1) Patch the Stuff Pack in free.
or;
2) Give us a different free patch with more beds; birds, a smaller hamster/mouse enclosure, and some other small animals. So the EP is somewhere closer to being complete. Then this First Pet SP wouldn't leave such a bitter taste in everyone's mouth.
I think they should have patched birds in, then had one SP with the rodents we're getting now AND lizards - if they couldn't have added them to the EP.
Supernatural was an expansion probably due to cutting off content and not placing occult life states in packs where they "should" be. Again they have been cutting off content long before TS4.
I think you have some valid points (Katy Perry leaves a bad taste in my mouth, although there was one dress I liked) but I'm not sure I agree about Supernatural. I think every EP did have a supernatural or new creature of some sort - unlike TS4's. And SN had a lot to offer as an EP.
1) Patch the Stuff Pack in free.
or;
2) Give us a different free patch with more beds; birds, a smaller hamster/mouse enclosure, and some other small animals. So the EP is somewhere closer to being complete. Then this First Pet SP wouldn't leave such a bitter taste in everyone's mouth.
I'd like to see someone buy the pack, and separate it into two rooms - one that should've been included in C&D (beds, cat house, etc), and one that could actually stand alone as a SP. Now THAT would be a good visual.
Your ideas to fix it are great! Just give us the stuff that should've been ours to begin with. It's not a tough concept.
Lift up your head, princess. If not, the crown falls.
1) Patch the Stuff Pack in free.
or;
2) Give us a different free patch with more beds; birds, a smaller hamster/mouse enclosure, and some other small animals. So the EP is somewhere closer to being complete. Then this First Pet SP wouldn't leave such a bitter taste in everyone's mouth.
I'd like to see someone buy the pack, and separate it into two rooms - one that should've been included in C&D (beds, cat house, etc), and one that could actually stand alone as a SP. Now THAT would be a good visual.
Your ideas to fix it are great! Just give us the stuff that should've been ours to begin with. It's not a tough concept.
Sounds like something LGR would do!
Favourite TS1 packs: Superstar, Makin' Magic. Favourite TS2 packs: University, Open for Business, Seasons, Apartment Life. Favourite TS3 packs: Generations, Seasons, University Life. Favourite TS4 packs: Get Together, Cats & Dogs, Seasons, Island Living, Discover University.
Basically, if C&D had been a complete/satisfactory Expansion, and then a Pets SP came out with extra related furniture, and maybe a new small pet (In Addition to those in the EP), it would have been okay. But that's not the case.
Ah that's probably how we differ then, because C&D was a great EP for me (I feel like it was much more well done than TS3's, although the latter had more content - I HATED controllable Pets so much so I couldn't enjoy them) so I don't mind paying for this SP.
I agree - COMPLETELY (I really like C & D just the way it is, although I wished I had a few more empty lots in BB) and definitely look forward to this 10 dollar pack too. My only complaint was the boat teleporting. I wish the boats could work like boat do.
"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.....
Basically, if C&D had been a complete/satisfactory Expansion, and then a Pets SP came out with extra related furniture, and maybe a new small pet (In Addition to those in the EP), it would have been okay. But that's not the case.
Ah that's probably how we differ then, because C&D was a great EP for me (I feel like it was much more well done than TS3's, although the latter had more content - I HATED controllable Pets so much so I couldn't enjoy them) so I don't mind paying for this SP.
I agree - COMPLETELY (I really like C & D just the way it is, although I wished I had a few more empty lots in BB) and definitely look forward to this 10 dollar pack too. My only complaint was the boat teleporting. I wish the boats could work like boat do.
[quote="Simanite;c-16369602"][quote="Howmanychairs;c-16369590"]Supernatural was an expansion probably due to cutting off content and not placing occult life states in packs where they "should" be. Again they have been cutting off content long before TS4.[/quote]
I think you have some valid points (Katy Perry leaves a bad taste in my mouth, although there was one dress I liked) but I'm not sure I agree about Supernatural. I think every EP did have a supernatural or new creature of some sort - unlike TS4's. And SN had a lot to offer as an EP.[/quote]
I was mentiong that pack because in TS2 we got werewolves with pets, zombies with university, witches with apartments.
By that logic maybe some occults have been cut off, but this is only assumption. I love TS3 supernatural. I'm just trying to say we could apply similar logic to TS3 packs.
Not that I'm trying to defend new pack especially because I'm not getting it.
Basically, if C&D had been a complete/satisfactory Expansion, and then a Pets SP came out with extra related furniture, and maybe a new small pet (In Addition to those in the EP), it would have been okay. But that's not the case.
Ah that's probably how we differ then, because C&D was a great EP for me (I feel like it was much more well done than TS3's, although the latter had more content - I HATED controllable Pets so much so I couldn't enjoy them) so I don't mind paying for this SP.
