The Urbz: Sims in the City Impressions

Electronic Arts has revealed new details about the Nintendo DS version of The Urbz: Sims in the City, which is a launch title for the new Nintendo handheld. The Urbz is EA's upcoming console-based offshoot of The Sims. In it, you'll create urban sims, known as Urbz, and try and build your reputation as a hip and popular character. As in The Sims, you'll have a wide range of social interactions that you can perform, and your Urbz will work jobs in order to earn simoleans to gain access to new social interactions.

The Urbz is set in a sprawling, fictional urban city that never sleeps, and your Urbz can live in one of nine distinct neighborhoods, each with its own unique inhabitants and flavor. The Nintendo DS version, along with the Game Boy Advance version, will feature an extra adventure, titled Welcome to Minipolis. In it, the devious Daddy BigBucks plans to take over the city, and you have to stop him by building up your reputation to become the biggest "player" in the city. With enough stature, you can oppose Daddy BigBucks and save Minipolis.

To take advantage of the Nintendo DS' capabilities, the DS version of The Urbz will feature wireless multiplayer minigames and touch screen menus. The multiplayer will support up to four players, and you can use the lower touch screen to create your Urbz. The touch screen will also serve as a PDA of sorts, giving you access to all menus, non-player characters, and minigames.

The exclusive create-a-pet feature in the DS version will let you create your own pet, and even custom-design pets to perform specific missions. By using the stylus or your hand, you'll be able to create a wide range of mythical and bizarre animals, veloci-roosters, unicorns, Dodo birds, and more. The Urbz is slated as a launch title for the Nintendo DS. We'll have more on this game soon.