But this live service, does it end up slowing everything down?
Like, are you guys going to be releasing less content for The Sims 4, the same content in a longer time frame, or you guys will make up for lost time in the next few years.
When one of your biggest fans for The Sims 4 had decided to stop investing in it (me), it rings alarm bells.
I need to know that you guys are going to support it the same, if not more, than 3. Right now I'm concerned there will be like 5 EP's total.
And that's not worth investing in.
I love the work you guys do, but surely, you guys can at least let us know that this 1 EP for the year isn't going to be standard.
@KeyserFn
Basically this is what i think he is saying. With TS3 they had two teams (Redwood Shores & Salt Lake) working on EPs and a store team and for the most part they didn't share or integrate assets. This lead to many bugs due to that lack of communication between the teams which lead to bugs often only being fixed when the next packs prerelease patch came around. Each team also had their own schedules to follow as well as budgets so if one team needed more resources the other teams couldn't allocate theirs resources to help them. Now with TS4 all teams (EP team ,GP team ,SP team, and engagement/patch team) are now in one location (Redwood) and because of this they are able to share assets and integrate assets with one another. This also means they can allocate resources amongst all the teams based on which one needs it the most at the time. Because of this improved communication amongst the teams they are able to find bugs and take care of them faster then before. Now due to so many changes this time around they are still in the process of finding a balance which is why past pack patterns are no longer being followed.
I hope this helped.
Now on a side note I like that he mentioned the fact the TS3 had 2 EP teams because a lot of people are getting worried over the fact that we may only get one EP a year now but something to keep in mind is that each team released a pack about once a year so in turn we got two EPs a year in TS3 one from each team. TS4 though has only one EP team so if we only get one EP a year they technically are still following past schedules at least by a one team perpective
@SimGuruGraham Thank you so much for clarifying this issue! I'm really at ease now. I really like what you guys are doing with TS4, and I do think in the end it will certainly be the best sims game ever, if fully realised. It's been almost 2 years, and I can't imagine where the game will be 2 years from now if development continues at a steady pace. I hope that the types of expansions we are used to from other sims games comes to this iteration, but I also like when you guys try new things.
Thank you very much for clarifying. I was quite confused when I heard of the "live service" thing, but I'm glad you took the time to explain
We appreciate when we get communication, and though we know the team can't tell us about anything unless it's definitely going to be released, it puts our hearts at ease when we know what's in the works/going on. Probably my favourite thing about past sims games was reading *every* detail about a pack before I bought it; it kept me sane and excited.
So I hope that there can be a way of more frequent communication and I appreciate everything you do for us Thank you again.
I think @Sk8rblaze that he is not going to be able to answer you has quite it is internal to the company. (its not critic @Sk8rblaze ^^, just informative).
Even if for the moment they have no direct competitor, its sensitive as questions. I find moreover that it is enormous that little is explained how the organization of the teams has was seen again. Later if you more want to get how the magic operates, it is necessary to work in the studio in him even. To have to work in the environment of the video game it is not as well simple as the people as in any company can consider it. Later I think that we shall really see the results of this organization for the next fiscal year, they will have had time to adapt themselves well.
Thank you for the reply here Graham. I was getting alarmed earlier reading through the speculation threads and it's still not sitting well, despite your clarification. I know things evolve and move and change and it makes sense that behind the scenes the processes would also. I do like the frequency of the patches and so far any bugs that have affected me at least seem to get addressed in an emergency patch or the next patch... it also seems to me that the response is getting quicker for things like that as time goes on and I appreciate that. So if that is part of what live service does keep up the good work there.
However change is scary for most of us and I think that's in part why we had the forum explosion.. That and lack of communication. I want to still believe that this version is "capable of fulfilling my desires for years to come"... Through EP's and possibly GP's. I think the wait for another big meat and potatoes type EP is taking a toll even on some of the fans of this series. My feeling is that if we get something familiar .. that we use to get it will help calm some of that angst... Seasons.. Supernaturals.. University.. Generations.. Pets ect.
The stuff packs are great... instant gratification, but they only satisfy so long and if they are niche types.. they might not satisfy at all. I just hope something big is coming soon. I know you all can't talk about things prior to release and I'm not asking for or expecting this. I just think we need some assurance about the future of the series in general from time to time.
Was just popping my nose in as I was getting a 'I need to play some sims' vibe coming on after being buried in Crusader Kings 2 for a few months and this post saved me wading through tons of stuff to catch up - business as usual then?
You guys at Maxis should hook up with Paradox Studios and make beautiful game babies.
