The Urbz: Sims in the City Company: EA Games Recently, we got a chance to watch a producer walkthrough of The Urbz, EA's next incarnation of its popular Sims franchise. The Urbz takes The Sims out of the suburbs, and into the city. With this change of setting come new gameplay modes and challenges, giving players a fresh take on the series while keeping the game true to its roots. Unlike The Sims, which is concerned with trying to build the perfect life, The Urbz focuses on gaining rep points and building up street cred. The Urbz is broken up into nine distinct areas, including 125th Street, Gasoline Row and Central Station -- all of which were showcased in the demo. Each area is unique and features its own particular style. 125th Street is a hip-hop rooftop paradise, whereas Gasoline Row is a haven for bikers. In addition to having its own look, each area will also have its own challenges, such as jobs and mini-games. While on 125th street, the big craze is tamed ferrets, leaving you with the task of having to tame and box them. After taking the job, your Urb enters a mini-game that involves pressing buttons in sequence. The better you do at matching the sequences, the easier it will be to get the ferrets tamed, packed and shipped. Other jobs include stripping bikes and packing the parts in boxes and making piercings. The better an Urb is at their job, the more money they'll earn. More money equals better threads which help you earn a better rep. Each area has its own sub-culture that is more welcoming of certain looks. Some cultures like tattoos and leather while others don't, meaning that you'll have to dress the part depending on which setting you're in and who you're trying to impress. If you're trying to make friends in the Central Station area, which is a punk sub-culture, its probably not a good idea to wear your best hip-hop attire. Character customization is much more open to creativity in The Urbs. Not only can you put together your own unique outfits, but you have complete control over your Urb's body type and look. In addition to having a slew of pre-set body parts, you can also morph them to find just the right look you've always wanted. If you can't find the exact look you want for your Urb, then you're out of luck. Rep points can also be earned by completing mini-games. Like jobs, these are unique to the their particular levels. For example, while in Central Station you will be challenged to tag walls. Other games include playing darts, playing video games and dancing. There's even a Fight Club-like area where you can challenge other Urbs to a no holds barred cage match. Some mini-games require timing button presses while others are based on your Urb's mood and skill set. Having a little bit of luck also helps. Another form of mini-game is called a Power Social, which is a fast way of making friends and gaining rep points. After initiating a Power Social, your Urb will challenge another to things like chugging a soft drink. If you're successful, you'll gain a new friend, rep points and you may even unlock new areas, such as VIP areas which feature some of the better mini-games. As you gain friends and rep points, you?ll eventually be able to invite people to join your crew, which will become your family. With a unique blend of old school Sims action and fresh, new challenges, The Urbz looks poised to be just as big as its suburban cousin. Look for The Urbz later this year on all consoles and the PC. -Starscream, GameVortex Communications AKA Ricky Tucker Related Links: EA Games: Official Site The Urbz: Official Site