Yes I agree, Island Living is a big fat joke. They are selling an unfinished, halfbaked game pack and calling it an expansion so they can charge more money for it. It's pathetic. We all know what the devs can do if they actually complete the features - but this time they bungled the entire thing - I'm not sure who thought it was a good idea to release this incomplete game pack, and as an expansion! What the frick EA, have your greed no limits?!
Allons-y!
---> Afterlife Game Pack Idea - improved ghosts, cemeteries and funerals, psychics, new skills, new career and more! <---
I played way too much of Sims 3 this past weekend after playing 4 the week before that and honestly, I never realized how often I fought my sims in 4 to get them to do something. I'm pretty sure its the multitasking system they have, but in 3 when I told my sim to do something they did it immediately. When I canceled an action it actually canceled!
I think I might skip island living, but I do want to play with mermaids but I've heard complaints that even mermaids are lackluster. I think maybe had they booted mermaids to their own game pack as they did with Vamps and maybe spent time working on making lifeguard an active career as well as underwater lots for diving. But then again if they did separate mermaids from Island living we'd have another My First Pet Stuff fiasco, where its a DLC for a DLC, especially since this would be the only world with swimmable oceans. But we might have gotten a mermaid home lot like a 'hidden' dive lot and some really cool mermaid powers, which I've also heard complaints about.
I also agree about the recycling of animations. While this has always been a huge thing in the sims 4, I think this could be the worst pack yet for it. Ditto objects. Looking at you bonfire and bonfire dance that came with Get together. There are so many recycled animations from previous packs, only thing different is a different name on the list you choose from. Giving an animation another name doesn’t make it new.
Even the dolphin animations recycle. Pet dolphin is the same as as rub dolphins belly.
I understand that water is a difficult thing to do in game- (My Husband is a game dev) and I’m sure I read the former CM saying water was a challenge but it honestly looks like we paid $40 to swim in the ocean.
I agree.
Compare this pack to Jungle Adventures and it comes off like a game pack, but not as deep.
Disagree. I had much more fun with Jungle Adventure than Island Living, at least my Sims don’t disappear into a rabbit hole everywhere. And it came with two new skills while Island Living has none. Plus they did the culture there better.
I feel the same. You said it all really. I was so excited and after a few days I realized how mediocre it really is. Not only that but it felt like I was in permanent vacation and I couldn't get into it so I moved back to the city.
I agree.
Compare this pack to Jungle Adventures and it comes off like a game pack, but not as deep.
My general sentiment is that game packs are better than the expansions because the game play aspect is always more fleshed out. I have been enjoying Island Living but apart from Seasons none of the expansions have lived up to the hype. I've learned to buy everything on sale at this point because the full asking price is not justified in my eyes
I'm on your side, @TheIntrovertSimmer. I was extremely excited about this pack, and I am now, less than a week later, extremely disappointed. Little wonder there were just thirteen days between the announcement then release of Island Living. And I let myself get carried away by all the hype so that's on me. The sad part is how good this pack could have been. The concept is good, the assets are very nice, but complex gameplay is just not there. I was shocked by how bare this pack is in reality. Gosh, what happened to the animation team? A rubber ducky in the ocean? Why not a small dolphin or a toy boat? Yes, that animation is cute in the bathtub and in the toddler pool, but we've seen it a thousand times. Would it have been that much work to add a new toy for the toddlers?
Missing island counters. Hmm. We've seen this before, too. Personally, I think this is just pathetic. Twice now they have somehow managed to forget the island counters for our Sim kitchens. Oh, any news on an emergency patch? Because we really need one to fix all the new bugs that have invaded the game, and after reading through a lot of posts about bugs, I am not the only one in need of an exterminator. I have been playing a totally mod-free and CC-free game for two days and I can't believe what a mess I have on my hands. And forget about loading up any old saves until this is all sorted out.
The scenery is gorgeous, but it takes a lot more than that to hold my interest. My hope was to see a much more complex pack this time around. Especially when we were told Sims4 was going to switch over to 64-bit. EA has been talking about this for months, yet here we are still limping around in 32-bit with all its limitations. What a waste of time, money and resources.
