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Disabilites, Maybe?
IceyJ
Posts: 4,641 Member
I don't know why I'm getting the feeling that Thursday's #playwithlife video might be related to some sort of disability update. Wheelchairs, perhaps? Real elevators/lifts? I've seen many tweets using the PlayWithLife hashtag where simmers say the game helps them with depression or other disabling conditions. A guru who watched the video said it brought tears to his eyes. Hmmmm...
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If something like that was implemented the devs would either have to address it very tactfully or in broad/safe enough options so as to keep any potential bad press off the game.
While the idea sounds great, the problem is disabilities are pretty varied across even the more well known ones like, for example, blind people.
Did you know there are people who can only see out of one eye or have poor vision in one or both eyes? I just feel like if disabilities were added it would be generalized for the public and not have any sort of variation.
I'm blind in my left eye and my vision is blurry in my right. I have prescription lenses and growing up, I needed to wear a prosthetic eye (it works like a contact lens, a shell of sorts going over my real, non functional eye) so my skull/eye socket grew correctly as I got older.
I doubt that kind of thing would make it into the game, if something like blind sims were implemented it would be all-or-nothing because that's what people think when they hear the term blind. Though there are the limitations of the game, the public response and the respect towards disabled people that would need to be taken into consideration. My example above is just one many different things that people can go through and while my disability is "my normal" not everyone will share that viewpoint.
Sorry if I went off on a tangent.
https://themighty.com/2019/03/characters-disabilities-sims-4/
https://www.newsweek.com/sims-4-update-disabilities-representation-grant-rodiek-1114985
https://simscommunity.info/2018/09/10/the-sims-team-is-thinking-about-adding-disabilities-to-the-sims-4/
Well ok then. Looks like they're trying to do right by everyone then.
I get wanting to be inclusive, but I just don't have a good feeling about the way it would end up going over and how people would play with that kind of thing before all of the controversy spills out regarding insensitivity. It's a mine field.
They *might* try adding mental health issues as well since Graham mention something to the effect of "Not making them traits"
If they add in mental illness I'm going to be furious. As someone who has a mental illness (anxiety/depression), I don't need that crap in my game. I play to get AWAY from the fact that I'm sick.
I'm well aware that some people want it. I don't play in a "Utopia" (if I can help it) and I don't play realistically at all. That's why I hope it isn't invasive so those of us who find it way too realistic or depressing don't have to deal with it. For example, the patch that we got to make transgender Sims is done in a way that is not invasive. Anyone can make a trans Sim, but they are not randomly generated in the game. I enjoy the patch and I've seen others enjoy it, and it's inclusive, but it's not invasive for those who don't want to use it. So disabilities, if put into the game, should also be completely optional in CAS and not randomly generated for those who don't want them in the game. You see?
But that still doesn't ease my mind that there won't be players out there who play in a way that will offend others, post it online, and next thing you know there's controversy.
I am with you completely on this. I have a close family member with a severe mental illness and it's extremely emotionally taxing in real life. The very last thing I want in my game is a constant reminder of what we go through. This would be the one thing that could make me close the game forever without a second thought.
Don't get me wrong, I totally understand, and would be down for, the team adding in canes, walkers, wheelchairs, etc. I wouldn't mind that at all. But mental illnesses are a totally different ballgame, and you have to tread much more lightly with them. I don't think the team would be malicious in their implementation of them, I just worry what other people would do with it and HOW they could even incorporate it without it being offensive.
Agreed. But I think I saw somewhere that Grant said they wouldn't do mental illness anyway so I think we're safe from that potential fiasco. I'm pretty sure wheelchairs were mentioned and possibly blindness/deafness. I know a bunch of people have been asking for canes for the Elders as well, but I don't know if it's something being considered.
What next? Teenage pregnancies? Domestic Violence?
this I agree.
If EA decides to move forward with disabilities in game, I hope they will continue to get input from people with those particular disabilities.