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Create-A-Job Tool + DIY Skill

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SimalleyaileSimalleyaile Posts: 865 Member
edited October 2017 in The Sims 4 Ideas Corner
This is an idea for a SELF-EMPLOYMENT system inspired by Get Together's Club feature. :)
It will also address the issue of having the inaccurate "unemployed" tag, when your sim actually works really hard for their simoleans.

Sims Register their Business via a computer.

All venue owners will be able to register the NAME OF THEIR RETAIL OR RESTAURANT BUSINESS, and this will now appear under their CAREER tag. If they are also employed in a career or profession, this will also appear. The sim who REGISTERS will be considered the "owner" of the retail - (even though anyone in the household can work or manage it).

Self-Employed Business are divided into 3 catergories, each with unique gameplay.

First Screen: Choose your field of expertise:

1. CRAFTING
2. SERVICES
3. TUTORING
CRAFTING

Sims in the CRAFTING industry have open hours. They craft any time, or when demand is high.

Next Screen: Please choose at least 1, and up to 5 items you will sell: (I have included hopeful future content too)
  • paintings
  • woodworking items
  • literature
  • photographs
  • drinks
  • cooked items
  • gourmet items
  • baked items
  • chocolates and confectionary
  • floral arrangements
  • sculptures
  • candles
  • jewellery
  • knitted wear
  • toys
  • perfume
  • body care products
  • potions and remedies
  • pottery

Next Screen: NAME YOUR BUSINESS (this will also be your WEBSITE name)
Next Screen: Choose your BUSINESS STORAGE UNIT
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Sims self-employed in the CRAFTING industry are required to purchase one BUSINESS STORAGE to store their crafted items. It is this inventory
that the system will use instead of their personal or household inventory. Once a sim has crafted the item, they can drag it into the storage
system. This is how the game can differentiate between what's crafted for personal use, and what's been crafted for sale.

As well as what's already available - retail, sell via inventory, using the CL table - Crafters will get two NEW unique ways of selling their wares:

1. Online SHOPPING - 25% mark up
2. Sales PARTY - 50% mark up

1.ONLINE SHOPPING:

Sims can take photos of their product, and upload the image to their business website.
The game will then simulate 'sales' and the crafted items will be automatically taken from their BUSINESS STORAGE inventory.
The sim can check their sales progress via the computer, as well as checking their business inventory. They can also see if any orders* have been placed.

BENEFIT TO OTHER SIMS:

Players who enjoy rotating through different households, can also benefit from having a SELF EMPLOYED CRAFTER sim in their world. Any sim can go online, click on the SHOPPING websites, and purchase the products available. eg, if you have Sim Albert who made chocolates and confectionary, sim Susan who lives in a different household can purchase Sim Albert's chocolates. The purchased items will appear in their personal inventory.

Sims should get whims to "Shop online!" What's available to purchase will depend on what SELF EMPLOYED CRAFTING sims have in their business inventory.

If the business inventory has run out, sims can *PLACE AN ORDER on their website.

2. SALES PARTY

A self-employed CRAFTING sim should get whims to throw a SALES PARTY

This is a TIMED EVENT available to any sim, but particulary useful to self-employed crafters.
Similar to house parties, the sim is chosen as host, then choose guests, then the venue. The host will have to make sure they have their BUSINESS STORAGE with them for the party.

MAIN GOAL: to sell 10 (?) items
Set display: make sure a CRAFTED item is available to see. i.e. drag it to a table, if the crafted item is clothing, accessories etc, have the sim WEAR the product.

Interactions available during party:
  • Show the product
  • Demonstrate the product
  • Talk about the product
  • Confident: Enthuse about the product
  • Playful: Make a friendly joke about the product
  • MEAN: guilt trip into buying product

The game will simulate sims interest in the product, and 'sales' will occur throughout the party.
Sales Parties sell each ITEM at a 50% markup price.

SERVICES

What if your sim wants to spend their time serving others, and get paid for it?

Sims in the SERVICE Industry can have flexible hours, choosing full time, or part time employment.

This industry will involve loading screens (travelling to others residences or businesses)

Next Screen: Please choose at least 1, and up to 5 services your sim will provide:
  • cleaning
  • repairing
  • upgrading plumbing
  • upgrading electric
  • upgrading kitchen appliances
  • catering
  • mixologist
  • barista
  • child minding
  • gardening
  • Djing
  • pianist
  • vioinist
  • guitarist
  • singer
  • stand up comedian
  • massage*
  • DAYCARE**

Next Screen: NAME YOUR BUSINESS - and Choose an ICON.This name will appear in the Service Directory.