Awake.
Shake dreams from your hair
My pretty child, my sweet one.
Choose the day and choose the sign of your day
The day's divinity.... The Ghost Song - Jim Morrison
No disrespect but taking EPs and splitting them up into multiple packs isn't something I would put pass the corporate overlords EA HQ. The Sims Franshise is already with no other Franchise coming close the most heavily paid DLC/EP game franchise. Has been from the start. No other game comes close in terms of paid content after release. Sad part is you are already splitting up EPs. Just calling them "Stuff Packs" and "Game Packs" to save face, and between the 4 games there hasn't been many EP that could be called unique and not repetitive.
@VentusMatt, the one EP a year was my takeaway also. Multiple stuff packs because they require fewer resources, free content patches, perhaps two game packs, and one expansion pack per year.
@VentusMatt, the one EP a year was my takeaway also. Multiple stuff packs because they require fewer resources, free content patches, perhaps two game packs, and one expansion pack per year.
Two game packs would be great indeed, I think one EP and one GP isn't enough.
Sims 4 so far 2 EPs, 3 GPs, and 7 SPs for a grand total of 12 packs. That's in 22 months.
Seems thier plan with TS4 is to Stuff Pack our wallets to death. Problem with SPs is they usually don't offer as much value for your dollar as a true EP does.
Thank you, SimGuruGraham, for fully explaining what is meant by 'live service' and how it affects the release of new content. I appreciate the fact you were very quick to dispel the feeling TS4 is going down the wrong path. You obviously put a lot of thought into your response, and your explanation was very easy to understand. It is something we have all been asking for about many things since TS4 was released. We simply want to know the truth. I appreciate being treated as the adult I am. And I thank you for that.
@theskull07 Out of curiosity, do you know the comparisons of the patches between the two?
As some content, including the June 2 patch which took a year to complete and was 1g, is added in patches instead of packs and live service is referring to patches, I think that would be important context to the conversation, as well?
LOL its not looking good for this year and there is only 1 quarter left after this current one, we've already been told this quarter will only be another stuffs pack and a couple of patches so if its deeper play you are looking for maybe the next quarter will have an EP
Saying "not to be rude", then blatently being rude does not excuse rude behavior.
I take from this that the reason we're being kept waiting for EP3 is that the team keeps getting diverted to other areas? Much the same as a lot of the team were moved over to help finish off Dine Out? (I'm sure I read this from a Guru somewhere but please correct me if I'm wrong).
Sims 4 so far 2 EPs, 3 GPs, and 7 SPs for a grand total of 12 packs. That's in 22 months.
Seems thier plan with TS4 is to Stuff Pack our wallets to death. Problem with SPs is they usually don't offer as much value for your dollar as a true EP does.
Sims 4 so far 2 EPs, 3 GPs, and 7 SPs for a grand total of 12 packs. That's in 22 months.
Seems thier plan with TS4 is to Stuff Pack our wallets to death. Problem with SPs is they usually don't offer as much value for your dollar as a true EP does.
Stuff Packs have no bearing on other pack content though as they have their own dedicated team (lead by Graham) much like TS3 Store. GPs and EPs each have a team too and Graham has confirmed that for the majority of the time TS3 had just one EP team too; they did eventually have a second (probably around the time Pets was leaked before Generations was actually released) but for a long time at the beginning it was just one team. Whether the one team we have now has as many members as the two bad in TS3 remains to be seen but it's unlikely to be the case; don't forget a lot of the staff will have been siphoned off to GPs and patch content. I imagine we're waiting so long for the next EP is because the EP team keeps shifting to other areas.
Comments
Like, are you guys going to be releasing less content for The Sims 4, the same content in a longer time frame, or you guys will make up for lost time in the next few years.
When one of your biggest fans for The Sims 4 had decided to stop investing in it (me), it rings alarm bells.
I need to know that you guys are going to support it the same, if not more, than 3. Right now I'm concerned there will be like 5 EP's total.
And that's not worth investing in.
I love the work you guys do, but surely, you guys can at least let us know that this 1 EP for the year isn't going to be standard.
