EA Announces Plans for The Sims Bustin' Out on All Current-Generation Console Systems
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Thursday, May 8, 2003 - 23:10
The Sims is making a big return to consoles with The Sims Bustin' Out. For the first time, Sims console players will have the ability to get their Sims out of the house and into all-new locations to play, work, and meet a cast of outrageous new characters.
EA Announces Plans for The Sims™ Bustin' Out on All Current-Generation Console Systems
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., May 8, 2003- Electronic Arts (Nasdaq: ERTS) today announced that The Sims™ Bustin' Out is in development for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, the Xbox™ video game system from Microsoft, and the Nintendo GameCube™. The Sims is making a big return to consoles with The Sims™ Bustin' Out. For the first time, Sims console players will have the ability to get their Sims out of the house and into all-new locations to play, work, and meet a cast of outrageous new characters. The Sims™ Bustin' Out PlayStation 2 console version will be unveiled to industry insiders on May 13th at the Electronic Entertainment Exposition in Los Angeles. The game is scheduled to be released simultaneously on all current- generation console platforms in early 2004.
"We're giving our fans what they've been asking for, the excitement of getting out of the house to explore new locations, meet wild new characters, and experience new storylines," said Sinjin Bain, Vice President and Executive Producer of the game at EA's Maxis™ studio. "The Sims™ Bustin' Out has ten times more replay value than the first Sims console game."
The Sims™ Bustin' Out features an all-new neighborhood with over a dozen new unlockable locations and a cast of over 40 new zany characters to socialize with. Players will purchase a car or scooter in order to get out of the house and head to the Gym to work out with exercise fanatic Goldie Toane or to Club Rubb to rave with club owner Bing Bling. Players will be able to crash parties, create havoc, or just drive their neighbors crazy!
Sims console players will be able to unlock and collect 80 new social moves like "Towel Snap" and "Moonwalk Dancing" that will add to the distinct character of a Sim. Players can unlock hundreds of new objects such as a Climbing Wall and a High Dive to test their skills outside the house.
Players can choose from ten new careers including Mobster, Athlete, Mad Scientist, and Fashion Victim. Depending on what career track you choose there are now a variety of different ways to win the game. Players will have the ability to go back and forth through different careers and levels to unlock objects and locations. Players can play with or against friends in two-player mode, which is available throughout the entire game. The Sims™ Bustin' Out also features level-based gameplay.
Like never before, Sims characters on the console will have distinct and noticeable personality that will affect gameplay. For example, a shy Sim will do a timid dance at the dance club, but an outgoing Sim will be rocking around the dance floor, showing off their moves.
The new controller-base game interface makes manipulating the Sims through the triumphs and tribulations of their daily lives both easy and amusing. All console versions will have memory card support so players can take their Sims over to a friend's house.
About The Sims
The Sims Get a Life for the PlayStation 2 console, Microsoft Xbox, and the Nintendo GameCube launched in early 2003 and quickly vaulted to the top of charts. The Sims for the PC skyrocketed to the top of the charts when it began shipping to stores in February 2000 and quickly became a universal gaming and cultural phenomenon. The Sims was the best selling PC game of both 2000 and 2001 and is now the best selling PC game of all time. Translated into 17 different languages, The Sims has inspired five expansion packs; The Sims™ Livin' Large, The Sims™ House Party, The Sims™ Hot Date, The Sims™ Vacation and The Sims™ Unleashed. Combined sales for the franchise have topped 24 million units life-to-date. For more information on The Sims franchise titles, visit http://www.thesims.com.
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 $2.5 billion for fiscal 2003. The company develops, publishes and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under three brand names: EA SPORTS™, EA GAMES™, and EA SPORTS BIG™. EA's homepage and online game site is EA.COMSM. More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.
Electronic Arts, EA SPORTS, EA GAMES, EA SPORTS BIG, Maxis, and The Sims 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. Nintendo GameCube is a trademark of Nintendo. 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. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.