"Hi Everybody,

"If you were to walk through the Maxis offices and peer into our cubicles, you would see lots of headphone-wearing heads bobbing along their own personal soundtrack. Music is important here. It helps keep us in the zone as we put those tiny flourishes on the game that are going to rock the collective socks off the industry insiders at the upcoming Electronic Entertainment Expo.

"We're also acutely aware of just how important sound and music can be to the overall gaming experience, which is why we're paying close attention to the variety and quality of the music that you'll find in the game. In The Sims 2, we want music to inform your Sims with a sense of who they are, and so we've made sure that we've got musical styles for all occasions. Your Sims can smoove-out to the sensuous slither of R&B when they're feeling a little lusty, or rawk-out with some head-banging extreme metal when they are consumed with the angst of youth. There's muy caliente Salsa for Latin-Lover Sims who need to do a little booty-shakin' on the dance floor, and bluegrass for some down-home pickin' 'n' grinnin'. And of course, enough techno, hip-hop and dance beats to keep your Sims partyin' til the dawn's grey light.

"Just how much music will there be in The Sims 2, you ask? Well, we've got more than thirty original tracks written for the game, but, as always, you will also be able to stock your Sims' stereo with your own collection of mp3's, making for virtually limitless musical options.

"We were able to score some of Music Lead Robi Kauker's precious and scarce time to pull together a little mp3 musical montage, so you can get a feel for just what sort of sounds will be pumping out your speakers when you finally pop that Sims 2 cd in your computers cd tray.

"Crank up those speakers and listen up!

"Peace Out!"
DJ Lucy Bradshaw
Sims 2 Executive Producer & Beat-Mixer Extraordinaire