The animals themselves are very well done yes, that is true. But a bit more content would've still been nice.
Still @Simanite your question reminded me of the game I enjoy and so I decided you're right. I will forget this SP ever existed or will exist and am going back to my vampire-archeologist house & my beautiful toddler. I hope many people will read @LiELF 's post and share and, and hope things will turn out better soon-ish. But for now, I've expressed about all I could about how I feel about this pack, and will go enjoy my skeletons instead.
Aw well I do hope you can still enjoy the game, but it's sad your enjoyment has been marked by this. I think they should really have thought-out this SP more because it was evident it would be very polarizing, and TS4 hardly has the best track record.
Yes I do I'm still pretty upset about the whole SP thing, but I've got my favorite couple, cute toddler, beautiful dog and weird skeleton to play with, so hey, that's good at least..
Basically, if C&D had been a complete/satisfactory Expansion, and then a Pets SP came out with extra related furniture, and maybe a new small pet (In Addition to those in the EP), it would have been okay. But that's not the case.
Ah that's probably how we differ then, because C&D was a great EP for me (I feel like it was much more well done than TS3's, although the latter had more content - I HATED controllable Pets so much so I couldn't enjoy them) so I don't mind paying for this SP.
The animals themselves are very well done yes, that is true. But a bit more content would've still been nice.
Still @Simanite your question reminded me of the game I enjoy and so I decided you're right. I will forget this SP ever existed or will exist and am going back to my vampire-archeologist house & my beautiful toddler. I hope many people will read @LiELF 's post and share and, and hope things will turn out better soon-ish. But for now, I've expressed about all I could about how I feel about this pack, and will go enjoy my skeletons instead.
Aw well I do hope you can still enjoy the game, but it's sad your enjoyment has been marked by this. I think they should really have thought-out this SP more because it was evident it would be very polarizing, and TS4 hardly has the best track record.
Yes I do I'm still pretty upset about the whole SP thing, but I've got my favorite couple, cute toddler, beautiful dog and weird skeleton to play with, so hey, that's good at least..
i really am looking forwards to having the stuff pack thanks EA and the sims team on a great pack and all the other one you all done so far keep up the great work thanks
I'll get this. I think it looks cute and I love the thought of having a hedgehog in my game. Do I believe they should have added the small pets in with the C&D expansion? Yes, of course I do. But am I surprised or outraged? No, I'm not.
A lot of gaming industries (and corporations in general) are money hungry. Are people really surprised EA would be any different? I mean, come on, there's plenty of other big named games out there that require you to download $10 or even $20 worth of DLC just to get another side story! EA isn't doing anything new that other gaming industries haven't done as well.
If you don't want the pack, then don't get it. If you want it, then get it. It's every individual's prerogative to do what they want with this pack. But I'm more surprised that people are surprised and angry about it when literally every corporation under the sun rakes people over the coals to buy their stuff.
It's nothing new in this world.
Because they don't have to do it.
They obviously have the talent and resources to put out a good product at least some of the time. Vampires, Parenthood and Jungle Adventures all seem to have been really well received, for example. Now, every property will have a miss once in a while, that's to be expected. There's going to be bits that some players like and other don't (I bought the Fitness Stuff Pack, but I doubt I've used one item from it.)
But this whole situation is so...amateurish. Why should I simply accept being "raked over the coals" when literally all they have to do to make me throw money at them is put out a decent product?
EA_Lanna, I wanted to address a comment you made about constructive critiques. I completely agree that, in an ideal world, people should be able to express their opinions in a constructive way but we do not live in a perfect world. Reminding people to be respectful and considerate is important of course, but threatening to close the thread is not an acceptable way to deal with the situation on your part.
The reality is that people can be harsh, hot headed and emotional but through all this, there is ALWAYS some constructive to take from it because people do not poor their hearts out just to be unpleasant human beings, it's because they care. In my opinion, you are providing the product to your gamers so it is your responsibility to understand that people are not always able to express themselves in the best way but you still have to make the effort to meet them halfway and improve the communication channels and learn from even the harshest or seemingly personal criticism. Let's be honest, nobody here actually mean to attack gurus personally, we do not know them personally. But the Gurus are the front line of battle and our main point of contact so perhaps you should ask yourselves who put them there in the first place before blaming the community so easily.
EA made a very bold move and the company must have known that it would be met with a certain backlash, own it at the very least. You cannot expect your community to fall in line when you do not address the decisions you have made. This is not a standard pack release by any means, but you do not acknowledge it, you create confusion and concerns but you do not address them. Instead, you just keep on asking for feedback.
