In The Sims 2 Apartment Life, excitement and surprise await your Sims as they move out of the suburbs and into a brand new busy apartment building! Set your Sims up in an artsy converted loft, swinging studio bachelor pad or posh penthouse with their own butler. Close quarters mean new opportunities or unexpected surprises. And now for the first time, there is the ability to control multiple households so that neighbouring Sims can live in happy harmony, or comical conflict. Your Sims can advance their career with the right social network, cope with domestic drama when roommates clash or find true love just down the hall!

The Sims 2 Apartment Life, the latest expansion pack is slated for launch on August 22 in European and Asia-Pacific regions and August 26 in North America.

In-Game Soundtrack Includes:
“Everything”
Performed by A Cursive Memory
“Getting Better”
Performed by Bob Schneider
“Radio”
Performed by Castaneda
“Fancy Footwork”
Performed by Chromeo
“Battle Royale”
Performed by Does It Offend You, Yeah?
“Sweet About Me”
Performed by Gabriella Cilmi
“Club Soda”
Performed by Ghostland Observatory

“Where Would We Be Now”
Performed by Good Charlotte
“Violet Stars Happy Hunting!”
Performed by Janelle Monae

“Crazy”
Performed by Jem
“Mad Pursuit”
Performed by Junkie XL feat. Electrocute
“Hot N Cold”
Performed by Katy Perry
“Ghosts”
Performed by Ladytron
“Mozdulj Mar (Mondulo Mar)”
Performed by Lola
“Ona Odna (She’s Alone)”
Performed by Ranetki Girls
“This Is Not A Test”
Performed by Shock of Pleasure
“Brainless”
Performed by Sunny Day Sets Fire
“Good Day”
Performed by Tally Hall
“Come My Sunshine”
Performed by The Comas
“Divebomb”
Performed by The Whip
“Not A Love Song”
Performed by Uh Huh Her
“On & On”
Performed by Vanilla Sky
“Can’t Believe My Eyes”
Performed by Wainwright

“Players of The Sims love to bring stories to life by exploring new and wonderful areas of their Sims’ existence,” said Rod Humble, Head of The Sims Studio. “Now with The Sims 2 FreeTime, your Sims can explore a range of interests to discover new fun and appealing life options and diversions. Realizing these all-new talents adds depth, humour and appreciation for the moments that make life entertaining.”

It’s all about fun, personal development for your Sims in The Sims 2 FreeTime. Sims can follow their individual interests, whether it’s immersing themselves in books, becoming an award-winning foodie, flying a remote-controlled helicopter or playing the violin. Gifted mechanics can repair and then drive their newly-renovated sports cars. Sims can rake in oodles of Simoelons with skilfully crafted pottery or by writing a mesmerising novel.

Cool careers bring happiness and fulfilment to your Sims and your storytelling opportunities expand. New cool career options await, including oceanography, architecture, and entertainment. Now by honing their talents, your Sims can unlock a secondary aspiration making them even more unique.

Key Features:

• New Gameplay Elements Tied to Hobbies. Your Sims can discover the activities that they’re most passionate about! Sims can now participate in contests to win prizes and Simoleons, or they can master interests, practice and improve their skills, and get in “the zone!” Your Sims can enrich their lives by creating items to use or sell, like pottery or cars. These new hobbies can strengthen friendships and uncover secret lots.

• New Lifetime Aspiration Meter. Your Sims can measure the progress of their aspirations over a lifetime and unlock special rewards and interactions!

• Five New Career Tracks and their Reward Objects. Oceanographers can earn a koi pond, entertainers can get their own star of fame, architects can use their own drafting table, dancers can receive a ballet barre and intelligence agents can use an audio augmenter earpiece.

• All New Objects and Outfits. The Sims 2 FreeTime introduces brand new items, including a basketball hoop, pottery wheel, toddler activity table, modular synthesizer, hobby train table and much more. Your Sims can also have new outfits to match their hobbies and activities, including a special outfit that was designed and created by a player of The Sims 2 that will be produced by H&M.

