Maxis cancels 'Sims' sequel

Maxis, a subsidiary of video and PC game giant Electronic Arts, confirmed Monday that it has canceled "Simsville," the planned sequel to the smash computer game "The Sims." "Simsville" would have expanded the basic concept of "The Sims"--in which players manage all aspects of a household--to let players run a small town.

In an interview with GameSpot, Maxis marketing director Patrick Buechner said the cancelation was due to intrinsic design flaws in "Simsville" and the incorporation of key "Simsville" elements into "Hot Date," an upcoming expansion pack for "The Sims." Plans are still on track for "The Sims Online," a massive online community based on "The Sims" and set to debut next year.