GS: Tell us about the role of drivable cars in the expansion. What can cars do, and what can't they do?

TL: Well these are Sims cars obviously. I don't want anyone to think we've made The Sims 2: Need for Speed, though wouldn't that be cool (imagine Mortimer Goth as a high-speed racer through SimCity!).

The cars really provide a time convenience, and saving time is what Sims players are always trying to do. Sims don't have to worry about missing the carpool anymore, and they don't have to wait for a cab either.

But the real power of cars is in storytelling by the player. They are such an important part of our own daily existence; they make the sims seem even more like us, which is always a design goal. The more that players can relate to the world of the Sims, the more we have done our job right.

GS: How will cars affect other aspects of gameplay? Will sims purchase more-expensive cars as they get better jobs? Will there be an actual professional driver career path? Any new practice skills associated with driving? Will driving a better car increase your sims' social standing or make your sims more attractive to other sims?

TL: Obviously not all cars are created equal, so yeah, more funds mean you can buy better models. We haven't added a driving skill, but as you can imagine, there is a lot of territory we can cover with cars, and like so many other features in the game, future expansions may provide even more to do with them. For Nightlife, the car you drive definitely can affect how attractive you are to certain sims.