is a third-person action game featuring an original storyline written by Tim Long, Matt Selman and Matt Warburton. The plot is self referential in nature, with the family discovering that they are forced to participate in another The Simpsons video game. Like the show, the game will poke fun at popular culture, and EA itself.

EA quietly revealed the game on May 2, 2007 with a countdown timer in a parody of Rockstar Games' countdown to GTA IV in April 2007, with only the number "XXII" on the page (referring to the fact that it is the 22nd game(Not including the two pinballs) video game in the Simpsons franchise).[1] The game was officially unveiled at The Simpsons 400th episode party at 20th Century Fox studios on May 8, 2007.[2]

Earlier, several sources had reported apparent plans that a game directly based on The Simpsons Movie was to be released as a tie-in, due to EA's handling of other licensed film tie-ins and after the game with the current title was found on a retailer product listing.[3][4] While it has been discovered that the game's plot is not related to the film, the release of The Simpsons Game will coincide with the intended release of the movie on DVD.[5]

The game features cel-shaded graphics, in contrast with the "solid 3D" rendering used in the previous three The Simpsons games released (The Simpsons Road Rage , Simpsons Skateboarding and The Simpsons Hit & Run).

It has been revealed that players will be able to control four of the five members of the family (Maggie excluded, although sources claim that it is possible to play her only for brief moments) with their own levels and unique abilities.[6] The game contains 16 "episodes" consisting of four chapters each, featuring well known locations from the show.

Levels previewed to the press involved rolling around a bloated Homer a la Katamari Damacy, controlling Bart in the guise of Bartman, using a meditative power by Lisa to shift perspective and manipulate objects and, as Marge, using a megaphone to nag at NPCs in order to control and convince them to rally against an Itchy & Scratchy-themed Grand Theft Auto parody.[7] The game will also feature co-operative multiplayer.[8]

The Nintendo DS version will feature some stylus-based gameplay while the Wii version of the game will feature gesture-based controls that use the Wii Remote, including a minigame in which it is used as a spoon.[9].