News: November & December 2009

In a new feature GamesRadar has named the "Sim" as one of the 25 best new characters of the decade:

The game gives them no name. No personality. No appearance. No motivation. No nothing, really, until you – the player – step in to fill out all the blanks. Yet the Sims have somehow managed to capture our hearts and imaginations more than any other customizable avatar this decade. Why? Because unlike the frozen-faced Miis or utterly generic Second Life residents, the Sims are not puppets. Once brought into being, they take on a life of their own. You create them, you often control them, but you can never fully predict them.

Scroll down the page linked below to find the "The Sim" section:
 > "The 25 best new characters of the decade" at GamesRadar

Thanks to the Vegetarian trait, PETA has deemed The Sims 3 the most animal-friendly game of 2009:

In the latest version of the biggest-selling gaming franchise ever, Electronic Arts allows players to choose a vegetarian lifestyle. According to game testers, vegetarian Sims, like their real-life counterparts, live longer, age more slowly, and feast on cruelty-free delights—from tofu dogs to ratatouille. And, like all great art, The Sims 3 imitates life—if your Sim eats meat, it will get sick.

 > "The Sims 3: Most Animal-Friendly Game of 2009" at The PETA Files

Wired.com blog GameLife has named The Sims as the most influential game of the decade in a feature:

It’s the most popular game franchise that debuted this decade, with more than 100 million copies sold. Yet many people don’t even consider The Sims to be a game at all. Will Wright’s people simulator so completely disrupted our beliefs about what a videogame had to be that non-gamers with no expectations had the easiest time wrapping their heads around it. Sims has had a profound influence on videogames in a dozen different ways.

 > "The 15 Most Influential Games of the Decade" at Wired.com

If you're here looking for some results for the current poll, "Have you bought The Sims 3 World Adventures yet?", sorry - you must be one of the too-few that voted, as I haven't received enough votes to end it yet. If I do get enough votes by then, the poll will now end with the results revealed in two weeks time - Saturday 9th January.

GameSpot has named The Sims 3 as the best strategy game in their best of 2009 awards:

While 2009 brought us some fantastic strategy games, it was the one that simulates the intricacies of everyday life that won the hearts of our editors. The Sims 3 takes the gameplay established in the previous two games and expands on it in new and exciting ways, resulting in a rich experience with a lot more depth.

 > Best Strategy Game - GameSpot's Best Games of 2009 at GameSpot

It's been a month since The Sims 3 World Adventures was released, plus reviews aren't really being posted anymore, so I think today is a good day to conclude my reviews coverage. Before I wrap-up, I have one last review for you though, one that I actually put on the Reviews tab yesterday but forgot to tell you about here.

Blogcritics Gaming rated it five stars out of five:

The high content and replay value make this expansion worth the price. Loading times can slow down the action, so make sure your computer is prepared (check minimum requirements).

 > The Sims 3 World Adventures review at Blogcritics Gaming

What can pretty much be counted as the final Metascore is 81, "Generally favorable reviews", based on 26 reviews. This is worse than the Metascore for The Sims 3 itself, which stands at 86 (based on 75 reviews). Comparing it to all The Sims 2 expansion packs though, it comes out well, getting the same score as University, and better scores than all the others, which range from 74 to 78 (get the exact score each expansion got in the link list below).
 > The Sims 3 World Adventures at Metacritic
 > The Sims 3 at Metacritic
 > The Sims 2 University at Metacritic
 > The Sims 2 Nightlife (76) at Metacritic
 > The Sims 2 Open for Business (78) at Metacritic
 > The Sims 2 Pets (76) at Metacritic
 > The Sims 2 Seasons (78) at Metacritic
 > The Sims 2 Bon Voyage (74) at Metacritic
 > The Sims 2 FreeTime (74) at(74) at Metacritic
 > The Sims 2 Apartment Life (75) at Metacritic

