"The Sims" to move from PC screen to silver screen

SAN FRANCISCO, May 26 (Reuters) Maybe they can call it ''The Sims: The Movie.'' Electronic Arts Inc. has sold the movie rights for ''The Sims,'' the best-selling computer game, of all time to 20th Century Fox, Variety said yesterday.

''The Sims'' is one of EA's biggest franchises and, including sequels and expansions such as ''The Sims: House Party'' and ''The Sims: Vacation,'' has sold nearly 85 million copies since it debuted seven years ago.

Oft-described as a ''virtual dollhouse,'' the game puts players in charge of simulated people, helping them make friends, find satisfying jobs and buy household items in order to stay happy.

''The Sims has done an interactive version of an old story, which is what it's like to have infinite power and how do you deal with it,'' the Hollywood industry paper quoted Rod Humble, head of The Sims Studio at EA, as saying.

''The Sims'' was created by legendary game designer Will Wright, known for his quirky titles that eschew linear storylines in favour of letting players create and explore their own worlds.

Variety did not mention financial terms of the deal.

Spokesman for EA and Fox could not immediately be reached for comment. Fox is owned by News Corp.

REUTERS NC VC0920