The Sims 3 Expert Reviews

By now, when people think of The Sims franchise, they think of a virtual dollhouse in which you guide little idiot people through the mundane details of their lives rather than living your own. That reputation is both well-deserved and unjust. Now ...

You can create a Sim jerk using traits like Evil and Mean Spirited. Dan also enjoys gardening

We're divided on The Sims 3. We partly see the dollhouse-style people simulator as a fun way to vicariously experience parts of life that are far removed from our everyday monotony--and monogamy. On this level, The Sims excels. You can become a master ...

Overwhelming level of choice lets you play nearly however you want. Living world of neighbors and events to discover. Fun animations and sound convey emotion. ESRB rating: Teen

Some monotonous chores can't be skipped. You lose control of your Sims while they're working. Occasional, minor bugs

Put up with some mundane chores, and The Sims gives an awesome range of play choices.

The Sims 3 plays like a cheap knockoff of the full game -- a disappointment give the premium price it commands.

You can also let your Sim be self-sufficient and they'll take care of their basic needs (food, sleep, hygiene) by themselves. It's this kind of sophistication that often goes unnoticed in a game, and it definitely places EA Mobile among the best in ...

In The Sims 3, the Sims series has finally grown up. No longer are the Sims ($49.99 for PC and Mac; $9.99 iPhone or iPod touch) just digital action figures in a big dollhouse. The new Sims have personalities, goals, and unique body types and ...

Interface improvements. Finer controls for placing objects within a house. More character depth now available. Sims now have life goals to work toward, not just dead-end jobs

Items from the previous expansion packs not included in this version. You have to pay for cool downloadable items once your initial free online points run out

With The Sims 3, the series has evolved from a virtual sandbox into a well-thought-out world with three-dimensional characters.

Pushing escapism to new heights, The Sims 3 is an instant classic for anyone who's a fan of simulation games. The game doesn't just allow for creativity, but imagination-something that is rare and laudatory in any form of entertainment.

Wide variety of Sim characteristics ; great artificial intelligence ; Vast and deep gameplay

Tendency to get caught up in menial tasks can be frustrating

New to the universe of The Sims, I started by testing out the new character creator. You can start your Sim in different lifestages: toddler, child, teen, young adult, adult, or elder. You have initial options that will let you to set minute details ...

Will the third in the series push the boundaries?

We tried the game on two Macs: an iMac with GeForce 8800 GS graphics and a MacBook with the GeForce 9400M, the baseline of Apple's current range. On both machines, the game looks less harsh than before, and though buildings, vehicles and objects ...

If you're going to play on a MacBook, you'll be disappointed by the limited use of multitouch. Two-fingered scrolling zooms in and out, but more complex gestures to rotate and adjust the height of the camera are missing, and you'll have to fall back ...

Simple, silly and seriously addictive - it's Sims time again

If you're new to The Sims, then the latest game is definitely a good place to start.