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Behind Closed Doors: An Interview with SimGuruGraham

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simgirl1010simgirl1010 Posts: 35,701 Member
Recently, Maxis asked the community to help them create an all-new Stuff Pack for The Sims™ 4. And the response was incredible!

We sit down with Associate Sims Producer, Graham Nardone (better known as SimGuruGraham) to learn more about the process and find out how working with the community makes The Sims better.



https://www.ea.com/news/behind-closed-doors-the-sims-laundry-stuff?utm_campaign=sims4_hd_ww_ic_soco_twt_communitystuffpack-121117-tw&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&cid=43496&ts=1513023213975

Comments

  • simgirl1010simgirl1010 Posts: 35,701 Member
    Now I want the wedding and the arcade objects! :p
  • Writin_RegWritin_Reg Posts: 28,907 Member
    Now I want the wedding and the arcade objects! :p

    LOL.

    "Games Are Not The Place To Tell Stories, Games Are Meant To Let People Tell Their Own Stories"...Will Wright.

    In dreams - I LIVE!
    In REALITY, I simply exist.....

  • lovlyblovlyb Posts: 968 Member
    So many great thing that didnt make the cut, I still would like to see some of them make through next year, would be great...
  • ashleyl2203ashleyl2203 Posts: 322 Member
    That wedding stuff. BRB CRYING!!!!
  • DesertSimmer1971DesertSimmer1971 Posts: 498 Member
    I am still disappointed that none of the themes, or ideas (that were not laundry), will not ever be included in the game. They stated that all of the themes were not ever being considered to add, so if it didn't win the vote during this project, then it will not be in another pack.
  • gummybear0724gummybear0724 Posts: 1,146 Member
    I am still disappointed that none of the themes, or ideas (that were not laundry), will not ever be included in the game. They stated that all of the themes were not ever being considered to add, so if it didn't win the vote during this project, then it will not be in another pack.

    They said they weren't off the table.
  • DesertSimmer1971DesertSimmer1971 Posts: 498 Member
    I am still disappointed that none of the themes, or ideas (that were not laundry), will not ever be included in the game. They stated that all of the themes were not ever being considered to add, so if it didn't win the vote during this project, then it will not be in another pack.

    They said they weren't off the table.

    They said from the beginning of the project that none of choices for voting were planed content in any future pack and therefore only the "winner" of the voting process in the community project was going to be made. Laundry Day that will come out in 2018, was made under the Eco-Living Theme.

    Since they cannot use that theme again, no packs that include ideas such as solar energy, off the grid, and home technologies will not be made.

    It's just disappointing that the other four themes and even all the Eco-living ideas that were presented will never be considered.

  • Zeldaboy180Zeldaboy180 Posts: 5,997 Member
    I am still disappointed that none of the themes, or ideas (that were not laundry), will not ever be included in the game. They stated that all of the themes were not ever being considered to add, so if it didn't win the vote during this project, then it will not be in another pack.

    They said they weren't off the table.

    They said from the beginning of the project that none of choices for voting were planed content in any future pack and therefore only the "winner" of the voting process in the community project was going to be made. Laundry Day that will come out in 2018, was made under the Eco-Living Theme.

    Since they cannot use that theme again, no packs that include ideas such as solar energy, off the grid, and home technologies will not be made.

    It's just disappointing that the other four themes and even all the Eco-living ideas that were presented will never be considered.

    You've got it backwards there. They've said specifically multiple times that they might still do the other losing themes again, just that it won't be in the near future.
    e68338c368f106ae784e73111955bd86.png
  • DesertSimmer1971DesertSimmer1971 Posts: 498 Member
    I am still disappointed that none of the themes, or ideas (that were not laundry), will not ever be included in the game. They stated that all of the themes were not ever being considered to add, so if it didn't win the vote during this project, then it will not be in another pack.

    They said they weren't off the table.

    They said from the beginning of the project that none of choices for voting were planed content in any future pack and therefore only the "winner" of the voting process in the community project was going to be made. Laundry Day that will come out in 2018, was made under the Eco-Living Theme.

    Since they cannot use that theme again, no packs that include ideas such as solar energy, off the grid, and home technologies will not be made.

    It's just disappointing that the other four themes and even all the Eco-living ideas that were presented will never be considered.

    You've got it backwards there. They've said specifically multiple times that they might still do the other losing themes again, just that it won't be in the near future.

    I didn't get it "backwards". The Eco-Living theme is locked for laundry. That was confirmed by Graham in his post about "What happens to those other themes"

    Since the theme of Eco-Living was chosen during this project, this theme cannot be used again for a future pack. The ideas presented on that Brainstorm List were concepts for that specific theme along with the laundry option. That list was released by Graham right before the vote for the game play object. Graham made it clear that anything that did not win a vote during this project would not be in the sims 4.

    Then he further states that simmers can continue to present ideas on the forum, but at no point does he suggest that any of those themes would be re- visited in a future pack because none of these themes according to him, were ever ideas for packs that the stuff pack, game pack, and expansion teams had planned for the sims 4.

