TOKYO, April 11 — It’s “The Sims” with the silliness dial turned up to 11 and has players populating an island full of friends, famous people and anyone else they can imagine.

Surprising game fans with confirmation that the “Tomodachi” series would venture outside of Japan for the first time with a June 6 release of “Tomodachi Collection,” Nintendo’s video announcement featured digital versions of several high-ranking executives.

Suited and booted as they might normally be, Nintendo’s chiefs instead found themselves playing with kittens, taking baths, chanting to television cameras and rocking out in front of thousands within the confines of “Tomodachi Life.”

Well rated by Japanese magazine Famitsu with a 36/40 score upon its April 2013 release, “Tomodachi Life” takes its name from the Japanese word for “friend.”

It promises “a crazy world where Mii characters of you, your friends, your favourite characters and anyone else you can imagine all live together: sometimes in harmony, sometimes not,” explained Nintendo of Europe president Satoru Shibata during a special Nintendo Direct broadcast.

Like “Animal Crossing: New Leaf,” there are daily incentives that encourage players to check in each day to find out what’s happening on their island and how their friends are getting on.

“It’s a living, breathing world which will constantly take you by surprise,” he continued, noting that players can exercise a degree of control over proceedings — “you are the island owner, so you can decide who populates your home.”

Tomodachi Life Direct Presentation here. 

Nintendo’s official website here.  — AFP-Relaxnews

Zelda inventor Shigeru Miyamoto (right) springs a surprise in 'Tomodachi Life.' — AFP pic