![A pre-release key art render for The Sims 3 shows a lively street with such features as a ghost, a house fire, a bin diver, and warring neighbours, as a male Sim in the foreground looks into the camera with an ironic expression.](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/the-sims-3-key-art.jpg?width=320&height=180&fit=crop&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
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SUM SUM (OF CASH) The Sims just got official merch and it's about as pricy as the average expansion pack
I don’t need the Sul Sul Bubble Tee. I don’t need the Su-(pulls out credit card).
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IMITATION OF LIFE For better or worse, The Sims 3 set the standard for modern life sims
15 years on, The Sims 3's ambition has left an impressive legacy, but so has its aggressive embracing of what it means for games to be always-online.
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QUARTER-LIFE CRISIS 24 years later, no-one can quite agree on when exactly The Sims actually came out
One year short of the franchise's big quarter-century anniversary, we set out to trace it back to its exact calendar roots.
![A pre-release key art render for The Sims 3 shows a lively street with such features as a ghost, a house fire, a bin diver, and warring neighbours, as a male Sim in the foreground looks into the camera with an ironic expression.](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/the-sims-3-key-art.jpg?width=320&height=180&fit=crop&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
![A domestic scene from the original The Sims base game. In a kitchen/dining room stocked with middle-tier items, an adult male Sim gives a backrub to an adult female Sim, while a female child stands looking at a baby in a bassinet.](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/the-sims-presskit-screenshot-resized.jpg?width=320&height=180&fit=crop&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
QUARTER-LIFE CRISIS | 24 years later, no-one can quite agree on when exactly The Sims actually came out
![Some people wearing official Sims merch.](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/sims-new-official-merch-shop-01.jpg?width=320&height=180&fit=crop&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
SUM SUM (OF CASH) | The Sims just got official merch and it's about as pricy as the average expansion pack
![Register the Sims 3 with Origin, get a free stuff pack](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/the-sims-3-into-the-future.png?width=320&height=180&fit=crop&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
![The Sims 3 Roaring Heights now available through the store](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/thesims3roaringhe.jpg?width=320&height=180&fit=crop&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
![The Sims 3: Into the Future Expansion Pack now available on PC, Mac](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/the-sims-3-into-the-future.png?width=320&height=180&fit=crop&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
![Humble EA Bundle has raised over $3 million so far](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/battlefield-3-endgame1.jpg?width=320&height=180&fit=crop&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
![The Sims 3: Movie Stuff and Into the Future announced](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/dems-fightin-wards-thar-curly-stach.png?width=320&height=180&fit=crop&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
![The Sims 3: Dragon Valley DLC out now](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/20130604_the_sims_3_dragon_valley.jpg?width=320&height=180&fit=crop&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
![The Sims 3: Island Paradise producer walkthrough takes you to the beach](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/the-simes-3-island-paradise-051813.jpg?width=320&height=180&fit=crop&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
![The Sims 3: Dragon Valley video shows off the new pets](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/the-sims-3-dragon-valley.jpg?width=320&height=180&fit=crop&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
![Sims 3: University Life hits Origin US tomorrow](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/20130109_the_sims_3_university_life.jpg?width=320&height=180&fit=crop&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
![The Sims 3: Aurora Skies due this month](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/20120229sims3.jpg?width=320&height=180&fit=crop&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
![The Sims 3 - 70s, 80s, and 90s Stuff Pack lands on PC, Mac](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/the-sims-3-70s80s90s.jpg?width=320&height=180&fit=crop&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
![Tax on "violent" videogames proposed by Missouri representative](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/20130116_godsrule_war_of_mortals.jpg?width=320&height=180&fit=crop&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
![The Sims 3 to get three expansions and two Stuff packs](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/20130109_the_sims_3_university_life.jpg?width=320&height=180&fit=crop&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
![The Sims 3 Seasons Expansion Pack now available at retail, on Origin](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/the-sims-3-seasons.jpg?width=320&height=180&fit=crop&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
![The Sims 3: Seasons expansion will link with Supernatural content](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/thesimssupernaturalseasons1a.jpg?width=320&height=180&fit=crop&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
![The Sims 3 to receive content from three decades](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/sims3logo.jpg?width=320&height=180&fit=crop&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
![The Sims 3 Supernatural magically lands on PC today](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/20120614sims2supernatural.jpg?width=320&height=180&fit=crop&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
![FIFA 13, Madden 13, and Warfighter are the subjects of latest EA Update](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/20120717mohwarfighter.jpg?width=320&height=180&fit=crop&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
