Play The Sims Online early
You know you want to
As with Earth & Beyond and Command & Conquer Generals, Electronic Arts will be conducting an online play test before the official release of The Sims Online, although due to the popularity of the game (most popular PC game ever don't you yawn know), play testing will be by invitation only.
If you want to get in on the action, you should sign up for The Sims Online Newsletter and sit by your Inbox waiting to hear. Those lucky, lucky people who find themselves invited to join in will need to pay a $5 shipping and handling charge for the two-CD set. It's not clear if the play test is limited to US citizens only, but the signup form for the newsletter seems happy for you to join in from as far afield as Upper Volta or Vatican City, so our guess is that it's an open test.
The Sims Online is due out in November.