The Sims 3 Leaked with Earthquake?

Pirates don’t Pre-order? Or do they?

There are several reports and screenshots circulating around the internet around the unexpected release of The Sims 3. The game has surfaced on some bittorrent sites and has been downloaded by 1300 people at the time of this post. Several screenshots on a popular image board show that this leak was real. This included fulfilling requests made by others to verify they were actually playing it.

With these screenshots some minor tidbits have been revealed.

• Some described how the game runs much smoother than The Sims 2.
• Newspapers can actually be read in popups. Stories remind me of Simcity 2000.
• Junkie XL is back.
• You can actually troll on a forum on the computer.
• Someone may respond to your forum post.
• Something resembling EA’s Skate and Madden can be played as a video game.
• A 60s style Diner.

Unfortunately for EA, we don’t know what stance they will take on future games. I do applaud them for removing SecuRom from the physical copy of the game (SecuROM still exists in the digital copy) after the backlash they received from Spore. However, it’s uncertain whether this leak will have a huge impact on sales of the game. Please don’t post any links here, we’re not that kind of site.

Is the leaked copy the final build?

It’s official! The leaked copy is not the final build!

The leak is not the final retail version because…

• Mouse pointer graphical bugs.
  • Debunked: A bug that occurs during the use of Fraps.
• Several glaring bugs in the game.
  • Some players were unable to kill a Sim in a fire while others were able to do it. -May 20th
  • Fast Forward Speed Malfunctions.
  • If Story Progression is disabled, it appears to have no effect.
• Handful of objects released in the game.
  • Debunked: The Sims 3 store will release the remaining items.

May 18th:

As the buzz spreads to more and more forums, players have described this leak as some sort of preview version. Rumours have swirled where players have described only seeing a handful of objects available. It seems EA will be selling the rest of the objects in the Sims 3 store.  We’re also wondering  about several posts regarding the mechanics of death. It seems some players are unable to kill their sims in a fire.

It could be possible that this leak may have been given out for the gaming magazines for their “hands on” experience but we can’t confirm if this is the case.

May 19th:

There’s some arguments regarding if the release is the “retail” version or an earlier preview build. They have pretty much figured it’s not a demo. EA has been taking down “some” leaked footage on Youtube, claiming copyright infringement.

May 20th

Two gaming review sites with legit copies of the game stated they had a preview build (bit-tech.com and eurogamer.de). It’s still uncertain if the leaked copy is the same version the gaming sites reviewed. More arguments whether the game is retail or not.

May 22nd

Leaked copy is not final build!

Coincidentally there was a 5.0 earthquake in Sourthern California, then GOD proceeded to say…