Whether your Sims are relaxing on a lush tropical island in a luxury suite, camping with the family on a pristine mountaintop, or exploring the culture of the Far East, they’ll enjoy new activities to relax and rejuvenate. From building sand castles and catching rays to meditating in the Zen garden after a visit to the pool, players can quickly transform their Sims from bumbling tourists to savvy international travelers. Sims will also learn new customs including local greetings and traditional dances to take home and teach to their friends. With The Sims 2 Bon Voyage, players can send their Sims packing for the trip of a lifetime!

As your Sims travel, they’ll interact and learn from a variety of real and mythical locals including the wise old hermit, fire dancers — even Big Foot! Like all true vacationers, your Sims will be able to decorate their homes with unique souvenirs from their trips that are available only at destinations within The Sims 2 Bon Voyage. They can even buy unique jewelry to wear or take home as gifts! Fall in love with the hula dance lei from your Sims tropical beach vacation? Bring it back and flaunt to the neighbors! Love the moves your Sim mastered doing the Slap Dance at the rustic lodge? Teach fellow Sims the tricks of the trade back at home. What your Sims learn and collect, is up to you!

“The Sims 2 Bon Voyage brings so many new experiences and locations to the game, there’s almost no end to the surprises that fans and their Sims are going to discover as they travel to each of the three exotic travel destinations. It’s a perfect break from the everyday home routine!” said Vice President and Studio Head of The Sims Division, Rod Humble. “Every member of the family should be able to find activities that suit them—Mom can get a massage at the spa, Dad can practice Tai Chi in the Zen Garden, kids can explore the ruins of our largest object yet – the Pirate Ship! With The Sims 2 Bon Voyage, you can take your Sims – even your family – on the trip of a lifetime!”

The Sims 2 Bon Voyage will ship in Europe and across the US in early September as a PC expansion pack that builds on the original The Sims 2 PC game experience.

KEY FEATURES
• Travel to Three Exotic Destinations: Each location offers unique landscapes and local residents, such as the Fire Dancer and Ninja, for your Sims to meet and learn from. Try local cuisine and admire cultural landmarks as your Sims explore these new locales.
• Send Your Sims on Tours: Glass bottom boat rides, adventurous van tours, and other excursions are fun new activities for your Sims, but there may be some surprises in store!
• Buy or Find Unique Items: Shop for rare items found only on your Sims’ travels, including unique jewelry they can wear or take home as gifts. Stumble upon hidden locations, collect shells on the beach, or dig up treasure.
• Stay at New Travel Accommodations: Splurge on a luxury suite for your Sims or choose a cozy cabin. Your Sims will enjoy the comfort of room service, get pampered at the spa, and more.

Experiencing all four seasons for the first time – from seasonal activities to all-new outerwear for unpredictable weather – is guaranteed to provide a whole new level of excitement for your Sims! Not only will your Sims experience the seasons changing in spring, summer, autumn and winter, but each season will deliver unique benefits, impacting your Sims relationships, mood, skills, careers and more. And be sure to dress your Sims appropriately for the weather — freezing, sunburn and other unexpected weather effects can occur!

Whether you’re strengthening family ties in winter, letting romance bloom in spring, deepening the bonds of friendship in summer, or fast-tracking your career in autumn, the seasons have a whole new impact on your Sims’ lives throughout the year! Avoid the heat; take a dip in the pool and play Marco Polo! Go skating on an ice rink; have snowball fights, build snowmen or make snow angels. Each season unfolds differently delivering stunning visuals of weather effects and seasonal changes including snow, rain, hail, lightning and more ensuring a unique gameplay experience for many seasons to come. Show Off Your Sims’ Green Fingers; make your garden blossom and reap the rewards! And as an added bonus, crops that harvest at the peak time can produce varying juices that reap special benefits, from love potions and energy boosts to cold fighters and smart juices! Time to drink up!

“The Sims 2 Seasons really delivers what the players have been asking for – a unique gaming experience offering new seasonal, outdoor activities that players can engage in. And because each season unfolds differently, spring, summer autumn and winter will look different than the year before, guaranteeing a fresh experience each season,” said Vice President and Studio Head of The Sims Division, Rod Humble. “From fishing with Dad on a cool lake to catching fireflies on a warm summer night – these are the great moments in life we remember either from growing up with our parents or growing up with our kids. The wonderful gardening system adds another layer of player creativity and nurturing which is the perfect compliment to the base game. ”

The Sims 2 Seasons will be in store in Europe on 2nd March 2007 as a PC expansion pack* that builds on the original The Sims 2 PC game experience.