The Ranking at GameRankings will probably stay at around 83% (being 82.89% right now, based on 14 reviews). Again, this is worse than The Sims 3's Ranking which stands at 86.94%. This is however better than all The Sims 2 expansion packs, whose Rankings range from 73.44% to 80.77% (again you can see the exact Ranking each expansion got in the link list below).
 > The Sims 3 World Adventures at GameRankings
 > The Sims 3 at GameRankings
 > The Sims 2 University (80.77%) at GameRankings
 > The Sims 2 Nightlife (75.44%) at GameRankings
 > The Sims 2 Open for Business (79.07%) at GameRankings
 > The Sims 2 Pets (76.37%) at GameRankings
 > The Sims 2 Seasons (76.86%) at GameRankings
 > The Sims 2 Bon Voyage (73.44%) at GameRankings
 > The Sims 2 FreeTime (75.80%) at(75.80%) at GameRankings
 > The Sims 2 Apartment Life (78.86%) at GameRankings

Don't forget you can still contribute your own reviews for World Adventures on the Reviews tab. If you haven't already joined the site, you can log in using a Google, Yahoo!, AIM, NetLog, OpenID or Twitter account, so in the likely event you have one of those, you don't need to create another one!
 > The Sims 3 World Adventures User Reviews

The beta of the Create a World Tool is now available to download from TheSims3.com. Just scroll down to bottom of the page linked below, read and accept the license, then click Download. The page also links to a tutorial and walkthrough.
 > "The Sims™ 3 Create a World Tool – BETA" at TheSims3.com

As promised, EA has released a game update for The Sims 3 including World Adventures:

Base Game Updates:

• In-Game Store: Players may now access store content through the Buy Mode In-Game Store Browser.
• Mac Uninstaller. The Mac Uninstaller gives Mac players the option to easily uninstall all Sims 3 applications and content or expansion packs.
• Added an auto recovery prompt to recover save games corrupted by the late "Error Code 16" bug.

Get the update by opening the launcher. Read the full list of changes by clicking below then scrolling down to the "Game Update for: 1.8/2.3" post:
 > News at TheSims3.com (UK)

The Sims audio team has made available three Simlish Christmas tunes:

• In The Bleak Midwinter Sim
  A modern twist on “In The Bleak Midwinter” by The Young Punx vs the Camden Choral Collective.
• Sims Jingle Bells
  A version of Jingle Bells by The Young Punx vs the Camden Choral Collective, as featured on the Happy Holidays from TS3 video.
• Jingle Sims
  A version of Jingle Bells; featuring Marielle Jakobsons on violin, Jackie Gratz on cello and The Sims Audio Collective Choir.

 > News at TheSims3.com (UK) (source only)

IGN has posted a preview of the soon-to-be-released-in-beta The Sims 3 Create a World Tool:

Best of all, avid Sims players won't need a programming or scripting background to make new maps; instead, if you've built a house in the Sims (or you used SimCity 4 to create maps for The Sims 2), you've got the basics down for building a new community, allowing players to jump in and start making a new adventure for their Sims and for other players to enjoy.

 > "Build Your Own Sims 3 World" at IGN

EA has posted a new video showing 10 reasons to give The Sims 3 to someone this Christmas:

GameZone has declared The Sims the 16th best game of the decade in a new feature, ahead of such games as Bioshock and Gears of War.

Almost everyone – and I mean everyone – has played or at least seen The Sims in action. It was a milestone game that set the PC charts on fire and had the industry in a craze on how to capitalize on Maxis and EA’s success – in other words, make clones.

 > "Top 25 Games of the Decade (2000-2009) - #16" at GameZone

One The Sims 3 World Adventures review tonight. Cheat Code Central rated it a "Good" 3.8 out of five:

The Sims 3: World Adventures is definitely a fun and focused expansion pack that improves upon the franchise's strengths, delivers some new content, and, most importantly, adds a quest-driven focus to the gameplay.

 > The Sims 3 World Adventures review at Cheat Code Central

The Metascore continues its up-a-point down-a-point antics by going back down to 81, "Generally favorable reviews", based on 26 reviews, while over at GameRankings the Ranking has actually changed! It's now 82.35% based on 13 reviews.
 > The Sims 3 World Adventures at Metacritic
 > The Sims 3 World Adventures at GameRankings

The Sims 3 Development Team have announced on TheSims3.com that a new game update and the Create a World Tool beta will both be released this month. The game update will add more new features, one of which was revealed in the news post: Shop Mode, which will make it much easier for you to hand EA your money buy new items from The Sims 3 Store.

