EA’s conference call saw quite a few surprise announcements, the biggest of which is the revival of the classic Road Rash series. The company revealed that development on The Sims 3 has commenced and that it will be a fiscal 2009 title, which begins on April 1, 2008. It was also stated that another installment in the Sim City series is also in the works, as well as a Simpsons sequel, Sims on Wii and a PS3 version of The Sims 2: Holiday Edition (2006 or 2007 Holiday season).

“There is a new Road Rash game,” an EA executive bluntly stated. No further details were given. It was also stated that a next-gen version of Black is being developed, though it is not clear whether it will be a full-blown sequel or a revamp of the original. As per the executive, it will be a “next-generation version of Black.”

Sad news is there too: those looking forward to Crysis and Army of Two will have to wait longer. Both titles have been delayed to EA’s fiscal 2008, which begins on April 1, 2007. No reason for the delays was given.