I am patiently waiting for my mods to be updated. Once that is done, if it happens, I won't be buying any new packs, or updating my game, for a very long time. I use a lot of mods from just four creators, and two of them are ready to throw in the towel after the latest update. They're tired of fixing their mods every time we get updates or new packs. Can't say I blame them for feeling this way. I wish there wasn't a need for mods, but that need is real.
Why aren't there any new whims associated with the new activities on Sulani? My Sim currently living in Sulani, throws whims for the same old bee boxes, 1x1 pools, etc., and there isn't a single whim to go swimming or to even hunt for shells. Wow. Underwhelmed. The whim system is in dire need of an overhaul.
I am impressed with the overhaul they did with the fishing in this pack. I will say that is a welcome addition to the way I play. But it doesn't make up for the fact the teams missed out on the opportunity to make Island Living a great expansion.
The sims 4 IL is quality content. The devs worked so hard in order to give us this EP and we should be grateful, because the sims is a very old game and EA is the only company interested in keeping it alive. I love the sims 4 and I hope I can get IL soon because the sims is one of my favorite games.
The problem with people nowadays: they see all the content on videos, so when they get their hands on the game it's easy for them to say "I've seen it all."
That's why I haven't seen any videos of IL yet (just EA's trailer), so when I finally get the game, it's going to be full of surprises for me.
Honestly, after watching footage from so many simmers on YouTube, I must agree that it looks more like a gamepack. I was excited for a tropical island based pack, though I wanted a vacation pack over an island living pack. However, I was willing to see what they'd do with it and imo Island Living's execution is really weird. It's meant to be living on an island over vacationing, but most of the island life aspects are rabbitholes or re-used animations. But then there are a few vacation like elements like the aqua-zips, boats, and sand castle building which are actually pretty cute, but also far too limited. Just a theory, but I get the feeling that the devs knew people wanted an island vacation pack, but didn't want to do a complete copy of IP, so they smashed ideas of island vaycay and island living into one pack.
Just like with GF, I'll be waiting on a sale for this one (or try to get lucky with a giveaway). There's some cute stuff in here, but it looks more like a gamepack to me, so that's the only price I'll be paying on it.
The sims 4 IL is quality content. The devs worked so hard in order to give us this EP and we should be grateful, because the sims is a very old game and EA is the only company interested in keeping it alive. I love the sims 4 and I hope I can get IL soon because the sims is one of my favorite games.
The problem with people nowadays: they see all the content on videos, so when they get their hands on the game it's easy for them to say "I've seen it all."
That's why I haven't seen any videos of IL yet (just EA's trailer), so when I finally get the game, it's going to be full of surprises for me.
No, the problem with people nowadays is that they have already played 3 iterations before and rightfully expect more. Where did the awsome houseboats go?
The sims 4 IL is quality content. The devs worked so hard in order to give us this EP and we should be grateful, because the sims is a very old game and EA is the only company interested in keeping it alive. I love the sims 4 and I hope I can get IL soon because the sims is one of my favorite games.
The problem with people nowadays: they see all the content on videos, so when they get their hands on the game it's easy for them to say "I've seen it all."
That's why I haven't seen any videos of IL yet (just EA's trailer), so when I finally get the game, it's going to be full of surprises for me.
No, the problem with people nowadays is that they have already played 3 iterations before and rightfully expect more. Where did the awsome houseboats go?
No, the problem with people nowadays is that they have already played 3 iterations before and still don't remember all the problems with those games, while at the same time somehow believe they are entitled to content equal to a brand new game for the price of an expansion.
The sims 4 IL is quality content. The devs worked so hard in order to give us this EP and we should be grateful, because the sims is a very old game and EA is the only company interested in keeping it alive. I love the sims 4 and I hope I can get IL soon because the sims is one of my favorite games.
The problem with people nowadays: they see all the content on videos, so when they get their hands on the game it's easy for them to say "I've seen it all."