KEY FEATURES

Benefit from Each Season—Each season impacts your Sims’ relationships, moods, and more!

Share New activities— New group activities in every season your Sims and their family and friends! Build snowmen, splash in the pool, play catch, ice skate, and more.

Reap the Fruits of Your Sims’ Labors—Harvest fruits and veggies all year round and blend love potions, energy drinks, health boosters and more.

Update Their Wardrobes—Dress your Sims in seasonal outfits like winter coats, gloves, ear muffs, raincoats, summer dresses, and more.

Master New Talents—Show off your Sims’ green fingers! Join the Gardening Club for friendship and tips on how to make your garden blossom, and reap the rewards! Catch fresh Fish to grill on the barbeque—but beware of unexpected catches!

Explore 6 New Careers – Do your Sims yearn to be an adventurer or gamer? Perhaps they’d rather explore music, law, journalism, or education? Fun reward objects like the Heavy Metal Guitar await your Sims with each new career path.

Enhanced Visual Effects – Dramatic and detailed weather effects bring a brand new visual experience to The Sims 2 universe! Snowstorms, thundershowers, lightning bolts and deadly hailstones, all spectacularly rendered to occur in both existing and new The Sims 2 neighborhoods!

The addition of a new friend is guaranteed to enrich the daily lives of your Sims! Not only will players have the opportunity to choose from a variety of existing breeds, and hot designer mixes, but they’ll also be able to personally design their new friend with the Create-a-Pet feature. The ability to customise gives fans the opportunity to create their ideal pet by choosing their body shape, unique markings, even their pet’s personalities! With so many different animals to choose from, there’s no telling what unpredictable experiences could occur!

Players will also be able to teach their pet new tricks, take them for a romp in the park, outfit them with new pet accessories and even give them a job! As in real life, your Sims’ pet will require care and training. A neglected cat with an urge to scratch might claw up your new couch if you aren’t careful, and leaving your dog unattended near a freshly planted flower bed probably isn’t wise!

“The Sims 2 Pets captures the magic between pets and their owners,” said Executive Producer Rod Humble. “A dog gnawing at his chew toy, a cat jumping at a dangled feather, a toddler stroking the chest of a big dog who sits by patiently—even a frisky dog getting caught rolling around in the trash. These special moments all come to life through the lifelike animations and artwork of The Sims 2 Pets. There is something delightful about your Sim, a little pet person, having a pet of their own. Pets allows players to tell more stories with their Sims and helps create more emergent anecdotes within the game.”

The Sims 2 Pets will be available on the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, the Nintendo GameCube, Game Boy Advance, and Nintendo DS, and as a PC expansion pack that builds on the original The Sims 2 PC game experience. A version for the PSP (PlayStation Portable) system will follow.

KEY FEATURES
All Platforms
• Sims Have New Friends – Pets! Sims can share their lives with their new pets and add more fun to the Sims experience. From dogs, cats, caged animals and more, your Sims share new friends to experience life’s precious moments. With so many different animals to choose from, there’s no telling what unpredictable experiences could occur!
• Create-A-Pet: Choose from dozens of dog and cat breeds or customize features for a one-of-a-kind pet. You can even modify your pet’s body shape by choosing from specific colours and unique markings. Don’t like the way they act? Change their personality – from smart and sweet to silly and sloppy – anyone can create their ideal animal friend in The Sims 2 Pets.
• “Sit, Spike, Sit”: Your Sims can encourage and discipline pets, training them to shake, roll over, play dead, and more. Unruly pets might dig in the yard, claw the sofa, or topple the trash. Thankfully, a little training can go a long way.
• Classic Sims Open-Ended Gameplay: Create and control digital characters over a lifetime, setting their goals in life from popularity and romance, to fortune and family– their stories are in your hands.
• Share unique Pet unlocks: Use special codes to share unlockable pet accessories, fur types or markings with other The Sims 2 Pets players.

