14 DAY TRIAL // With the second expansion pack for The Sims 3, called Ambitions, set to be launched today worldwide, Electronic Arts must be thinking about the future of its huge simulation franchise.
And even though it might seem a bit counter intuitive, the publisher could be getting ready to move The Sims to some new historical eras, beginning with the Middle Ages. It might be a bit more dirty than modern times, violent and plague ridden but The Sims fared far worse at the hands of inventive gamers that put them in the most shaming situations for a few laughs.
Electronic Arts registered the following sites on May 26: simsmedieval.com, simsmedieval.net, thesimsmedieval.com, thesimsmedieval.net, thesimsgetmedieval.com and thesimsgetmedieval.net. Medieval and Sims are the two elements linked with all of them and the company would not use them if it was not prepared to also display them prominently in the title of a new videogame or of an expansion for The Sims 3.
There are two clear ways EA and its Sims studio could play The Sims Medieval. On the one hand, they could create a simulation that immerses the player in the era, with as close to possible sanitation and feeding options, but that could limit the appeal of the new title. On the other hand, the developers might aim for a more science fiction approach, moving modern Sims, with their gadgets and needs, to medieval times.
The Sims 3 was initially launched about one year ago for the PC and it has already received one expansion, World Adventures, which allowed players to take their characters to fresh countries and engage in some structured treasure hunts. The series is one of the most successful ever releases for the PC, managing to sell more than 100 million units worldwide and creating an entirely new genre of life simulation.