That's why I haven't seen any videos of IL yet (just EA's trailer), so when I finally get the game, it's going to be full of surprises for me.
No, the problem with people nowadays is that they have already played 3 iterations before and rightfully expect more. Where did the awsome houseboats go?
The sims 4 is not the sims 3. If you want houseboats you can play the Sims 3 IP. I love The sims 3, but ts4 is a different game. And not everyone has played the 3 games. Many people are new to the sims. I'm tired of the negative attitude many old simmers have towards the new game.
The sims 4 IL is quality content. The devs worked so hard in order to give us this EP and we should be grateful, because the sims is a very old game and EA is the only company interested in keeping it alive. I love the sims 4 and I hope I can get IL soon because the sims is one of my favorite games.
The problem with people nowadays: they see all the content on videos, so when they get their hands on the game it's easy for them to say "I've seen it all."
That's why I haven't seen any videos of IL yet (just EA's trailer), so when I finally get the game, it's going to be full of surprises for me.
No, the problem with people nowadays is that they have already played 3 iterations before and rightfully expect more. Where did the awsome houseboats go?
No, the problem with people nowadays is that they have already played 3 iterations before and still don't remember all the problems with those games, while at the same time somehow believe they are entitled to content equal to a brand new game for the price of an expansion.
I remember very well the problems of the past games, but if you think 4 is technically better than 3, just read the last pages of Answers HQ ... Toddlers, vampires, restaurants, mermaid genetics, everything is in pieces.
The sims 4 IL is quality content. The devs worked so hard in order to give us this EP and we should be grateful, because the sims is a very old game and EA is the only company interested in keeping it alive. I love the sims 4 and I hope I can get IL soon because the sims is one of my favorite games.
The problem with people nowadays: they see all the content on videos, so when they get their hands on the game it's easy for them to say "I've seen it all."
That's why I haven't seen any videos of IL yet (just EA's trailer), so when I finally get the game, it's going to be full of surprises for me.
No, the problem with people nowadays is that they have already played 3 iterations before and rightfully expect more. Where did the awsome houseboats go?
The sims 4 is not the sims 3. If you want houseboats you can play the Sims 3 IP. I love The sims 3, but ts4 is a different game. And not everyone has played the 3 games. Many people are new to the sims. I'm tired of the negative attitude many old simmers have towards the new game.
The OP may or may not be an 'old simmer' who played for years. (I would have to reread the post to remember if they are or not). Some people just started with TS3 right after they had purchased TS4 for the first time back in 2014, they switched and went to TS3 and decided TS3 was better and had never played any of The Sims series.
Why be tired of negative attitude? Attitude is something you muster up for daily life, not for a product you spend money on. And if negativity bothers anyone why do enter a thread that says in the title it is a rant? Isn't that like saying you hate lima beans but you go to a restuarant that only sells lima beans? Why does anyone on here do that is always my first question.
OP, that was a very detailed story of why you don't like the pack. And all it's problems you listed only scratch the surface. But I sometimes wonder why some never see it before they buy it? It's not like we can't see flaws, and shallowness before we buy, so I always wonder why someone does when it's staring them in the face after the first facts come out about it when you read the EA statements of what's in a pack and watch a trailer and or watch or hear from a gamechanger. Why anyone never sees through all that is always my question eta: because feedback after the fact is no longer important they already have your money. It's a little too late after you buy something to say how horrible it is when us 'old simmers' already knew it from the very first details and or hype trailer.
"Games Are Not The Place To Tell Stories, Games Are Meant To Let People Tell Their Own Stories"...Will Wright.
I also agree about the recycling of animations. While this has always been a huge thing in the sims 4, I think this could be the worst pack yet for it. Ditto objects. Looking at you bonfire and bonfire dance that came with Get together. There are so many recycled animations from previous packs, only thing different is a different name on the list you choose from. Giving an animation another name doesn’t make it new.
Even the dolphin animations recycle. Pet dolphin is the same as as rub dolphins belly.