So I hope, it's ok to ask a few questions, which would help me understand the context of this pack and I would be happy to give my honest, constructive and respectful opinion:
1: You ask for this feedback but where does it go? It's easy to hear what one wants to hear and ignore the things they don't like. How can EA show us that this is not the case here? How do we know that spending the time to give you that criticism is even worth it? I want to believe it is, I do, but trust is not an easy thing to earn...
2: I am a bit confused as to why the pack is released now? I mean, again, EA must have known that this would be met with some resistance so why not own it straight after C&D and release it then, people were already complaining about the lack of content then but at least, they were still curious to learn about the new gameplays etc.. and you could have used this to deliver the pack. Simmers would still have felt that it should have been included in C&D in the first place but, you would have generated more interest in the pack. You released it just after the Jungle pack which to me, makes no sense. You shot yourselves in the foot..
3: I have no issues with the concept of stuff packs for expansion packs but it would be nice to hear about that decision. Is this something we will see more of in the future? It doesn't have to be a bad thing, after all, stuff packs are not essential to the gameplay and are purely optional but it would be nice to know what the vision is here. What proportion of stuff packs would be made for other expansion packs as opposed to for the base game? You have an amazing community, be forth coming with them and they will always be willing to listen to your reasoning and perhaps at least, agree to disagree and make their own choice.
4: Is this the last pack that will relates to pets that you are currently planning to do?
I realize this is a MASSIVE post and please do not take this the wrong way, I want to understand, that's all..
Just a reminder that @EA_Lanna is just a helpful moderator for the forums, and is not the replacement Community Manager for SimGuruDrake. Her job is to keep the forum organized and make sure rules and guidelines are followed and all that jazz. A lot of this discussion is misdirected at her, when she most likely won't have the answers for you.
In the meantime until a new CM is announced and active, your best bet would be to direct specific pack questions at the leads, @SimGuruGraham being the one for SPs.
I'll get this. I think it looks cute and I love the thought of having a hedgehog in my game. Do I believe they should have added the small pets in with the C&D expansion? Yes, of course I do. But am I surprised or outraged? No, I'm not.
A lot of gaming industries (and corporations in general) are money hungry. Are people really surprised EA would be any different? I mean, come on, there's plenty of other big named games out there that require you to download $10 or even $20 worth of DLC just to get another side story! EA isn't doing anything new that other gaming industries haven't done as well.
If you don't want the pack, then don't get it. If you want it, then get it. It's every individual's prerogative to do what they want with this pack. But I'm more surprised that people are surprised and angry about it when literally every corporation under the sun rakes people over the coals to buy their stuff.
It's nothing new in this world.
1) EA wrote the book on greedy, questionable business practices. They practically invented this stuff, and any companies you can name probably didn't do it before EA did.
2) Is your argument that "if other companies jump off a cliff, we shouldn't be mad at EA when they do too?" No, we should absolutely still be mad at them. Poor choices by others does not excuse them making a poor choice too.
3) Just last year, Nintendo released Breath of the Wild, a game that they invested extra time in making just because they wanted to. It wasn't a decision guided by potential profit or any sales tactics, it was just something they did because they cared about the product. Lo and behold, it won Game of the Year, got absolute critical acclaim, and if I remember correct, even had a 102% "packaging rate," meaning every owner of the Switch owned that game and there was even a 2% margin that owned the game but didn't even own the system yet. That is incredible. I have honestly never heard of a product achieving that before.
There's a lesson in that. Make a game with passion and make it how you want it to be because you're passionate about making it? The money will follow. Blatantly manufacture a game with the sole purpose of raking in cash? People will notice the lack of care and they won't buy. Work is supposed to precede money, not the other way around.
In addition, a number of indie companies have risen up in recent years due to passion projects. Stardew Valley was some dude's personal mod he made for himself cause he missed the old Harvest Moon games before the quality started dropping off. That guy - if I remember correct - is now a millionaire with 30mil to his name. Kingdom Come aimed to make an open-world RPG with top of the line graphics and meaningful choices. Such a title is usually something only AAA companies dare to touch, yet they did it and they succeeded. SimCity died (at the hands of EA) and people missed their city simulators, so another company aimed to build one to fill the void.
We live in a time where yes, the companies that actually care about their games are flourishing. EA already has drama on their hands via Battlefront 2, and now they wish to start some more drama, apparently.
If you feel satisfied with the pack, that's great for you. However, I have to ask: if you get a dinner plate with one loaf of bread on it and that satisfies you, why do you even speak out when others dare ask for two loaves of bread? If they were requesting the additional food from someone who was starving themselves and had trouble making ends meet, I could absolutely understand being critical of that request. However, this is EA. This is a multi-million (multi-billion...?) dollar company. They have bread for days, so I honestly don't understand why anyone would try to justify or downplay what's going on here.
