The Sims 2 Nightlife hits the scene

EA Games and Maxis have officially announced the second expansion pack for their highly successful 2004 sequel, The Sims 2, which has already sold more than 4.5 million units worldwide.

Called The Sims 2 Nightlife, the new expansion will add an all-new "pleasure-seeking" life goal, as well as dating mechanics and an "attraction system," which will give the original game's quirky, gibberish-speaking characters even more ways to interact with one other.

In addition, the expansion will let sims leave their homes for a night of downtown debauchery, and it will also add more than 125 new party-themed objects, including a DJ booth and other nightclub-themed accoutrements. According to senior producer Tim LeTourneau, "with The Sims 2 Nightlife, players will be able to take their Sims out of the suburbs and into the night while dating, hanging out on the town, and staying up till dawn at all the hottest spots around town."

The new expansion pack's existence was originally hinted at by promotional materials contained in the retail packaging for The Sims 2 University, the previous expansion pack. The now-official Nightlife is scheduled for release this fall.