I understand that water is a difficult thing to do in game- (My Husband is a game dev) and I’m sure I read the former CM saying water was a challenge but it honestly looks like we paid $40 to swim in the ocean.
That's is incorrect. They are two different animations.
I thought you couldn't fire dance in IL without GT? I have GT installed so I can't test this....
Overall I can't argue with people saying that this pack doesn't have a lot of content, it's true that it doesn't. My biggest pet peeve in this pack is the fact that they didn't add underwater lots, with an underwater world to explore and actually see sims collecting treasures, collectables and fish while scuba diving instead of a rabbit hole.
It's true they re-used a lot of animations. But a lot of them work well in this pack, I have to say. I think re-using animations is fine when they fit, plus when they already give us a good amount of new good animations. I wish they'd make a new greeting animation instead of recycling from GT, and make a new dance for this pack, like hula dancing, instead of again, recycling from GT. It comes off as cheap when they don't give us anything new in that regard and only recycle.
It's also strange how this EP didn't include any new whims. Especially when it comes with a new aspiration goal and new traits. It further makes the pack feel somehow not as detailed and in depth as it should be.
The activist career also doesn't hold my interest for long. First, it's again, reusing animations from GTW with no new animations exclusive to it, nor rewards or objects. Seeing the neighbourhood change, as sims clean the island and promote eco friendly activities is a very good concept but at the end of the day I don't think it makes any impact throughout gameplay, other than getting rarer fish, or seeing extra ocean life, or getting a mermaid spawner?
There are a lot of new very well made swimming animations, which is great. And I think those took a lot of time to do, and get right, so I'll give them that. The dolphin is also very well animated. Plus the world is beyond amazing but I think that....the pack is still missing something. But at least I do believe that it has more content than City Living, and that is a step forward.
No, the problem with people nowadays is that they have already played 3 iterations before and still don't remember all the problems with those games, while at the same time somehow believe they are entitled to content equal to a brand new game for the price of an expansion.
Some of us still love Sims 4 (like me) and I'm a big supporter of the game and I remember that all Sims games had problems. I'm fine with no houseboats or hotels because I think them focusing on island living was a good idea. Not a mile wide inch deep like GTW kind of was. That said because they focused on less features I just kind of expected them to be fleshed out? Some things just feel like cut corners.
Tanning - Amazing and I love how it conforms to clothing. But why does it only work on natural skin tones? This has the additional problem of barring Aliens in their entirety from the new aspiration without cheats. Mermaids come with the same skin as Aliens so if they use those they can't tan either.
Mermaids - Beautiful! But for some reason they can't apply the same 'switch to legs' they do for floaties to ladders. They also weren't made with a snorkel animation so they have a harder time completing the Marine Biologist track for the new conservation career. The one they would seem naturally fit for. They are also the only Occult to not have a special Urn/Tombstone or Bassinet.
Lounge Chairs - Extremely long sought after by the Sims 4 community. We finally have them! But wait? Sims can only drink on them but they can't talk, listen to music, or read. How deflating.
When some of the most exciting, or long awaited, features of the pack feel like they were cut at the ankles people are going to be upset. I'm not begging for 'everything IP had'. I just want the things we got to not feel like the devs took shortcuts.
Also, let's be fair okay? The expansion costs the same as the base game currently with no sales. The expansion costs 2/3 of the base game at release so if we're talking price vs 'a brand new game' maybe we should expect more?
The sims 4 IL is quality content. The devs worked so hard in order to give us this EP and we should be grateful, because the sims is a very old game and EA is the only company interested in keeping it alive. I love the sims 4 and I hope I can get IL soon because the sims is one of my favorite games.
The problem with people nowadays: they see all the content on videos, so when they get their hands on the game it's easy for them to say "I've seen it all."
That's why I haven't seen any videos of IL yet (just EA's trailer), so when I finally get the game, it's going to be full of surprises for me.