I do hope those putting up a fit over the small pets pack were none of the people wanting small pets and complaining about not getting them.
We all knew from day one - the devs made it clear - that Sims 4 would not be Sims 1,2, or 3 - so even though they never once said anything differently people still keep comparing to Sims 1, 2, and 3. It is simply people refuse to listen at what the Maxis people tell you - so when things are very different in how they make the packs - there is always an uproar of voices shouting money grab or Sims 1 - or 2 - or 3 wasn't like this.
I say - well the devs told you in September of 2014 Sims 4 would not be like those games - they were going back to the roots and basically redoing the game - we could at most think of Sims 4 as a parallel universe but not part of the Sims 1, 2, and 3 trilogy directions.
They cannot help it that after almost 4 years people still choose to compare or get upset when the game again follows a new direction. No matter how much any of us liked the old direction - they made it clear - remember all that talk about "Their Vision and the new direction they visualized for the sims. How they wanted the game so the players had more options by giving them more packs choices.
I see them still following their vision - and they are giving player choices - so yes I can fully see them separating the animals in packs just like they are separating supernaturals. It's their vision and all the fussing in the world is not going to change that.
If you want small pets - well you have the option to have them - other wise you don't get small pets.
I just think people in general don not like or accept change - regardless of how many times the devs tell us "THINGS Change" or bring up their vision.
I don't know - I still love the Sims so yeah - I also like different pets to for some families. Like real life dogs and cats are not allowable every where humans live - so I carry that in my game. Pets for apt dwellers is a good choice and for heaven sakes it's only 10 dollars....
"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.....
We live in a time where yes, the companies that actually care about their games are flourishing. EA already has drama on their hands via Battlefront 2, and now they wish to start some more drama, apparently.
Although that's certainly not wrong, EA has been ... well ... treating its customers like cash cows for many, many years now and yet their stock market value tends to go up rather than down. It's magic I guess, or they're just publishing too many games to care about which ones drown. Idk. Just interjecting, carry on everyone.
I'll get this. I think it looks cute and I love the thought of having a hedgehog in my game. Do I believe they should have added the small pets in with the C&D expansion? Yes, of course I do. But am I surprised or outraged? No, I'm not.
A lot of gaming industries (and corporations in general) are money hungry. Are people really surprised EA would be any different? I mean, come on, there's plenty of other big named games out there that require you to download $10 or even $20 worth of DLC just to get another side story! EA isn't doing anything new that other gaming industries haven't done as well.
If you don't want the pack, then don't get it. If you want it, then get it. It's every individual's prerogative to do what they want with this pack. But I'm more surprised that people are surprised and angry about it when literally every corporation under the sun rakes people over the coals to buy their stuff.
It's nothing new in this world.
Because they don't have to do it.
They obviously have the talent and resources to put out a good product at least some of the time. Vampires, Parenthood and Jungle Adventures all seem to have been really well received, for example. Now, every property will have a miss once in a while, that's to be expected. There's going to be bits that some players like and other don't (I bought the Fitness Stuff Pack, but I doubt I've used one item from it.)
But this whole situation is so...amateurish. Why should I simply accept being "raked over the coals" when literally all they have to do to make me throw money at them is put out a decent product?
I never said you had to accept it. I'm just surprised people are shocked by this "revelation" that a big corporation can be greedy. If you don't want the pack, then fine don't get it. That's perfectly acceptable just like it's acceptable to be mad over it. But people shouldn't be surprised that a gaming company wants all the money they can get out of you, when other gaming companies do the same (I'm talking about all those other games that cost $50-$70), including EA which had the Sims 3 store, which was just another money grabber (I could never pay less than $25 for a Sims/EA card to get points because my local stores didn't sell any, and I couldn't buy points online because I was a minor at the time.) Big corporations are always doing this, and in my experience, no amount of complaining is going to change it.
Now I'm not saying people shouldn't complain, they have every right, but I really wouldn't hold my breath either...
"The one you confide in the most. The one who understands you best. The one you'll miss more than any other. When he dies..." - Batman/Superman 018
SuperBat ruined my life!<3
@DeservedCriticism I'm guessing @Noroco is your duplicate account. The mods can see IP addresses so it won't work, henny.
Nonsense; @DeservedCriticism would never apologize for making a massive post.
@Writin_Reg, I do see your point about Sims 4 not necessarily following the same paths as earlier Sims games and have often thought so myself. I can't speak for everyone but what I find jarring about this situation is that it doesn't follow the path that Sims 4 itself has established, either. They didn't put out "Get To Work" and then follow it up four months later with a stuff pack that had some recolored clothes, a new hairstyle and one more active career that depended on GTW to be able to use.
This isn't going to sour me on the game as a whole if it's a one off. It's just a path that I would prefer not to see the development go down.
