Sims 3 embraces consoles (and handhelds too)

EA's mega franchise, Sims, is getting even more mega in the Autumn, when the iconic PC game Sims 3 makes its debut on PS3, XBox 360, the Wii and Nintendo DS.

EA is tailoring Sims 3 to each platform, with exclusive features to allow for even more control, creativity and connectivity."

Which is nice.

The new platforms all get a new feature called "Karma Powers" that "makes it easier than ever to mess with life. Players can help their Sim 'get lucky', bless them with 'instant beauty' or be deviant and curse them with an 'epic fail'.

"But players should use these powers wisely", counsels EA, for they "may have unexpected results and karma may come back to bite".

Connectivity is emphasised for the PS3 and Xbox 360 - with Facebook hook-ins and a Web 2.0 sprinkling of sharing creations and downloading content from other players around the world "without ever leaving the game". Ominous.

Of course none of this is free - you'll need an EA online account, as well as Playstation Network or Xbox 360 Live accounts.

Onto the Wii, which gets it very own all new Sims 3 beach town with unique residents and so on. Also, players can go head to head in a new "Life moments" game to earn rewards.

Lastly and, we suspect for most reghardware readers, leastly, Nintendo DS players can use the stylus to build their Sims' homes, sculpt their Sims's facial features and so on.

Leastly for EA is another handheld platform, the Sony PSP. No plans there, it seems. Sims 3 for the iPhone has been out for nearly a year.