The Sims 3 to get three expansions and two Stuff packs

The Sims 3 has lined up two new expansions - University Life and Island Paradise - as well as two major Stuff packs this year.

The Sims 3 70s, 80s, & 90s Stuff is the first to see release, on January 22; it includes fashions, hairstyles and furnishings from the titular decades.

University Life is a proper expansion due in March. Key features and screenshots are available below, but as the title suggests, it has grants your young adult and older Sims the opportunity to attend tertiary education with all its attendant parties, romance and politics. An all new town boasts a bowling alley and SimBurger.

Sims choose from one of six majors, attend classes and unlock various benefits in later life such as higher pay.

A Limited Edition version of the expansion is available for pre-order and bundles in the Party Pack, which featuresthe Partaeus Maximus statue, a toga outfit and a masquerade mask. The Partaeus Maximus statue is an all-new object that will appear in the university world and is used to trigger themed parties.

Island Paradise is due in June and has players setting sail in customisable houseboats. Sims can seek out new islands, build and manage resors and go scuba diving or snorkelling.

Interestingly, the expansions is said to include "all new ways to build - whether it’s a lavish five-star resort, a bungalow on the water or a houseboat that can travel the seas".

A second Stuff pack is due in northern autumn, featuring "clothing and décor inspired by iconic movie themes and settings".

Finally, EA hinted at a third, untitled expansion pack which will send the Sims into the future.

The Sims 3: University Life Key Features
• Achieve Academic Excellence. Learning is more fun than ever with new major-specific objects. Your Sims can broadcast their own radio show as a Communications student or bone up on anatomy using the skeleton as a Science and Medicine major. Your Sims can also learn through class activities, lectures at the student union, and joining in social activities.
• Get Ready to Party. Text books and study groups are a big part of college, but sometimes Sims just need to party. From hosting bonfires by the lake to doing juice keg stands at a dorm party, there are lots of ways to have a great time and let loose.
• Make Connections and Network. Grow your social networking skill through texting, blogging and streaming video. This builds your affiliation with the three social groups on campus – the Nerds, the Rebels and the Jocks. Building your cred with these groups offers unique advantages, from earning dream jobs to a coveted extra trait.
• Actions Matter. Just like in real life, your Sims’ decisions are deeply interconnected. For example, a Fine Arts student benefits from the Avant Garde trait, and develops their Street Art skill and cred with the Rebels by tagging and spray painting. Just don’t let your Sims get caught by the cops,
• Reap Benefits After University Too. Help your Sims reach the top job in your career path more easily with faster promotions and a higher entry-level job for university grads. If your Sim becomes a legend with their social group, they may even land a dream job as an art appraiser, sports agent, or video game developer.
• Explore the Campus and Town. From striking out at the bowling alley to flirting with the barista at the Roasted Toasted Beans to browsing comic books at Keith’s Komics, there’s a whole new town and campus full of places to explore.