This I can totally get behind also. It's true. But personally I did the same and eventually I have found myself bored of the new careers and without many new activities to do with my sims. The only thing that still holds my breath with this pack is the amazing world and the fact that sims can freely swim in the ocean water, meeting dolphins and all.
I wish the seashell collection was bigger honestly. I love getting seashells but I'm constantly getting the same ones over and over. I wish they had added the ability to get bottled messages by searching the sand, or broken shells. A lot of details could have been further added to certain interactions to make them even more interesting.
The sims 4 IL is quality content. The devs worked so hard in order to give us this EP and we should be grateful, because the sims is a very old game and EA is the only company interested in keeping it alive. I love the sims 4 and I hope I can get IL soon because the sims is one of my favorite games.
The problem with people nowadays: they see all the content on videos, so when they get their hands on the game it's easy for them to say "I've seen it all."
That's why I haven't seen any videos of IL yet (just EA's trailer), so when I finally get the game, it's going to be full of surprises for me.
This I can totally get behind also. It's true. But personally I did the same and eventually I have found myself bored of the new careers and without many new activities to do with my sims. The only thing that still holds my breath with this pack is the amazing world and the fact that sims can freely swim in the ocean water, meeting dolphins and all.
I wish the seashell collection was bigger honestly. I love getting seashells but I'm constantly getting the same ones over and over. I wish they had added the ability to get bottled messages by searching the sand, or broken shells. A lot of details could have been further added to certain interactions to make them even more interesting.
I was kind of hoping the could collect driftwood and make things using the carpentry table.
I agree.
Compare this pack to Jungle Adventures and it comes off like a game pack, but not as deep.
Disagree. I had much more fun with Jungle Adventure than Island Living, at least my Sims don’t disappear into a rabbit hole everywhere. And it came with two new skills while Island Living has none. Plus they did the culture there better.
You got my point backwards.
I am saying Jungle Adventures is better.
The sims 4 IL is quality content. The devs worked so hard in order to give us this EP and we should be grateful, because the sims is a very old game and EA is the only company interested in keeping it alive. I love the sims 4 and I hope I can get IL soon because the sims is one of my favorite games.
The problem with people nowadays: they see all the content on videos, so when they get their hands on the game it's easy for them to say "I've seen it all."
That's why I haven't seen any videos of IL yet (just EA's trailer), so when I finally get the game, it's going to be full of surprises for me.
Well, you don’t have it yet so you wouldn’t know.
I shared the same optimism before. The “spoiler” videos I watched didn’t have much besides showing the bb items and showing a mermaid swim around. I’ve been playing it all weekend, taking it slow exploring what was new. I’m really bummed that there isn’t much beyond objects and scenery.
I wish I didn’t agree with the OP, and up until recently I might not have necessarily felt the same way. I understand certain decisions were made to make this game more playable. It seems the pendulum has swung too far back to simplicity. And now we have a ton of new bugs and I’m feeling disenchanted.
The sims 4 IL is quality content. The devs worked so hard in order to give us this EP and we should be grateful, because the sims is a very old game and EA is the only company interested in keeping it alive. I love the sims 4 and I hope I can get IL soon because the sims is one of my favorite games.
The problem with people nowadays: they see all the content on videos, so when they get their hands on the game it's easy for them to say "I've seen it all."
That's why I haven't seen any videos of IL yet (just EA's trailer), so when I finally get the game, it's going to be full of surprises for me.
This I can totally get behind also. It's true. But personally I did the same and eventually I have found myself bored of the new careers and without many new activities to do with my sims. The only thing that still holds my breath with this pack is the amazing world and the fact that sims can freely swim in the ocean water, meeting dolphins and all.
I wish the seashell collection was bigger honestly. I love getting seashells but I'm constantly getting the same ones over and over. I wish they had added the ability to get bottled messages by searching the sand, or broken shells. A lot of details could have been further added to certain interactions to make them even more interesting.
I was kind of hoping the could collect driftwood and make things using the carpentry table.
Like lamps, shelves, tables, room dividers, etc.