    This is why it is disappointing. Laundry could have been added as a standalone stuff pack or as a feature to multiple different types of packs, but most of the Eco-Living ideas can only be added to a very specific theme, and that was already used for this laundry pack coming out in 2018.

  • simgirl1010simgirl1010 Posts: 35,701 Member
    edited December 2017
    Comment by SimGuruGraham:

    I think the inherent problem with this line of thinking is the assumption that any of the things that were included throughout these votes would be coming to The Sims 4 if they weren't included in this project. They may someday, but there's no guarantee that they will. The only way to guarantee the inclusion of any of the things you've voted upon, was for them to win their vote.

    Part of the reason this project exists is to empower players to get a fun piece of content that's important to them, in a relatively short period of time. When we selected the initial themes that players could vote on, and wrote the descriptions of what those themes could potentially include, they were ideas that were pulled directly from community requests and player feedback. We also purposely excluded any themes and features from the voting options that we already have plans to create. If it's an option to vote on in this project, it's fair to say that there are no immediate or concrete plans for us to build these things in-game. That's part of the difficulty of building a game that's simulating life... there's an abundance of fantastic features we can choose to create at any time, which means we don't get to other equally great features until later, or at all.

    Whether some ideas were inherently more popular than others isn't an illusion of choice, it's simply representative of the opinions held by a majority of Sims players who participate in this project.

    Ultimately, I don't think any of us on the development team are looking at the results of the votes and thinking that some options simply weren't popular enough to be viable. Instead, we've all been delighted by the discussions on this forum where people have shared their ideas and excitement for the possibilities of what's yet to come. I would love to capitalize on the features that people have invested their time and thought into throughout this process, and use the passion demonstrated here to amplify these requests internally when we do plan additional content down the road.
  • DesertSimmer1971DesertSimmer1971 Posts: 498 Member
    @simgirl1010, thank you.

    Your post by Graham proves my point. Since Eco-Living theme has been used now ( Laundry Day), all of those other options on that Brainstorm list fall under that theme and cannot be added in other packs.

    Maybe if they make a sims 5? For me, I won't be here if they make a sims 5, but at least most of that game play is in previous sims games. ?
  • rinre33rinre33 Posts: 697 Member
    The arcade cas looked sooo good! :o I hope we get the 80s vibe in future content.
    I also really loved the American inspired objects. I would have gotten a lot of use out of them (less so out of the futuristic Japan).
    I do wish that we get inexperience the community stuff pack creation again in the future. It's been one of the highlights not just this year but overall since sims4 launched. It would be nice to let us have some more input, especially since a fair share of the community wasn't happy about laundry.
  • rinre33rinre33 Posts: 697 Member
    Also I really want to see those hairstyles already :s
  • Dreamie209Dreamie209 Posts: 3,165 Member
    Honestly I'd rather wedding features/items to be within a Love EP...but maybe that's just me :blush:
    tumblr_p0kj4y5zKY1rz1zglo1_1280.png
    Fun Times, Cherished Memories, All under one Dream. Visit: The Dreamhouse and AbbyDreams
  • Writin_RegWritin_Reg Posts: 28,907 Member
    Dreamie209 wrote: »
    Honestly I'd rather wedding features/items to be within a Love EP...but maybe that's just me :blush:

    The fact is though the choices we got were because they were not planned to be made in a gamepack or ep - so this was our only chance to get one of these 5 themes for the Sims 4. Graham said that from the very beginning of this idea. Anyone of the ideas would have been a great one for those packs - but if the devs making those packs have already picked all they are making for eps and gps for the entirety of the game - what we think or want in those cases really doesn't matter.

    Now it doesn't matter any more as what is coming has already been picked. It is sad - I agree - that all 5 could not have had a chance to be in the game.

    "Games Are Not The Place To Tell Stories, Games Are Meant To Let People Tell Their Own Stories"...Will Wright.

    In dreams - I LIVE!
    In REALITY, I simply exist.....

  • keekee53keekee53 Posts: 4,328 Member
    Thank goodness the arcade didn't win. I do not like the whole 80s vibe. I would have rather seen some Japanese clothing style. I believe I skipped that 70 80 90 stuff pack in Sims 3
  • Writin_RegWritin_Reg Posts: 28,907 Member
    edited December 2017
    Comment by SimGuruGraham:

    I think the inherent problem with this line of thinking is the assumption that any of the things that were included throughout these votes would be coming to The Sims 4 if they weren't included in this project. They may someday, but there's no guarantee that they will. The only way to guarantee the inclusion of any of the things you've voted upon, was for them to win their vote.

    Part of the reason this project exists is to empower players to get a fun piece of content that's important to them, in a relatively short period of time. When we selected the initial themes that players could vote on, and wrote the descriptions of what those themes could potentially include, they were ideas that were pulled directly from community requests and player feedback. We also purposely excluded any themes and features from the voting options that we already have plans to create. If it's an option to vote on in this project, it's fair to say that there are no immediate or concrete plans for us to build these things in-game. That's part of the difficulty of building a game that's simulating life... there's an abundance of fantastic features we can choose to create at any time, which means we don't get to other equally great features until later, or at all.

