20th Century Fox options The Sims as a movie...

[Spanky The Dolphin]

First, the word from Variety:

Fox brings 'SIMS' to bigscreen
Film will be a live-action version
By PETER GILSTRAP
20th Century Fox has acquired feature rights to the life simulation computer game "The SIMS" from Electronic Arts, and has set project up with Fox-based John Davis.

The five-year-old franchise is the best selling PC game in history, with worldwide sales topping 85 million, bringing in over $1.6 billion. Pic will be a live-action version.

Steve Asbell is overseeing the project for Fox with SIMS Studio head Rod Humble managing the creative property for Electronic Arts. Brian Lynch will script; story is under wraps with talent yet to be named.

"'The SIMS has done an interactive version of an old story, which is what it's like to have infinite power and how do you deal with it," said Humble. "Given that that's an old story, you can imagine how easily that would translate to traditional story telling."

Davis' most recent projects include "Norbit," "When A Stranger Calls," and "Eragon."

Lynch scripted and helmed upcoming "Big Helium Dog," and penned "Scary Movie 3," and is managed by Benderspink.

And the word from down the line at Kotaku:

Idiots Decide The Sims Would Make A Good Movie

20th Century Fox have picked up the rights to make a movie based on The Sims, proving once and for all that when it comes to film rights, movie studios are looking at a franchises' bottom line and nothing else. No director or producer has been named, but Brian Lynch will be writing. EA's Sims boss Rod Humble:

The SIMS has done an interactive version of an old story, which is what it's like to have infinite power and how do you deal with it. Given that that's an old story, you can imagine how easily that would translate to traditional story telling.

Rod. Come on. You're not even kidding yourself with that rubbish, let alone the rest of us. The ONLY way this movie would work was if it was about a kid trapped inside a room with no doors as he slowly eats and shits himself to death. And I can't see that one picking up the necessary PG13 rating. Luke Plunkett

Me, I can't even conceive of how something like this could possibly work. Sure, Super Mario Bros, Mortal Kombat, Silent Hill, etc... But The Sims? Really now...

[FedRebel]

So this is going to be either....

The first interactive feature film

or...

A 90 minute long sitcom with the odd title "The Sims"

[Spanky The Dolphin]

As long as there is at least one fire and one death through starvation, I'm there.

[Zac Naloen]

I'm thinking of Bruce Almighty... except called "The Sims"

[Stark]

It will take half an hour to stand up or turn off a light! A true 'life in slow motion' extravaganza!

[Covenant]

I'm thinking of Bruce Almighty... except called "The Sims"

Wrong Jim Carrey movie. I think it's going to be more like The Truman Show. But it could go either way.

[RThurmont]

What's next? Tetris: The Movie?

[Covenant]

What's next? Tetris: The Movie?

We can only hope it's a Musical, given the options. That or a gripping psychological thriller.

[Faram]

What's next? Tetris: The Movie?

Too late already done:

Youtube to the rescue!

[Darth Raptor]

What's next? Tetris: The Movie?

Russian: "Falling blocks! Falling blocks from space!"

Shuttle Pilot: "Is that... St. Basil's Cathedral!? Fucking shit! This isn't Florida! This is Moscow!"

Scientist: "We've discovered their weakness... You have to make them fit."

Co-Pilot: "Pull up!"

Tetris Block: "BLOOOP!"

[Enforcer Talen]

This could either be a comedy or a psychological horror.

Has potential, says I.

[Cao Cao]

I'd love a movie based on Civilization, myself:

Abe Lincoln: How.. HOW DID YOUR GREEK PHALANX SINK MY NUCLEAR CARRIER???

Queen Elizabeth: Heh heh heh heh...

Ghandi: Alright Napoleon. Taste my NUCLEAR MISSILES!!

Napoleon: AHH! Help me, Hammurabi!

Hammurabi: Sorry, I'm off to Alpha Centauri, bitches! Bye!

