrounds, lighting, props and special effects.

For more information on The Sims 3 Showtime, please visit www.thesims.com/showtime, like the game on Facebook and follow the game on Twitter

*Conditions and restrictions apply. See http://store.origin.com/store/eaemea/en_GB/DisplayProductDetailsPage/ThemeID.850300/productID.241940500 for details.

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., December 6, 2011 – Here is your chance to become a star and tell the story of your journey! Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced that The Sims 3 Showtime Expansion pack*** for PC/Mac is in development and will launch worldwide in March 2012. The latest expansion pack from The Sims Studio allows players to live the rags to riches story with their Sims and share these experiences with their friends. Using new and innovative social features such as individual in-game news feeds and live updates, players are connected to each other like never before.

“The Sims 3 Showtime is a huge step forward for The Sims franchise,” explains Scott Evans, General Manager of The Sims Studio. “For the first time, we are introducing social features that allow you to send your Sims to a friend’s game, perform at their venue in front of their Sims where you both will earn rewards, and capture and share these in-game moments of your rise to fame.”

The Sims 3 Showtime allows players to connect and share with their friends and fellow fans of The Sims without ever leaving the game. Players will venture into a new world and live the dream as singers, acrobats, magicians and DJs. Using the all-new SimPort feature, players can send their Sim into a friend’s game to perform in their world, book gigs in their friends’ town, go on tour, and be reviewed. Along the way, players can earn rewards for achieving goals and accomplishing special challenges that can be tracked and shared via in-game social wall posts. Players have the opportunity to post their Sims’ successes, share gameplay techniques, create wishlists and send gifts, search for new friends and share memories through their in-game news feeds and as e-cards.

Players who enjoy building can customise their Sims’ stages using props and special effects to create unique venues such as a swanky concert hall, a massive stadium or an indie club. How the stage is built will directly influence a player’s Sim’s performance and career progression. For players who love a challenge, they can earn in-game rewards and accomplish goals such as performing a legendary show in a high-level venue. For players who enjoy experimenting, an endless amount of gameplay opportunities and choices within the game provide a vast array of situations for cause-and-effect play and hilarity to ensue.

The Sims 3 Showtime Expansion Pack

The Sims 3 Showtime is currently available for pre-order****. Those who pre-order now will be automatically upgraded to a special Limited Edition version, which features the Ultimate Stage venue. Players can place this fully customisable venue in their world and will be able to use it as an additional stage for their Sims to perform on, complete with in-game props, backgrounds, lights and special effects. This bonus venue is available through pre-order and while supplies last.

*In North America and Europe according to NPD data, Chart-track, Gfk France, Gfk Spain, Gfk-MCC Germany and EA internal estimate.
**While supplies last.
***Requires The Sims 3 for PC/Mac to play.
****Conditions and restrictions apply. See http://store.origin.com/store/eaemea/en_GB/pd/productID.241940500?sourceid=ea5068 for details.

Shop for the Sims 3 Showtime.

Experience the rise to stardom as your Sim performs on stage from one venue to the next. And for the first time, The Sims 3 Showtime introduces social features, including Simport, an all-new feature that lets you send your Sims to a friend’s game! There, your Sim can perform at your friend’s venue in front of your friend’s Sims! You will also be able to post messages and screenshots via an all-new in-game social wall.

The Sims 3 Showtime Features

• Your Sims can live the dream as Singers, Performers, Magicians, and DJs. Watch them rise to fame—or go down in flames as they perform for other Sims.
• All-new social features: chat with friends, post to their walls, give status updates, and create friends lists.
• Send your Sims to a friend’s game and have your friend’s Sim come to your game with the new Simport feature!
• Create your own venue! Build a swanky concert hall, a massive stadium, or an indie club. How the stage is built will influence your Sims’ performance and career progression.

Get a bonus venue and stage for your Sims to perform in the Sims 3 Showtime Limited Edition!

Home is where the heart is! Whether your Sims relax in a bubble bath in their luxurious bathroom, enjoy some down time in their exquisitely furnished bedroom, or wear new intimate apparel for their special someone, The Sims 3 Master Suite Stuff adds some sizzle to their home life! From stylish bedroom sets to spa-inspired bathroom furnishings to romantic new lingerie and hairstyles, your Sims will relax in comfort and style.

