Today EA has announced the first expansion for The Sims 3. Coming in the week of 16 November is World Adventures, in which Sims will leave Sunset Valley or Riverview to explore new grounds. The Sims' General Manager Scott Evans makes a big promise by saying it is one of the most robust expansion packs for the Sims series yet. Similar to Vacation (Sims 1) and Bon Voyage (Sims 2), there will be three locations to travel to: China, France and Egypt. Sims will be able to explore culture, chase down opportunities and search for treasure. The game will ship with 1,000 Simpoints for the Sims Store. In 2010 the game will also be released for iPhone and iPod Touch. Read on for the full press release, or check the pictures below by clicking the thumbnails.

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. - The Sims are off on an adventure to famous destinations around the world! The EA Play Label of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced that The Sims™ 3 World Adventures, the first expansion pack to the #1 best-selling PC and MAC game in June 2009, The Sims 3, is in development and will ship to retailers worldwide the week of November 16, 2009.

“We’re thrilled with the global success of The Sims 3 over these last few months and are looking forward to expanding on the gameplay experience with one of the most robust expansion packs to The Sims yet,” said Scott Evans, General Manager of The Sims at EA. “Players will be able to take their Sims on the adventure of a lifetime and explore lands outside of Sunset Valley and Riverview, pursue thrilling new life destinies in locations around the world inspired by famous destinations, and immerse themselves in the open-ended gameplay where they’ll discover new cities in China, France, and Egypt, and share new stories.”

Players can take their Sims on new journeys to famous real-world inspired destinations around the globe for the first time ever and seek out new adventures. While exploring the landmarks of an exotic city, there is no telling what the Sims will find. From mastering martial arts in Shang Simla, China, discovering rich culture and famous landmarks on a romantic getaway to Champs Les Sims, France or exploring the depths of ancient tombs in Al Simhara, Egypt, players can take their Sims on a journey that will change their Sims’ lives. Players can accept challenges to search for secret treasures, learn new skills and chase down new personal opportunities, meet new Sims with unique personalities, share their culture and bring them home, discover new styles on their travels, and share everything they encounter on their adventures with the world through personal photographs, movies, and stories. Additionally, players will receive 1,000 SimPoints to be used online in The Sims 3 Store for the PC/MAC versions of the game. Exclusive online content, available only for the expansion pack at launch, will be revealed soon.

The Sims 3 World Adventures will also be available for feature phones, the iPhone™ and iPod touch® in early 2010 from EA Mobile™. These versions will have customized mobile gameplay features which will be revealed in the coming months. For information on carrier availability and pricing for all EA Mobile games, please visit www.eamobile.com.