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All contracts will take place via the PHONE.

Next Screen: Please choose your HOURS OF OPERATION:

Flexible: - available any time, upon request
Rigid: - choose at least one, and up to 5 days: Monday , Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
- choose at least one, and up to 2 times of day: morning (7am-12am), afternoon (1pm-5pm), night (6pm-10pm)

Next Screen: Choose your uniform: taken to CAS where you can design whatever you'd like your sim to wear to work.. Your sim will then spin into their uniform before they head off to their job, and wear it while performing their duties.

The game will simulate customers phoning the sim to ask for your sims specialised service. They ask for one time appointments, and if you say yes,
the loading screen will take you to either their residence or their retail, or restaurant (or any other venue we may get to own in future).

Also, when your other sims use the HIRE option on objects, All applicable Registered Business will be available.
wYh659H.jpg

When your other sims host a SOCIAL EVENT, all applicable Registered Businesses will appear in all options under Catering, Entertainter, Mixologist etc
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Special Services

*the massage table from SPA DAY should be made PORTABLE so your registered business owner can transport their own table ANYWHERE in the world and offer massages for a fee.

**DAYCARE:
When your sim registers their HOME as a daycare facility, an INSPECTION NPC will come to visit your residence, and check that you have suitable safety measures,enough equipment/toys/facilities etc. They will assess how many toddlers at the one time you will be allowed to care for. Once they shake your hand, you can open your business, and toddlers will appear on your home lot. If toddlers needs are not taken care of, your Business Licence will be revoked!
TUTORING
Does your sim have some skills they can convert into simoleans? Now they can offer one one tutoring, which is similar to mentoring, but with more detail, and getting paid for it.

(A formal Teaching Career could come in a dedicated EDUCTATION Pack.)

Sims must be MAXED in the skill they want to tutor.

Next Screen: NAME YOUR BUSINESS.

Next Screen: Choose your expertise: Up to 3 can be chosen:
  • Piano
  • Organ
  • Violin
  • Keyboard
  • Guitar
  • Singing
  • Cello
  • Drums
  • Saxophone
  • Dancing
  • Fitness
  • Wellness*
  • Cooking
  • Baking
  • Chocolates and Confectionary
  • Woodworking
  • Other Craftable Skills - see above
  • Logic
  • Rocket Science
  • Homework**

*Wellness: once a sim has maxed this skill, they should get a teaching yoga mat, with attached yoga mats, that they can take ANYWHERE in the world, and begin yoga classes. Other sims on the lot, or in the public spaces can be drawn, and pay for the one-off lesson.

**Homework: If a teen has an A report grade, they can register a part time business as a homework tutor to help children and other teens.
Young Adult, Adults and Elders can also register as homework tutors.

Next Screen: Choose your venue:

Home Residence - the students will appear at your home. You must ensure that you have the objects required for learning available.

Community Venue - the students will appear at the designated venue. Either the entire lot can be designed, built and dedicated to tutoring, or a designated room can be put aside with the DOOR LOCK feature for classes.

for example:
  • a personal trainer may prefer to work at a specific gym
  • a homework tutor may like to work in a private room at the library
  • a logician may choose to work with objects at a Museum (with the Science Lair lot trait)
  • a piano teacher may like to work in a room at the Arts Centre
  • a baking instructor may choose a room in a retail bakery

Next Screen: Design a SCHEDULE. As students enrol, your 'spaces available' will get filled.

Choose the days - at least 1, up to 5: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday.
Choose time of day, at least 1, up to 3: 9am - 11am; 1pm - 3pm; 4pm - 6pm; 7pm - 9pm

The game will simulate students PHONING the teacher to ask for specific appointments. When the teaching day begins, the students will turn up to the teacher, whether at home, or at the venue. They will leave the lot when their lesson is finished.

Tutoring Fees should depend on the TUTORS skill level and hours of experience.

Interactions specific to tutoring lessons:
  • Demonstrate: the teacher does the skill and the student watches
  • Praise: - gives the student confidence
  • Correct: - gives the student focus
  • MEAN: berate for inadequacy - makes the student tense/and or cry
  • MEAN: yell at to try harder! - makes the student angry
  • Tell Inspiring Story: makes the student inspired
  • Enthuse: makes the student energised

If the tutor is mean and uninspiring the student may get so angry or upset that they quit!

