The Sims 3: Microtransactions

I guess we're just going to have to get used to it; Microtransactions are the wave of the future. EA just announced the online features for the highly-anticipated The Sims 3, and it's full of crap to buy for your online buddies.
"With such a vibrant and active community as The Sims has, we wanted to build even further on the already immense offline experience, by offering players additional functionality, content and tools available online through the game," said Ben Bell, Executive Producer of The Sims 3. "One example of the many online tools we've added to the game is the Create a Movie tool. Within the game, players can easily set up the camera angle they want, capture in-game footage, play director and producer and then post their movies online to show off to the world."
The game includes one town, but a second one, Riverview, will be available for download at launch. It doesn't say how much it'll cost, but it also doesn't say that it's free. Buying the game will start you off with ten bucks worth of SimPoints, which you will use to download in-game items from The Sims 3 Store. When that runs out, you can purchase more bundles using your own actual money. I will say that the moviemaking tools sound pretty cool, and should lead to some awesome machinema when the game releases on June 2.
For a full press release with all the details about the online offerings, make the jump!
EA Reveals The Sims 3 Full Online Feature Set
Second Town and Robust Online Capabilities To Deliver Comprehensive Community Experience
REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) today announced the robust online and community offerings to The Sims™ 3 PC and Mac game, the highly-anticipated flagship game from the best-selling PC franchise The Sims. In addition to the town included in the game, a second town, Riverview will be available for download from The Sims 3 product website at launch. TheSims3.com also will allow players to create and share their own movies, manage their online content and purchase additional in-game content. The game is set to launch worldwide on the PC, Mac, iPhone™, iPod® touch and mobile devices starting June 2, 2009.
"With such a vibrant and active community as The Sims has, we wanted to build even further on the already immense offline experience, by offering players additional functionality, content and tools available online through the game," said Ben Bell, Executive Producer of The Sims 3. "One example of the many online tools we've added to the game is the Create a Movie tool. Within the game, players can easily set up the camera angle they want, capture in-game footage, play director and producer and then post their movies online to show off to the world."
Key Online Elements Include:
- The Sims 3 Store: Included with purchase of the game is $10 worth of SimPoints, which players receive when they first register their game online at TheSims3.com. They can use their SimPoints towards downloading exclusive in-game items from The Sims 3 Store to customize their game. For additional items, players can purchase bundles of 500, 1000 and 2000 SimPoints in $USD, EUR, GBP and other major international currencies using a variety of payment methods including international and national credit cards, PayPal, and EA cash cards (in North America only). Whether it's the must-have new outfit or the latest style of plaid furniture, players have the opportunity to further customize and populate their Sims world with additional items.
- Game Launcher: The Game Launcher is the key entry point for players into TheSims3.com community. This hub page connects players to both the Store and the Exchange, and provides them with news and information about game updates. Players can keep track of their downloads, uploads, installs, game updates and their media portfolio that includes the videos and photos they can capture while playing the game. The Game Launcher also alerts players to new content in the store, localized game and store promotions along with relevant updates to the Store and cool new content from the community.
- TheSims3.com Site: With the launch of the game on June 2, the marketing website at TheSims3.com will be replaced with the full community and product site for the game. The site will not only connect players, encourage new ways to be creative in the game, and offer personally relevant information for each user, it also will serve as the hub site where players can share their content with other members, and embed them on social networking sites and blogs.
* Key Site Features:
o The Exchange: Building off of The Sims 2 Exchange's success of more than 100M downloads, The Sims 3 Exchange highlights featured items, most popular downloads, powerful search and browse capabilities, along with giving players the ability to see what other players are recommending.
o Create a Movie and Create a Story: New easily accessible tools inspire creativity and allow players to create movies and stories and then show them off or share them with friends. Players can show off their Movies with the Create a Movie Tool by embedding them on external sites or with an email link back to their Movie on TheSims3.com.
o My Page and My Studio: The Sims 3 product site will allow players to maintain their profile pages on their My Page section as well as offering them the new My Studio section to manage all their creations - Movies, Stories, Exchange objects. My Page is also a blog space where players can post news, customize it with a personal avatar, track favorites and more. Users can make friends with other The Sims 3 players and share their content across a number of social network sites.
For more information about The Sims 3, go to www.TheSims3.com. The Sims 3 was developed by The Sims Studio. To download artwork, visit www.info.ea.com. The Sims 3 will be available for purchase at retail and online through digital distribution starting June 2 at http://eastore.ea.com/store/ea/ContentTheme/pbPage.the_sims3/ThemeID.718200.








I'll stick to the Sims 2, thanks.
Suddenly I'm glad I'm never buying this.
Forced continued boycott of EA releases well into 2009.
By boycott I of course mean I'll be playing it, just not paying for it.
Sticking with Sims 2...I have yet to see anything overly innovative and new from the other Sims games that would make me buy this.
This is typical, so very typical.
There used to be a time when EA would regularly put up free items for download for your sims.
The worst part is that people actually seem to buy these (seriously overpriced) items.
Boycotttttt. EA makes it so easy!
Aw, they had such great features to work into your sims and I had loved their videos.. microtrasnactions are the way of the future? Yeah like a Korean future. Damnit, I will continue to look into this game but if in all eventuality that I do end up buying this game I will certainly not buy anything through their exchange and or store.
What I will say is that why would you need to in the first place? You can already customize your sim up the wazoo, even pattern everything else around their home to a key design you pick out. I mean if you want clothing and what not couldn't you just simply do what others have done with the other sims games?...That is, download various people's made clothing, avatars, furniture, ect?
Hi, good post. I have been thinking about this issue,so thanks for blogging. I will definitely be coming back to your posts. Keep up the good posts