The Sims 3 Island Paradise Trailer Has Houseboats, Scuba-Diving, and a Mermaid

EA has a new trailer for the upcoming Sims 3 expansion pack The Sims 3 Island Paradise, in which Sims will be able to live in their own steerable houseboats, scuba-dive, and more. The beginning of the trailer offers a glimpse of these houseboats, after a few shots of Sims water-skiing across the sea. The houseboats can dock at any empty port, but your Sims will also be able to steer them around, in whatever direction they choose. You'll be able to build these houseboats from a variety of templates, though the speedy construction footage in the trailer comes with the warning that “not all images represent actual gameplay”.

The world of Island Paradise has a strong tropical theme, with sunny islands covered in a variety of flora and fauna. Sims can explore these “uncharted islands”, and even check out the colourful world beneath the water. A scuba-dive might take your Sim close to a shark, or they might find a treasure chest.

Back on dry land, this expansion will apparently let you run a tropical retreat. The one in the trailer has a swimming pool with a pool-side bar, the barstools submerged so that Sims don't even have to dry off to get a cocktail. Those who worry for their safety can rely on the lifeguard, who apparently runs like David Hasselhoff (though that may well be artistic licence on the part of whoever edited the trailer) and is willing to give the kiss of life.

And then, right at the end, we get a brief glimpse of a MerSim (disclaimer: I have no idea if this is what they'll be called in the game, but I'd say it's a pretty good guess).

The Sims 3 Island Paradise is due to launch on June 28. Given the large number of expansion packs that exist for The Sims 3, will you be willing to pay up for this one?