'Sims 3' now a portable addiction

Score: DS (84/100), Xbox/PlayStation 3 (78/100)

U.S. worker productivity is expected to nosedive this week as Electronic Arts releases, for the first time, a version of "Sims 3″ for the portable Nintendo DS and the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 consoles.

For the uninitiated, the Sims games give players control of a virtual dollhouse and its inhabitants. Unlike most games, there’s no plot. The goal is to keep your Sim alive and happy. Buying new furniture, getting a pay raise or scoring a significant other is sure to put a smile on a Sim’s face.

Sims 3 for the DS is a pint-sized time-waster sure to please those on the go. It’s surprising how much developers crammed into the tiny game cartridge: Sim creation, an open world environment (no more forced storylines) and even the ability to design and build a custom crib.

Some things had to be left out, obviously, including several skills, traits and careers, but the DS version of Sims 3 is almost as addictive as its big brother.

A few minor problems hold the DS version back, most notably the inability to advance time rapidly enough while at work. Ten minutes doesn’t seem like a long time, but it’s frustrating to be able to do nothing except stare at the exterior of a Sim office building. And the town, even the disco at midnight, seems deserted, making it difficult to find new friends.

The tutorial mode is excellent for newcomers and the touchscreen interface rocks. DS players will not miss the mouse.

The same can’t be said for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions. Anyone who’s ever played the PC or DS game will find the console controls clumsy.

Visually, the Xbox version is close to that of an average PC, but load times seem excessive and occasionally the game pauses, especially when trying to keep track of more than one Sim.

Also released is an expansion pack, “Late Night,” which adds bars, careers (musician, actor, dancer, etc.) and even vampires to the PC and Mac version of Sims 3. Those with a musical bent will enjoy the musician career, which allows the player to find other musicians, form a band (and name it!), and play out at several added nightclubs.

At last report, “Cash Flag” hooked up with “Sugar Bijou” to form Sugar & Cash, but juggling schedules made it difficult to achieve super-stardom. Nonetheless, paparazzi kept showing up outside Cash’s log cabin to take pictures while he tried to catch enough fish to pay for a laptop. That’s a Sim’s life for you.

Rated: Everyone