I wish sims were be able to make rafts in the wood crafting table and ride them and fish on them It would also be cool if they had added hammocks for sims to sleep and woohoo in.
The sims 4 IL is quality content. The devs worked so hard in order to give us this EP and we should be grateful, because the sims is a very old game and EA is the only company interested in keeping it alive. I love the sims 4 and I hope I can get IL soon because the sims is one of my favorite games.
The problem with people nowadays: they see all the content on videos, so when they get their hands on the game it's easy for them to say "I've seen it all."
That's why I haven't seen any videos of IL yet (just EA's trailer), so when I finally get the game, it's going to be full of surprises for me.
Well, you don’t have it yet so you wouldn’t know.
I shared the same optimism before. The “spoiler” videos I watched didn’t have much besides showing the bb items and showing a mermaid swim around. I’ve been playing it all weekend, taking it slow exploring what was new. I’m really bummed that there isn’t much beyond objects and scenery.
I wish I didn’t agree with the OP, and up until recently I might not have necessarily felt the same way. I understand certain decisions were made to make this game more playable. It seems the pendulum has swung too far back to simplicity. And now we have a ton of new bugs and I’m feeling disenchanted.
This is why I'm not sure TS4 deserves another two or three years. It reminds me of my last year of school, where no one is working as hard, and all the classes teachers aren't really pressing students and or assigning major things to get done before the end of school, but sitting around and yaking, feet up on desks, telling glory day stories, kids or teens goofing off, all just waiting for it to be over. Half effort put into the last essay, and since it is the last, most get a high grade, just because it's the last, though may not be deserving etc. Lots of fairwell parties going on during class hours, and lots of cleaning out lockers, desks and really distracted with other stuff while the last days of school wind down. Those in charge looking forward to summer and the school year finally over. That is what TS4 has been since about two years ago. It was never very impressive but since they would keep making it, sure they can, but it's like the last days of school with hardly any effort at all.
"Games Are Not The Place To Tell Stories, Games Are Meant To Let People Tell Their Own Stories"...Will Wright.
Even though Sims 4 has improved in some areas it is not enough and I agree with you OP on most of your points.
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Comments
I think I might skip island living, but I do want to play with mermaids but I've heard complaints that even mermaids are lackluster. I think maybe had they booted mermaids to their own game pack as they did with Vamps and maybe spent time working on making lifeguard an active career as well as underwater lots for diving. But then again if they did separate mermaids from Island living we'd have another My First Pet Stuff fiasco, where its a DLC for a DLC, especially since this would be the only world with swimmable oceans. But we might have gotten a mermaid home lot like a 'hidden' dive lot and some really cool mermaid powers, which I've also heard complaints about.
Even the dolphin animations recycle. Pet dolphin is the same as as rub dolphins belly.
I understand that water is a difficult thing to do in game- (My Husband is a game dev) and I’m sure I read the former CM saying water was a challenge but it honestly looks like we paid $40 to swim in the ocean.
Disagree. I had much more fun with Jungle Adventure than Island Living, at least my Sims don’t disappear into a rabbit hole everywhere. And it came with two new skills while Island Living has none. Plus they did the culture there better.
My general sentiment is that game packs are better than the expansions because the game play aspect is always more fleshed out. I have been enjoying Island Living but apart from Seasons none of the expansions have lived up to the hype. I've learned to buy everything on sale at this point because the full asking price is not justified in my eyes
Missing island counters. Hmm. We've seen this before, too. Personally, I think this is just pathetic. Twice now they have somehow managed to forget the island counters for our Sim kitchens. Oh, any news on an emergency patch? Because we really need one to fix all the new bugs that have invaded the game, and after reading through a lot of posts about bugs, I am not the only one in need of an exterminator. I have been playing a totally mod-free and CC-free game for two days and I can't believe what a mess I have on my hands. And forget about loading up any old saves until this is all sorted out.
The scenery is gorgeous, but it takes a lot more than that to hold my interest. My hope was to see a much more complex pack this time around. Especially when we were told Sims4 was going to switch over to 64-bit. EA has been talking about this for months, yet here we are still limping around in 32-bit with all its limitations. What a waste of time, money and resources.
