The Sims Social will launch this summer on Facebook in five languages. You’ll get to create a brand-new Sim, build it a home and then play with your real-life friends.

EA Play announced that this title would have a companion mobile app available so that you don’t have to constantly nurse Facebook — you’ll be able to fulfill your Sim’s wants and needs on the go.

In the game, you’ll be able to engage with every aspect of your character’s social life, including moments like the all-important first kiss. And, of course, this is Facebook, so you’ll be helping your friends with tasks. You might (cough) even make some Woohoo with them. Yeah. That could get awkward. But your Sim can take on your personality.

“Just like you and me, The Sims is now on Facebook,” said Jeff Karp, Executive Vice President of EA Play. “EA invented people simulation games with The Sims. Over the last decade, The Sims has sold in excess of 140 million units and spawned an active fan community that has grown into the millions. These fans are all enthusiastic, passionate individuals living out their dreams, adventures and fantasies, and expressing their creativity. As The Sims moves to Facebook, their personalities shine through more than ever. The game is alive, brimming with the humor, romance, mischief and creativity that only The Sims can provide.”

To learn more before the game’s launch, you can check out the game’s Facebook page, naturally.

Electronic Arts Logo

Just days after cutting 1,500 jobs, Electronic Arts says it’s hiring and looking to add staff to “maintain capacity”.

Chief Financial Officer, Eric Brown, said at a BMO Capital Markets Digital Entertainment Conference that, “We will be hiring back positions in low-cost locations to maintain capacity.”

Part of the company’s strategy seems to be hiring and going overseas to low-cost areas, such as Asia. Most of the cuts were all made in North America.

Brown also spoke about the purchase of Playfish. He said that he believes the future is in digitally distributed games and in the revenue model for virtual goods and microtransactions.

Electronic Arts seems to be looking to expand their portfolio to include social games. Today we have confirmed reports that EA has bought Playfish for over $250m.

Playfish will operate within EA Interactive, the division that is focused on web and mobile.

“Social gaming, with its emphasis on friends and community, is seeing tremendous growth and this is the right time to invest to strengthen our participation in this space,” said Barry Cottle, Senior Vice President and General Manager of EA Interactive.

“EAi has been successfully leading the charge for EA, and with the addition of proven expertise from Playfish, their broad consumer base and strong game brands, we’re moving ahead aggressively in our plans to lead in the category of cross-platform social entertainment.”

Kristian Segerstrale, CEO and Co-founder of Playfish added: “The industry is undergoing dramatic transformation and joining EA is the ideal opportunity for us to push forward our goals to lead in the social entertainment evolution on a faster and much larger scale,” said

“EAi’s vision and entrepreneurial culture are consistent with our own, and together, we are in position to be the company that defines new and innovative connected experiences that will change the way people play games.”

Playfish has Facebook games like Pet Society, Bowling Buddies, Geo Challenge, Quiztastic, Word Challenge and more.

Playfish

There are alot of people looking for jobs right now, so we love to highlight companies that are hiring, particularly ones in the gaming industry. Playfish, a social gaming company, announced that they are opening a new development studio in San Francisco. The studio will be looking for local talent to help people play games together on social platforms.

You can find out more about the office and what jobs they are looking to fill here.

“Playfish and the Bay Area are both known for their cultures of excellence, attracting the best and brightest talent and a San Francisco studio enables us to benefit from the region’s skilled workforce,” says Kristian Segerstrale, CEO and Co-founder of Playfish. “Through our new team in San Francisco we plan to extend Playfish’s creative and collaborative culture and find new sources of inspiration in our mission to change the way the world plays games.”

The company’s three most popular Facebook games are Pet Society, Restaurant City and Country Story.