Sims 2 strikes console gold

The Sims has always been golden for Electronic Arts, and that's even truer today as word arrived that The Sims 2 for consoles and handhelds has entered duplication. The PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, Nintendo DS, and Game Boy Advance versions of the game have finished development and are set to arrive on retail shelves October 24. A PSP version will follow shortly thereafter.

While the basic goal of stepping into a sim's life and guiding that sim to health and happiness remains the same in every game, some versions have been changed to suit the abilities of its host console. For instance, while the PS2, Xbox, and GameCube editions all feature the series' open-ended gameplay, plus the ability for players to assume direct control of their sims for the first time in the series, the PS2 edition also makes use of the Eye Toy camera to import images into the game.

On the portable side, DS users can record music into the game with the system's microphone and use the touch screen to design their own paintings or play one of seven different touch screen activities. The Game Boy Advance version of the game challenges players to guide their sims through 20 episodes as the lead role in a hit TV show called "One Time in Strangetown," where the goal is to uncover the secrets of Strangetown while keeping your show's ratings high.

For more on the Sims 2, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.