The December update will introduce a button that will allow you to shop from The Sims 3 Store from inside your game. This new feature will enhance your shopping experience at The Sims 3 Store and allow you to access The Sims 3 Store via Shop Mode from the main menu, build or buy mode or during Create-a-Sim. As you purchase new items, they will be added to your catalog, while your game is running.

To read the full post, click below and scroll down to the one titled "New Update Coming & The Sims 3 Create a World Tool - Beta!".
 > News at TheSims3.com (UK)

This time I've got two The Sims 3 World Adventures reviews, both giving great scores.

Gameplanet rated it 9.0 out of 10, described as "A worthy addition.":

The only real downside to this expansion pack is that its so much fun and reinvigorates our passion for the game that we’re spending far too long playing it.

 > The Sims 3 World Adventures review at Gameplanet

NZGamer.com rated it a "Great" 8.7 out of 10:

World Adventures brings an intriguing addition to the Sims game mechanic, some beautiful new locations and tons of great new material. Make sure this one’s on your Christmas wish list!

 > The Sims 3 World Adventures review at NZGamer.com

The Metascore has gone back up a point to 82, based on 25 reviews, and still nothing's changed at GameRankings with the Ranking remaining at 81.75% based on 10 reviews.
 > The Sims 3 World Adventures at Metacritic
 > The Sims 3 World Adventures at GameRankings

Today I've got a The Sims 3 World Adventures review by The A.V. Club, who gave it a B+ grade:

With so much potential for additional vacation destinations down the line, World Adventure seems to beg for expansions of its own. Hopefully these will make exploring a little more of an adventure.

 > The Sims 3 World Adventures review at The A.V. Club

The Metascore has gone back down a point to 81, based on 23 reviews, and nothing's changed at GameRankings with the Ranking still at 81.75% based on 10 reviews.
 > The Sims 3 World Adventures at Metacritic
 > The Sims 3 World Adventures at GameRankings

Just the one The Sims 3 World Adventures review this time, and it's one I would have told you about yesterday if things had gone to plan...

Telegraph rated it eight out of 10:

If you’re a Sims fan and looking to reignite your relationship with your digital family then World Adventures is an excellent addition, jam packed with new content and gameplay.

 > The Sims 3 World Adventures review at Telegraph

The Metascore has risen a point to 82, now based on 21 reviews, and the Ranking at GameRankings remains unchanged at 81.75%, still based on 10 reviews.
 > The Sims 3 World Adventures at Metacritic
 > The Sims 3 World Adventures at GameRankings

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I've got another two The Sims 3 World Adventures reviews here, both giving good scores.

GameSpot rated it a "great" 8.5 out of 10:

This expansion may not fix the few technical troubles that still ail The Sims 3, but it adds enough to keep your mind off the drawbacks and centered directly on the fresh and wonderful new content. In other words, Sims fans should expect plenty more sleepless nights ahead.

 > The Sims 3 World Adventures review at GameSpot

RealGamer has given it a "very good" eight out of 10:

Apart from the issues (which hopefully, there will be a cure for sooner or later), World Adventures is a very promising start to The Sims 3 expansion. The new environments are beautifully created and the new hobbies and skills are a great addition to the game.

 > The Sims 3 World Adventures review at RealGamer

The Metascore remains at 81, but now based on 17 reviews, while the Ranking at GameRankings is now 81.75% based on 10 reviews:
 > The Sims 3 World Adventures at Metacritic
 > The Sims 3 World Adventures at GameRankings

Two more The Sims 3 World Adventures reviews tonight, one giving one of the worst ratings so far, the other giving a very good one.

Eurogamer rated it seven out of 10:

It's impossible not to recommend it to avid Sims players, but anti-Sims snobs will inevitably find it to be an annoying side-order of collectormania and repetitive puzzles.

