Still Room for a Generations Pack

jackjack_k

I've seen a lot of people worry that since they've done a Family based Game Pack, that there won't be room for another pack focused on Families.
But I just wanted to give my perspective on that;

Generations, was a pack that focused on each Generation, and fleshed out each age with new interactions within that Life Stage, and briefly family life. However, the pack was more based on how each "era" of your life is different, and also focused on milestones for different ages.

With the Parenthood Game Pack, it's more about relationships between Parents and their Children. While some of this means that Toddlers, Kids & Teens have more depth, most of that depth is due to how a traditional family behaves at home. It's not about each Life Stage having for depth, it's about how the game simulates parents and their children, and what it's like to bring up your Children.

The trailer for Parenthood, literally took place in the house only. So for those wanting things to do on Community Lots, or just outside of home in general (going for walks in the pram, going to the park, going to school/field trips/prom etc.) I still think there's room for a Generations type EP, that could just take what isn't covered by Parenthood and flesh it out.

Eg, actual Prom event, Funeral events, massive Weddings (with Ceremony on one lot, reception at another, and the choice to join your Sims on a Honeymoon, or manage life at home instead).

There's so much to cover with Families, and while Generations did cover a lot, I think we can all agree, fleshing out what Generations did with actual events and gameplay, would be enough for another EP in itself.

jackjack_k

Also, as @elelunicy wrote a few days ago, SimGuruLyndsay said they look to where the Sims 4 will be 3 - 4 years from now, which is 2020 - 2021 (minimum) so I imagine this isn't the only pack that will cover family play.

If we're going to get multiple Career, Vacation, Occult packs etc, I'm sure multiple Family packs aren't out of the question.

Neia

Honestly, parenting is probably what interested me the most in a Generation/Family themed EP, so I'm happy and I'm not sure what I'd want from another Generation pack. TS3 Generation had a lot of things that don't sound that appealing to me (pranks, imaginary friends, proms, ) or that we already have (weddings, dating, ) so I'm not sold on a Generation pack so far.

I'd like a school pack though, and I think they could explore the theme of aspirations/achieving things in life like we had with TS2 lifetime system.

beville

I do believe there's room for an generation expansion pack, and more features can be added to that pack.Like strollers, bunk beds, swings, sea saw, tree houses, homes with big lots etc.... Also I do see this Parenthood game pack as a filler pack, so yeah I do see an expansion in the works.

LosaruTaiyo

Another thing to remember too is that certain things can be covered in other packs. Swings, see-saws. They could be covered in a 'school pack' like @Neia mentioned or maybe even put in a 'schoolyard' stuff pack. Expansions and now Game Packs can expand on other life stages without being in a sole pack. If they do release a generations one, good on them. If not, I wouldn't be too worried over it. Parenthood looks like an interesting GP and if anything, it'll add a challenge to raising the kids.

rinre33

Potentially, they might split the generations expansion into smaller focus game packs like the parenting one. So maybe the next one (in terms of family and life stages) could focus more exclusively on elders E.g.have canes, bingo, knitting, back pain, new postures etc. Maybe this way it could be more focused and aimed at specific interests? Bit size chunks seem more sims 4 style. Not sure if it's preferable or plausible, but it's just an idea. Maybe that way they could also do a separate school & uni pack, and maybe one day a stiff pack for babies? What do you think?

jackjack_k

rinre33 wrote: »

Potentially, they might split the generations expansion into smaller focus game packs like the parenting one. So maybe the next one (in terms of family and life stages) could focus more exclusively on elders E.g.have canes, bingo, knitting, back pain, new postures etc. Maybe this way it could be more focused and aimed at specific interests? Bit size chunks seem more sims 4 style. Not sure if it's preferable or plausible, but it's just an idea. Maybe that way they could also do a separate school & uni pack, and maybe one day a stiff pack for babies? What do you think?

I think a "Golden Years" GP would be amazing;

Grandkids can 'come to stay' at Grandparents house, and you can assign a Room like a Butler. Bingo, different animations etc would be awesome as well. Even things like Lawn Bowls, Retirement Homes and even stuff that has a double purpose for other life stages, such as Resorts etc. Get a pension weekly instead of needing to work. So many things could be done

ChampandGirlie

I would be interested in more stuff for elders and for middle age. More stuff for "active adults" and mid-life crises. There are different ways that they could do that. They could add casinos with a young and hip feel and others with a "seniors' bingo night" feel. I do keep my in-game elders and might keep certain key friends of theirs in the game. Senior-friendly activities like golfing or mini-golfing or a senior center would be welcome. More senior-specific interactions could add more depth to them.

Admittedly, bowling is definitely one of those and OR's cabins work well for easy senior vacations. We may see more senior stuff parceled out across different packs.

Lomelindi7

I hope there isn't a pack called Generations. An entire EP dedicated to something we already have covered would be a disappointment. That said, I hope they continue to cover family play in different ways as the game continues. As others have mentioned, stuff for elders would be MOST welcome. As well, a school pack would cover more childhood and teen events/activities. So while I'm not interested in an EP for generations, I'm convinced we will see family play added in other ways and I'm sure they will be very interesting and fun for players.

Briana2425

It seems like their breaking up generations so it would be interesting to see what else comes along whether its in a gp or an so since it seems like its going that way.

SimmeringBree

I don't really think they're is room atleast not right now, we need different thingsso I think another generations pack can just wait.

SarahsShady

I hope so, Parenthood looks great but so much more could be added to make the family aspect of the game deeper.

