The Sims 3 Gets Microtransactions and Day One DLC (Updated)

April 30, 2009 8:22 AM

Update: The downloadable "Riverview" town for The Sims 3 that launches alongside the game on June 2 will be free, EA has informed Shacknews. As for the SimPoints-cash conversation ratio, 1000 SimPoints will run $10, not including any applicable taxes.

Original: Unveiling The Sims 3's online features, EA has announced a microtransaction store selling in-game items and plans for sizeable downloadable content on release.

In-game items such as "the must-have new outfit" or "the latest style of plaid furniture" will be sold in The Sims 3 Store for SimPoints--a virtual currency bought in lots of 500, 1000 and 2000 points. Shacknews has contacted EA for the cash-points exchange rate.

Available as downloadable content when the game is released on June 2 will be Riverview, a second town. We've asked EA to clarify whether this will be free or paid.

Such offerings are not new to the series, with The Sims 2 being supported by no less than nine "Stuff" bundles of items and eight conventional expansion packs sold in stores. 1000 SimPoints will be included with The Sims 3 for players to sample the store.

EA also revealed plans for its TheSims3.com website, including "My Page" personal blogs for players and "My Studio" to upload and share creations from the movie editor.

Alice O'Connor

Filed Under

From The Chatty

Refresh Go To Thread

azenmaster

 reply
April 30, 2009 8:30 AM

is it just me or does anyone else hear a million slot machines going off while reading this article?
- sambront
  
   reply
  April 30, 2009 8:34 AM
  
  Do people still play The Sims? Is it still as crazy popular as it was?
  - jonin
    
     reply
    April 30, 2009 8:35 AM
    
    Have you happened to notice the bazillion addon packs for it?
    - SilverSnake
      
       reply
      April 30, 2009 9:05 AM
      
      Or how it's still on the top 3 most sold games most months?
  - jenisthebest
    
     reply
    April 30, 2009 8:39 AM
    
    yes, even more so. you should see some of the sims 2 communities. they're pretty scary. people spend hours designing houses and sims and then creating these really elaborate stories with images. and that game has been out for, what? 4 years?
  - mittense
    
     reply
    April 30, 2009 8:42 AM
    
    Yes, I also think it's a legitimately great game (though the expansion packs are typically crap).
    - OverloadUT
      
       reply
      April 30, 2009 10:00 AM
      
      I strongly disagree with you. I think the expansion packs have been consistently of excellent quality, and always seem to add a lot more content than I was expecting.
  - thetangent
    
     reply
    April 30, 2009 12:14 PM
    
    I still play it, though I don't buy all the expansion packs. It's a legitimately fun game, and its still hugely popular AFAIK.
    
    I'm looking forward to this new one, but I don't know about this DLC stuff.... :P