EA today announced a new lines of 'laptop-friendly' The Sims titles. The first of which, The Sims Life Stories will ship in a little under a month on February the 9th. These are standalone titles and not missions packs, The Sims Pet Stories and The Sims Castaway Stories are scheduled to ship in Summer 2007 and Winter 2008.

The first of these games, The Sims Life Stories, introduces an all-new Story Mode with two stories that follow the lives of Riley Harlow and Vincent Moore, two very different characters who have reached similar crossroads in their love lives. A comic romantic plot centered around engaging characters guides players through twelve chapters of this one-of-a-kind entertainment experience. Players can take their Sims through unique and entertaining storylines filled with romance, intrigue and dramatic twists. Will female lead character Riley ditch beau number one to marry and have kids with beau number two? Will successful entrepreneur Vince ever find love, or the culprit who’s been foiling his heart-earned efforts to find it? Players can discover these answers and more, or enjoy classic open-ended Sims gameplay.

"Everyone loves a good story. The Sims Life Stories gives players two wonderful romantic comedies to enjoy," declared Rod Humble, VP Head of Studio for The Sims Division. "For those who are interested in The Sims, The Sims Stories are accessible and fun for everyone." According to Humble, the world of The Sims provides the perfect place for these romantic comedies to unfold. Built around virtual people called Sims, daily activities—from sleeping and eating, choosing outfits and decorating the house, even cooking and getting a job—are controlled by the player. The Sims celebrates the choices that we make in life. What’s more familiar than being confused by life and love?

The first batch of The Sims Life Stories screenshots can be seen in the gallery, any experienced The Sims 2 player will know exactly what it looks like however.