The Sims overtakes Myst

Electronic Arts has announced that The Sims, the virtual-life game created by Will Wright and Maxis, has sold more than 6.3 million copies worldwide to become the best-selling PC game of all time. The previous record was held by Myst, the graphical adventure game released by Broderbund in 1993.

The Sims, which was released in February 2000, lets players create a neighborhood of simulated people and control their lives. The game was the best-selling game of 2000 and 2001, and it has been translated into 13 different languages. The game's success has inspired the release of three expansion packs: The Sims: Livin' Large, The Sims: House Party, and The Sims: Hot Date. The combined sales of The Sims and all its expansions have exceeded 13 million units. On March 26, EA will release a fourth add-on, The Sims: Vacation, which will let players take their sims on a trip to an island with three different settings.

"Reaction to The Sims by both customers and critics have exceeded our most ambitious expectations," said EA president John Riccitiello. "The Sims has become a cultural phenomenon. Its worldwide appeal spans hard-core gamers, casual computer users, and even gaming's most elusive group of consumers, women. Over 50 percent of new Sims players are female."

In addition to the retail expansions, players have access to additional free add-ons, including new household objects and character clothing sets, on the game's official Web site. For more information about The Sims, take a look at our complete archive of Sims-related coverage.