It's been a rough year for us all. It's not getting any easier at Electronic Arts. They plan on cutting 1,500 jobs and downsizing their product lineup. Which lines are going have no been announced. It's safe to say "Madden" and "The Sims" games won't be going anywhere.

The second piece of news is the purchase of Playfish. Facebook users may be familiar with their work. Playfish developed "Restaurant City," "Country Story," and "Pet Society." These are free online games.

EA will make their money through Playfish by selling points used to buy virtual goods. Not a scene that is new to EA. They have opened stores with virtual goods for both "The Sims 2" and "The Sims 3." Plus, add-on packs have been released for the iPod/iPhone version of "The Sims 3." It's a smart move for EA to shift towards microtransactions. Small purchases add up fast. "Restaurant City's" strong following makes it the perfect place to start.

• Electronic Arts Plans to Cut 1,500 Jobs - NY Times
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• "The Sims 3" Series

I was browsing gaming headlines when Electricpig's new article caught my eye. Ten worst gaming spin-offs as the title, with "The Sims 2 Ikea Stuff" in the blurb. Huh? They couldn't be serious. That was one of my favorite stuff packs. As far as stuff packs go...

"The Sims 2 Ikea Stuff" wouldn't have been top of my list. A casual game based on "The Apprentice" was a big disappointment. The stuff pack is award-winning quality compared to that one. Plus there's the Desperate Housewives game that didn't win many fans either.

Anyone else have a game that was a disappointment to them? Spin-off or not.

• ElectricPig - Worst Gaming Spin-Offs
• "The Sims 2 Ikea Stuff"

Just when I thought I had enough Facebook games to keep me busy, EA goes and releases a "Spore" game. "Spore Islands" is a simplistic version of "Spore." It's one stage of the game, made into a Flash game.

You design a creature by picking out a body, legs, eyes, and a mouth. Then after picking attributes (defense, weight, etc), you send your creature into the wild (or an observation) and hope it earns the most points. The observation screen reminds me of Pac-Man. You watch your creature eat or avoid other creatures (computer or ones created by your friends) to eat plants from a top-down view.

"Spore Islands" isn't the best Facebook game, and it surely isn't the worst. None of my friends have joined yet. I'm sure it has to be more watching your creature race around friends, rather than random wild ones.

• Play "Spore Island - Facebook

Options are expected by sim players. Seeing "The Sims 3" come with only one world was disappointing (you can download another at thesims3.com). Come December that will all change. EA is releasing the Create A World tool. The Sims Resource got a preview. They say it looks technical and think only a few will be able to master it.

We will have to wait. It won't be out until sometime in December.

• The Sims 3 Create A World Preview
• "The Sims 3" Downloads

There isn't an official tool or forum to share brand new objects for "The Sims 3." The Sims Resource, a web site devoted to "The Sims" since its release, developed a program to import and export files. For the unique items, you'll have to visit fan sites. You don't need to download recolors of original objects. Just use the Create-A-Style tool to change colors (accessed through edit button in Build mode).

Which is your favorite to download so far? Furniture, clothes, or hair? For me, it's been clothes. I rotate through clothes often.

• "The Sims 3" Furniture Downloads
• "The Sims 3" Clothes

The first expansion for "The Sims 3" is due out November 17th. Less than a month away, kids! To sweeten the expansion, EA is going to give you "new Explorer's Loot content" when you register, plus 1,000 simpoints to use in the store.

What has everyone picked out from the store? Or have you not used your 1,000 points from "The Sims 3." I bought a bookcase. Now I'm thinking about the kid's animal bedroom set.

• "The Sims 3 World Adventures" Screenshots - new Grim Reaper Bloopers

EA has a tradition of having popular singers and groups take one of their songs make a Simlish version (the language spoken by Sims). I hadn't heard of the artists in the last few games. I'm happy to report I knew a few of the names on the list. Hopefully you will too. Though, not knowing the artists hasn't stopped me from enjoying the game.

• LeAnn Rimes - "You've Ruined Me"
• Fefe Dobson - "I Want You"
• Katie Melua - "If the lights go out"
• Madina Lake - "Lets Get Outta Here"
• Manchester Orchestra - "I've Got Friends"
• Natalie Portman's Shaved Head - "Me + Yr Daughter"
• Esme Denters - "Outta Here"
• Hot Chelle Rae - "Say"
• Audrye Sessions - "Turn Me Off"
• Metalkpretty - "Wake Up, Wake Up"
• Evan Taubenfeld - "Pumpkin Pie"
• Friday Night Boys - "Can't Take That Away"
• Cassie Steele - "Summer Nights"
• Broken Heart College - "Na Na Na"
• Nelly Furtado - "Manos al Aire"
• Pixie Lott - "Mama Do"
• Stefanie Heinzmann - "No One (Can Ever Change My Mind)"
• Matt & Kim - "Daylight"
• Young Punx - "Juice and Sim"

Everywhere in "The Sims 3 World Adventures" that is. The expansion, due out in November, has our Sims practicing martial arts in China. EA released a news release today with some of the martial arts interactions.

Train: Sims will train at The Phoenix Academy of Martial Arts in China. Or while they are home Training Dummy, Board Breaker, and books will help them tune their skills.

Practice: Sparring with build new friendships and skills, while earning new belts.

Center: Sims will have the ability to mediate.

Master: Master Martial Artists can summon "magical elements."

Teach: Masters can teach other Sims martial arts.

Screenshot © Electronic Arts.

Hey "Sims 2" players! EA has another collection pack to complete your collection of expansions and stuff packs. The collection is $19.99 and comes with two stuff packs and one expansion. The packs are: "The Sims 2 H&M Stuff," "The Sims 2 Open for Business," and "The Sims 2 Kitchen and Bath Design." This one could be a good one to put on your wish list.

Or for new objects, you could skip the packs and browse "The Sims 2" downloads.

• Compare Prices for "The Sims 2 Best of Business Collection

"Spore" is moving from our computer screens to movie theaters. Century Fox and EA are working together to create the movie. It will be in good hands. Chris Wedge, directer of "Ice Age," is in the forefront of the creation.

"Spore" is a game of evolution from a single cell to civilization complete with space exploration. It would seem the obvious route for the movie to take would be to follow an organism from its beginning to conquering the universe.

No news on a release date or storyline has been released.

• "Spore" - Reviews, Screenshots
• AFP News