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The Sims 4 getting Stuff Packs frequently
WinMacSims3
Posts: 1,610 Member
The Sims 4 is getting new Stuff Packs frequently compared to its predecessor. The Sims 4 has 8 Stuff Packs after about 2 years release (Sept 2, 2014) compared to The Sims 3 which only had 4 Stuff Packs after 2 years release (June 2, 2009). The Sims 3 High-End Loft/Design & Hi-Tech and Fast Lane were released in 2010 while Outdoor Living and Town Life were released in 2011.
By the time it reaches 2018 or 2019, The Sims 4 will likely beat The Sims 2 and The Sims 3 for the number of Stuff Packs released. Currently The Sims 2 and The Sims 3 have 9 Stuff Packs (although one for TS3, Katy Perry's Sweet Treats, is discontinued) while The Sims 4 currently has 7.
Expansion Packs are also another question as The Sims 4 only had 2 EPs after release whereas The Sims 3 had 4 EPs (5 if you count The Sims 3 Pets but that was released in the Fall). As of June, there hasn't been any EP released in 2016 since Get Together in December 2015 (originally November 2015). That's interesting as TS3 was known for having EPs released in the Spring or Summer (actually start of June).
The Sims 3
It starting to make me think that EA favors Stuff Packs over Expansion Packs and even Game Packs seeing that more SPs are released compared to EPs and GPs.
By the time it reaches 2018 or 2019, The Sims 4 will likely beat The Sims 2 and The Sims 3 for the number of Stuff Packs released. Currently The Sims 2 and The Sims 3 have 9 Stuff Packs (although one for TS3, Katy Perry's Sweet Treats, is discontinued) while The Sims 4 currently has 7.
Expansion Packs are also another question as The Sims 4 only had 2 EPs after release whereas The Sims 3 had 4 EPs (5 if you count The Sims 3 Pets but that was released in the Fall). As of June, there hasn't been any EP released in 2016 since Get Together in December 2015 (originally November 2015). That's interesting as TS3 was known for having EPs released in the Spring or Summer (actually start of June).
The Sims 3
- Expansion Packs: 11
- Stuff Packs: 9
- Expansion Packs: 2
- Stuff Packs: 7
- Game Packs: 3
It starting to make me think that EA favors Stuff Packs over Expansion Packs and even Game Packs seeing that more SPs are released compared to EPs and GPs.
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Post edited by WinMacSims3 on
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Plus, should take into account that The Sims 3 had a Store releasing content basically weekly. I think we'll definitely be getting more Stuff Packs in The Sims 4 and I think that the amount of Game Packs we'll receive will balance with the lack of Expansion Packs. It's nice getting new content monthly though, I like that we're getting more for a cheaper price
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Absolutely agree with you! I love that they can put out this SP's because they add a good amount of new items and a couple of gameplay items more frequently. Especially since I no longer download CC.
I think we'll have 4 SPs per year, along with 2 GPs per year, due to the Bundle Packs.
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Either that, ***SPECULATION*** or maybe it's because they seem to be intergrating the content into the existing game this time around, whereas Sims 3 seemed to just build on top of everything. Which is why the Sims 3 seems to get heavier and bloats the more you have installed, whereas the Sims 4 base game and the Sims 4 all content seems to run exactly the same.
The downside is, it may just take much longer than they expected and thus causing delays.
I feel like a lot of the EP content actually ends up in the base game files when installed. ***SPECULATION***
@elelunicy am I on the right page or do they work exactly the same? I just don't remember The Sims 3 intergrating to the base game files so much.
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The EPs so far have been a bit disappointing imo, but the GPs will never be able to replace them for me. I want more fleshed out EPs.
It seems like the focus is now on numerous smaller packs and less of the big stuff.
The idea probably works and they seem to sell well and I guess that this would be the theme for the next couple of years
We had 3 months with no sp so I recommend their return.
TS3 store was ridiculously over-priced for just 1 item, seriously, the more stuff packs for TS4, the better!
I agree about pricing, but I would rather have a store setup and buy exactly what I want instead of having to also buy content that I probably won't use along with the stuff I actually want.
But to me, just how much stuff is being added in patches and not in SP/GP/EP, like pools, family trees, drinking water, Star Wars costumes, gender customization, monsters under the bed etc etc etc, adds to the perception of the rate of content production being high or even frantic, sometimes.
I'm down for frequent stuff packs if they keep being this great, and bringing new gameplay with them!
The nature of the Sims 3 EPs is that they were all individual worlds -- if you wanted to incorporate a new EP with your current family, you had to either edit your world to add in new venues and features or abandon that particular save and load your family in the new save, where they ended up losing all their friendships and other relationships (can't remember if they could at least keep their money and skills). And some of the later packs (notably Island Paradise) you had no option but to relocate a family or start a brand new save to take advantage of all the features; for legacy players that was a legacy breaker. I like where each new pack is integrated with the existing game so you don't have to start a new save unless you're just tired of your current situation and want a fresh start (say you want to finally play the Pancakes but they've died off in your current save).
One thing I would like to see is a bit more space when they add venues, because I end up having to rebuild my worlds to accommodate the new buildings. It doesn't have to be a full world (those should be with EPs), but maybe a small district of some sort like we got with GTW. I was able to turn that (Magnolia Promenade) into an entertainment district, relocating my lounge, bar and nightclub there and adding a restaurant. Great place for Sims to go on dates, though I don't normally use the formal "dating" mechanism because I don't like going through all the steps every time plus you can't go from one venue to another. I'll send my Sims out to eat, then when they're done over to the nightclub to dance.
We can also look at the GPs as "mini-EPs" of a sort -- they're a little more in depth than either an SP or anything from the Sims 3 Store, but not quite as expansive as a full EP. I actually think that GTW would have been better off as 2 separate GPs, so both the retail aspect and the active careers could have gotten the attention they deserved. Looking at how well they did the management aspect in Dine Out (especially not having to be present at all times) and comparing it to retail you can see that they learned a lot from the retail experience.
I think that a lot of the pack content (EP, GP and SP) ends up in base game files, hence the need for a patch before every pack (fixing bugs as well as adding the content). We've seen how modders and others have been able to get hints about the pack content by looking at the patch files when they go to update their mods (if necessary), even before the SimGurus confirm it. And there has been content found in the files that has yet to be used (specifically about new age groups, IIRC), which means that they may have put in "placeholders" while the game was in development so they can add things later.
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I don't mind how slow or fast things come out, so long as they are of high quality. It just seems like it's been ages and we haven't had much to expand the game. Fluff and stuff rather than substance.