So, with all 3 Expansions installed, we have 120+ lots available, which is a lot. Obviously, we want more. But for now, I think we're not struggling to fit families in unless you're playing with over 50 or so at once.
So for now, would you be annoyed if EP4's budget went solely on gameplay, rather than investing in a new world. Depending on the theme, obviously.
A Pet's EP would most likely continue the tradition of Countryside Living (literally The Sims Unleashed, The Sims 2 Pets (PC, Console and Handheld) and The Sims 3 Pets (PC, Console and Handheld) all have Country based towns.
A Celebrity EP would need a Hollywood type world. A Travel EP would need a world.
But some EP concepts don't. Seasons, Generations, Career/Hobby related etc. There's too many to mention.
So for now, would you rather all development was focused on a Gameplay based, rather than an EP offering experiences based on Location (which there's nothing wrong with, but not EVERY EP needs to be this way).
Obviously packs like Pets, NL/LN, IP, BV, WA are location based.
The reason I say this is because Get To Work was the only pack so far (EP wise) where the world took a backseat, and whether you like GTW or not, there was a lot of dev time put into Gameplay.
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I think some themes would demand a new destination, especially if the pack has several new lot types which would need to be placed. A vacation based pack obviously needs a new world, where something like weather would have an effect on existing worlds and the time might be better spent there. But if, say, a pets expansion had several new venues (pet store; cat park; dog park; equestrian centre; vets; pet salon; etc) it would be better to have a new world that includes these things rather to have to squeeze them in ourselves.
Plus, they must have a team who specifically work on world building. So they need to utilise those skills. Perhaps if one expansion required a large detailed world, then it would be wise to focus on that and perhaps not do a world for another pack. Rather than have two worlds which are rushed and/or less detailed.
There are a lot of factors to consider, and it's hard to judge it without having more information. I don't think taking away time from the world builders would equal more gameplay, because those are very different skills sets. The question for me is 'should the world builders focus on making large detailed worlds, or creating smaller worlds for every pack'. And again, this is a slippery question because it would depend on just how essential the world would be to the theme. A pack focused on exploration would require a large interesting world, for example.
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However, if they gave us a GP with buildable apartments that we could add to any world, and/or the ability for multi-use lots, I'd be fine if the next EP didn't have an additional world in pretty much every case except a vacation pack.
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I'm starting to think that Game packs might be more suited for adding more hoods. EPs should focus on gameplay and tools and life states.
Ideas on how to improve babies.
Optimally, I'd be fine with no new world but a CAW tool and more flexibility in how certain worlds interact with each other or don't (e.g. if you don't want European sims from Windenburg following you around the American Southwest, you can make sure they don't. Or excluding certain worlds from a save to "ease the load"). But EA has yet to prove that they're really all that smart about designing this game for player freedom.
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Worlds I would actually like: Something London themed, because that just sounds fun. Or a magic themed world like in Harry Potter if they did a supernatural EP (which I've been praying for) Of course I want a Uni world too, that just sounds awesome, a world with a similar look to the Sims 3 uni, New England style look.
Personally, I've always liked the gameplay they produced with the EPs and GPs. It's usually satisfied my expectations. Personally Get To Work was my least favorite expansion pack. I'm not really sure why people are bashing on the gameplay aspect of the expansion packs, but that's their opinion and I respect it.
What ebuchala mentioned, I would really like the ability for multi-use lots and buildable apartments, that would just be the best thing in the world.
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Great points. I was thinking the other day we really shouldn't be calling them "worlds" at all.
Since they are all interconnected on the same file they are technically "neighborhoods"
I have only been playing about a month now, and only have "Get Together" which added Windenbug (which is pretty cool)
I added "Dine Out" the other day and used the lots in New Crest to figure out which Maxis/Community created resteraunts I want in the game.
I'm trying them out 3 at a time, so other than three resteraunts NewCrest is still completely vacant.
I don't think I'll be running out of room anytime soon, so personally I'm good for now.
I'm all for an expansion that focuses solely on adding to the base.