Insta: https://instagram.com/jkarajs?igshid=oef2ymrand3g
Basically this is what i think he is saying. With TS3 they had two teams (Redwood Shores & Salt Lake) working on EPs and a store team and for the most part they didn't share or integrate assets. This lead to many bugs due to that lack of communication between the teams which lead to bugs often only being fixed when the next packs prerelease patch came around. Each team also had their own schedules to follow as well as budgets so if one team needed more resources the other teams couldn't allocate theirs resources to help them. Now with TS4 all teams (EP team ,GP team ,SP team, and engagement/patch team) are now in one location (Redwood) and because of this they are able to share assets and integrate assets with one another. This also means they can allocate resources amongst all the teams based on which one needs it the most at the time. Because of this improved communication amongst the teams they are able to find bugs and take care of them faster then before. Now due to so many changes this time around they are still in the process of finding a balance which is why past pack patterns are no longer being followed.
I hope this helped.
Now on a side note I like that he mentioned the fact the TS3 had 2 EP teams because a lot of people are getting worried over the fact that we may only get one EP a year now but something to keep in mind is that each team released a pack about once a year so in turn we got two EPs a year in TS3 one from each team. TS4 though has only one EP team so if we only get one EP a year they technically are still following past schedules at least by a one team perpective
We appreciate when we get communication, and though we know the team can't tell us about anything unless it's definitely going to be released, it puts our hearts at ease when we know what's in the works/going on. Probably my favourite thing about past sims games was reading *every* detail about a pack before I bought it; it kept me sane and excited.
So I hope that there can be a way of more frequent communication and I appreciate everything you do for us
Pirates!! http://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/906481/pirate-gp-smuggling-dueling-live-on-ship-or-build-own-and-more#latest
I think @Sk8rblaze that he is not going to be able to answer you has quite it is internal to the company. (its not critic @Sk8rblaze ^^, just informative).
Even if for the moment they have no direct competitor, its sensitive as questions. I find moreover that it is enormous that little is explained how the organization of the teams has was seen again. Later if you more want to get how the magic operates, it is necessary to work in the studio in him even. To have to work in the environment of the video game it is not as well simple as the people as in any company can consider it. Later I think that we shall really see the results of this organization for the next fiscal year, they will have had time to adapt themselves well.
¤Read Comic WTNY¤
¤Simblr¤¤My Cc's on TSR¤¤My CC's on S.workshop¤
ID Origin: AudreyLD
However change is scary for most of us and I think that's in part why we had the forum explosion.. That and lack of communication. I want to still believe that this version is "capable of fulfilling my desires for years to come"... Through EP's and possibly GP's. I think the wait for another big meat and potatoes type EP is taking a toll even on some of the fans of this series. My feeling is that if we get something familiar .. that we use to get it will help calm some of that angst... Seasons.. Supernaturals.. University.. Generations.. Pets ect.
The stuff packs are great... instant gratification, but they only satisfy so long and if they are niche types.. they might not satisfy at all. I just hope something big is coming soon. I know you all can't talk about things prior to release and I'm not asking for or expecting this. I just think we need some assurance about the future of the series in general from time to time.
You guys at Maxis should hook up with Paradox Studios and make beautiful game babies.
Shake dreams from your hair
My pretty child, my sweet one.
Choose the day and choose the sign of your day
The day's divinity....
The Ghost Song - Jim Morrison
Two game packs would be great indeed, I think one EP and one GP isn't enough.
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Sims 4 so far 2 EPs, 3 GPs, and 7 SPs for a grand total of 12 packs. That's in 22 months.
Seems thier plan with TS4 is to Stuff Pack our wallets to death. Problem with SPs is they usually don't offer as much value for your dollar as a true EP does.
As some content, including the June 2 patch which took a year to complete and was 1g, is added in patches instead of packs and live service is referring to patches, I think that would be important context to the conversation, as well?
LOL its not looking good for this year and there is only 1 quarter left after this current one, we've already been told this quarter will only be another stuffs pack and a couple of patches so if its deeper play you are looking for maybe the next quarter will have an EP
Saying "not to be rude", then blatently being rude does not excuse rude behavior.
I take from this that the reason we're being kept waiting for EP3 is that the team keeps getting diverted to other areas? Much the same as a lot of the team were moved over to help finish off Dine Out? (I'm sure I read this from a Guru somewhere but please correct me if I'm wrong).
Stuff Packs have no bearing on other pack content though as they have their own dedicated team (lead by Graham) much like TS3 Store. GPs and EPs each have a team too and Graham has confirmed that for the majority of the time TS3 had just one EP team too; they did eventually have a second (probably around the time Pets was leaked before Generations was actually released) but for a long time at the beginning it was just one team. Whether the one team we have now has as many members as the two bad in TS3 remains to be seen but it's unlikely to be the case; don't forget a lot of the staff will have been siphoned off to GPs and patch content. I imagine we're waiting so long for the next EP is because the EP team keeps shifting to other areas.