The Sims 3 Master Suite Stuff Features

• Create the ultimate master suite with a romantic canopied bed, a 40s-inspired chair, and more.
• Give your Sims’ bathroom a makeover with contemporary, spa-worthy furnishings including a well-crafted vanity and a sleek and stylish tub.
• Add the finishing touches. From vases of flowers to candles and rose petals, the little things can help set the mood.
• Dress to impress. Whether your Sim is seeking a romantic rendezvous or an indulgent evening of relaxation, the new intimate wear options are bound to please.
• Complete the look with a casual yet elegant new hairstyle that complements your Sims new commitment to relaxation.

Add some spark and sizzle to your Sims’ home life! Featuring stylish bedroom sets, spa-inspired bathroom furnishings, romantic new intimate wear, and fabulous new hairstyles, The Sims 3 Master Suite Stuff lets your Sims relax in comfort and style.

What type of pet will you choose in Sims 3 Pets Expansion?

In Sims 3 Pest Expansion there are two types of pets. There are rather simple pets that require very little interaction. These pets are more like furniture that crawls. You have to feed them, but that is about all you have to do. These pets consist of mostly reptiles. Snakes and lizards can be pets too.

The other types of pets are more like their real life counter parts. They will require a lot more work from you, and they can be trained to do specific things. You could take your Sims dog for a walk around the block and let it use the bathroom in your pesky neighbors lawn, or you can train your Sims cat to hunt down a lizard or a snake.

Dogs and cats in Sims 3 Pets Expansion are a little different than the earlier Sims pets expansion attempts. For one, your pets can’t go out and get jobs. Another nice change is that your pets will not cost you a whole bunch of Simoleons. You can adopt your Sims dog, cat or horse for free. You can also try to capture wild pets, but you will have to put some time into taming them. It can be beneficial because most of the wild pets will have some serious skills that would otherwise take some time to gain.

With Sims 3 Pets Expansion, while the parents are away, the pets will play.

You get to actually control your pets in this expansion pack. You can move them around from room to room. Make them climb on the furniture just like real pets do when their owners are away, but the real fun begins, when you get outside. Get your Sims dog outside, and start hunting for valuable things like gems and ore. Get things that will increase your Sims bank account so that you can buy more virtual stuff. Your virtual pets take from the family, they should also have to contribute something.

Off to the races with Sims 3 Pets Expansion.

This time around there are horses in the Sims 3 Pets expansion pack. Horses can do a few things very well, one of which is race. If you train your horse the right way, you could really make some serious Simoleons with that four legged money basket. Horses get to race and compete in other equestrian related challenges, and you and your Sims get to reap all of the rewards.

Not only will the horse be able to contribute some massive winnings to your bank account, but your Sims character can also gain skills that are needed throughout the game. It is a win win situation, and just think, all you have to do is adopt a horse. If you wanted, you could really exploit this feature of the game to become the richest Sim in the world, and that is coming straight from the horse’s mouth.

Sims 3 Pets Expansion Pack Features

Open up your very own virtual puppy, kitten or horsey mill.

You have the wonderful option of breeding your pets, and then selling them for massive Simoleons. There is a trade-off though. Once you sell your wonderful pet, they will not be able to hunt down treasures, they will not be able to do any of the tricks that you may have spent hours teaching them, and they will not be able to poop on your neighbors lawn, but that is okay, because you can just train another pet to take its place. The whole object is to play, experiment, and have fun.

What should your pet look like in Sims 3 Pets Expansion?

Well that choice is entirely up to you. Your dog, cat, or horse could be purple with green feet, and yellow stars around its face. You have tools at your disposal that allow you to tweak, enhance, and change the way your virtual pets look. If you start breeding your pets, some of your mad creations might be passed down to the babies. Who knows, you may even create the perfect animal, but you will never know if you don’t give it a try.

Overall the Pets in The Sims 3 Pest Expansion look and move just like their real counterparts, except for the green an purple ones that you create. The animations are smooth and lifelike, and controlling your Sims pets is a lot of fun. While they may have no real affect on the overall Sims world, your little furry friends from The Sims 3 Pets Expansion are a lot of fun to play with.

