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Electronic Arts’ wildly popular life sim franchise makes the jump to the iPhone and iPod Touch with the release of The Sims 3 ($9.99), a modified port of the game released earlier this week for PC platforms.
The Sims 3 includes many of the same features enjoyed by PC users — players can still build and customize a Sim character from scratch, and gameplay involves similar character development goals and milestones.
Throughout its lifespan, you can make your Sim fall in love, make the world a better place, or just be a complete jerk to everyone he or she encounters (see figure 1, above). Whatever you do, just make sure that your character always has easy access to a bathroom. This is the most important part of any Sims game.
It’s important to note that the iPhone version of The Sims 3 lacks a few key features of its PC counterpart. For example, players can no longer build houses for their Sims — the game instead offers a selection of pre-made buildings that can be customized with the addition of furniture.
Limitations aside, though, The Sims 3 features an iPhone-optimized interface and a new platform-specific control scheme that should make the transition from PC to iPhone a smooth one.
[...] The Sims 3 emerges as the App Store’s top seller in its first week of release, outpacing the daily sales numbers of all competing titles in every category. Last week’s winner StickWars falls to second place, as Bloons drops a spot to take third. [...]
This seems like a pretty substantial game for the iPhone… has anyone heard of any slowdown or crashing???
I have had a couple of crashes using the game but surprisingly all data appears saved and you return to your house. It seems like a massive step up from the DS/GBA iterations from the past and comparable to the console versions in a lot of ways though far from competing with the ultimate freedom in the customisation of Sims 3 for PC and Mac
I picked this up this week and haven’t had any problems at all. It’s not an action oriented game so frame rate slow-down isn’t really seen (if it’s happening at all)… I downloaded it thru iTunes on my PC and reset my iPhone once installed and have not had any crashes… The price point turned me off at first but I am really enjoying this game!
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