The Sims hits 100 million sales - Biggest PC game series ever
By Dave Parrack
The idea of a game where real people create and control on screen characters as they do mundane things may have been derided when it first surfaced, but that hasn’t stopped The Sims series of PC games reach the 100 million sales milestone.
The series, which started with the Will Wright created original The Sims, released back in the year 2000, has spawned one sequel so far, and an inordinate number of add-on and expansion packs, and even slimmed down versions for home consoles such as the PS2, Xbox and Wii.
Electronic Arts, the game’s publishers, have today announced that the series has sold over 100 million units over the past 8 years, cementing its position as the most successful PC game series ever made.
According to GameDaily, Rod Humble, Head of Studio for The Sims Label said:
“At this milestone, we want to thank players of The Sims everywhere for making The Sims such a worldwide phenomenon,”
“The Sims has been an interactive experience for people around the globe to explore their passion for creativity and we’re thrilled to be a part of that. From building houses and relationships, from the first kiss to a toddler’s first step, from kitchen fires – and even visits from ghosts, players have told more than 100 million unique and fun stories!”
Nancy Smith, President of The Sims Label said:
“The Sims is truly unique in the world of interactive entertainment because it attracts creative people around the world of all ages and both genders,”
“Because of the open-ended creative freedom that players experience with the game, The Sims has universal appeal like no other game franchise. We thank players everywhere for their creativity, sense of humor and strong sense of community that has made The Sims the cultural phenomenon it is today.”
Whether you love or hate the series, I would hazard a guess that most people have played one of the versions at least once, proving what a phenomenon The Sims is.
As well as appealing to traditional gamers, it also cast its net wider and made casual gamers want to play a game on their computer for the first time. In fact, it’s estimated that 60% of the people who play the game are female.
And the series isn’t over yet, with The Sims 3 currently being developed, and due out next year.
SFGate are also reporting that a live action film based on the series is being created in a collaboration between EA and 20th century Fox, although I’m not sure how The Sims could possibly be made in to a movie… an exciting one at least.
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