Sims 3 hits consoles October 26

LOS ANGELES--The Sims 3 family is growing, and today EA revealed an October 26 due date for the previously announced console versions of its latest bundle of joy. A 3DS edition of the game that was just announced today will debut sometime in 2011.

Published under the EA Play label, the game will sport many of the same customization and character creation options as the PC edition of the game, as well as some new features. These include karma powers, which players can use to give their in-game incarnations instant luck--be it good or bad.

The PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game will let players create and exchange content with one another, while the Wii version will focus on adventure game elements and is set in a beachfront community. The DS will also foster player creativity, with an emphasis on stylus-driven creation tools for clothes, houses, and furniture, as well as a story mode that follows a family through life.

The Sims 3 on the 3DS will make use of the system's 3D camera for face-mapping. It also features a focus on connectivity enabled by the 3DS, which can keep systems exchanging and downloading content for games even as the player uses other programs on the system.