[Nieztchean Uber-Amoeba]

I see a thriller about a family slowly hunted down by a vengeful, spiteful, creative God. It would be like Final Destination, except people are placed in glass cases in front of the house to slowly starve to death as passers-by watch then have sex with the wife.

I'd like that.

[Praxis]

A 90 minute long sitcom with the odd title "The Sims"

You just hit the nail on the head.

[Civil War Man]

If it doesn't end with the final surviving character being sealed up inside a small box a la "Cask of Amontillado" followed by the Grim Reaper taking the body, grabbing a beer, and watching TV, it's not going to be the Sims.

[Nieztchean Uber-Amoeba]

If it doesn't end with the final surviving character being sealed up inside a small box a la "Cask of Amontillado" followed by the Grim Reaper taking the body, grabbing a beer, and watching TV, it's not going to be the Sims.

I do indeed recall ending most of my games by yelling, 'En pace requisat.' and sealing people off when I got bored.

This would be a good plot. This too.

And this.

Just unbreak the links when you get them.

[Enigma]

I'm thinking of Bruce Almighty... except called "The Sims"

Wrong Jim Carrey movie. I think it's going to be more like The Truman Show. But it could go either way.

Just merge the two movies and viola! Or maybe something more invasive than Will Ferrel's movie about having a narrator.

[DPDarkPrimus]

Davis' most recent projects include "Norbit," "When A Stranger Calls," and "Eragon."

Lynch scripted and helmed upcoming "Big Helium Dog," and penned "Scary Movie 3," and is managed by Benderspink.

Holy shit.

With a pedigree like that, how can this be anything but a quality film?

[RogueIce]

As long as there is at least one fire and one death through starvation, I'm there.

Let's not forget electrocution while trying to fix the stupid dishwasher.

[Spanky The Dolphin]

That too, but really, where would a Sims movie be without a fire?

[RogueIce]

That too, but really, where would a Sims movie be without a fire?

True.

"Oh shit, I burned half the house down because I tried to make some spaghetti! Why oh why didn't I shell out for the smoke detector?"

[Dooey Jo]

Brian Lynch? Who the fuck is that. They should've put David Lynch on it

"The SIMS has done an interactive version of an old story, which is what it's like to have infinite power and how do you deal with it," said Humble. "Given that that's an old story, you can imagine how easily that would translate to traditional story telling."

Yes... I can see it now.
Lead Character with infinite power: "I command you sit and watch television so that you will become happy!"
*some dude starts walking toward the sofa*
LC: "For fuck's sake, it's twenty metres, tops, how the fuck can it take you two hours to walk twenty metres?!"
Some Dude: "Neerdo naht. Naught."
LC: "I don't understand a word of what you're saying but it sounds like you need to take a shower."
SD (from Simlish, subtitled): "Oh, I smell like poo. I'm going to go and eat something."
LC: "But... no! You need to shower! I command you to shower! Shower shower shower! And then take a piss. Then sleep."
*SD wets himself and passes out on the floor in the puddle*
LC: "Oh great. And when you wake up you'll be too depressed to go to work, and you'll get fired because you stayed at home today to fix your stats. Then you won't be able to buy that king-size bed that I had planned, and you won't get to marry that woman I wanted you to marry... Damn! All my schemes are ruined!"
LC: "Fuck this game! No wait, this isn't even a game, it's my life! And I'm going to end it right now. Farewell!"
*Death comes up from behind, holding a plate of food*
Death: "Neerdo naht. Naught." ("I'm too depressed to kill people right now.")
THE END

Because that's what the Sims is all about. Making plans without considering what they might want, and then watching their stupidity, weirdness, incompatible personalities and slow motion ruin everything. I swear, that is what it's about. One time, I had planned for a guy to marry a girl from another family. Well, he ruined that plan by going gay, and then break up the cute couple in the family by flirting with the guy, who started flirting back. I couldn't even do anything, just watch as my hopes and dreams were destroyed... I killed them all (after the first guy had a fight with the girl and made her leave ).