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Electronic Arts has announced the release date for The Sims 3 with its new, open neighborhood: February 20, 2009.

At the Leipzig Games Convention, Electronic Arts has announced the release date The Sims 3, the latest follow-up in the company's virtual world, simulated environment franchise. The Sims 3 will hit stores and electronic retailers February 20, 2009, after the end-of-year holiday buying season.

The Sims 3 will launch on the Windows platform, and feature an open living neighborhood where players can explore new surroundings including a beach, mountains, and a town center. The neighborhood will be constantly changing as players add new content and modify their own homes. Sims will also have more highly-developed personalities, featuring new personality traits like altruism, bravery, romanticism…and even kleptomania. Players will be able to combine traits in any way they like to create diverse and unique individuals.

Players will also be able to customize almost every aspect of their Sims' appearance, including hair color, skin tone, and body shape. Sims can also have short-term and long-term goals, based on career choices and personality traits: players earn rewards by achieving their goals.

The Sims 3 will be available in a standard edition, as well as a limited Collectors' Edition that will include a Plumbob USB drive, an exclusive in-game Italian-style sports car, a hints and tips guide, and The Sims 3 Plumbob stickers.

The Sims franchise has proven lucrative for EA, with more than 100 million units sold since the first Sims game debuts in early 2000. The game is now available in 22 languages and in more than 60 million countries.