If you're getting harassed by your significant other because of all the time you're spending in the Battlefield 3 beta, EA have just released the perfect thing to help you distract them. As long as you have a spare PC with Flash and Java, point them in the direction of this new demo of The Sims 3:

You’ll get to play 20 minutes of some of the best content The Sims have to offer in this gameplay teaser. First, choose one of three classic character types as your Sim, and then send them off on their first adventure. Have your Sim explore an Egyptian pyramid, commune with ghosts in a haunted house, or let them party the night away with vampires. It’s up to you to decide what your Sim does next! Content in the teaser includes elements from The Sims 3, The Sims 3 Late Night, The Sims 3 World Adventures, and more.

An interesting approach for a demo. The Sims 2 demo is one of our most popular files that we've ever hosted; it would have been nice to see a downloadable one but this should suffice to give people a taste to see if it's worth splashing out for.

Update: Looks like it has been taken offline at the moment; we'll see if we can find out what is happening.

EA have announced that the gigantor Sims 3 will be coming to the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii and, if that wasn't enough, the Nintendo DS. There'll be various features specific to each system:

Rich, immersive gameplay is complimented with a seamlessly integrated exchange system on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 platforms where gamers will be more connected than ever before as they design, build, and share their creations and download content from other players around the world without ever leaving the game.

Exclusive to the Wii version, players will be able to enjoy an all-new beach town with unique residents, traits, careers and lifetime wishes. For the first time ever, players can enjoy The Sims 3 with friends by going head to head in the new “Life Moments” game to earn rewards. Finally, players will also enjoy several adventure quests, as the game will challenge them to explore their town and discover the secrets therein.

Never before seen on Nintendo DS, players can use the stylus to build their Sims’ homes with tools, draw walls and floors, and customize virtually everything from décor objects, textures, and more. Players will use the stylus to sculpt their Sims’ facial features, choose hair styles and clothing, and dictate personalities in the most robust Create a Sim yet for a handheld game. In “Story Mode,” players will control multiple Sims within a family and enjoy life’s special moments. For the first time ever on the Nintendo DS, players can enjoy a complete life simulation as they guide their Sims through completing challenges to unlock additional items, new buildings and landmarks, and more.

Three screenshots of the console version have been released, which you can check out on our Sims 3 game page. One of them is a hot girl in a bikini.