Be sure to take care of your cat’s needs or they may scratch and dig their claws into household furniture items. Relieve their destructive nature by taking them to the cat jungle or buying them a scratching tower. Interact with your cat by teasing them with a laser pointer or even using them as trustworthy ally to hunt down unwanted pests near your home. With The Sims 3 Pets, you can have a pet and be a pet.

The Sims 3 Pets is available now for pre-order and will be released on October 21st as a standalone for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo 3DS and as an Expansion Pack on PC/Mac. For more information on The Sims 3 Pets, please visit: http://www.ea.com/uk/sims-3-pets

Shop for The Sims 3 Pets

On console, players will find their pet dogs are helpful guides to sniffing out buried treasure and uncovering mysteries that will lead to in-game rewards. Pet cats are equally as helpful, especially when it comes to hunting down supernatural ghosts that may stop by for a surprise visit or two. Nintendo 3DS players will discover all new ways to juggle their bustling households of pets and can even trade pets among friends through Nintendo StreetPass. On PC/Mac, Players will explore the new western-themed town while riding along with their horses, seeking out adventures and entering competitions at the local equestrian center.

The Sims 3 Pets is currently available for pre-order at the EA Store and will be on store shelves October 18 for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo 3DS and as an Expansion Pack on PC/Mac. For more information on The Sims 3 Pets for console and the PC/Mac Expansion Pack and all other The Sims 3 games, visit www.TheSims3.com.

Shop for the Sims 3 Pets

Today, The Sims 3 Pets reveals the full list of Limited Edition pets offered for the Xbox360 and PS3game, available through pre-order and while supplies last. Players can explore their new town as Iron Terrier or Robo Dane, hunt down ghosts as a Skeleton Cat or Aztec Pantherea and so much more!

The full list of Limited Edition Sims 3 Pets includes:

• Aztec-inspired Aztec Panthera cat
• Panda Pom dog and Panda Chow dog

How cute is this Panda Dog???

• Skunk Birman cat
• Tiger Chi dog and Tiger Husky dog
• Dead Space-inspired Ishimura Bobtail cat
• Bat-inspired Pouncer cat
• Electronic LED-lit Cyber-tooth Tiger cat, Data Pup dog and Data Pointer dog
• Robot-influenced Mecha Neko cat, Iron Terrier dog and Robo Dane dog
• Dragon Age-inspired Mabari War Terrier dog and Mabari War Hound dog
• Skeleton-themed Skeleton Crew Cat, Bone Mastif dog and Bones dog.

Shop for the Limited Edition version of The Sims 3 Pets for Xbox 360 and PS3 here.

400 Free Simoleons and New Items Available 15 September 2011

15 of September, 2011: 400 Free Simoleons and New Items Available

Shop for the Sims 3 Pets

The Sims Simplified

The Sims Social is a much more simplified version of The Sims. That is why experienced Sims players will most likely be disappointed in this offering. It just does not go into great depths like Sims 3 does. On the other hand, new players to the Sims game will enjoy the much simpler interface and game design.

As always, the primary gameplay objective for the Sims Social is not much different from any game from the Sims series: you have to keep your Sim happy by satisfying a set of basic needs such as hygiene, fun, socialization, sleep, hunger, and bladder capacity.

The Pros of Sims Social

Well, for a start I don’t have to wait hours for the whole game to load, even though sometimes due to slow internet connection, or just because Facebook (can I blame EA too?) has decided to be buggy, it might take a while, but usually, the Sims Social is loading quickly. It is convenient as all you need to play the Sims Social is to login to your Facebook account.

Technical Issues With the Sims?! So Unheard Of!

The cons of the Sims Social

Well, for a start, let’s just say that the Sims Social is very limited, and it is not as sociable as we might have thought. The only thing really social about this game is begging your friends to help build things, or give items.

Since it is a “sociable” game, you have to add friends… It might not be a real issue for most people, but I wanted to keep my Facebook private, meaning it is only for friends that I know in real life, and family. I don’t really want to have a whole bunch of strangers as friends… (Yes, I know about the privacy setting in Facebook, which took me a while to figure out).