![EA Summer Showcase: FIFA 13, ME3 for Wii U launch](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/media-upload28.jpg?width=320&height=180&fit=crop&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
![Zombies and fairies step into The Sims 3 Supernatural spotlight](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/thesims3s.jpg?width=320&height=180&fit=crop&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
![Supernatural Expansion Pack for The Sims 3 releases in September](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/sim3supernatural-teenwolf.jpg?width=320&height=180&fit=crop&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
![The Sims 3 - Katy Perry's Sweet Treats launch trailer may rot your teeth](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/20120530sims3.jpg?width=320&height=180&fit=crop&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
![EA titles back in stock on GAME's website](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/me31.jpg?width=320&height=180&fit=crop&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
![Rumour – GAME to stock EA titles again from next week](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/me3-c3.jpg?width=320&height=180&fit=crop&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
![The Sims 3 Katy Perry’s Sweet Treats coming in June](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/20120404sims3_kpsweet.jpg?width=320&height=180&fit=crop&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
![The Sims 3 Showtime goes behind-the scenes with Katy Perry](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/katy-perry.jpg?width=320&height=180&fit=crop&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
![Katy Perry gets own Sims 3 Showtime CE](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/sims-3-showtime-kp.jpg?width=320&height=180&fit=crop&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
![EA announces The Sims 3 Showtime expansion pack for March](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/thesims3showtime.jpg?width=320&height=180&fit=crop&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
![Quick Shots: Get into the holiday spirit with The Sims 3 Pets](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/thesims3pets.jpg?width=320&height=180&fit=crop&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
![Thursday Shorts: Garriott, The Sims, Nintendownloads, Firefall, Gaikai](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/herbalbert.jpg?width=320&height=180&fit=crop&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
![Saturday Shorts: Dragon Quest, Sims 3, Trauma, Home, ICO, sales](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/kisskiss.jpg?width=320&height=180&fit=crop&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
![The Sims 3 Pets launches demo, lets you make monsters](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/thesims3pets-skeletoncat.jpg?width=320&height=180&fit=crop&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
![Wednesday Shorts - Björk, Laura Vandervoot, Catherine redub](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/20110817shorts.jpg?width=320&height=180&fit=crop&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
![Friday Shorts - ESPN 3, The Sims leaks, IndieCity announce, more](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/20110729shorts.jpg?width=320&height=180&fit=crop&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
![Tuesday Shorts II: Phantasy Star, FFT-0, Sims, MSP, Humble Bundle](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/round2-silly.jpg?width=320&height=180&fit=crop&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
![Friday Shorts el segundo: RE Mercs, Batarang Controller, Wizardry, Papo & Yo](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/old-school-shorties.jpg?width=320&height=180&fit=crop&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
![The Sims 3: Generations producers walkthrough new content](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/20110519sims3generations.jpg?width=320&height=180&fit=crop&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
![Thursday Shorts evening edition: Deus Ex music, Crytek SDK, Donations, Sims Royal Wedding fun, more](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/weirdoandbunny.jpg?width=320&height=180&fit=crop&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
![The Sims 3: Generations enables "bigger, richer and deeper" stories](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/20110418sims3generations.jpg?width=320&height=180&fit=crop&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
![The Sims 3 Generations expansion pack announced](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/sims3generationsapril5.jpg?width=320&height=180&fit=crop&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
![Saturday shorts - Evil Ryu, SSFIV 3D, Hulu, STO, Fight Night Champion, sales](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/evilryu1.jpg?width=320&height=180&fit=crop&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
![The Sims 3 console bug causing widespread crashing, EA baffled](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/20110218thesims.jpg?width=320&height=180&fit=crop&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
![The Sims 3 arrives on Steam](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/20110131thesims3.jpg?width=320&height=180&fit=crop&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
![Sims 3D shots feature sims in 3D](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/sims3logo.jpg?width=320&height=180&fit=crop&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
![The VG247 logo in white on a red background](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/vg21.jpg?width=320&height=180&fit=crop&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
![EA registers The Sims 4 domain [Update]](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/sims3_veLQH69.jpg?width=320&height=180&fit=crop&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
![EA release The Sims 3 console screens](https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/sims3_veLQH69.jpg?width=320&height=180&fit=crop&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
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