My Sims: First details uncovered

My Sims, the cartoonified re-imagining of EA's world-beating life series for Nintendo's Wii, will see you sprucing up a decrepit and rundown village, designing and building your own furniture and structures, and stepping in to help out the locals, with the aim of creating a charming new community.

The first solid gameplay details for My Sims, which is also set to launch on DS, are uncovered in the latest issue of Official Nintendo Magazine (UK). But for a quick info-burst on how the game works, point your eyes down:

• The Nunchuk will be used for moving and interacting, while the Wiimote is reserved for building items.

• When you start, your house will be in shambles, and the town near-deserted. It's your job to spruce up the place in an attempt to attract new residents and form a bustling community.

• You can gain the trust of locals by helping them out - for instance, building a pizza oven for a chef.