I am quite aware of the Social games phenomena, since JAG and I were quite heavily involved with the Ngmoco game series which took up so many hours of our day that we finally had to quit. One game was enough, to manage fours games that require constant checking was a bit too much… but it was fun! Though it was for the iPhone only, and I guess on the iPhone, Social games make things worse as you receive constant notifications of your “crops” being ready to be harvested… Yes, you can always turn them off, but then you forget about them, resulting in them being spoiled and the gamer losing out money and points… and time!

And no, I haven’t ever played Farmville either. The only Facebook games I have ever played was Bejeweled and Scrabble, because both of them are linked to an iPhone app.

So I am a bit disappointed as it turns out without friends you cannot play the Sims Social, unless you are prepared to spend a lot of cold hard cash! And I get stuck because of the too many Friends requirements, and me not wanting to spend cash on social gaming.

What the Sims Social is missing

Well, only hard core Sims players like me would probably notice the activities to earn skills are pretty much limited, but this could be due to the fact that the Sims Social is still a work in progress. I am pretty sure they will improve, but it can get boring, especially when you run out of “Energy” and have to wait about an hour to replenish and carry on with your tasks in order to level up.

Also, there is no pause button, so you have to exit the game to actually go in a pause mode. But I have noticed sometimes when I go back into the game, all my Sim’s needs are in the red! I was under the belief that by exiting the game, it got paused, but it doesn’t seem to always do it.

And there is no way you can accelerate the actions like you do on the PC version. Sims are as slow as they can ever be. And it is so painful to watch them use the toilets or sleep which seems to take forever and ever…

I feel there is way too much friend involvement needed for the Sims Social. At the moment, I am stuck with two quests because I need actions from friends, and since I only have a handful of friends who are not that active, I am not able to level up. And the only way to skip the quests is by buying SimCash with real money, and I completely disagree with that.

The Sims Social is more expensive than Sims 3!

Being a Sims player, we are used to the fact that there is a lot of stuff for any Sims game that cost money. But the issue with the Sims Social is that it costs so much… I mean, just a simple top for your Sim costs more than $8, or just to have a nice pond is over the $8 range…

Certain items require friends to help build the darn thing! Some of that is ridiculous. The beds I kind of get it, but other things like the couches, who has to assemble a couch? I’ve never in my life heard of someone having to put a couch together. Bathtub, hot tub, oven, waffle iron, an arcade game, etc. These are things that just don’t make any sense to have to “assemble” them after you buy them! This is worse than a trip to IKEA! Then you have to sift through your friends list, bugging them to help you build the damn thing, or shell out some CASH to build it! And I don’t like to see my Facebook feed being spammed every minute by somebody needing help, but unfortunately there is no other way around it.

It is also annoying to see the amount of work to build a bookshelf for instance, and it doesn’t even do anything! (It is just for decoration though you need the bookshelf at some point for the IQ quest).

Since its release to the public, The Sims Social has accumulated over 30 million players, with over 16 million added in its first week alone. The Sims Social is one of the fastest growing Facebook games of all time and is the fifth most-used Facebook application in less than a month of release. On September 9, 2011, The Sims Social surpassed Farmville to become the second-most popular Facebook game.

But in the meantime, the Sims Social is fun and addictive, until it will eventually become boring in my opinion.

Exclusive to The Sims 3 Store, The Sims 3 Hidden Springs is a new digital-download world that allows you to meet all-new Sims, explore new venues and locations, and discover exclusive new items. Play The Sims 3 like never before with the all-new Fountain of Youth, perhaps your Sims’ wish to be forever young will come true?

The Sims 3 Hidden Springs is a luxurious resort town surrounded by picturesque mountains and a nearby lake, there are several new resort spots and activities to engage in. If your Sims want to improve their social lives, they can go to the Crystal Solarium Pool and the Redwood Heights Luxury Lodge and mingle with local elites like the Vanderburg family. If your Sim is more interested in embarking on new adventures, take them to ancient mysteries at the Museum of Magic and Supernatural or have fun at the Fairyfolk Park. Live the life of luxury and relaxation with The Sims 3 Hidden Springs available for purchase today using SimPoints at The Sims 3 Store.

