Update – The date December 15th has been replaced in the article by ‘coming soon’.  So either IGN slipped the date and EA told them to remove it or once again, EA didn’t keep their word.  Hoping it’ll be released the 15th, just have to wait and see…

Yes, a solid release date at last!  And holy crap…it’s just about to be released!  IGN Takes a look at the brand new Create-A-World tool that we’ll be seeing on Tuesday, December 15!  Here’s a little of what they had to say along with a few new images:

For the most part, creators will probably prefer to maintain the basic GUI for the Create A World tool, visually seeing the placement of items and environmental work in a general area on their map. However, for players that want precise placement, the tool can be swapped to a wire frame or grid layout to allow you to put objects exactly where you want them to be. Of course, once you’ve finished the design of your world, you’ll want to test it out, and the Create A World editor will allow you to explore your new map by instantly launching The Sims 3 so you can see what it would look like in the game world. This “pseudo-game” feature will also allow players to build and furnish houses on lots that have previously been constructed in the tool, and will let you place created Sims in the map so you can test the navigability of your pathways and other items.

Article at IGN