SimsVille (lost build of cancelled "SimCity" and "The Sims" PC crossover game; 2000-2001)

The game's logo at the end of a trailer.

Status: Lost

SimsVille is a cancelled 2000-2001 PC crossover game of SimCity and The Sims that was to be developed by Maxis and was to be published by Electronic Arts. Before the game was cancelled, the game was shown at E3 2001^[1] and was announced to be released in early 2002.^[2]

Gameplay

From what was announced and shown about the game, the gameplay of SimsVille was going to be similar to The Sims overall, but with a big city aspect inspired by SimCity. The player could import their custom-made Sim families to the new game. However, instead of players directly controlling the Sims lives, they instead have to respond to their needs and wants (like buying things for them), while expanding the Sims' neighborhood with more shops, buildings and houses.

Cancellation and Availability

Though a trailer for the game was available as a sneak preview on SimCity 3000 Unlimited and The Sims: Livin' Large CDs as well as a demo at E3 2001, the game was cancelled in September 2001 due to Maxis' decision to focus more on expansion packs for The Sims in response to its surprising success.^[3]

Though the game was cancelled, some later games in the series applied some aspects of the game, including a downtown area in The Sims expansion pack The Sims: Hot Date, the feedback from citizens gimmick was used in the 2003 PC city simulator game SimCity 4, and the 3D view of the neighborhood was used in the 2004 follow-up to the original game, The Sims 2.

In spite of this, no builds of SimsVille have been leaked to the public and all that exists online about the game are some screenshots and its trailers.