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Wii Sims get Mii-ish makeover

Trailer and screens reveal that EA's popular franchise will sport a too-cute look on Nintendo's new console.

Adorable? Or horrible?

Adorable? Or horrible?

The Sims series is no stranger to taking different approaches on different platforms. Exclusive features can be found in the different versions for each console--an attempt to play to each platform's strengths. However, even between platforms, the game has maintained a fairly consistent look.

That is all changing with the upcoming Sims game for the Wii. On the Sims 2 Web site, EA announced that a new Sims game is being developed exclusively for the Wii. EA doesn't reveal much more, saying only that more details are expected in the coming months and a trailer and screenshots are available at the game's official Japanese Web site.

Gameplay footage of the upcoming game, titled "Boku Sim" (translation: "Town for Me and Sim"), shows a very different looking group of digital characters from the cast of The Sims 2. The anime-styled designs are reminiscent of the Wii's cartoonish Mii avatars and appear to be aimed at the Japanese market.

Wii Sims

Cute? Or creepy?

The Web page and video are all in Japanese, but the trailer and a quick translation appear to reveal that the basic Sims-type gameplay is intact. As in other Sims games, players will build houses and explore the neighborhood with created characters.

Diehard Sims fans have spoken out, and many are appalled by the new-look Sims. GameSpot member "fedgem" says, "I'm not a hater of The Sims or Nintendo, let's get that out of the way. But this looks so sacchrine [sic] sweet that I want to vomit."

391 Comments

  • Kyotin

    Posted May 24, 2007 5:25 pm GMT

    I have always wanted to find the guy who made the sims just so that I can kick his ass three ways to next week, and then when it's next week, I'll do it all over again

  • sonynhater

    Posted May 5, 2007 11:18 am GMT

    i will get this game

  • wekfjb

    Posted Mar 28, 2007 7:51 pm GMT

    Can we finally get Mii faces for our pets??

  • thisorthat

    Posted Mar 20, 2007 10:22 am GMT

    It sounds like a great possibility

  • sexyup

    Posted Mar 8, 2007 6:04 pm GMT

    ok everybody this game can b rely good if they just do what we ask allow us to have cars in which we drive with the wii controller in the wheel stance or what ever it's called and allow us to play in different or player made areas don't leave us in strangetown and call it a day another thing is I want FULL customization with multistory options and driveways as a player of the sims2 on pc I was very dissapointed when I bought it for gamecube and it had none of these options cars I can deal with but I can't even make a muti story house . also in closing if this turns out to be like animal crossing I will I repeat I will take a bath with my radio while it is plugged in.

    thankyou

  • gacs_25

    Posted Feb 18, 2007 5:19 pm GMT

    This is almost destined to be crap....seriously, just look at it.

  • especensor

    Posted Feb 17, 2007 7:21 pm GMT

    nintendo's ever increasing reputation of being the "disney" of the video game world continues in growth......

  • imtheman4

    Posted Feb 12, 2007 1:27 am GMT

    dang this will make people hate sims....

  • Miskatonik

    Posted Feb 9, 2007 2:30 pm GMT

    This looks way different from what I'm used to as an avid Sims 2 player...but I'd still play it.

  • ReggieNametaker

    Posted Feb 7, 2007 8:15 am GMT

    *Expects pissed off realism junkies*

  • chibi-acer

    Posted Feb 4, 2007 9:53 am GMT

    Boku Sim = Town for Me and Sim? What kind of translation is that?

  • Mam00th

    Posted Feb 3, 2007 3:00 pm GMT

    Japanese style...

  • Hikaru_Isamu

    Posted Feb 3, 2007 11:33 am GMT

    I've never cared for the Sims, because living someone else's life is boring. I play games to do things that can't otherwise be done. Sure, you can have babies by kissing about a dozen times, but other than that, it's pretty realistic (which is boring).

    This, however, seems a lot more fun.

  • tirkaro

    Posted Feb 3, 2007 8:56 am GMT

    I dont like the sims too much, but this game looks pretty good. I LOVE the new anime style. I might be getting this game.

  • Drklght

    Posted Feb 2, 2007 5:41 pm GMT

    Looks Stupid Seriously

  • Proman84

    Posted Feb 2, 2007 11:38 am GMT

    Adorable? Cute? No!

