The play test is designed to allow people to try out The Sims Online, and to allow the game developer to identify and eliminate programming bugs. As a reward for helping to shape the world of The Sims Online, play-test participants who purchase the full-retail version of The Sims Online and register the game by December 4, 2002, will be automatically included in the Sims Online Founders Program. This program will offer several benefits, the greatest one being that play testers will be able to take the characters, houses, and objects they create during the play test into the full game after the game launches.

Founders Program Benefits:

• Founders will automatically carry their developed characters into the live version of The Sims Online upon retail purchase and registration. During play testing, Sims Online servers are often wiped of data, eliminating all saved information such as characters, objects, and houses. The final server wipe will occur one to two weeks prior to the launch of the game. This means founders will have up to a two-week head start on character development when everyone else starts playing the game at launch.
• The Sims Online founders will receive a founder's icon on their Sim page that will clearly identify them as a World Founder for all to see.
• Founders will also receive a unique object to display in their homes and businesses.
• Founders can secure character names before the game goes live. Want to be the one and only Hugh Jas or Anita Mann in the world of Sims Online? Become a founder.