I'll get this. I think it looks cute and I love the thought of having a hedgehog in my game. Do I believe they should have added the small pets in with the C&D expansion? Yes, of course I do. But am I surprised or outraged? No, I'm not.
A lot of gaming industries (and corporations in general) are money hungry. Are people really surprised EA would be any different? I mean, come on, there's plenty of other big named games out there that require you to download $10 or even $20 worth of DLC just to get another side story! EA isn't doing anything new that other gaming industries haven't done as well.
If you don't want the pack, then don't get it. If you want it, then get it. It's every individual's prerogative to do what they want with this pack. But I'm more surprised that people are surprised and angry about it when literally every corporation under the sun rakes people over the coals to buy their stuff.
It's nothing new in this world.
Because they don't have to do it.
They obviously have the talent and resources to put out a good product at least some of the time. Vampires, Parenthood and Jungle Adventures all seem to have been really well received, for example. Now, every property will have a miss once in a while, that's to be expected. There's going to be bits that some players like and other don't (I bought the Fitness Stuff Pack, but I doubt I've used one item from it.)
But this whole situation is so...amateurish. Why should I simply accept being "raked over the coals" when literally all they have to do to make me throw money at them is put out a decent product?
I never said you had to accept it. I'm just surprised people are shocked by this "revelation" that a big corporation can be greedy. If you don't want the pack, then fine don't get it. That's perfectly acceptable just like it's acceptable to be mad over it. But people shouldn't be surprised that a gaming company wants all the money they can get out of you, when other gaming companies do the same (I'm talking about all those other games that cost $50-$70), including EA which had the Sims 3 store, which was just another money grabber (I could never pay less than $25 for a Sims/EA card to get points because my local stores didn't sell any, and I couldn't buy points online because I was a minor at the time.) Big corporations are always doing this, and in my experience, no amount of complaining is going to change it.
Now I'm not saying people shouldn't complain, they have every right, but I really wouldn't hold my breath either...
Oh, I'm not shocked or surprised in the slightest. I just think they can still make plenty of money without insulting their fanbase.
When will we get pet rabbits? I'm a huge rabbit lover and my real life pet rabbits are my babies. Can someone let the developers know rabbits would be much loved.
I do hope those putting up a fit over the small pets pack were none of the people wanting small pets and complaining about not getting them.
We all knew from day one - the devs made it clear - that Sims 4 would not be Sims 1,2, or 3 - so even though they never once said anything differently people still keep comparing to Sims 1, 2, and 3. It is simply people refuse to listen at what the Maxis people tell you - so when things are very different in how they make the packs - there is always an uproar of voices shouting money grab or Sims 1 - or 2 - or 3 wasn't like this.
I say - well the devs told you in September of 2014 Sims 4 would not be like those games - they were going back to the roots and basically redoing the game - we could at most think of Sims 4 as a parallel universe but not part of the Sims 1, 2, and 3 trilogy directions.
They cannot help it that after almost 4 years people still choose to compare or get upset when the game again follows a new direction. No matter how much any of us liked the old direction - they made it clear - remember all that talk about "Their Vision and the new direction they visualized for the sims. How they wanted the game so the players had more options by giving them more packs choices.
I see them still following their vision - and they are giving player choices - so yes I can fully see them separating the animals in packs just like they are separating supernaturals. It's their vision and all the fussing in the world is not going to change that.
If you want small pets - well you have the option to have them - other wise you don't get small pets.
I just think people in general don not like or accept change - regardless of how many times the devs tell us "THINGS Change" or bring up their vision.
I don't know - I still love the Sims so yeah - I also like different pets to for some families. Like real life dogs and cats are not allowable every where humans live - so I carry that in my game. Pets for apt dwellers is a good choice and for heaven sakes it's only 10 dollars....
Small pets? You mean we only got rodents? Where are the other small caged animals? Personally "my first pet" was a fancy parakeet. Those are about the same size as the rodents.
I do hope those putting up a fit over the small pets pack were none of the people wanting small pets and complaining about not getting them.
We all knew from day one - the devs made it clear - that Sims 4 would not be Sims 1,2, or 3 - so even though they never once said anything differently people still keep comparing to Sims 1, 2, and 3. It is simply people refuse to listen at what the Maxis people tell you - so when things are very different in how they make the packs - there is always an uproar of voices shouting money grab or Sims 1 - or 2 - or 3 wasn't like this.
I say - well the devs told you in September of 2014 Sims 4 would not be like those games - they were going back to the roots and basically redoing the game - we could at most think of Sims 4 as a parallel universe but not part of the Sims 1, 2, and 3 trilogy directions.
They cannot help it that after almost 4 years people still choose to compare or get upset when the game again follows a new direction. No matter how much any of us liked the old direction - they made it clear - remember all that talk about "Their Vision and the new direction they visualized for the sims. How they wanted the game so the players had more options by giving them more packs choices.
