The Sims 3

The Sims 3 is a confirmed next-generation simulation game. This was confirmed on November 2, 2006, by EA chief financial officer Warren Jenson who said, "Yes, there's a Sims 3 in development and it's likely to be a fiscal '09 title." In July 2007 AI researcher Richard Evans, who is part of the TS3 team, gave a talk at the annual AIIDE (Artificial Intelligence and Interactive Digital Entertainment) conference in California, notes from which can be read here. The working title has been announced to be released in 2009, however there is no specific date. The game is said to be partially developed by Criterion Software.

According to the games for windows magazine "The biggest change to The Sims 3 is that it takes place in a wide-open, constantly changing neighborhood -- a much bigger sandbox." It is confirmed that the game will be an open neighborhood by the official website (this probably means the game will have an Open World or Neighborhood similar to games like Grand Theft Auto, Bully, Need For Speed Carbon and Burnout Paradise). However it is unknown what an open neighborhood would deal with, it could infer anything from a contiguous, real-time neighborhood that can act as a city to decide things, or to an actual urban area reminiscent of The Urbz: Sims in the City. However it is alluded to that in the living neighborhood all the action takes place and it is a innovative way for the Sims to explore the neighborhood. The loading of lots from disk, and lot based playing will be history. Now every action will take place in a seamless living neighborhood. In that Neighborhood will be lots, colleges, parks, shops and other places Sims like to explore. All your Sims, and their Sim friends and family are in this Neighborhood. They can dine, visit, shop, and relax.

In The Sims 2: Free Time, a computer is delivered to every household that a player plays by Mr. Rob Humble. On it, Sims can play The Sims 3 game. A video of this can be seen on YouTube. It shows something towards a continuous, panning neighborhood, diagonal placings for objects, better lighting systems, and the ability to change shoes in the CAS. The preview only lasts about one minute, and has poor resolution.

The Sims 3 Official Site also reveals that players now have greater customization options. Such things like Personality, Create-A-Sim, and Build Mode have been expanded.

The only neighborhood that will ship with The Sims 3 is Sim Valley, rumored to be Pleasantview another 20 years from The Sims 2. It is unknown whether the game will include weather, as in The Sims 2: Seasons, and it has been confirmed that several expansion packs will ship periodically after the game's initial release.

Neighborhood Continuity
It has been rumored that Pleasantview will be the only pre-made neighborhood in The Sims 3. So the storylines from the second game will continue. Meaning that Cassandra Goth might be with either Don Lothario or Darren Dreamer. Bella Goth might return and rekindle with her estranged husband Mortimer Goth unless he is married to Dina Caliente. Brandi Broke might find love once more. Also the story with Daniel Pleasant his wife Mary-Sue Pleasant. It can also be assumed that all the children from The Sims 2 will have aged. Meaning Alexander Goth maybe be a teenager or possbily an adult same with The Broke children and Dirk and The Pleasant girls. There is also the possibility of new-born children being introduced with the new unions or new neighbors.