Ages CHILD through to ELDER should be able to attend lessons. Their skills increase at a faster rate while attending lessons. If your sim is enrolled with a tutor, the game will take note of their schedule, and you will have the option to attend tutoring lessons with your sim, or send them alone.

Available interactions from students:
  • Ask a question
  • Ask for a demonstration
  • Complain of boredom!
  • Irritate tutor
  • Compliment teaching style
  • Belittle teaching style
  • Give a tip! (extra simoleans)
  • End Lesson Amiably
  • Quit in a huff!


____________________________________________


Small things available to ALL self-employed sims at any time (not just when they are working):
  • hand out business cards
  • promote business
  • offer impromptu lesson/service
:)
Post edited by Simalleyaile on

Comments

  • StrawberryYogurtStrawberryYogurt Posts: 2,799 Member
    Wow, this is well thought out. This seems awesome
    The Sims has currently lost its identity. Bring it back for TS5

    FixedCoarseFawn-max-1mb.gif

    Personality,depth,humor,consequences,lore,customization.
  • jackjack_kjackjack_k Posts: 8,601 Member
    edited February 2017
    @SimGuruDrake Can this be passed on? This is incredible.

    @SimGuruJM @SimGuruNinja @SimGuruDaniel @SimGuruLyndsay Hobbies EP/GP? Maybe xD

    It's using mostly existing tech too!
  • MovottiMovotti Posts: 7,774 Member
    Wow! Nice concept!
    Enthuse: makes the student energised
    I think making the student inspired, would make more sense in this case.
    Enthusiastic teachers usually inspire their students.
    AmusingExhaustedArchaeopteryx-max-1mb.gif
  • aprilroseaprilrose Posts: 1,832 Member
    YESSS! So well thought out, I love it!
    Simming for 19 years!
    Family Tree
    Playing Mod & CC Free



  • PapayaSkyPapayaSky Posts: 177 Member
    @Simalleyaile A thousand times, yes!!
  • SimTrippySimTrippy Posts: 7,651 Member
    Great, I love this!! :D Would buy, no doubt.
  • PoKiTauru5PoKiTauru5 Posts: 105 Member
    Omg, I NEED this in the Sims 4!
  • SimalleyaileSimalleyaile Posts: 865 Member
    edited February 2017
    Thank you everyone for the support. :) If you'd like self-employment supported in the game, please add your own ideas too. :)


    I would just love to have a tool that allows us to design our own active careers.

    The developers did such a good job with Clubs, I think it would be awesome if they could come up with a way for us to choose our own days, times and what we do for a living, all based on what we have in the game. It would be great if, just like clubs, it was retro-active - support content we already have in game - as well as support NEW content, like new skills and activities.

    While I enjoy playing Get To Work's Active Careers, I would like a completely open-ended SANDBOX type of gamestyle for self-employment.

    Instead of LISTS or daily tasks and LEVELS, I would like to have GOALS appear through WHIMS - that way we can either lock them to fulfill, or dismiss them to try for different ones. For eg, whim to make $5000.

    I also would LOVE it if for tutoring, they could think of a way for us to increase the number of students we could tutor at the one time.

    I also delibertately left out selling fruit and vegies, as it's not really 'crafting', and I'm still living in hope for dedicated FARMING pack that would include CROPS of all sorts, including the ones already in game.

  • Hobbitmama75Hobbitmama75 Posts: 75 Member
    I absolutely love this idea, and hope that the devs take note and use it - the only addition I'd personally like to see is the addition of a cello, and then it would be perfect for me, as I'm a cello and piano teacher! :) All really brilliant though - and it would be fantastic if they could/would do this.
  • SimalleyaileSimalleyaile Posts: 865 Member
    edited February 2017
    @Hobbitmama75 - I'll add in cello. <3

    If anybody else wants me to add in hopeful future content, let me know. :)
    Post edited by Simalleyaile on
  • SimalleyaileSimalleyaile Posts: 865 Member
    I'm going to add Dancing to Tutoring too. Did you know there's an interaction to ask other sims to teach your sim to dance and vice versa?

    Hoping one day we'll get other types of dancing, like country line dancing and the ballet bar (like in Sims 2), so opening up a DANCE STUDIO would be kind of awesome.

