Well, this is a big letdown.  The way the New York Times article was worded yesterday had us to believe that we will be getting our hands on some part of the game on Friday.  I suppose the rule of thumb is…if it is too good to be true, it probably is.  According to this new Advertising Age article, the demo is actually SimSideKick.

EA is offering “free trial” experiences via “Sims Sidekick,” an application that allows users to create Sims characters with specific personality traits. The ersatz avatars can follow their masters as they surf from web page to web page, and each will exhibit different behaviors based on the characteristics a user has chosen. One website may cause the figure to jump around; another might case it to spin. “There will be a very specific response based on the personality traits,” Mr. Buchanan said. “Current players will think it’s neat they can take their Sim anywhere on the web. We think it will also entice new players to go and learn more what Sims is all about.”

The full article can be read here.  I’m so disappointed – with the fact that I thought there was going to be a free trial and the fact that I lead many of you Simmers there to believe there would 🙁

Thanks to Sims 3 Nieuws for sending in the link with the clarification.