Loanet

Watching an LGR review, I notice that we have a lot of things in the game that came in the Generations lump sum. So I get this feeling that we won't get a real Generations pack, just bit by bit in Stuff Packs and Game Packs, such as the Water Slide and *shudders* the Bowling Alley. Other things we have that fulfil the same function. We only have trailers showing us what's new, so who knows what fun additions we may have to behaviour with old items?

We may get another Family-based pack, but right now this Parenting pack feels like the closest thing yet with its new interactions, just mostly focused on teens and children. Maybe eventually Elders will have a decent reason to exist. Maybe there will be a Retirement pack?

Still, we've yet to get the Video Camera, so that's something else yet to turn up.

aprilrose

I think there is definitely still room for a generations ep. The gamepack only touches on aspects of parenting and raising children. It doesn't touch on the experiences of growing up like an actual generations ep would.

Nelus

I still think there should be a school/university addon with visitable lots like the workplaces. This should also expand on the families and the younger generations and adding middle-schoolers to fill the gap between children and teens(high-schoolers as it is now).
They could add alot of exciting advancement systems with this like shaping a BFF Friendship, Passing through troubles of puperty, extracurricular activities with various clubs, character building and shaping with a more advanced traits system that is more designed like the vampire skill tree system.

And maybe a GP to flesh out elders but i guess marketing will go nuts about it not selling well enough.
Sims 3 got a Timetravelling addon, so why not an elder addon that lets elders tell the storys of their live which will let us relive episodes from their past. Would also love the assets for a setting somewhere between 1920 to 1960.

Other Addons that would add to it,
Adventures (much better than community service for families)
Seasons (much more activities for families)
Pets (new family members like tigers or dinosaurs)

RamblineRose

I think sims 4 will approach family game style differently than in the past. I do believe we will see more game play with each life state at some point whether it is in the form of game pack or stuff pack to accomplish this. Maybe something geared toward education for toddlers thru high school, hobbies and generations style play, I believe things can be accomplished if it is within the mission of sims 4, the budget and their goals for the game.

Simsfan99111

I really really hope we get more family play in the future. I love family play and would love a generations ep still.

Cinebar

As I said in a different thread I think some things can actually be added to a seasons EP. Just because they are seasonal events. Such as prom and graduation which was in Generations. Those are spring/late spring events. Picnics and strollers/ prams could be a summer time thing.

I can't think what elderly could do in any of these seasons or what you guys feels separates elderly from adult other than the usual stereotyped myths. Like needing a cane (some do, some don't it would depend on illness) or playing bingo and gambling in Las Vegas. Or moving to sunny Florida. (All stereotyped)

We could request much of this stuff be added to a seasonal EP, for many of the life stages but not sure what to ask for concerning elderly whether in a Generations EP/GP or a Seasons' one.

Other than more interactions like passing along wisdom or bad habits, or mentoring etc. I'm not sure why people think elderly are so different. Just because you get old doesn't mean you no longer want the home, family and love.

comicsforlife

just so you know I like bingo being able to knit would be fun in the sims and some stereotypes are true
a lot of older people knit and stuff like that because that cant move around as much as they use to

kwanzaabot

comicsforlife wrote: »

just so you know I like bingo being able to knit would be fun in the sims and some stereotypes are true
a lot of older people knit and stuff like that because that cant move around as much as they use to

Also because knitting was actually a fashionable thing to do in their generation.
It's not just a mobility issue, my grandmother has been knitting her whole life. It's fun for her.

stilljustme2

SimmeringBree wrote: »

I don't really think they're is room atleast not right now, we need different thingsso I think another generations pack can just wait.

No one's saying right away, but maybe later in 2018 or so we could see it, in response to those who think that this pack replaces Generations so we won't see any more content for Elders. Or as others have mentioned, features from Generations could be in other packs -- if we got a general schools/education pack rather than one that strictly focuses on University, proms and graduation could be included in that (maybe to age up from Teen to YA you could choose a Graduation party instead of a Birthday party). Maybe some sort of outdoor activities pack would include more playground equipment.

Loanet

Elders kind of need more reasons to exist, because then more people would turn the aging back on.

How about being able to play them in a retirement home?

stilljustme2

Cinebar wrote: »

As I said in a different thread I think some things can actually be added to a seasons EP. Just because they are seasonal events. Such as prom and graduation which was in Generations. Those are spring/late spring events. Picnics and strollers/ prams could be a summer time thing.

I can't think what elderly could do in any of these seasons or what you guys feels separates elderly from adult other than the usual stereotyped myths. Like needing a cane (some do, some don't it would depend on illness) or playing bingo and gambling in Las Vegas. Or moving to sunny Florida. (All stereotyped)

We could request much of this stuff be added to a seasonal EP, for many of the life stages but not sure what to ask for concerning elderly whether in a Generations EP/GP or a Seasons' one.

Other than more interactions like passing along wisdom or bad habits, or mentoring etc. I'm not sure why people think elderly are so different. Just because you get old doesn't mean you no longer want the home, family and love.

Parenthood GP could make elders even more playable -- if you stick with the same family for a while your Sims will have full parenting skill, which they can pass on to their kids as they deal with the next generation. I think there is a "Pass On Wisdom" or similar interaction between elders and their offspring, and elders can also help with child rearing (they can be designated caregivers). You could have a household with two busy parents who rely on the children's grandparent to do the child rearing, help with projects, and such. That grandparent could even be a bit old-fashioned and treat the girls differently than the boys.