In its press conference, EA announced the first details of SimAnimals, an all-new games in The Sims line. This new franchise and original IP establishes a whole new category of wild animal games made exclusively for the Wii and DS.

Due out worldwide in January 2009, the game will let you engage with the world of animals in their natural surroundings in an “immersive and tactical way.”

Players will be able to touch, pick up and move everything in the game from foxes and bears to trees and flowers. You will be able to form relationships with wild animals, if that makes any sense whatsoever.

“SimAnimals opens up a new world of creativity with wild animal adventure, fun and mischief,” said Rod Humble, Head of Studio for The Sims Label. “For the first time in an animal game, you can reach out and touch, engage and play with a huge cast of wild animals in their natural surroundings. SimAnimals offers an immersive and tactile experience using the Wii remote and the Nintendo DS stylus that allows you to easily and intuitively become part of the wood’s expressive, quirky and sometimes surprising narrative. Classic story-telling about wild animals comes to life in SimAnimals.”