Note: If you're looking to chat with someone who does
not like the gameplay that was just recently released, you're gonna have to go to another thread~ Just wanted to say that really quick before I got started!

I know we're all going to have different opinions for different reasons, but let's try to be nice to one another.

And, just to say, I made my own thread because I've got a looooot to say, and I didn't want to make such a big post in someone else's thread. :oops: I tend to get kinda long-winded when I'm "reviewing" something (and I use that term loosely), so I'll break it up into sections!
CAS
This is a quicky, since they only showed a bit of it, but I was lucky enough to get a copy of the demo in the third (or forth?) wave. I've said before that I really love the cartoony aesthetic of the game. To me, it's nice to see a fresh take on what kind of vibe a game wants to present. Everything's all about "make everything SO REAL, JUST LIKE REAL LIFE" nowadays that...it doesn't feel like a game anymore, you know? But, again, that's just my opinion~ The clothes have a good bit of variety (more-so for ladies than guys), and I hope they'll add even more variety in the actual game. I've been playing the demo practically non-stop since I got it, and I'm happy to say that I've been able to make a wide variety of expressive, unique Sims.
UI
Simple and clean (is the way that you're makin' me feeeeel tonight -- oops, sorry, wrong game), and straightforward too. I'm not sure if this is the final version of the UI, but it definitely looks promising. It's not very cluttered or obtrusive, the icons are small and distinct. This UI lets you see all the action, and it almost feels like you're just watching these Sims, rather than just "playing a game." Oh, and I like the little tune that plays when you switch to a different Sim depending on their emotional state! That's a nice little touch~
The World
Wow... I was (and still am) absolutely floored. The park actually
looked like a park that would be
fun to hang out at. It's not just a flat, grassy field with a few trees and a picnic table. While I'm not sure if we will be able to create lots, I'd be okay with having just that one park in Willow Creek. I mean...it looks like a level from an old XBox RPG, but with better graphics! Yes, it's stylized. Some of you may not like that, and it's totally understandable (and unfortunate -- I hope EA will give you some news you'll like soon

) This world looks
immersive and
alive, especially with the different walk cycles going on in the background! I can't wait to put my Sims into this world to see what they'll get into!
"Smarter Sims, Weirder Stories"
One of the first things that struck me when they pulled up the Live Mode was watching a random Sim run up and interact with Sim!Graham right before they could really do anything. And they didn't just lifelessly turn towards each other and start conversing. No, Sim!Graham jumped, looking excited and lively! I noticed that improvement straight away. Like I mentioned just a second ago, I love seeing the different walk cycles in action. It's such a simple but effective way to make the town feel alive, varied, and interesting. The wide spectrum of interactions different Sims can perform based on their personality and mood looks promising too. I feel like my gameplay won't start to feel "same-y" for a long, long time. I think I'll come to find that each different Sim I play as will experience their life uniquely!
The Gallery/Exchange
They talked about this briefly, but I want to point out what an improvement the Gallery is. I mean...it's like...
heaps better, faster, and easier than the current Exchange system. Watching them bring an entirely new house into the game, ready to play, in less than two minutes was awesome. I'm not proud to say this, but I sincerely gasped -- at a few parts during the gameplay, actually!
Over all I'm even more excited for TS4 than I was before! For me, because of the way I play video games and the things that I personally enjoy in them, this looks to be everything I could have asked for from a Sims game. I mean, the things I always enjoyed about the franchise (before TS3, I should clarify -- not to say I didn't like it!) are all right there. Fun characters to interact with, worlds to get lost in with locations that actually have a little personality to them (more akin to the Urbz and the handheld Sims games like Sims Bustin' out for GBA). This may sound a little silly, but to me it feels like the Sims are "back." I feel like a kid again, haha!
What about you guys? What did you like or dislike about the gameplay video? Considering they could only show us so much in fifteen minutes, I mean! Did it change your mind about TS4, or did it just solidify how you felt about it? Feel free to discuss your opinion openly, of course, but please try to keep things civil!