  • JimmyCos

    Posted Feb 1, 2007 5:12 pm GMT

    strange, im fan of the game for years, the sims in anime is equal to see GTA in anime.

    cool hahhaha

  • James_Raynor

    Posted Feb 1, 2007 4:29 pm GMT

    its just too japanese strange......

  • kishometeora

    Posted Jan 31, 2007 3:17 pm GMT

    Can you use your miis? or do they just look simialr?

  • bowserrox

    Posted Jan 26, 2007 3:15 pm GMT

    i hate the new look. it looks 2 babyish. now when i play it my friends will laugh at me. the rating had better not drop down to E 4 everyone. if it does, and they take out dating and whoohooing,im not buying it.

  • Hyrulius

    Posted Jan 22, 2007 7:32 am GMT

    It says many are appalled by the change. It seems based on the comments here even more have the opposite opinion. It looks freaking excellent.

    I have to say I myself welcome the change. I just hope fun things in the games (Woohoo for example) don't get cut out because of the artistic change.

  • birrus

    Posted Jan 21, 2007 12:38 pm GMT

    Why is gamespot acting so dumb? They only have one picture of the game and one short movie..
    Give it a chance.. I think it looks kinda funny..
    I have to admit it looks very animal crossing like.. but give it a chance..
    I'm happy to see that The sims is finally trying something... new..
    The sims where always the same, same graphics, same goals.. newer sims games always had only, some more objects... some more things to do.. some more customize options..and that's it..

    But this looks like a whole new sims!

    Oh yeah, what I also like about it is that you can use your mii as a sim..
    Bye

  • Snufie

    Posted Dec 29, 2006 12:44 pm GMT

    I love the new look! It's simple, it's cute, it's entertaining! It'll lighten up the overall feel of the game so much! I might even pre-order it, and I rarely pre-order a game! \w/^_^\w/

  • darklurker1

    Posted Dec 26, 2006 12:05 am GMT

    I could care less about Sims, it's Spore FTW!!!!!!

  • errington5

    Posted Dec 23, 2006 5:54 pm GMT

    they look like a bunch of little kids running round and speaking jibberish (or is it just me)

  • markerased

    Posted Dec 17, 2006 7:33 am GMT

    Why GameSpot just quoted what "fedgem" said but not the support by other members? Is it a bias?

  • aniki91344

    Posted Dec 13, 2006 4:48 am GMT

    Dude, I'm shocked, amazed, and in awe. EA really did this? EA, as in, the guys behind those sports and mafia games? And the actual Sims games?? I'm extremely impressed at what they were able to come up with. I'm totally for this. This one's a pre-order. I really can't get enough of that "cutesy" thing into my system, I can't wait for it to come out.

  • Garra-San

    Posted Dec 8, 2006 3:15 am GMT

    This is the only Sims game that has appealed to me just because of the new look, EA have done something amazing and this will more than likely be the most popular Sims game to date.

  • Manaka-kun

    Posted Dec 7, 2006 11:46 pm GMT

    I LOVE this new look, presonally!!!

    But being the anime fanatic that I am, that's pretty much expected of me...

    Heheh... Two good things together!!! X3

  • noelveiga

    Posted Dec 5, 2006 2:56 pm GMT

    I don't think it's a bad move, either. The Sims gets some things right, even if it's too flat for my tastes, but its artistic design is simply awful. The characters have always looked like the generic man on a 3D modelling program, and the whole look was so bland and generic that a change in any direction is a good thing.

    Now, Spore, THAT looks interesting.

  • poisonedsodapop

    Posted Dec 3, 2006 5:25 pm GMT

    Not saying I like this new look but I don't hate it either. If this game were any good I'd consider getting a wii since I'm a big fan of the sims. Until then the console I'll eventually get is still going to be the ps3.

  • Rikstah

    Posted Dec 3, 2006 2:21 pm GMT

    I love the new look, can't wait

  • jonzilla_basic

    Posted Dec 3, 2006 3:15 am GMT

    The Sims is totally weird. Why cant people get off the couch and go mingle. At least the wii gets you off the couch.

  • WaddleDoo8

    Posted Dec 2, 2006 7:42 pm GMT

    Finally, we don't have to see full-grown men dancing around like idiots. Matching proportions with the wacky atmosphere of the game is the best thing EA ever did to the series.