 > The Sims 3 World Adventures review at Eurogamer

Digital Chumps rated it 8.6 out of 10:

All things considered, World Adventures rewrites the conventional definition of an “expansion pack” by providing a massive new experience which is both delightfully tethered to your existing Sims’ lives and simultaneously rooted in an a wholly different style of gameplay.

 > The Sims 3 World Adventures review at Digital Chumps

Based on 13 reviews, the Metascore is now 81 ("Generally favorable reviews"), and the Ranking at GameRankings is now 83.08% based on six reviews.
 > The Sims 3 World Adventures at Metacritic
 > The Sims 3 World Adventures at GameRankings

Would you believe it? After the fiasco that was the last poll, I've managed to close the most recent one on time! That's right, after just four weeks, it's time for a new poll, and it's another easy one: Have you bought The Sims 3 World Adventures yet? Answer in the Quick Poll module on the right of practically every page.

The just-closed poll asked you lot this: Do you play The Sims on PC or Mac? No one voted Mac, with 69.23% playing it on PC and the remaining 30.77% saying you don't actually play The Sims. View the results in graph form and comment on them by clicking below:
 > Poll Results

Just one review for The Sims 3 World Adventures from the critics tonight, but what I'm even more interested in is what you think. You can now post your own reviews on The Sims 3 World Adventures Reviews tab - log in with a Google, Yahoo!, AIM, NetLog or Open ID account then tell everyone what you think!
 > The Sims 3 World Adventures User Reviews

Teletext GameCentral rated it eight out of 10:

An excellent first expansion pack that adds not just new but genuinely different content to the mix.

Read this one quick as I think Teletext closes in December.
 > The Sims 3 World Adventures review at Teletext GameCentral

The Ranking at GameRankings remains at 85.63% as no more reviews have been added still, and the Metascore remains at 84 ("Generally favorable reviews", but now based on 10 reviews.
 > The Sims 3 World Adventures at Metacritic
 > The Sims 3 World Adventures at GameRankings

Once again just the one review for The Sims 3 World Adventures.

EL33TONLINE gave it four stars out of five:

All in all The Sims World Adventure is a very worthy addition to any Sims fan’s collection. But then if you are an avid Sims fan you would have bought this already. The variety of gameplay elements, especially the new goal driven adventures, makes for a compelling visit to far off places.

 > The Sims 3 World Adventures review at EL33TONLINE

No reviews have been added to Metacritic or GameRankings since yesterday, so the Metascore remains at 84 and the ranking remains 85.63%.
 > The Sims 3 World Adventures at Metacritic
 > The Sims 3 World Adventures at GameRankings

One review for The Sims 3 World Adventures again tonight.

1UP.com gave it a B+ grade:

The price might prompt some justifiable hesitation, but the adventures and the rest of the new content make for an excellent refresh of the five-month-old Sims 3, and will leave little in the way of buyer's remorse. A worthy beginning for what will surely be a long line of expansion packs.

 > The Sims 3 World Adventures review at 1UP.com

Based on nine reviews, the Metascore stands at 84 - Generally favorable reviews. Based on four reviews, the ranking at GameRankings is 85.63%.
 > The Sims 3 World Adventures at Metacritic
 > The Sims 3 World Adventures at GameRankings

EA UK has revealed the first stuff pack for The Sims 3 by posting a game page on its website - The Sims 3 Design and Hi-Tech Stuff:

Transform your Sims’ homes into sleek, edgy apartments with The Sims 3 Design & High-Tech Stuff.

There's a host of new items for your most lived-in rooms, including slick gadgets for your high-tech study, a next-gen gaming system for the killer game room and modern furniture for the most contemporary living room. Now your Sims can give their homes an ultra-modern makeover!

