The Sims Becomes The Best Selling PC Game of All Time

The Sims Becomes The Best Selling PC Game
of All Time

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., March 21, 2002-
Electronic Arts (Nasdaq: ERTS) today announced that they have shipped over 6.3
million copies worldwide of the computer game, The Sims(tm), making it the best
selling PC game of all time. The wildly popular game that allows players to
create a neighborhood of simulated people (Sims) and control their lives,
skyrocketed to the top of the charts when it began shipping to stores in
February 2000 and has quickly become a universal gaming and cultural phenomenon.
The Sims was the best selling PC game of both 2000 and 2001. Translated into 13
different languages, The Sims also remains a top seller worldwide.

The unparalleled success of The Sims has
inspired the creation of four add-on packs; Livin’ Large, which allows players
to put their simulated families from The Sims into new extreme situations and
settings, House Party, which gives players the chance to host outrageous parties
for their Sims, Hot Date, which gets The Sims off the couch, to an all-new
downtown area and into the dating game, and due out March 26, Vacation, which
allows the Sims to get some rest and relaxation with their families and friends
on a fun-filled vacation island. Combined sales for The Sims, The Sims Livin’
Large, The Sims House Party and The Sims Hot Date have topped 13 million units
life-to-date.

"Reaction to The Sims’ by both customers and
critics have exceeded our most ambitious expectations," said EA president John
Riccitiello. "The Sims has become a cultural phenomenon. Its worldwide appeal
spans hard-core gamers, casual computer users and even gaming’s most elusive
group of consumers, women. Over 50 percent of new Sims players are female."

The Sims has steadily insinuated itself into
pop culture consciousness since its release. In September of 2000, the game
inspired New York City-based band Electric Funstuff to release a Sims-inspired
anthem, appropriately titled Sim-Hilarities, about a player of the hit PC game
who finds odd parallels between his life and the lives of his on-screen
characters. A take-off of "Simlish," the unique language of The Sims was
featured in last year’s season opener of ABC Television’s, "Drew Carey Show," as
well as game footage depicting the office antics at Winfred-Louder Department
Store, Drew’s place of employment, in its April Fools episode. Most recently, a
take-off of The Sims was featured in an episode of Fox Television’s "Malcolm In
The Middle." Malcolm recreates his own family in a computer game called "The
Virts" with disastrous results.

Just as entertaining and a true testament to
the games’ popularity are the hundreds of fan created web sites inspired by The
Sims. Thousands of fan created objects and Sims, from fabulous home furnishings
to cutting edge fashions, are available for downloading to enhance players’ Sims
experience.

The game’s long list of honors has included
being selected "Game of the Year" for 2000 by the Academy of Interactive Arts
and Sciences and by numerous other publications in the United States and abroad.
The creator of The Sims, Will Wright, was inducted into the Academy of
Interactive Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame in February, joining such industry
legends as Sid Meier and Shigeru Miyamoto.