When the Sims 3 went on sale in the midst of the Electronic Entertainment Expo, some worried it might be overshadowed by the event. They shouldn't have. Buoyed by sterling critical praise, the game has sold over 1.4 million copies in its first week on the market, Electronic Arts announced today.

The latest jewel in the Sims' crown.

The Sims 3's milestone further fills the coffers of the Sims franchise, which has generated well over $4 billion since its launch in 2000. And while the Sims, the Sims 2, and their myriad expansions have sold over 100 million copies, the Sims 3 may outshine its predecessors, if its first-week sales are any prognosticator. EA reports that the game is the fastest selling PC title in its history, auguring that it and its inevitable expansions will be fixtures on bestseller lists for years to come.

As outlined in GameSpot's review, the Sims 3 includes several new features. Players can customize their characters' personalities, choosing among traits, such as brave, artistic, absent-minded, and kleptomaniac. Furniture and clothing can be customized based on color and pattern. The game also sports a new dynamic, real-time neighborhood system where households are seamlessly integrated.

Ironically, EA is celebrating the Sims 3's sales without the mastermind of the Sims franchise, Will Wright. In April, he left EA Games to establish an "entertainment think tank" called Stupid Fun Club.