Granted, my psychological profile might scare off some potential employers. It says I'm an excitable, charismatic, brave daredevil ... and, oh yeah, I'm insane.

That leaves me three career paths: astronaut, international superspy or creature-robot cross-breeder. That's the great thing about being a Sim. Even the most dysfunctional personality can find a niche.

Millions of people have discovered their alter egos in the universe of “The Sims” since the series launched in 2000. It's a chance to explore the road not taken: What if I'd decided to go to med school instead of joining the Army? What if I dedicated my existence to chasing women instead of settling down and starting a family?

“Sims” fans will be delighted to discover that the character options in “The Sims 3” (Electronic Arts, for the PC and Mac, $49.99) have expanded exponentially. After you've chosen your Sim's physical characteristics (gender, skin color, age, weight, clothing), you're asked to select five personality traits. The dozens of options can be good (athletic, friendly), bad (neurotic, mean-spirited) or weird (hydrophobic?) and your choices lead to three “lifetime wishes.” That's how I've ended up trying to cross-breed a chicken and a toaster.

You can also begin with a preset household, assuming the role(s) of a bitter widow, a pair of married tech geniuses or a rambunctious family of six, for example. The more Sims you control the more challenging the game gets, so it's best to start solo.

Your alternate existence begins in a lively town called Sunset Valley. It's already equipped with stores, restaurants, a gym, a school and a dozen or so other landmarks, so it's worth your while to explore the neighborhood before you take on a job. Once you join the rat race, you can take your career as seriously as you want - work hard and suck up to the boss, or take it easy and schmooze around the water cooler.

There are plenty of computer-controlled Sims living in Sunset Valley by the time you move in. You can meet them at the art museum or the park, or you can visit them at their homes. Depending on your personality traits, some will like you and some will want nothing to do with you. The artificial intelligence is more robust than ever, providing a wide diversity of personalities to interact with.

Sunset Valley is the most interesting space the “Sims” team has ever created, with a real lived-in feel. But if you log onto the “Sims 3” Web site, you can download a second location, the more bucolic Riverview. You can also download more clothes and furniture, or grab tools that allow you to make and upload your own “Sims” movies.

“The Sims 3” is just about everything a fan could hope for: It's easier to use, the options are vastly more generous, and it seems infinitely expandable. Even “Sims” skeptics - those turned off by the mundanity of previous games - may find themselves drawn to fulfill some of the weirder Lifetime Wishes. It's a brave new world. Four stars out of four.