Will The Sims 3 be the most successful game of 2009?

Only time can answer that question, but what is certain, is that The Sims 3 is by far one of the most, if not the most anticipated game of the year.

I've played The Sims, The Sims 2, and I have about 80% of The Sims 2 expansion packs (there are quite a few of them) and now that The Sims 3 is out, it is not my only my duty as a reviewer to take a look at this game, but it is also my curiosity as a fan of the series to spend some time discovering what EA was able to incorporate in their latest title.

While The Sims and even The Sims 2 where lots of fun to play, gameplay wise, both games suffered from some serious problems in the game design. If you are familiar with the series you are probably well aware of the many "in game" hours that your characters spend on the toilet or in the shower or even being hungry and eating. Out of the virtual 24 hour period of a day, much of it was spend doing tasks that should take only minutes. Yes, taking a two hour bath is realistic, I'm guilty of that myself. It is a good way to relax, read a book or just close your eyes and listen to the radio. But a two hour long shower was ridiculous. A thirty minute to an hour toilet visit is also not very realistic, especially since you have to do it at least a couple of times a day. So, what I'm very curious about is how The Sims 3 has changed. Today's standards almost certainly gave life to new graphics, sounds and accessories such as new clothes, furniture and decorations, but how about the game physics? Will I spend most of my life on the toilet or taking a shower or do I finally have some time to make friends, expand my knowledge and advance my career? There's just one way to find out: I have to dedicate some serious gaming time and see for myself what The Sims 3 is all about.