14 DAY TRIAL // Yesterday, Mac and PC gamers could finally buy The Sims 3, the much anticipated third installment in the popular Sims franchise from Electronic Arts. Many are likely to have documented themselves on the game's requirements ahead of its release, but for those who haven't, the complete system requirements for Mac and even the iPhone port are detailed in this piece.
As fans of the simulation game series should know, The Sims 3 adds a number of innovative features, including the ability to choose up to five traits to create individual personalities, new design tools that let players customize the appearance of their Sims, and a “seamless” neighborhood environment, which lets Sims roam to neighbors’ homes and explore their surroundings. For all this, Mac owners need to be prepared. So here's what you need to pack, in terms of both hardware and software.
The Sims 3 System Requirements for Mac
• Mac OS X 10.5.7 Leopard or higher • Intel Core Duo Processor • 2 GB RAM • ATI X1600 or NVIDIA 7300 GT with 128 MB of Video RAM, or Intel Integrated GMA X3100 • At least 6.1 GB of hard drive space, with at least 1 GB additional space for custom content and saved games • This game will NOT run on PowerPC (G3/G4/G5) based Mac systems, or the GMA 950 class of integrated video cards.
Mac OS X Supported Video Cards • NVIDIA GeForce series (7300, 7600 8600, 8800, 9400M, 9600M GT, GT 120, GT 130) • ATI Radeon series (X1600, X1900, 2400, 2600, 3870, 4850, 4870) • Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) (GMA x3100)
Revolutionary devices like Apple's iPhone and iPod touch couldn't have gone unnoticed by the folks at Electronic Arts. As such, The Sims 3 is not only available on Mac and PC, but also on Apple's two popular portables, the iPhone and iPod touch.
“From the best-selling PC franchise in history, The Sims 3 is now available for your iPhone/iPod touch!,” Electronic Arts announced recently. “Customize your Sim with different personality traits and physical characteristics, as you choose whether to fulfill their destiny...or not. Interact with your Sim using touch and accelerometer controls while exploring stunning 3D open-world environments,” the giant developer explains, noting the game's main attractions.
A quick run to EA Mobile's page reveals that you can play The Sims 3 on your first generation iPhone, and iPhone 3G, as well as on the first- and second-generation iPod touch. Other iPod models, such as iPod with color display, or iPod nano (4th generation), are not supported. Also, you will need iPhone OS 2.2 installed and running on your iPhone or iPod touch.
If you've got what you need to take control of your own Sims, pay Apple a visit here to grab your own copy of The Sims 3 for Mac, or access the iTunes App Store here to get The Sims 3 for your iPhone / iPod touch.