The page states that it will be released on 5th February 2010. Read more on the game page:
 > The Sims 3 Design and Hi-Tech Stuff at EA UK

A stuff pack has also appeared on the website of US retailer GameStop, called The Sims 3 High-End Loft Stuff. Judging by the similarity of the descriptions, this looks to be the US name for Design and Hi-Tech Stuff. A ship date of 26th January 2010 is given for that. Click below and you can have a closer look at the box art:
 > The Sims 3 High-End Loft Stuff at GameStop

GameStop also has a page for another The Sims 2 collection - The Sims 2 Fun with Pets Collection:

Create a happy home with the perfect pet, garden and décor! Give your Sims a furry or feathered companion to play with and love—but prepare for the unexpected! Indulge your Sims with new décor and landscaping options to create the perfect home.

This one contains The Sims 2 Pets, The Sims 2 Mansion & Garden Stuff and The Sims 2 Family Fun Stuff (or at least it does according to the box art - the expanded information says it includes The Sims 2 H&M Family Fun Stuff, whatever that is). It gives a ship date of 12th January 2010. In the event you actually care, you can find art for both sides of the box and more information by clicking the first link below:
 > "The Sims 2 Fun with Pets Collections" at GameStop
 > The Sims 2 Pets information, screenshots, videos and reviews

Another two reviews for The Sims 3 World Adventures tonight, both giving it very good scores.

Gamervision has rated it 8.75 out of 10:

The Sims 3: World Adventures is a great first expansion for The Sims 3, and hopefully the start of more interesting content to be added to the game.

 > The Sims 3 World Adventures review at Gamervision

The Guardian gave it four stars out of five:

World Adventures is easily the best add-on we've seen for The Sims and one that does more than just add new items to purchase.

 > The Sims 3 World Adventures review at The Guardian

Just one more review for The Sims 3 World Adventures tonight.

GameZone has given it a very good 8.7 out of 10:

With World Adventures, the Sims 3 receives one of its greatest expansions. If you’re a fan of the original, there’s little doubt that you’ll want this in your collection.

 > The Sims 3 World Adventures review at GameZone

Blend Games has concluded its series of The Sims 3 World Adventures first impressions articles with a look at what the expansion brings to life at home:

Having met two loves and one good friend while overseas, Celia decided that one of them should be her husband. But which one? She had some thinking to do, so she meditated. This is something she’s been able to do since she reached level five with her martial arts skill. That practice dummy has really come in handy!

As to be expected, the article bought with it another bucket load of new screenshots - if reading is not your thing, you can also find them on the screenshots tab.
 > "The Sims 3: World Adventures First Impressions - Returning Home" at Blend Games
 > The Sims 3 World Adventures Screenshots

Just the one review for The Sims 3 World Adventures tonight. GamePro has given it a very good four and a half stars out of five:

Overall, World Adventures adds so much new content and gameplay that it feels more like a sequel than an expansion pack. Sims fans everywhere, from the casual to the hardcore, will absolutely love all of the new additions that are packed in here.

 > The Sims 3 World Adventures review at GamePro

Blend Games has continued its series of The Sims 3 World Adventures first impressions articles with one focused on Egypt:

Unlike the base camps in China and France, which included a sturdy structure for resting, the Egyptian base camp was… a camp. Complete with tents, an outdoor kitchen, some bathrooms (indoors thankfully) and local bugs.

The article includes 31 new screenshots, which you can also view over at the Screenshots tab if you're not in a reading mood.
 > "The Sims 3: World Adventures First Impressions - Egypt" at Blend Games
 > The Sims 3 World Adventures Screenshots

I've got another two The Sims 3 World Adventures reviews for you tonight.

Firstly, Digital Spy gave it four stars (out of five):

Lacking none of the style and humour that we have come to expect from the series, this is one holiday destination worth visiting. Just remember to leave the family behind.

 > The Sims 3 World Adventures review at Digital Spy

The Independent on the other hand, gave it three stars:

Some sections (notably the tombexploring excursions) feel slightly out of place, and dragging your Sim family around the world can be more exhausting than it is entertaining.