Unique to PC
• Friends for a Lifetime: Your Sims’ pets are members of the family and share all of life’s great moments – whether it’s kids training puppies, teens playing fetch in the park, adults watching TV with their cats, or elders enjoying a sunny day in the park with their long-time companion!
• Create a designer breed: Your Sims pets have genetics, allowing you to create the latest designer pet, including popular hybrid breeds like the Labradoodle, Puggle and Schnoodle! Like what you’ve created? Register them to appear in Create-A-Pet as a unique pedigree!
• Bring Home the Bacon: Sims aren’t the only ones with careers anymore! Skilled pets can earn a living from three career tracks – Show Business, Security, and Service – and work their way up through five job levels.

Unique to PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube and PSP (PlayStation Portable) system
• Stroll the Central Town Park: Take your Sims and their pet for a romp at any of the nearby park areas, or head to the Central Town Park which is a favorite of pet owners. While there, watch your pet play well with others while your Sim can meet others and socialise with fellow animal lovers.
• Shop ‘til you drop: Visit the adjoining Town Center, a great gathering spot for Sims that evolves over time. Once you’ve seen the latest styles and decided on a purchase, deck your pet out in the latest clothing and accessories around. From geek to chic and cool to casual, your Sim can customise their pet’s look with one stop in the Town Center. It’s sure to be the coolest pet in town!

Unique to Nintendo DS
• Manage a Pet Care Center: Pamper, preen, and nurse all the neighborhood pets at your new Pet Care Center that you create and customise.
• How Much Is That Doggie in the Window? In a pet store that you own and operate, you can help other Sims pick out the perfect pet. Earn extra Simoleans by selling the pet products that include the latest pet fashions and accessories!

Game Boy Advance
• Give Your Sim a Career in Pet Care: Take care of the town’s pets by being a veterinarian, a world-class pet trainer and more. Players can even choose from a variety of cat and dogs to adopt as their very own. Whether they are healing pets or just taking them for a stroll, there is always something to do in the pet-friendly town of Barkersville.
• Toys, treats and tricks!: Sims can teach their pets cool and amazing tricks and then compete in the World Championships to be the best in show!

• Create a Bustling Business — Open your Sims dream store, decorate it from the ground up and watch it thrive! Choose the floor plan & design, hire employees and buy merchandise. You can sell anything from clothing and electronics to toys, flowers and robots. Have fun teaching your Sim that the customer is king and maintain employee morale by creating interesting sales incentives. Your Sim will do everything needed to create a lucrative – and fun – business.
• Who’s the Boss? Your Sims Are! — Now your Sims can train, promote and hire employees. They can cater to different customers from browsers to loyal shoppers, even dress their employees’ in wacky mascot outfits to grab consumers’ attention. Your Sim can be the boss of the happiest workers in your Sims neighborhood!
• Learn the Tricks of the Trade — Improve your Sim’s sales skills and determine if your employees should use a hard sell or drop the price to close the deal. Teach winning techniques to help your Sims win the best-of-the-best award, thus establishing your Sim’s business reputation.
• Turn Talents into Cash — Have a master-skilled Sim waiting to turn their talents into profit? From arranging flowers and designing robots to serving food and making toys, your Sim can create the most valued, expensive goods in the business – and get virtually paid for it!
• More than 125 New Items — Stock up on essentials for your Sim’s business, including display cases, makeover station, salon chair, toy workbench, flower arranging stations, cash registers, and more.

“Sims fans have always wanted to take their Sims out of their homes,” said Tim LeTourneau, Sr. Producer. “Now with The Sims 2 Nightlife, players will be able to take their Sims out of the suburbs and into the night while dating, hanging out on the town and staying up till dawn at all the hottest spots around town.”

The Sims 2 Nightlife is scheduled to ship under the EA GAMES brand in the Autumn of 2005. The Sims 2 is required to play The Sims 2 Nightlife.

For more information on The Sims 2 and The Sims 2 Nightlife, visit www.eagames.co.uk/thesims

Sinjin Bain, Executive Producer and Maxis Vice President, highlights the company’s commitment to its loyal following, “We are thrilled to open up a whole new stage of life for the Sims, allowing players to lead them through all the challenges of university and living the exciting university lifestyle of the dorms, parties and exams. This title is also the first in a line of expansion packs that will address our players’ desires, further develop The Sims 2 franchise and continually expand the world of the Sims creating almost endless gameplay and storytelling possibilities.”

