The Sims 3

FOR WINDOWS XP

*Windows XP (Service Pack 2 *2.0 GHz P4 processor or equivalent
*1 GB RAM
*At least 6.5 GB of hard drive space with at least 1 GB additional space for custom content
*128 MB Video Card with support for Pixel Shader 2.0

FOR WINDOWS VISTA

*Windows Vista (Service Pack 1)
*2.4 GHz P4 processor or equivalent
*1.5 GB RAM
*At least 6.5 GB of hard drive space with at least 1 GB additional space for custom content
*128 MB Video Card with support for Pixel Shader 2.0

For computers using built-in graphics chipsets, the game requires at least: Intel Integrated Chipset, GMA X3000 or above. 2.6 GHz Pentium D CPU, or 1.8 GHz Core 2 Duo, or equivalent 0.5 GB additional RAM.

FOR MAC

*Mac OS X 10.5.7 Leopard or higher
*Intel Core Duo Processor
*2 GB RAM
*6.1 GB free hard drive space, with at least 1 GB additional space for custom content and saved games
*ATI X1600 or Nvidia 7300 GT with 128 MB of Video RAM, or Intel Integrated GMA X3100

Supported Video Cards:

NVIDIA GeForce series FX 5900, FX 5950, 6200, 6500, 6600, 6800, 7200, 7300, 7600, 7800, 7900, 7950, 8400, 8500, 8600, 8800, 9300, 9400, 9500, 9600, 9800, G100, GT 120, GT 130, GTS 150, GTS 250, GTX 260, GTX 280, GTX 285, GTX 295.

ATI Radeon series 9500, 9600, 9800, X300, X600, X700, X800, X850, X1300, X1600, X1800, X1900, X1950, 2400, 2600, 2900, 3450, 3650, 3850, 3870, 4850, 4870.

Intel(R) Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) GMA 3-Series, GMA 4-Series.

This game will not run on PowerPC (G3/G4/G5) based Mac systems, or the GMA 950 class of integrated video cards.

Amazon.co.uk

The game that first opened up the world of video games to a wider audience is back, going beyond being just a virtual dollhouse to a complete interactive neighbourhood. The basic concept is still the same though, as you create your own computerised family and help (or hinder) them in achieving their lifetime dreams.

This sim's charisma rating isn't quite as high as he thinks

The rest of town is now just as interactive as your sims' home

As ever, different sims have very different desires

Manage your sims' lives from baby to old age pensioner

Instead of just dealing with one house at a time though, your whole sims town is part of one continuous map, with neighbours going about their business independently. Likewise your own family can explore at will and interact with any and all buildings and people.

Once fully grown a sim can have up to 60 personality traits - from loner to flirt - all of which you can influence via their environment and the people they interact with. However you want to play and whatever you want to do it's easier than ever to create your own virtual soap opera.

Key Features

• Instant expansion: The game includes many feature from the The Sims 2 expansions from the off, including personal inventories, pets, private cars, restaurants and gardening.
• Sims in the mood: Monitor your sim's six moodlets - hunger, bladder, energy, social, hygiene and fun - to see how they're feeling and what they want to do.
• Life goals: Every sim has their own wishes and opportunities, including a main lifetime wish - it's up to you whether you help them towards it or purposefully confound them.
• Wide world: The giant game world not only looks better than ever but means that your sim is no longer just tied to their house, but is able to interact with the whole town.
• Virtual makeover: The Create-A-Sims tool is more flexible than ever, with the ability to alter weight, fitness, hair and clothing down to the tiniest detail - including freckles and birthmarks!

About the Developer: EA Redwood Shores
Situated in the same San Francisco bay area as EA's main headquarters, the Redwood Shores studio has created many licensed games including The Godfather and The Simpsons Game - as well as original titles such as Dead Space. In 2004 it was merged with The Sims creator Maxis.