 > The Sims 3 World Adventures review at The Independent

I'll post one of these once each day that I find a new review. To find out about reviews almost as soon as I do, watch the World Adventures Reviews tab or the Updates page.
 > The Sims 3 World Adventures Reviews
 > Updates

Apple has posted a feature on The Sims 3 World Adventures. As well as some general information about the expansion, the feature also includes a write-up of a trip to China, and the cheats available:

We arrived in Al Simhara, Egypt in the mood for a little adventure. We set up a base camp nestled against the sand dunes just outside the city and soon found what we were looking for: Hassan Badawi contacted us about finding three ancient relics hidden somewhere in Al Simhara.

 > "Prepare Your Sims For a World of Adventure" at Apple

EA has released another update for The Sims 3, but unlike the last one, this one's a bit smaller - well, it fixes just one thing:

This Game Update will address the “Error Code 16” so you will not have any issues saving your games.  You will automatically be prompted to download the Update when you open your Game Launcher.

 > News at TheSims3.com (UK) (source only, no further details)

Blend Games has posted two first impressions articles for The Sims 3 World Adventures, one focusing on France, the other on China :

So Celia dipped into her savings and headed off to France. The music playing has that sort of French accordion-esque feel to it and the countryside is just gorgeous. Celia visited one of the shops in town and quickly spent some money buying herself a vase.

The articles include a colossal 74 new screenshots in total, which you can also find on the Screenshots tab here if you're not interested in the surrounding text.
 > "The Sims 3: World Adventures First Impressions - France" at Blend Games
 > "The Sims 3: World Adventures First Impressions - China" at Blend Games
 > The Sims 3 World Adventures Screenshots

EA Parodies Twilight In New Video
Following on from that Star Trek parody, EA has done another movie trailer in The Sims 3, this time of The Twilight Saga: New Moon. It's a world exclusive of RadarOnline.com at the moment, so you can only see it there.
 > "WORLDWIDE EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: First Look At Twilight Sims Parody" at RadarOnline.com

IGN has posted one of the first The Sims 3 World Adventures, giving in an "Impressive" 8.3/10:

I hope World Adventures sets the pattern for future Sims expansions. Moving beyond just throwing more stuff into a box and putting a price tag on it, this expansion is built on a very compelling and consistent theme that breaks the Sims out of their current suburban environments but also gives them the opportunity to bring back new skills, stories and souvenirs that can impact their day-to-day life.

 > The Sims 3 World Adventures review at IGN

Pixie Lott Sings Mama Do In English... Wait, Simlish... No, English...
A new video of Pixie Lott singing Mama Do has appeared on the 'net. This one's a bit different though - she starts as a real person singing in English, then becomes a Sim and sings in Simlish, then... well, see for yourself:

As expected, EA has released an update for The Sims 3, adding the basement tool, pagoda style roofs and other new features, as well as fixing lots of bugs and making some other gameplay tweaks:

• Stairs functionality is now improved:
  • Foundation walls can be adjusted with modular stairs attached.
  • Stairs can be built over gaps.
  • Placing stairs around objects that block their placement now give appropriate error messages.
  • Stairs can be above and below each other.
• Stairs, fences, and gates can now be customized with textures, as well as being saved and shared with others.
• ‘Sell All’ option for a Family’s inventory.

To see the full (massive) list of changes, click below, scroll to "Game Update for: 1.5/1.6" then click the link.
 > News at TheSims3.com (UK)

You should be prompted to get the update when you open the game launcher. If not, click the Game Updates button.

Another two The Sims 3 World Adventures screenshots have appeared on the internet:

(Image source: GameSpot)

 > View them full size on The Sims 3 World Adventures Screenshots tab

EA has released another two videos for The Sims 3 World Adventures, which is launching this week. The first shows Champs Les Sims, France:

In the second video, Robi Kauker, Lyndsay Pearson and some of the artists who have contributed songs to the game discuss Simlish. View that and lots of other World Adventures videos on the tab (it's called "Simlish Behind the Scenes"):
 > The Sims 3 World Adventures Videos

1UP.com has posted a new preview of The Sims 3 World Adventures:

The new areas (one each in Egypt, France, and China) are each as large as the original game's setting in Sunset Valley, so there's a lot of fresh territory to explore. You'll also meet new people who you can bring to your town, new items to buy and customize your current place with, but most importantly, the expansion adds a new adventure element to the otherwise passive Sims universe.

