The Sims Online ships

Electronic Arts has today shipped The Sims Online to stores in North America, allowing players to have their sims interact with those of other people over the Internet for the first time. The Sims Online is not an expansion pack for The Sims , but a stand-alone game that contains many of the features found in the original game and its five expansion packs.

In The Sims Online, players assume control of a solitary sim rather than an entire family, and they start the game with just enough money to purchase a small house in one of the game's cities. The game is open-ended from the outset, though, and while teaming up with other sims to live in a bigger house is an option, players can also choose to remain homeless if they wish. The game is designed to encourage interaction between players and features friend lists not unlike those found in instant messenger programs.

"It's very inspirational for me to see how the original game has evolved into a vibrant online community where players can create their own world," said Will Wright, creator of The Sims. "The Sims Online gives players tremendous possibilities to construct, customize, and personalize a world with their imagination as their only limit."

The Sims Online is available in stores now and comes with a month of free play, after which players will be required to pay a monthly subscription fee of $9.99. For more information on The Sims Online, check out our The Sims of the game.