While I was at EA almost a year ago I was invited to a very small and very private focus group about a new Sims game which was being developed. I was of course bound by Non Disclosure Agreements disallowing me from talking about the discussions (and still am), but I'm happy to see that what we discussed has made it to a full release to be called 'The Sims: Medieval'. It seems that not very much has been released about the game yet so this may be the first you hear of it, but it certainly won't be the last!
The Sims: Medieval is not an expansion or stuff pack, it's a standalone game more along the lines of The Sims: Life Stories, but a major departure from The Sims 3 and the way of life we have come to know in our beloved games. The Sims: Medieval is played more like an RPG than a simulator, with players choosing from one of ten 'hero' characters which they will control as they play out quests to further themselves in the game. The professions include Blacksmith, Bard, Knight, Merchant, Monarch, Physician, Priests, Spy and even Wizard.
There will be no build mode as we know it, but players will be able to expand their castles, houses etc by adding modules. The Create a Sim that we all know and love remains in a basic form for setting up your characters but the game is far removed the modern day worlds we play out today in Sims 3. All the technology you know is gone. Food prep is back to basics and even carrier pigeons are used as your only form of communication.
So The Sims: Medieval is then, very much not just The Sims 3 with old world objects and styles, it's a completely new way to play the game, focussed on quests and objectives in a way not seen in the franchise to date.
According to Rod Humble, Executive VP of EA Play, this will be the first of a series of similar releases which sees The Sims explore "themes, space and time".
The Sims: Medieval is set in a period of time which allows for rich and varied stories to evolve, many of which will be either based on or heavily influenced by the religions of the time (as it was in real life). You will be able to choose to not have any religious influence, or to experience Jacoban or Peteran Churches (or both). This will greatly affect the way your kingdom operates and is one for the more RTS like elements of the game.
Information is sketchy at the moment and the images I have found so far are courtesy of magazine scans from PC Format, but I am hoping to get the very latest info and screens from EA some time soon. Maybe we will even get the chance to do a full preview, so let's keep our fingers crossed for that.
