Sims Medieval expansion docking August 2011

EA has revealed the first expansion pack for The Sims Medieval will hit store shelves this August. The Pirates and Nobles add-on for PCs and Macs will add themed quests, objects, and treasure hunts to the adventure, as well as new story objectives revolving around life in the Middle Ages.

The expansion will see the arrival of the Pirates of Aarbyville and the Nobles of Tredony in the kingdom, prompting quests to find the fabled Fountain of Youth and protect the kingdom from an array of evil sorcery. The war between Tredony and Aarbyville will also create a new ambition for players to suit up their kingdoms, choosing from a host of characters that includes everyone from a king or queen to a knight or blacksmith.

The pack also adds treasure hunting, challenging players to find hidden objects with the aid of maps and shovels and search for rewards that will benefit their hero sims. Other new items include birds that players can name and train, as well as interrogation chairs.

On the items front, Pirates and Nobles will introduce a range of pirate- and nobility-themed items, including companions like pet falcons and parrots.

For more on The Sims Medieval: Pirates and Nobles, check out GameSpot's first preview of the expansion.