Download the new World of The Sims 3 Hidden Springs and discover the magic today, exclusively at The Sims 3 Store.

For more information on The Sims 3 Hidden Springs visit the Sims 3 store.

Ah, the Sims. No-one anticipated how much of a runaway success Will Wright’s Tactical Domestic Simulator would be; but when it was released in 1997 under the new name of The Sims, it went on to break records, with the original game selling some fifty million copies over it’s lifetime – and that’s not including expansion packs. Since then, there’s been two sequels – The Sims 2 and The Sims 3, as well as more expansion packs and stuff packs than you can kick a flamingo at.

In case you don’t know (although I’d be very surprised if you don’t), the Sims is a combination of a virtual dolls’ house and relationship simulator – players control little Sim people, from babies right up to OAPs, guiding them through all sorts of life events. The Sims is unique in that it’s completely free-form; you could try raising a family, you could try you’re hand at romancing all the ladies, or you could just set everyone on fire.

With a thriving online store already, the PC version of The Sims 3 is getting a whole new world for players’ to explore – Hidden Springs. But what is it? What does it involve? And most importantly – when will it be released? All these questions and more are answered below:

What’s your name, title and what you do for The Sims Studio?

My name is Azure Bowie-Hankins and I’m an Assistant Producer for The Sims 3 Store.

What is The Sims 3 Hidden Springs? Is it a Stuff Pack/Expansion Pack?

The Sims 3 Hidden Springs is a brand new downloadable world only available through The Sims 3 Store. You’ll have a brand new world to explore with new families, new locations and a couple of new surprises and objects as well.

What’s included in The Sims 3 Hidden Springs? Will we get new places for our Sims to live, places to explore?

The Sims 3 Hidden Springs is a luxurious resort town located near a lake and surrounded by picturesque mountains. The town is famous for its spa resort spots and there are rumors of a mythical place located in the woods where Sims can discover a bit of magic! I’m not going to tell you exactly where it is but somewhere hidden in the town your Sims can find the Fountain of Youth! The Fountain of Youth is a brand new object that your Sims can use to decorate their home and make a wish or two. They should be careful what they wish for because it might just come true!

What’s your favorite place to explore in The Sims 3 Hidden Springs?

One of my favorite places to explore in Hidden Springs is the hidden garden located deep in the woods. It’s the perfect place to find rare seeds and gems. It’s also great for a picnic! Some other places my Sims spend a lot of time in are the Crystal Solarium Pool and the Redwood Heights Luxury Lodge. Both of those places are great for meeting new Sims and schmoozing with the local elite.

Will there be Sims to meet and possibly marry? Who are they?

There are tons of new families to play as or meet in The Sims 3 Hidden Springs! I love the Vanderburg family. They’re famous royals who’ve lived in Hidden Springs for quite a while. The Father is nice enough but the Mother is obsessed with seeing her children married off. She drives her kids so crazy that the Princess has run off to live in the woods and pursue her dream of writing novels. That family is so much fun to play. I also enjoy playing as the Shue family. Granny Shue is a native of Hidden Springs who never had any children of her own so she’s adopted some local children who were in need of a home. They live in a small cottage in the woods and they don’t have much but they’re happy because they have each other

Why is it called The Sims 3 Hidden Springs?

When we were thinking up names for Hidden Springs we took our cues from the beautiful magical setting of the world itself. This town is a magical little place tucked away at the base of a beautiful mountain landscape and surround be serene waters. Hidden Springs seemed like the perfect name!

When will The Sims 3 Hidden Springs be available to buy?

The Sims 3 Hidden Springs is available for purchase only at The Sims 3 Store on August 25th. We’re super excited for the world to finally be released so we can hear what Simmers have to say about it!

So there we have it! Make sure you pop over to The Sims 3 Store from 25th August to snag your own Sims 3 Hidden Springs – although there’s no word on pricing yet. Considering Barnacle Bay cost 2000 Sim Points (about £20, $33), The Sims 3 Hidden Springs could be similar.

[Source for The Sims 3 Hidden Springs Q&A]

EA is releasing a new city called Hidden Springs on August 25. This isn’t an expansion and there is no price yet, but it includes 50 new playable Sims, 15 new decoration items & six new outfits.