I see them still following their vision - and they are giving player choices - so yes I can fully see them separating the animals in packs just like they are separating supernaturals. It's their vision and all the fussing in the world is not going to change that.
If you want small pets - well you have the option to have them - other wise you don't get small pets.
I just think people in general don not like or accept change - regardless of how many times the devs tell us "THINGS Change" or bring up their vision.
I don't know - I still love the Sims so yeah - I also like different pets to for some families. Like real life dogs and cats are not allowable every where humans live - so I carry that in my game. Pets for apt dwellers is a good choice and for heaven sakes it's only 10 dollars....
It doesn't matter that its only 10 dollars. Its the principle. Also not a good thing to say to a community where the target fan base is teenagers.
Forget about sims 1-3 for a second. Lets pretend they don't exist.
Now lets go back to the scenario we are in now with content that could easily have made it into the cat and dog expansion didn't. Instead the cries of "can we have small pets please?" before release are ignored. (Also happened)
Now you discover that small pets are happening, but you find out its not a lot of small pets its one rodent re skinned, furniture very similar to the expansion, clothes for pets (many which are already in the game but just made for pets) and the company want an extra 10 bucks off you.
I remember you saying a few months ago (as did I) that you suspected small pets would be added later. Is this the form in which you had in mind? Stuff pack per creature type, four months after the event? Because I'll be honest while the bar is low with EA, I think they have dug a trench this time.
I would have accepted small pets (not just rodents!) in a game pack. I don't accept hamsters and re used cruel pet costumes. That is a cash grab. But they know their audience and they expect to get away with it.
I love the Sims that doesn't mean I cheer wildly every time they do something and I just accept it. Loving the game doesn't mean opening my wallet blindly. Loving the game means wanting the best for it and for it to be given the love and support it deserves, not turned into a cash cow.
Before toddlers came out and you didn't like the game that much, would you have applauded this move? I'm genuinely curious.
Comments
I think they should have patched birds in, then had one SP with the rodents we're getting now AND lizards - if they couldn't have added them to the EP.
I think you have some valid points (Katy Perry leaves a bad taste in my mouth, although there was one dress I liked) but I'm not sure I agree about Supernatural. I think every EP did have a supernatural or new creature of some sort - unlike TS4's. And SN had a lot to offer as an EP.
I'd like to see someone buy the pack, and separate it into two rooms - one that should've been included in C&D (beds, cat house, etc), and one that could actually stand alone as a SP. Now THAT would be a good visual.
Your ideas to fix it are great! Just give us the stuff that should've been ours to begin with. It's not a tough concept.
Sounds like something LGR would do!
I agree - COMPLETELY (I really like C & D just the way it is, although I wished I had a few more empty lots in BB) and definitely look forward to this 10 dollar pack too. My only complaint was the boat teleporting. I wish the boats could work like boat do.
"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.....
I would love that.
I think you have some valid points (Katy Perry leaves a bad taste in my mouth, although there was one dress I liked) but I'm not sure I agree about Supernatural. I think every EP did have a supernatural or new creature of some sort - unlike TS4's. And SN had a lot to offer as an EP.[/quote]
I was mentiong that pack because in TS2 we got werewolves with pets, zombies with university, witches with apartments.
By that logic maybe some occults have been cut off, but this is only assumption. I love TS3 supernatural. I'm just trying to say we could apply similar logic to TS3 packs.
Not that I'm trying to defend new pack especially because I'm not getting it.
Yes I do I'm still pretty upset about the whole SP thing, but I've got my favorite couple, cute toddler, beautiful dog and weird skeleton to play with, so hey, that's good at least..
Very cute.
Because they don't have to do it.
They obviously have the talent and resources to put out a good product at least some of the time. Vampires, Parenthood and Jungle Adventures all seem to have been really well received, for example. Now, every property will have a miss once in a while, that's to be expected. There's going to be bits that some players like and other don't (I bought the Fitness Stuff Pack, but I doubt I've used one item from it.)
But this whole situation is so...amateurish. Why should I simply accept being "raked over the coals" when literally all they have to do to make me throw money at them is put out a decent product?
EA_Lanna, I wanted to address a comment you made about constructive critiques. I completely agree that, in an ideal world, people should be able to express their opinions in a constructive way but we do not live in a perfect world. Reminding people to be respectful and considerate is important of course, but threatening to close the thread is not an acceptable way to deal with the situation on your part.
