And for all you statistic loving people, here are the results of previous poll:
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

This week in the Sims Social is all about sports in the Sims Social. You can get some cool sporty items for your home, dress your Sim up as a football player and there are some sporty challenges.

EA has posted the following renders of new objects from the Sims 3: Showtime. What is your favorite new object?

FUN WITH THE SIMS!  CELEBRATE THE SIMS 12^TH ANNIVERSARY!

With millions of fans around the globe and more than 150 million copies sold worldwide, The Sims series is one of the most popular videogame franchises of all time. To celebrate The Sims’ 12^th anniversary tomorrow, 4^th February, EA is releasing a new infographic highlighting some fun facts and surprising statistics about this global gaming phenomenon.

For example:

• 53 million hours of The Sims 3 games are played per month. That’s enough time to walk around the world at least 1,400 times!
• With more than $2.5 billion in revenue, The Sims falls in the same class of box office sales for blockbuster films, Avatar and Titanic.
• The Sims Official YouTube Channel has more than 70 million global video views, nearly triple the number of US Netflix subscribers.
• 300 musical artists have recorded tracks in Simlish, that’s enough artists to fill the stages of Coachella and Rock AM Ring Music Festivals.
• Sims, they’re just like us. The average household family size in The Sims 3 is 2.93 Sims. The average US household size is 2.58.

Click to get the BIG version

Dutch newspaper ‘De Pers‘ has an article today about homosexuality in video games. This after a debate about the possibility for players to have a same-sex relationship in several MMO’s and RPG’s these days.

But not just those game genres are being discussed. Also The Sims gets quite some attention. The article even claims that if games were a country, it would probably be the most accepting country for homosexuality.

You can read the article on the link below, though it’s only in Dutch.

Can you remember your first Sims game? What was it? Who did you get it from?
Share your favorite Sims memories with us by commenting to this post .

Happy Birthday to The Sims

We haven’t heard a lot from Maxis lately. Their last game Darkspore wasn’t a huge success and they are no longer officially linked to the Sims, since that game is being done at a separate studio now.
But from the looks of it, Maxis is making a return.

A job listing shows that Maxis is looking for new people to help out in their Emeryville studio’s.

Maxis is seeking an experienced Graphics Engineer to join our team in Emeryville, CA. In this role, you will be working with a highly talented and experienced team on an upcoming triple-A simulation style game.

Duties
* Collaborate with other engineers to integrate with various graphics engine systems
* Work closely with the Art Director and other artists to make it easy for them to create content and iterate
* Create graphics effects systems that meet performance requirements on a wide variety of PCs
* Create and maintain asset pipelines, as needed
* Profile and optimize code and systems to remove bottlenecks
* Test and document the code you write

What do you think this game could be? A new installment in the SimCity franchise? Or perhaps a whole new game? Let’s hope we’ll find out soon!

Join Senior Game Designer, Aaron Conners, on Thursday, January 26 for an exclusive live preview of The Sims 3 Showtime Expansion pack.

Starting at 10:00 a.m. PST, we’ll treat gamers to a special look at the newest expansion coming for The Sims 3. Conners will share gameplay techniques, demo the all-new SimPort feature and show-off the different ways for your Sims to rise to fame!

Conners will also be taking questions about the expansion during our live Q&A, so come prepared. You can submit your query at any time during the session by using the “Cover It Live” function at the bottom of the page.

Looking to get some cool swag from The Sims team? Tune in live and Tweet mentioning #TS3Showtime for your chance to be selected for random giveaways.

The Sims 3: Master Suite Stuff has been released and is now available to buy. Read the press release regarding the release below.

Relax in a Lifestyle of Romance and Luxury with The Sims 3 Master Suite Stuff
Transform Ordinary Bedrooms into Extraordinary Master Suites

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, The Sims 3 Master Suite Stuff pack adds some sizzle to the game with the addition of luxurious bed and bath décor, sultry sleepwear and flirty hairstyles . The Sims 3 Master Suite Stuff pack for PC/Mac is now available in stores and as a digital download for PC at www.origin.com and participating retailers.

Spice up your Sims’ lives by upgrading bedroom furnishings with a romantic canopy bed, a 1940s-inspired chair and a lavish fireplace. Then move over to the bathroom and update its look with a beautiful vanity, sleek and stylish tub and lit candles to create a spa-worthy space. Vases, rose petals and new window treatments will add just the right finishing touches to complete an all-new master suite.

Your Sims will enjoy relaxing in their redesigned environments even more with new intimate apparel and sleepwear, perfect for a night with that special Sim. Complete your Sim’s overall look with casual yet modern hairstyles that will complement their new commitment to a lifestyle of relaxation.