Electronic Arts, the video game company that developed “The Sims,” plans to release a version of its game for Facebook. The original game, which has players direct the virtual life and activities of a “sim,” sold 140 million copies.
EA’s move into games for social media outlets has been facilitated by the company’s acquisition of Playfish, a game developer that it scooped up in 2009. Since then, social game company Zynga has taken the lead in the social games market, racking up 253 million monthly users. The Facebook version of “The Sims” is called “The Sims Social.”
Gamers build their virtual avatars, then have to learn how to keep the denizens of this digital world happy. Gamers will be able to earn experience points, outfit their avatars, and befriend their neighbors.
The original “Sims” premiered in 2000. What the folks at EA may have missed is that, since then, another platform for those who want to craft a virtual persona and lead a simulated life has quietly gained some traction. It’s called Facebook.
Read more at GamesBeat.