If you've been closely following the expansion, you probably won't learn anything new from this, but it's a good read:
 > The Sims 3 World Adventures preview at 1UP.com

EA has made available what looks to be another TV advert for The Sims 3 World Adventures, called The Adventures of Brad:

World Adventures Diary
EA has posted a diary by a Sim who has been on an adventure to all three The Sims 3 World Adventures destinations:

I decided to start off with a trip to Champ Les Sims, France - my family has a bit of French heritage and I LOVE good food so it seemed like a natural choice. When I arrived I was dropped off at a BEAUTIFUL quaint countryside house. I was able to choose any room I wanted, hang out by the rustic fireplace and start planning out my time.

To read the article, click the link below, find the post titled "WHAT I DID ON MY SUMMER ADVENTURE" and click the link in that. If the link is missing or the post doesn't exist, you'll need to switch to English > United States using the Select Language link at the bottom.
 > News at TheSims3.com

EAUK_Aurora has posted on the EA UK Forum that a new update for The Sims 3 will be released on 17th November - but this won't just include bug fixes. To allow the community to continue sharing content without worrying about what expansion packs those they share with have, features introduced in The Sims 3 World Adventures such as basements and pagoda roofs will be added to your game in the update. Read the full post for more details:
 > "Game Updates and You" at the EA UK Forum

EA has detailed the photography skill in The Sims 3 World Adventures on TheSims3.com:

You can take your skill to the next level by reading a photography skill book or get the most advanced equipment by traveling to Al Simhara, Egypt where they house the most expensive cameras in the world. Once you have the skill down, you can take stylized photographs like Sepiatone or Vignette or larger panorama sized photographs.

You may have to scroll down the following page to find the article, which is called "In The Sims 3 World Adventures a Picture is Worth a Thousand Words":
 > News at TheSims3.com (UK)

A music video for one of the songs featured in The Sims 3 World Adventures, Nelly Furtado's Manos Al Aire, has appeared on the internet:

Please note that the link below the player came with the embed code.

EA has made the TV advert for The Sims 3 World Adventures available to watch on the internet. Enjoy:

GameSpot Gets It's Hands On World Adventures Again, This Time Focusing On China And France
GameSpot has posted a new exclusive hands-on preview of The Sims 3 World Adventures, this time focusing on France and China:

Unlike Egypt, whose geography is built around a few major dig sites, the China adventure area is laid out in a mostly even split between unspoiled wilderness and community lots (including peaceful parks for meditation, ancient tombs to explore, martial arts academies, and merchants), while the France area is laid out like a country villa--there are small clusters of community lots separated by long country roads.

 > "The Sims 3 World Adventures Exclusive Hands-On - I See China, I See France" at GameSpot

Games Guide has posted an interview with The Sims 3 World Adventures producer Lyndsay Pearson:

GG: Will the locals Sims in France, Egypt, and China have different Simlish accents, or do they speak a different Simlish language altogether?

LP: All Sims in each location still speak Simlish, but you get hints of local flavor in music, appearances and some of your Sims' special socials.

 > "Interview: The Sims 3 World Adventures" at Games Guide

I've found another four The Sims 3 World Adventures screenshots showing Egypt, China and France for you viewing pleasure:

 > View them full size on The Sims 3 World Adventures Screenshots tab

While we're still waiting for a real trailer for the The Sims movie, CollegeHumor thought they would create their own, imagining it as a bit of a horror:

Please note that the links below the video player came with the embed code.

Blast is reporting that The Sims 3 World Adventures has gone gold - i.e. it is finished and is now in the process of being burned to millions of disks ready for its launch starting on the 16th of this month. The article also mentions a "Sims 3 Holiday Collector’s Edition" with "promised Holiday content packed inside" - more information on that as soon as I know more myself.
 > "The Sims 3 has gone gold" at Blast

Update: A report by PWN or DIE mentions that the Holiday Collector's Edition will be released on November 17th.
 > "Sims 3 World Adventures Goes Gold" at PWN or DIE