The reality is that people can be harsh, hot headed and emotional but through all this, there is ALWAYS some constructive to take from it because people do not poor their hearts out just to be unpleasant human beings, it's because they care. In my opinion, you are providing the product to your gamers so it is your responsibility to understand that people are not always able to express themselves in the best way but you still have to make the effort to meet them halfway and improve the communication channels and learn from even the harshest or seemingly personal criticism. Let's be honest, nobody here actually mean to attack gurus personally, we do not know them personally. But the Gurus are the front line of battle and our main point of contact so perhaps you should ask yourselves who put them there in the first place before blaming the community so easily.
EA made a very bold move and the company must have known that it would be met with a certain backlash, own it at the very least. You cannot expect your community to fall in line when you do not address the decisions you have made. This is not a standard pack release by any means, but you do not acknowledge it, you create confusion and concerns but you do not address them. Instead, you just keep on asking for feedback.
So I hope, it's ok to ask a few questions, which would help me understand the context of this pack and I would be happy to give my honest, constructive and respectful opinion:
1: You ask for this feedback but where does it go? It's easy to hear what one wants to hear and ignore the things they don't like. How can EA show us that this is not the case here? How do we know that spending the time to give you that criticism is even worth it? I want to believe it is, I do, but trust is not an easy thing to earn...
2: I am a bit confused as to why the pack is released now? I mean, again, EA must have known that this would be met with some resistance so why not own it straight after C&D and release it then, people were already complaining about the lack of content then but at least, they were still curious to learn about the new gameplays etc.. and you could have used this to deliver the pack. Simmers would still have felt that it should have been included in C&D in the first place but, you would have generated more interest in the pack.
You released it just after the Jungle pack which to me, makes no sense. You shot yourselves in the foot..
3: I have no issues with the concept of stuff packs for expansion packs but it would be nice to hear about that decision. Is this something we will see more of in the future? It doesn't have to be a bad thing, after all, stuff packs are not essential to the gameplay and are purely optional but it would be nice to know what the vision is here. What proportion of stuff packs would be made for other expansion packs as opposed to for the base game? You have an amazing community, be forth coming with them and they will always be willing to listen to your reasoning and perhaps at least, agree to disagree and make their own choice.
4: Is this the last pack that will relates to pets that you are currently planning to do?
I realize this is a MASSIVE post and please do not take this the wrong way, I want to understand, that's all..
In the meantime until a new CM is announced and active, your best bet would be to direct specific pack questions at the leads, @SimGuruGraham being the one for SPs.
1) EA wrote the book on greedy, questionable business practices. They practically invented this stuff, and any companies you can name probably didn't do it before EA did.
2) Is your argument that "if other companies jump off a cliff, we shouldn't be mad at EA when they do too?" No, we should absolutely still be mad at them. Poor choices by others does not excuse them making a poor choice too.
3) Just last year, Nintendo released Breath of the Wild, a game that they invested extra time in making just because they wanted to. It wasn't a decision guided by potential profit or any sales tactics, it was just something they did because they cared about the product. Lo and behold, it won Game of the Year, got absolute critical acclaim, and if I remember correct, even had a 102% "packaging rate," meaning every owner of the Switch owned that game and there was even a 2% margin that owned the game but didn't even own the system yet. That is incredible. I have honestly never heard of a product achieving that before.
There's a lesson in that. Make a game with passion and make it how you want it to be because you're passionate about making it? The money will follow. Blatantly manufacture a game with the sole purpose of raking in cash? People will notice the lack of care and they won't buy. Work is supposed to precede money, not the other way around.
In addition, a number of indie companies have risen up in recent years due to passion projects. Stardew Valley was some dude's personal mod he made for himself cause he missed the old Harvest Moon games before the quality started dropping off. That guy - if I remember correct - is now a millionaire with 30mil to his name. Kingdom Come aimed to make an open-world RPG with top of the line graphics and meaningful choices. Such a title is usually something only AAA companies dare to touch, yet they did it and they succeeded. SimCity died (at the hands of EA) and people missed their city simulators, so another company aimed to build one to fill the void.
We live in a time where yes, the companies that actually care about their games are flourishing. EA already has drama on their hands via Battlefront 2, and now they wish to start some more drama, apparently.
If you feel satisfied with the pack, that's great for you. However, I have to ask: if you get a dinner plate with one loaf of bread on it and that satisfies you, why do you even speak out when others dare ask for two loaves of bread? If they were requesting the additional food from someone who was starving themselves and had trouble making ends meet, I could absolutely understand being critical of that request. However, this is EA. This is a multi-million (multi-billion...?) dollar company. They have bread for days, so I honestly don't understand why anyone would try to justify or downplay what's going on here.
To be fair, this is a business and they are in it to make money. I don't blame them for that at all. Just don't buy the pack if you feel otherwise.
