EA-Land to be shut down

End of the road for the former Sims Online.

In a blog post, EA has announced that it will be closing its virtual world EA-Land, formerly known as The Sims Online.

The game will shut down on 1st August. Subscription billing ends now, so the final 60 days of play will be free to all. PayPal cash-in for the game's currency is also cancelled with immediate effect.

EA-Land subscribers are offered a USD 15 dollar rebate on any game at the EA Store, or three months of Club Pogo subscription time, to help them get over their disappointment. Going by the comments threads, it won't go far.

The Sims Online launched in 2002, but never achieved the popularity expected of the Sims name. The EA-Land "experiment" in rebranding and re-designing it was only recently announced. Clearly, it hasn't been judged a success.

"Decisions such as these are never easy and the rationale for closing EA-Land is particularly complex," said Maxis' Luc Barthelet, the man behind the game's relaunch, before going on to thank players for their support. "It is hard to see the end of the collective investment of emotion, time and friendship."

Comments (21) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • KingOfIceland #1 4 years ago

    what the hell is Sims-online?
  • PearOfAnguish #2 4 years ago

    It's The Sims. Online.
  • TheWretched #3 4 years ago

    I tested it... and it was just crap, to be honest...

    In Sims, one of the "must have" features was to fast forward, when your character was working out or whatnot... this was not possible in TSO, thus making this game even MORE tedious than WoW!
  • neilka #4 4 years ago

    Bagsy the microwave
  • jaywalker3010 Verified Mastering Manager, Square Enix #5 4 years ago

    aww such a shame i signed up the original beta and the idea was great.. just time consuming, and i guess this rebrand didnt work.

    bye bye sims online
  • mingster #6 4 years ago

    This is a bit odd. The only announce the name change last month. Surely you would have to give it more than a month before deciding to shut the whole thing down. Seems weird.
  • CaptCastle #7 4 years ago

    "The only announce the name change last month."

    Maybe the name change was to move the game away from the Sims brand. Then when they close it there is a little less negative effect on the reputation of the Sims.
  • rudedudejude #8 4 years ago

    Surely if they did this properly it would be a massive storm online. Look at the success of the Sims for example - combined with social networking elements it could rocket.
  • Waffleaber #9 4 years ago

    I had no idea what this was, which seems rather odd considering it's EA who's marketing is usually as subtle and unnoticable as roadworks outside your bedroom window.
  • KingOfIceland #10 4 years ago

    Could you be a level 4 dwarf with 10+ microwaving skill and a Polo shirt with +5 dexterity bonus?

    Cause I'd play that
  • chrisjm #11 4 years ago

    it wasnt ever officialy released in the UK was it? because they knew it was carp.
  • sharky_ob #12 4 years ago

  • Redeye #13 4 years ago

    For a split second, I read that as 'EA to be shut down'. Ah, well.

    chrisjm: Or possibly some other type of fish. ;)
  • mingster #14 4 years ago

    lol @ chrisjm I think its more cod than carp.
  • Eraysor #15 4 years ago

    How long did that last? A month?!
  • superdelphinus #16 4 years ago

    I've haddock enough of these comments
  • Starman #17 4 years ago

    meh good riddens - the game they killed Earth & Beyond for.
  • AOFanboi #18 4 years ago

    Is this the third? Did MotorCity Online get as far out of the starting post that it could be considered to have launched? Or was it killed in beta?
  • DFawkes #19 4 years ago

    The problem was it was stil the Sims - I tried it, and it was still The Sims Online icons and Start Menu things, plus it wasn't very good. That didn't help.
  • Yeevle #20 4 years ago

    Loads of weird people played it too, I read some article about s&m clubs and the obvious kiddy fiddlers.
    That's what happens when old people play!
  • Bienchen08 #21 4 years ago

    To Whom It May Concern:

    The Sims Online/Ea Land owned and operated by Electronic Arts has officially notified its players that they will be closing the doors to the game as of August 1 ,2008 . In 2007 it was told that you were going to re-vamp the game , bring in new objects , fix the economy . Open all individual cities into one large map so we could all play together through out *Ea Land* You have brought new objects , You have brought in new ideas , we are all in the same map except Test Center 3 . You have had developers playing along with us in game to listen to our ideas , complaints.
    The game that had become boring had started to see new life . It has become fun again. You work , play , skill, making custom content . It has been a long road the last few months trying to survive the lag issues , updates, and new changes . But we have come together as a community and made a great game. We are just starting to enjoy our game and we get a post that TSO/EAL is being closed ....All of us gamers are shocked , devastated that EA has given up on us before the game has had a chance to grow .
    We have about 11k paying players and around 25 or 30k players total.
    This game has become an * out * if you will . for many people through out the world . We have been through death, marriages , babies being born , break ups, with our friends on here . We have in game weddings , couples . relationships.
    There are many players with disabilities that cant, walk or talk in real life , but in game they are normal , they can walk, talk, sing , swim , dance . We have in game Dj's that broadcast over internet radio. This game has become a great escape for a lot of people . To end this game it wont only hurt the online community it will hurt the real lives of these people . We have all shed our tears since we found out TSO was closing . Now we are trying everything in our power to keep the game going. Petitions, websites, media, phone calls , instant messages , all that i have spoken with have said they would pay more for their monthly subscription to TSO/EAL. I know if the developers were given more time they would have the best online game out there . We don't want Second Life which most call Sex City, We don't want war games , its way to much like real life. We just want our TSO/EAL . I know this isn't to much to ask ,and i know the fees are outrageous to keep this game running , But we the players * simmies* of TSO/EAL are worth it! Please don't give up on us . We need this game . There is no other like it !
    This game hasn't been given a fair chance since re-creating to Ea Land. I think you need to give us a year to make this the game what it should be .
    My Parent's have always told me ....You must spend money to make money.. This is true in every aspect of life . So spend a little and let's get TSO back to where it needs to be . Lets have ads in commercials, newspapers, radio stations , gaming magazines as well as other magazine's. We all feel Ea hasn't given their best to make this game work . We just want a fair chance . Don't end a game that means so much to so many players . We may just be 9.99 to you but we are all humans and depend on this game in one-way or another.
    Increase the subscription price , give the 14 day free trail with unlimited game play , so people will want to subscribe, a free game with limited play isn't going get someone to subscribe , they are just going to stay in tc3 and live it up there for FREE. That's not helping the company or the player's, All we ask is for 1 year to bring in new players and to make this game work, Have any of you top officials every sat down and played the game . Well take the time to do it now and you will see the devastation in the game .
    Please take the time to check out these sites where players are trying to save TSO.

    [link url=http://www.playercamp aigns.com
    ]http://www.playercamp aigns.com
    [/link]

    sims.stratics.com

    http://www.pe titiononline.com/kl5c3854/ ... -sign.html

    Please hear our pleas for our simmie world .
    Thank you for your time in this matter ,
    The Simmie Movement Team