GCSE Media Summer Project- Videogame research

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7BAUNzJvts&safe=active

The Sims 3 is a 2009 life simulation computer game developed by The Sims Studio and published by Electronic Arts. It is the sequel to the best-selling computer game, The Sims 2. It was first released on June 2, 2009 for OS X and Windows.The Sims 3 was released to game consoles and smartphones on October 26, 2010, for PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360, Android, iOS and Nintendo DS. It has also been released for mobile phone platforms, and a simpler version for mobiles with Java.The Sims 3 was an instant success, selling 1.4 million copies in its first week.Critics issued mostly positive reviews. The game has sold over ten million copies worldwide since its 2009 release, making it one of the best-selling computer games of all time.

A version of The Sims 3 was released on iOS, Android, Bada, BlackBerry OS and Windows Phone on June 2, 2009. The iPhone game works similar to that of the PC version. In Create-a-Sim, instead of Lifetime Wishes, there are personas. Personas decide which lifetime wishes your sim will have, as a persona is the largest factor in a sim's personality. Sims start out with a small house. The house can be expanded every five sim days if the player can afford it.

Electronic Arts (EA) is an American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers responsible for its games. Electronic Arts is the world's third-largest gaming company by revenue after Nintendo and Activision Blizzard.

The Sims 3 is built upon the same concept as its predecessors. Players control their own Sims' activities and relationships in a manner similar to real life. The gameplay is open-ended and indefinite. Sim houses and neighborhoods are placed on one continuous map. The game includes an optional feature called "Story Progression," which allows all Sims in the neighborhood to autonomously continue as if the player were controlling them, such as get married, get jobs and promotions, have children, move into their dream house or move out of the neighbourhood while the player isn't playing. Sims live for a set duration of time (adjustable by the player) and advance through several stages (baby, toddler, child, teen, young adult, adult, and elder). Sims can die of old age or they can die prematurely from causes such as fire, starvation, drowning, electrocution,

I think the target audience is for male and females aged 16-30. In my opinion I think middle aged housewives or middle aged single people play this game the most whereas teenagers play on the weekend. I think women play more than men. women 60% and men 40%

Overall I think the sims 3 is a successful game made as it sold over 10 million copies and is one of the best-selling games of all time. There will also be a sequel to this : The sims 4 .