Electronic Arts is teaming up with Turner Sports’ esports and gaming entertainment brand ELeague to produce a new competition series called The Sims Spark’d. The show will air its first episode July 17th on TBS and continue every following Friday until August 7th. 12 contestants will compete in four episodes and present their most creative Sims world to a panel of celebrity judges. Viewers will be able to see original and fully realized narratives created within The Sims’ world. According to the announcement trailer, the winner will be awarded a grand prize of $100,000!
The announcement trailer also teased what viewers can expect from the upcoming series. A clip is shown where contestants are given a timed challenge, as they will have only 2 hours to work on whatever it is they create. Other scenes become more emotional as contestants and judges alike begin to share how the narrative presented has impacted them personally. In a statement, Lyndsay Pearson, GM of The Sims franchise, talks about the potential of the series, saying “The Sims has been a groundbreaking experience, allowing players to create and virtually live out the stories they create in-game. That’s what makes it so special…” Similar content has been created and uploaded to YouTube for years, with many users creating their own characters, builds, and stories using The Sims.
For those who are fans of this kind of content, Pearson implores them to give the series a chance, saying “We’re continuing that innovative spirit, bringing our community together to compete and showcase their in-game storytelling on a reality show in an entirely new way.”