    Whether some ideas were inherently more popular than others isn't an illusion of choice, it's simply representative of the opinions held by a majority of Sims players who participate in this project.

    Ultimately, I don't think any of us on the development team are looking at the results of the votes and thinking that some options simply weren't popular enough to be viable. Instead, we've all been delighted by the discussions on this forum where people have shared their ideas and excitement for the possibilities of what's yet to come. I would love to capitalize on the features that people have invested their time and thought into throughout this process, and use the passion demonstrated here to amplify these requests internally when we do plan additional content down the road.

    The above line is very telling when that "short period of time" took 2 years. The pack comes out in 2018 - so even if they had decided to make any of the other stuff - that would take another two years from the point they decided? Either this game is really going to be being made for a very long time as rumored in order for that to happen - and keep in mind it could be longer seeing the purpose of the exercise was to get content in a shorter time - so what maybe in 3 years then after we get this one you might get some of the other 4 ideas?

    So which is it - we will never get them, or we will but who know when; as Sims 4 will go on a very - very long time? Well - not that this is a bad thing for some players of the game - you do have to feel for the Simmers who never could get into Sims 4 and was looking for the next series - thinking they'd only have to wait at most a couple more years. Me - I could go either way - but there are a lot more players than me for sure who feel differently.

    I swear this is like a great big mystery - further mystified by double speak that doesn't add up. Maybe there is no answer. It's just a ploy to keep simmers in suspense. Darned if I get the point of that.


    "Games Are Not The Place To Tell Stories, Games Are Meant To Let People Tell Their Own Stories"...Will Wright.

    In dreams - I LIVE!
    In REALITY, I simply exist.....

  • Zeldaboy180Zeldaboy180 Posts: 5,997 Member
    @simgirl1010, thank you.

    Your post by Graham proves my point. Since Eco-Living theme has been used now ( Laundry Day), all of those other options on that Brainstorm list fall under that theme and cannot be added in other packs.

    Maybe if they make a sims 5? For me, I won't be here if they make a sims 5, but at least most of that game play is in previous sims games. ?

    No... the post literally proved your point to be incorrect.

    Graham specifically said in bold that they could still be revisited, just that the only way to garuntee them to be made was to vote for them..
    e68338c368f106ae784e73111955bd86.png
  • ChadSims2ChadSims2 Posts: 5,090 Member
    I'm glad he mentioned our woohoo location discussions laundry basket (even though I say a pile of clothes) or on top of the washer very important issue even though it seems like we did not get either.

    Also the 80s arcade theme is amazing I still cant believe it did not win hopefully we get it in the future to good to not.
    Sims 4 went from "You Rule" to "One of the stories we want you to tell"
  • DominicLaurenceDominicLaurence Posts: 3,398 Member
    It's very telling that they chose the two least voted themes to show us the art styles hahaha A hint that Dangerous and Starter Home may be into consideration? Maybe. A display of the talented projects we rejected to make us aware of our choices? Sure.

    Anyway, I love the "what if"s of life. And insightful interview.
    ID: StGerris
    Legacy Photomode
  • jimmysnanjimmysnan Posts: 8,303 Member
    I would really like to see more stuff for elders like a cruise ship and a casino. Maybe some bingo. A quilting. Classic dance lessons. Stuff like that the elderly seem left out of this.
  • GoldenBuffyGoldenBuffy Posts: 4,025 Member
    The wedding stuff. <3<3<3 Can we still get those? lol
    epngF25.png
    It's up to Nancy!
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  • Writin_RegWritin_Reg Posts: 28,907 Member
    edited January 2018
    Dreamie209 wrote: »
    Honestly I'd rather wedding features/items to be within a Love EP...but maybe that's just me :blush:

    But Graham said plain as day that all the items picked - that we choose from were not planned to be in ANY other pack - so that says there was no wedding ep or gp planned and why we even got a chance to at least have a wedding stuff pack - so it was this pack as your only option.

    That is what you seem to over look. EPs and GP's had none of this planned to use - period.

    Well look at it this way - if Sims 4 goes on much longer like has been rumored maybe they will get all these other packs at least as future packs of some kind. At least they are aware a lot of simmers are wanting some of this other stuff after all. So never say never - eventually you might get it after all. Only time will tell when we get past these first 5 years.

    "Games Are Not The Place To Tell Stories, Games Are Meant To Let People Tell Their Own Stories"...Will Wright.

    In dreams - I LIVE!
    In REALITY, I simply exist.....

  • Kenneth4484Kenneth4484 Posts: 39 Member
    I'll hope they add the other ideas too in some pack, certainly the dangerous stuff (more deadly stuff i suppose), the canning and the off grid seems like fun (espacially for bunker gameplay)
  • TurloughdudeTurloughdude Posts: 662 Member
    Where is all this leading to? Will there be the sims 4 store in the near future? (Maybe not, but i can, can i?)
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