SimCityâ„¢ Social fans find a balance between temptation and reason when the Mercedes-Benz A-Class vehicle rolls in to their game this summer. Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA) today announced a partnership with Mercedes-Benz of Europe that provides exclusive in-game items to SimCity Social players worldwide excluding North America and Canada. SimCity Social, which launches worldwide very soon, is a close collaboration between two award-winning studios at Maxis and Playfish and combines the best of social gaming with the depth and creativity that embodies the SimCity franchise.
“SimCity Social‘s distinctive style of humor is derived from its fun, quirky and spontaneous gameplay mechanics that exude the essence of the franchise,†said Jami Laes, Vice President of Global Studios at Playfish. “With the integration of Mercedes-Benz, we’ve added a layer of fun realism that enables our fans to bring their favorite brands into their games. We evaluate every partnership to see what the added value is for our fans and the gameplay. Mercedes-Benz plays extremely well into the city building and player customization that SimCity Social embodies.â€
Players who complete Mercedes-Benz specific quests will be gifted exclusive items such as a Mercedes-Benz factory that will provide additional gameplay options. On top of this, branded A-Class vehicles will add even more heart, soul and distinctive style to their cities.
“The new A-Class stands for the pulse of a new generation that is breaking away from the conventional, making it the perfect fit for the engaging city-building game SimCity Social,†says Anders Sundt Jensen, Vice President Brand Communications Mercedes-Benz Cars. “Moreover, the integration of the Mercedes-Benz brand into a social game is a logical step in our communication strategy, which incorporates social media as an integral component. Electronic Arts is the perfect partner for this venture. Like Mercedes-Benz, the company stands for technical innovation, fascinating entertainment and attention to detail.â€
SimCity Social takes city-building on Facebook to the next level by empowering mayors to make meaningful decisions that will allow them to create, customize and evolve unique cities with soul. In SimCity Social, there are no set linear paths to follow; player-driven decisions determine how these cities evolve – unleashing the player’s creativity. Taking on the role as mayor, players will deal with unforeseen, simulation-driven issues like fires, crime and pollution, and it’ll be up to players to make crucial decisions that will help them discover how these cities take shape. Social interactions in SimCity Social go far beyond just visiting friends’ cities or using them as resources to complete tasks. For the first time in a social city-building game, players can choose to build mutually beneficial relationships with other cities or establish intense, deeply rooted rivalries. With multiple options for city growth and city-to-city relationships, players will see recognizable changes that bring forth aesthetic and gameplay alterations based on the decisions made in the game – for better or for worse.
Car fanatics can visit www.facebook.com/simcitysocial to find out more about the Mercedes-Benz partnership and how they can add the Mercedes-Benz factory and other items to their cities. The partnership will have a limited run during the summer of 2012.
About SimCity Franchise
SimCity Social arrives on the heels of the announcement of SimCity for PC which is currently in development at the world-renowned Maxis studio in Emeryville, Calif. For more than two decades, the king of city-building simulators has sworn in millions of virtual mayors from around the world. With its return in 2013, SimCity will engage an entirely new generation of PC gamers as they take charge of their own customized cities and build a world that co-exists alongside friends. For the first time in SimCity franchise history, players’ decisions will have long-lasting repercussions that will extend beyond their city limits. Together, players will address real global challenges such as climate change, the search for renewable resources and natural disasters. It’s up to the players to decide whether to compete or collaborate to shape the world of tomorrow – for better or for worse.
SimCity for PC is expected to be a PEGI 12+; please see www.pegi.info for more information. To stay up-to-date on the latest regarding SimCity please visit www.SimCity.com. Press assets for SimCity are available at www.info.ea.com
About Mercedes Benz
Mercedes-Benz is the most valuable premium automotive brand. As the world’s oldest automotive manufacturer its pioneering work has been shaping the future of mobility. The star symbolizes the perfect union of fascination and responsibility in a way that is unequaled by any other trademark in the automotive world. True to Gottlieb Daimler’s maxim ‘The best or nothing’, Mercedes-Benz is using its great innovative power to continually define new milestones in terms of vehicle drive systems, safety, comfort, and design.
About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA) is a global leader in digital interactive entertainment. The Company delivers games, content and online services for Internet-connected consoles, personal computers, mobile phones, tablets and social networks. EA has more than 220 million registered players and operates in 75 countries.
In fiscal 2012, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $4.1 billion. Headquartered in Redwood City, California, EA is recognized for a portfolio of critically acclaimed, high-quality blockbuster brands such as The Simsâ„¢, Madden NFL, FIFA Soccer, Need for Speedâ„¢, Battlefieldâ„¢ and Mass Effectâ„¢. More information about EA is available at http://info.ea.com.
The Sims, SimCity and Need for Speed are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. Mass Effect is a trademark of EA International (Studio and Publishing) Ltd. Battlefield is a trademark of EA Digital Illusions CE AB. John Madden, NFL and FIFA are the property of their respective owners and used with permission. Facebook is a registered trademark of Facebook, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.