Celebrity Sim

EA's next Sims expansion will let players lead the life of a celebrity, with all the benefits and privacy disadvantages of your average Michael Douglas or Catherine Zeta-Jones. The Sims Superstar is the latest in a line of expansions which includes Livin' Large, House Party, Hot Date, Vacation and, most recently, The Sims Unleashed.

Superstar lets you cultivate your Sims into rock stars, movie stars or supermodels, with several gameplay changes and the typical introduction of a new in-game destination.

The latest destination to welcome The Sims is Studio Town, a customisable hotbed of TV and movie lots, spa locations, recording studios and fashion facilities. Players follow their Sims to work for the first time, so they can schmooze with their agents, network and name drop their way to stardom.

A new cast of characters includes a fashion designer, record producer and movie director, who will offer career critique, while butlers, sushi chefs and even a masseuse will all be on 24 hour standby to fluff pillows and generally pamper the celebrity Sims.

However, life isn't a breeze for celebs, and despite new creature comforts like a skydiving simulator, satellite dish and poncy art and furniture collections, Sims will have to put up with paparazzi, groupies and the occasional obsessed fan before they can settle down for a nice day in the spa (complete with mud treatments, steam baths, massages and an oxygen bar).

At three years old, The Sims is still going strong, and Superstar is just as bound for chart stardom as the Sims themselves. "The Sims have lived extreme lives, thrown outrageous parties, gone on hot dates, traveled to vacation destinations and owned pets. Now it's time for them to follow their dreams of making it big," says producer Jonathan Knight.

The Sims Superstar is set for release in May.