"Deck the Halls" of Your Virtual Homes with the Special Holiday Edition of The Sims 2.

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Nov. 15, 2005 - Celebrate the spirit of the season with The Sims 2 Holiday Edition! Today, Electronic Arts announced that The Sims 2 Holiday Edition, a special version of the world's most popular PC game will hit store shelves across North America on November 17th. Rated "T" for Teen by the ESRB, the game is the perfect stocking stuffer for everyone on your gift list!

Available for a limited time only and listed at the same manufacturers suggested retail price as the original version, The Sims 2 Holiday Edition contains the original critically acclaimed game, The Sims 2, in its entirety, plus 40 new holiday-themed items that allow your Sims to celebrate the holidays in style. With this bonus content, a $14.99 value, your Sims can decorate their house, serve a festive holiday dinner, witness Santa's arrival and even host a happening New Year's party!

A Holiday Gift That Fits Everyone
The Sims 2 Holiday Edition makes a great gift for all your friends andfamily. The Sims franchise is recognized for being one of the few game brands to achieve popularity across all ages and genders. This widespread appeal has resulted in incredible success, with a string of top-selling games and combined sales exceeding 58M units worldwide.

The appeal of The Sims 2 is that the game is whatever you make it! The gameplay experience follows the day-to-day life of the Sims characters that you create and control over an entire lifetime. Players enjoy participating in all the ups and downs of their Sims' lives - from the big events such as falling in love or building their first house to the more sentimental moments such as putting up their family's first Christmas tree and hosting a holiday dinner!

Key Features of The Sims 2:

* Create-A-Sim
The Create-a-Sim feature allows you to combine your choices from a vast selection of facial features, hairstyles and outfits, to create the Sims you most want to play, make your own family and friends or invent someone on the fly-you can even create your own celebrity look-alikes!

* Aspirations
Help your Sims fulfill their lifelong aspirations, they can seek popularity, fortune, romance, family, or knowledge-their choices are in your hands. Mix their genes, fulfill their dreams, and push them to extremes.

* Customization
Create and control every aspect of your Sims' world from their homes to the community shops or design an entire neighborhood from scratch! You won't need a degree in architecture to build dream homes and design neighborhoods with the easy-to-use building, design, and home furnishing options. And now, with holiday-themed bonus content from The Sims 2 Holiday Edition, you can even hang a stocking over the fireplace!

For Owners of The Sims 2 (PC)

Fans who already own The Sims 2 for PC won't be left out in the cold this holiday season! For $14.99, The Sims 2 Holiday Party Pack offers only the bonus content--from merry to scary-without having to re-purchase the full game. There are two ways to purchase The Sims 2 Holiday Party Pack! Order a CD from the EA Store or for more immediate gratification; purchase a download of The Sims 2 Holiday Party Pack. By downloading, owners of The Sims 2 save money on shipping, and spare themselves the wait to the mailbox!

Jason's Comments: They better not allow you to wall up Santa and let him die. Evil EA!