I am patiently waiting for my mods to be updated. Once that is done, if it happens, I won't be buying any new packs, or updating my game, for a very long time. I use a lot of mods from just four creators, and two of them are ready to throw in the towel after the latest update. They're tired of fixing their mods every time we get updates or new packs. Can't say I blame them for feeling this way. I wish there wasn't a need for mods, but that need is real.
Why aren't there any new whims associated with the new activities on Sulani? My Sim currently living in Sulani, throws whims for the same old bee boxes, 1x1 pools, etc., and there isn't a single whim to go swimming or to even hunt for shells. Wow. Underwhelmed. The whim system is in dire need of an overhaul.
I am impressed with the overhaul they did with the fishing in this pack. I will say that is a welcome addition to the way I play. But it doesn't make up for the fact the teams missed out on the opportunity to make Island Living a great expansion.
The problem with people nowadays: they see all the content on videos, so when they get their hands on the game it's easy for them to say "I've seen it all."
That's why I haven't seen any videos of IL yet (just EA's trailer), so when I finally get the game, it's going to be full of surprises for me.
Just like with GF, I'll be waiting on a sale for this one (or try to get lucky with a giveaway). There's some cute stuff in here, but it looks more like a gamepack to me, so that's the only price I'll be paying on it.
No, the problem with people nowadays is that they have already played 3 iterations before and rightfully expect more. Where did the awsome houseboats go?
No, the problem with people nowadays is that they have already played 3 iterations before and still don't remember all the problems with those games, while at the same time somehow believe they are entitled to content equal to a brand new game for the price of an expansion.
The sims 4 is not the sims 3. If you want houseboats you can play the Sims 3 IP. I love The sims 3, but ts4 is a different game. And not everyone has played the 3 games. Many people are new to the sims. I'm tired of the negative attitude many old simmers have towards the new game.
I remember very well the problems of the past games, but if you think 4 is technically better than 3, just read the last pages of Answers HQ ... Toddlers, vampires, restaurants, mermaid genetics, everything is in pieces.
The OP may or may not be an 'old simmer' who played for years. (I would have to reread the post to remember if they are or not). Some people just started with TS3 right after they had purchased TS4 for the first time back in 2014, they switched and went to TS3 and decided TS3 was better and had never played any of The Sims series.
Why be tired of negative attitude? Attitude is something you muster up for daily life, not for a product you spend money on. And if negativity bothers anyone why do enter a thread that says in the title it is a rant? Isn't that like saying you hate lima beans but you go to a restuarant that only sells lima beans? Why does anyone on here do that is always my first question.
OP, that was a very detailed story of why you don't like the pack. And all it's problems you listed only scratch the surface. But I sometimes wonder why some never see it before they buy it? It's not like we can't see flaws, and shallowness before we buy, so I always wonder why someone does when it's staring them in the face after the first facts come out about it when you read the EA statements of what's in a pack and watch a trailer and or watch or hear from a gamechanger. Why anyone never sees through all that is always my question eta: because feedback after the fact is no longer important they already have your money. It's a little too late after you buy something to say how horrible it is when us 'old simmers' already knew it from the very first details and or hype trailer.
That's is incorrect. They are two different animations.
I thought you couldn't fire dance in IL without GT?
It's true they re-used a lot of animations. But a lot of them work well in this pack, I have to say. I think re-using animations is fine when they fit, plus when they already give us a good amount of new good animations. I wish they'd make a new greeting animation instead of recycling from GT, and make a new dance for this pack, like hula dancing, instead of again, recycling from GT. It comes off as cheap when they don't give us anything new in that regard and only recycle.
It's also strange how this EP didn't include any new whims. Especially when it comes with a new aspiration goal and new traits. It further makes the pack feel somehow not as detailed and in depth as it should be.