  • Matdredalia

    Posted Dec 2, 2006 5:43 pm GMT

    I'd rather have a "too-cute" looking Sims than the "Ghetto H00dz Simz" that have been all over the place lately. I don't want my sims character to look like a hoochie-mama or some 50 Cent knock off. Frankly, I can not WAIT to get my hands on this version of the Sims. I pray they release it in America.

  • Mariostrikers

    Posted Dec 1, 2006 6:09 pm GMT

    I knew they were gonna do this!!!

  • elfycat

    Posted Dec 1, 2006 10:40 am GMT

    I think it looks great! I haven't been terribly thrilled with a lot of the latests sims stuff, and I think that a change might just be what it needs to breath some life back into the series. And it certainly does look like a cross between Sims and Animal Crossing, both of which I like, so I'm game (pun partially intended).

  • Kinako

    Posted Dec 1, 2006 10:35 am GMT

    I love how this game looks! I'll definitely get this game...I just need a Wii first. ^_^;;

  • Aru_link

    Posted Dec 1, 2006 8:57 am GMT

    I think it's a good idea but some of the Sims fans would be very very angry with this, we will know how will affect the game until its released

  • 99problems

    Posted Dec 1, 2006 8:01 am GMT

    i agree . i like the new look .

  • BigOldMrChris

    Posted Dec 1, 2006 7:53 am GMT

    This will be purely fun, I think it is a good move it's not like this is the sims 3 it's just a different spin on a great game , I think it will be great and with the Wii's control system it could be a winner

  • LostSoul781

    Posted Dec 1, 2006 6:03 am GMT

    hate the graphical change. No need to change it was so ever from the original.

  • old_speccer

    Posted Dec 1, 2006 3:47 am GMT

    I'm deeply concerned about the amount of non-reflection in that mirror.

  • Hyrulius

    Posted Dec 1, 2006 2:02 am GMT

    I have to admit this came as a surprise, a very plesent one. I really enjoyed The Sims 1 & 2, and by the looks of this one's style I'm going to like it even more.

  • Williedude87

    Posted Dec 1, 2006 12:49 am GMT

    I don't care what anyone else says, its a good idea. The Sims is pretty much all EA has going for it in terms of innovation. Designing game ports to suit the console its being ported to besides basic control schemes and "extras" like hidden characters based on consule - thats innovative. I don't understand how anyone can view this as a bad thing? If you don't like they style, play the game on a something else. God forbid you don't play the Wii port! This not only ads something unique to the port, but completely sidesteps the whole "Why get the Wii version, its the same game as the 360/PS3 and it looks so much better on them!" issue and creates a real honest to goodness PORT FEATURE!

  • firewings

    Posted Nov 30, 2006 10:08 pm GMT

    I love the idea of this. Many traditional fans may want the more realistic Sims back, but this is Wii (aka Gamecube 1.5) here. We will either accept this new refresehing look or we'll have to suffer from subpar port staring at Sims 1 graphic all day while 360 PS3 had 10x better graphic. Not to mention PC Sims will a direct port of Wii verison to death with better control, mod, interface, and graphic.

    This change of direction is a wonderful idea.

  • ANARCHY12

    Posted Nov 30, 2006 9:04 pm GMT

    ill try it.

  • chuukoku

    Posted Nov 30, 2006 8:51 pm GMT

    This Concept of the "Chibi" style of the Sims is pretty interesting. Although I've heard of stories from people playing Sims, it never really appealed to me because of the "Realistic" style. hahaha I'm actually looking forward to this game despite people's opinion on it. Meh, I'm an artist and a gamer, so it could go both ways.

  • RaiKageRyu

    Posted Nov 30, 2006 8:35 pm GMT

    Woah, it looks like something from JP.

  • Flimsyfishy

    Posted Nov 30, 2006 6:17 pm GMT

    ok... here is what i have to say... this is only a wii exclusive title... they want to try to adapt the faces to your mii characters. THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT IT WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ANYTHING ELSE! we all know that Maxis won't change the whole system. this is not going to be the sims 3... this is just going to be a wii exclusive title... nothing more, nothing less

    with that being said, yes, the look is going to be very different, but if you can use the mii characters inside the game (which looks like it could very well happen by the way the faces are), it would be really cool. it's just going to be a kiddy looking version of the sims. i'm sure they will keep every element that made the sims and the sims 2 two of the most successful video games of all time.

    so all of these 'fanboys' shouldn't freak out because this isn't going to be the style for the sims 3.

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