Minions Paradise takes Despicable Me’s Minions and treats them like The Sims

Electronic Arts’ mobile division is unveiling its Minions Paradise, a new mobile game based on the lovable characters from the first two Despicable Me films. Those movies have generated more than $1.5 billion in box office revenues since 2010. A third film is in the works, and the Minions’ own movie debuts on July 10.

At a preview event, we got a hands-on look at the new Minions Paradise game from Mike Rasmussen, the general manager of a new EA Mobile studio in Salt Lake City. The title looks a lot like The Sims, viewed in third person from above as you look down on the cute yellow Minions on a tropical island. The title will ship on July 7, just before the Minions movie.