We all knew from day one - the devs made it clear - that Sims 4 would not be Sims 1,2, or 3 - so even though they never once said anything differently people still keep comparing to Sims 1, 2, and 3. It is simply people refuse to listen at what the Maxis people tell you - so when things are very different in how they make the packs - there is always an uproar of voices shouting money grab or Sims 1 - or 2 - or 3 wasn't like this.
I say - well the devs told you in September of 2014 Sims 4 would not be like those games - they were going back to the roots and basically redoing the game - we could at most think of Sims 4 as a parallel universe but not part of the Sims 1, 2, and 3 trilogy directions.
They cannot help it that after almost 4 years people still choose to compare or get upset when the game again follows a new direction. No matter how much any of us liked the old direction - they made it clear - remember all that talk about "Their Vision and the new direction they visualized for the sims. How they wanted the game so the players had more options by giving them more packs choices.
I see them still following their vision - and they are giving player choices - so yes I can fully see them separating the animals in packs just like they are separating supernaturals. It's their vision and all the fussing in the world is not going to change that.
If you want small pets - well you have the option to have them - other wise you don't get small pets.
I just think people in general don not like or accept change - regardless of how many times the devs tell us "THINGS Change" or bring up their vision.
I don't know - I still love the Sims so yeah - I also like different pets to for some families. Like real life dogs and cats are not allowable every where humans live - so I carry that in my game. Pets for apt dwellers is a good choice and for heaven sakes it's only 10 dollars....
"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.....
Although that's certainly not wrong, EA has been ... well ... treating its customers like cash cows for many, many years now and yet their stock market value tends to go up rather than down. It's magic I guess, or they're just publishing too many games to care about which ones drown. Idk. Just interjecting, carry on everyone.
I never said you had to accept it. I'm just surprised people are shocked by this "revelation" that a big corporation can be greedy. If you don't want the pack, then fine don't get it. That's perfectly acceptable just like it's acceptable to be mad over it. But people shouldn't be surprised that a gaming company wants all the money they can get out of you, when other gaming companies do the same (I'm talking about all those other games that cost $50-$70), including EA which had the Sims 3 store, which was just another money grabber (I could never pay less than $25 for a Sims/EA card to get points because my local stores didn't sell any, and I couldn't buy points online because I was a minor at the time.) Big corporations are always doing this, and in my experience, no amount of complaining is going to change it.
Now I'm not saying people shouldn't complain, they have every right, but I really wouldn't hold my breath either...
"The one you confide in the most. The one who understands you best. The one you'll miss more than any other. When he dies..." - Batman/Superman 018
SuperBat ruined my life!<3
Nonsense; @DeservedCriticism would never apologize for making a massive post.
@Writin_Reg, I do see your point about Sims 4 not necessarily following the same paths as earlier Sims games and have often thought so myself. I can't speak for everyone but what I find jarring about this situation is that it doesn't follow the path that Sims 4 itself has established, either. They didn't put out "Get To Work" and then follow it up four months later with a stuff pack that had some recolored clothes, a new hairstyle and one more active career that depended on GTW to be able to use.
This isn't going to sour me on the game as a whole if it's a one off. It's just a path that I would prefer not to see the development go down.
Probably just as much as they would have if they were in the base game...
Edit: besides, it's not toddlers that are meaningless. It's the sentiment that they were changing their ways.
Oh, I'm not shocked or surprised in the slightest. I just think they can still make plenty of money without insulting their fanbase.
Small pets? You mean we only got rodents? Where are the other small caged animals? Personally "my first pet" was a fancy parakeet. Those are about the same size as the rodents.
It doesn't matter that its only 10 dollars. Its the principle. Also not a good thing to say to a community where the target fan base is teenagers.
Forget about sims 1-3 for a second. Lets pretend they don't exist.
Now lets go back to the scenario we are in now with content that could easily have made it into the cat and dog expansion didn't. Instead the cries of "can we have small pets please?" before release are ignored. (Also happened)
Now you discover that small pets are happening, but you find out its not a lot of small pets its one rodent re skinned, furniture very similar to the expansion, clothes for pets (many which are already in the game but just made for pets) and the company want an extra 10 bucks off you.
I remember you saying a few months ago (as did I) that you suspected small pets would be added later. Is this the form in which you had in mind? Stuff pack per creature type, four months after the event? Because I'll be honest while the bar is low with EA, I think they have dug a trench this time.
I would have accepted small pets (not just rodents!) in a game pack. I don't accept hamsters and re used cruel pet costumes. That is a cash grab. But they know their audience and they expect to get away with it.
I love the Sims that doesn't mean I cheer wildly every time they do something and I just accept it. Loving the game doesn't mean opening my wallet blindly. Loving the game means wanting the best for it and for it to be given the love and support it deserves, not turned into a cash cow.
Before toddlers came out and you didn't like the game that much, would you have applauded this move? I'm genuinely curious.