The activist career also doesn't hold my interest for long. First, it's again, reusing animations from GTW with no new animations exclusive to it, nor rewards or objects. Seeing the neighbourhood change, as sims clean the island and promote eco friendly activities is a very good concept but at the end of the day I don't think it makes any impact throughout gameplay, other than getting rarer fish, or seeing extra ocean life, or getting a mermaid spawner?
There are a lot of new very well made swimming animations, which is great. And I think those took a lot of time to do, and get right, so I'll give them that. The dolphin is also very well animated. Plus the world is beyond amazing but I think that....the pack is still missing something. But at least I do believe that it has more content than City Living, and that is a step forward.
Some of us still love Sims 4 (like me) and I'm a big supporter of the game and I remember that all Sims games had problems. I'm fine with no houseboats or hotels because I think them focusing on island living was a good idea. Not a mile wide inch deep like GTW kind of was. That said because they focused on less features I just kind of expected them to be fleshed out? Some things just feel like cut corners.
Tanning - Amazing and I love how it conforms to clothing. But why does it only work on natural skin tones? This has the additional problem of barring Aliens in their entirety from the new aspiration without cheats. Mermaids come with the same skin as Aliens so if they use those they can't tan either.
Mermaids - Beautiful! But for some reason they can't apply the same 'switch to legs' they do for floaties to ladders. They also weren't made with a snorkel animation so they have a harder time completing the Marine Biologist track for the new conservation career. The one they would seem naturally fit for. They are also the only Occult to not have a special Urn/Tombstone or Bassinet.
Lounge Chairs - Extremely long sought after by the Sims 4 community. We finally have them! But wait? Sims can only drink on them but they can't talk, listen to music, or read. How deflating.
When some of the most exciting, or long awaited, features of the pack feel like they were cut at the ankles people are going to be upset. I'm not begging for 'everything IP had'. I just want the things we got to not feel like the devs took shortcuts.
Also, let's be fair okay? The expansion costs the same as the base game currently with no sales. The expansion costs 2/3 of the base game at release so if we're talking price vs 'a brand new game' maybe we should expect more?
This I can totally get behind also. It's true. But personally I did the same and eventually I have found myself bored of the new careers and without many new activities to do with my sims. The only thing that still holds my breath with this pack is the amazing world and the fact that sims can freely swim in the ocean water, meeting dolphins and all.
I wish the seashell collection was bigger honestly. I love getting seashells but I'm constantly getting the same ones over and over. I wish they had added the ability to get bottled messages by searching the sand, or broken shells. A lot of details could have been further added to certain interactions to make them even more interesting.
I was kind of hoping the could collect driftwood and make things using the carpentry table.
Like lamps, shelves, tables, room dividers, etc.
You got my point backwards.
I am saying Jungle Adventures is better.
I shared the same optimism before. The “spoiler” videos I watched didn’t have much besides showing the bb items and showing a mermaid swim around. I’ve been playing it all weekend, taking it slow exploring what was new. I’m really bummed that there isn’t much beyond objects and scenery.
I wish I didn’t agree with the OP, and up until recently I might not have necessarily felt the same way. I understand certain decisions were made to make this game more playable. It seems the pendulum has swung too far back to simplicity. And now we have a ton of new bugs and I’m feeling disenchanted.
I wish sims were be able to make rafts in the wood crafting table and ride them and fish on them
This is why I'm not sure TS4 deserves another two or three years. It reminds me of my last year of school, where no one is working as hard, and all the classes teachers aren't really pressing students and or assigning major things to get done before the end of school, but sitting around and yaking, feet up on desks, telling glory day stories, kids or teens goofing off, all just waiting for it to be over. Half effort put into the last essay, and since it is the last, most get a high grade, just because it's the last, though may not be deserving etc. Lots of fairwell parties going on during class hours, and lots of cleaning out lockers, desks and really distracted with other stuff while the last days of school wind down. Those in charge looking forward to summer and the school year finally over. That is what TS4 has been since about two years ago. It was never very impressive but since they would keep making it, sure they can, but it's like the last days of school with hardly any effort at all.