September 2nd can't get here fast enough!
Comments
Proud member of the "I own the store" club
The real me:https://twitter.com/CupidStupidLov3
Thumbs up for the Kingdom Hearts reference right there
But a definite yes to everything you had to say, i am so pumped for this game is looks amazing, i am going to have so much fun with it when i finally get my hands on it :twisted:
Some stuff as small as how doors open and close, or what the puddles look like got my attention more than the animations which is totally a whole new thing (which is great I might add)
I am a little worried about that "premium memberships" thing we got a glimpse of in the Gallery, but in the end subscriptions are optional and there's no confirmation that it even is a subscription. It could be very annoying, but after my initial anger at that I've calmed down and gone back to being thrilled at the progress the game is making!
This is the part I liked the look of the most - those shops/cafes and the river there look great to me! I'd love to visit that area. I'm not sure if it's possible to build community lots in the game but I really, really hope so. I'd spend days making lots like that! The park was huge as well... Weren't people posting that the maximum lot size is 50x50 though? :?
Oh yeah! It's pretty much solidified in my head now that these Sims are going to play a lot differently than the ones we're used to from TS3! I mean, hey, sure there's a chance we could be wrong... Maybe they won't be all they're cracked up to be (doubt it, though)! All I know is that it looks to me like there actually will be a difference between a Sim, for example, taking a "regular shower" as opposed to "Take Extreme Shower Until Extremely Clean" and then just doing the same exact animation, you know what I mean? Maybe showering isn't a great example, but I'm sure you know what I'm getting at!
Haha, I couldn't resist! Glad someone caught that!
Yeeessss it's going to feel like forever until we can finally play it!
!!! I hope you get the demo soon!
Oh, I didn't even pay attention to any of that! Now I have to watch it again! Oh noooo! Just kidding, of course~ Thanks for giving me an excuse to watch it again, haha! There's just so much new stuff to enjoy~
What kinda stuff gave ya red flags? I'm curious! I got a few yellow flags myself. Like the grass, while not overly plain, admittedly didn't look as lush as I was hoping~ But I just have to keep reminding myself that they were playing a game from...a few months ago, I think they said? And it sounds like Graham said it's improved a lot since then, so that's exciting!
I juuuuust now saw a thread about that and I'm curious too... Hopefully if they do offer some kind of "Premium Membership" deal it will not only have early access to things, but also additional content or something? I guess it'll just depend on how much it costs, seeing as the game itself is already quite a pretty penny! But, hey, I can be kind of a cheapskate sometimes, so~
Oh yeah, I noticed those buildings too! Augh, it just sets up such a nice atmosphere, doesn't it? It looks really inviting!
I hope we have the ability to make lots too! Like I said, I could live without it if I had to, but...let's hope we don't have to! I think we could make some amazing lots to share!
I'm pretty sure you're right about the 50x50 thing; I saw that in a few places as well. But...that park was huge. Hmm... I wonder if maybe the park doesn't apply as a "lot" per-say? Like maybe it's different from, say, a store or the gym? I dunno~ But hopefully the small lot size won't feel too limiting.
As for the gameplay today, I ABSOLUTELY LOVE STYLIZED LOOKS. It's so smooooth, and idk... simple. I love simple. Simple is my favorite. Sleek, and not ..clunky like some of the other stuff I've seen through the sims.
The park is beautiful, the lighting is gorgeous, and the "wilderness" of the park is so cool. I agree that it actually looks like a park I've been too, or would want to go to, now.
The sims are amazing themselves. They catch a likeness of yourself, or anyone else you choose to create, with an actual video game (not live portrait) distinction. People who hate the graphics -- stick with your CC filled Sims 3, or 2.
I like sims 4 just fine.
To find these sims4 creations type SOULB1 under origin ID.
My understanding is that the park is a special 6th neighborhood that is nothing but park. I don't know if it can be edited but my guess is no. I don't think they will have a CAW tool at launch but they didn't with TS3 either. (I don't think.) I hope there will eventually be a CAW tool so we can add and download user created worlds.
I really doubt that I will use the gallery much. Part of the fun of the game for me is making sims and where they live.
So I think the park is editable
That's my understanding as well. Magnolia Park is just one of the six neighbourhoods in Willow Creek. All sims from all neighbourhoods have access to it. But all those sims don't necessarily live in your particular "hood".
Here's a screenshot:
It's on the bottom row, the second box/first family. :-)