    Also, thinking more about cellos and other classical instruments, I would love to have music ensembles, like rock bands, but also trios like piano, violin and cello. Any combination of instrument would be so much fun, and this system could support music groups. Then you could hire a classical quartet for your wedding etc.
  • SimalleyaileSimalleyaile Posts: 865 Member
    edited March 2017
    Today I was playing a sim who wants to be a writer, and I would love to be able to publish her works online as ebooks. Then other sims can pay for, and download a copy of her books, and read it on their notebook -The Slablet. More options for authors would be great.
  • kurdanevakurdaneva Posts: 128 Member
    This is amazing! I really do miss that from 3, being able to be a 'freelance'. Like, registering as an artist/writer/gardener. I was very sad to see that go ):
  • joleacojoleaco Posts: 2,250 Member
    These are awesome ideas @Simalleyaile ! You must have put a lot of time into this. :star:
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  • TurloughdudeTurloughdude Posts: 662 Member
    Ugh, when are they gonna add a soda brewery skill?!
  • LoanetLoanet Posts: 4,079 Member
    This is an idea I had - that it's possible to get fired from your job for multiple reasons. Like, the choices they give you? Sometimes there's an important one that can lose you your job, not just the ones that might slow your promotion.
    Prepping a list of mods to add after Infants are placed into the game. Because real life isn't 'nice'.
  • the_greenplumbobthe_greenplumbob Posts: 6,105 Member
    This is amazing and extremely thought out! Well done!! I really hope this gets added into the game one day!
  • nicolethebowlnicolethebowl Posts: 121 Member
    Awesome idea and much needed!
  • asouthernwriterasouthernwriter Posts: 1,041 Member
    This is how GTW or at least an Ambitions style GP/EP should have been. Bravo!!
  • SimmySimianSimmySimian Posts: 357 Member
    This is a brilliant idea, and I would buy it in a heartbeat.
  • SimalleyaileSimalleyaile Posts: 865 Member
    edited March 2017
    joleaco wrote: »
    These are awesome ideas @Simalleyaile ! You must have put a lot of time into this. :star:

    Hi @joleaco . :) I put a lot of time into playing :D A bit bored since my retirement ... probably way too much time on my computer. I remember suggesting the sales party to someone on the Aussie forum over two years ago! It was a bit of a joke at the time, but I thought, heh, that could be fun, why not suggest it? All of it is just stuff "I wish the game could..." as I play. I have about 80 sims I play with these days, and most of them are "unemployed", even though some of them work harder and longer than sims in "official" careers. At this point, I'd just be relieved if they let us name what they do for a living. eg, author etc, but then I thought, what if they gave us a tool like the Clubs one? ... and this happened. :D
  • SimalleyaileSimalleyaile Posts: 865 Member
    Thanks to everyone leaving comments.

    And thanks @jackjack_k for tagging the gurus.

    I see a lot of people on the forum still asking for more careers, active ones in particular. And lots of comments about that 'unemployed' tag - especially when running venues like retail and restaurants. I think a system that gives players the freedom to be creative and versatile while still providing structure and support within the game could be a really powerful and appreciated tool.
  • SimalleyaileSimalleyaile Posts: 865 Member
    edited June 2017
    I would love this to be made as a GAME pack, and called Do-It-Yourself Game Pack.

    Along with the self-employment system, new craftables could be added to the woodworking bench for handiness sims to build and sell, such as:

    Low Levels of Handiness Skill
    xVeromv.jpg
    qo6rZhi.jpg

    And fancier furniture with higher levels of skill.

    Also, sims who scavenge for parts in trash piles, can use the upgrade parts they find to make into lights, statues and art pieces
    qCJLUsX.jpg

    sim with high handiness skill could make this with upgrade parts:
    4RX96C5.jpg

    There is a pencil animation on the woodworking bench that could be changed into a paint brush, and a new painting option included, so sims could make things like this:
    XVvPCfd.jpg

    and things we can use around the house, like a new planter for harvestables out of old tyres they can now find in trash piles, and paint up on the woodworking table. Also small playground items children can actually climb on/play with.
    gBdPfOf.jpg

    All these things we could sell in our self-employed career.

    New Confectionary Skill with recipes that could be added to the ovens and the cupcake machine. Employ ourselves as Confectioners or Chocolatiers. Much more about this idea here: Gameplay Ideas for Chocolate and Candy..

    @SimGuruNinja - I'm not on twitter, so hoping you see this here.

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