In The Sims 2 University players for the first time will play through the new “young adult” life stage as their Sims head off to university and join the campus crowd. Whether they live in the halls or rush a fraternity or sorority that’s just the beginning…Sims can choose from one of 11 courses and by keeping their grades on track, they’ll secure a final degree and open up 4 new career paths. Players will enjoy all-new university based wants and fears that are tied to their Sims’ social life and academic goals which will lead to new rewards and powers that will help them achieve their goals and aspirations in university and beyond.

Pranks, parties and university social interactions add to the excitement while your Sims explore campus locations such as university lounges, pool halls, gyms and coffee houses. As in real life, if your Sims start running low on funds, they can earn Simoleans by picking up a part time job, like tutoring, or engaging in riskier affairs like printing money as a member of the “secret society.”

Of course, making the right decisions can lead your Sim to the ultimate goal of becoming “Big Sim on Campus” in The Sims 2 University.

The Sims 2 University will ship under the EA GAMES brand. The Sims 2 is required to play The Sims 2 University.

The SimsTM changed the face of gaming in the new millennium and quickly became the #1 PC game of all time. In the next generation of The Sims, The SimsTM 2, players control their Sims over an entire lifetime for the first time. Every choice that is made has a relevant and dramatic effect on the life of a Sim. More life-like Sims, all-new gameplay, and the ground-breaking addition of genetics, with the DNA of Sims passed down through generations gives players a more vivid, realistic, and in-depth Sims experience. All of this takes place in a new, amazingly life-like 3-D world. Experience the crazy, unpredictable ride of a Sim’s lifetime in The Sims 2.

Key Features

• Next Generation Simulation: Guiding your Sims through “Life’s Big Moments” takes on new importance but still maintains a sense of humor. Players now get a “Life Score” which is a direct reflection of the life they choose to live with their individual Sim. The decisions that players make throughout the lifetime of their Sims now have an impact on the ultimate outcome. A choice made as a toddler has a direct effect on the teen and adult Sims they become. Will players be able to successfully lead their Sims through such important events as a first step, first crush, or marriage proposal, all while the clock is ticking?
• Next Generation Sims: The Sims in The Sims 2 are more intelligent, and more aware and responsive to both other Sims and their surroundings. Sims truly come to life expressing moods and feelings through more realistic body animations and, for the first time, life-like facial animations. They form complex relationships and are able to distinguish between family and friends, platonic friendships and romantic love. Sims in The Sims 2 now have DNA. Passing along physical characteristics and traits to their offspring, Sims both resemble and behave like their ancestors. Mirroring real life, the appearance of the Sims now change over time. In addition to getting older, Sims that spend too much time on the couch will develop a paunch and Sims that work out will enjoy rock solid abs.
• Next Generation Features: An entirely new 3-D engine makes the world of The Sims 2 more life-like and dynamic. The Sims 2 will also introduce an all-new “Create-A-Sim” feature. This allows you to customize the facial features of your Sim with a few simple clicks, to a level of detail never realized before. In The Sims 2, players are now able to build dwellings over two stories and have the ability to coordinate and customize the homes of their Sims to a new degree of design with all-new furniture, lighting and objects.

The Sims Deluxe Edition combines the full version The Sims with the first in the series of Sims expansion packs, The Sims Livin’ Large. Livin’ Large allows players to put their Sim families into zany situations and settings. Its content adds to The Sims dozens of extreme items like a home chemistry lab, a heart shaped bed and a crystal ball as well as a cast of wild characters like the Grim Reaper, Genie and Tragic Clown.

Also included exclusively in the The Sims Deluxe Edition is The Sims Creator, an all-new customization tool for creating Sim characters. Players can now recreate any Sim imaginable, right down to the smallest detail. Users can also select new clothes, design original attire, add logos to their clothing and accessorize their Sims with the belts, ties and jewelry. Players can even import their face into the program and put it directly on a Sim character.

Rounding out this ultimate offering, players can furnish their homes with two completely new designs sets featuring over 25 objects found only in The Sims Deluxe Edition. With over 50 additional new clothing choices completing this pack, The Sims Deluxe Edition is a must-have for both Sims newcomers and Sims fans alike.

The Sims Deluxe Edition will be available for a suggested retail price of $39.99. Current owners of The Sims can receive a $10 mail in rebate with proof of purchase. Details of the rebate and a rebate coupon will be available on boxes of The Sims Deluxe Edition.