@superkyle221 If you're still deciding whether the EP is worth your while here are a few articles detailing some of the gameplay features that came with Cottage Living.
Get Together got my vote. I like everything that came with Get Together except the club system and the pre-made households. If I don't want 11 clubs in my game then I shouldn't have to have them. If I opt to delete all of the pre-mades and their inane clubs then the game shouldn't start setting up its own before I have a chance to set up anything myself. Some people love the club system and I get that. I don't want it removed, but I'd like for it to have been more of an option for the player to decide how many clubs they want in their game. Plus, if it's a private club then I shouldn't have random townies calling to ask for an invitation.
The game often makes Vlad the leader of one of its stupid clubs. A Sim with the Loner trait, Undead Aura, and Uncontrollable Hissing. Makes perfect sense.
Didn't vote because there are things I like and dislike about all of them, but not enough to not have them. I really haven't played celebrities nor Eco, but there are things I like about them. Wasn't happy about Pets because of how limited compared to the Sims3 and pets taking up family slots when you can't control them all the way. Island Living would've been perfect if they had an underwater world for mermaids and houseboats.
Discover University got my vote on this because I actually love sending Sims to college to gain extra skills, friends and maybe even a future relationship. The pack just didn't live up to what I was expecting.
This was why I LOVED the gameplay from Sims 2 University. It allowed me to gain more skills and friends than going straight from teenagers to adults without anything in between. Young adults are exclusive to University. I didn't have to deal with trying to get them accepted to a certain college. The pack came with 3 colleges preloaded and I only had to choose which one(s) to put in my game. Doing the skills, homework, term paper and going to class was enough to fill the Class Performance Meter easily. I could use the rest of the semester for socialization and other skills my Sims wanted to work on. My Sims were mostly Knowledge or Family Sims so they would study the other skills related to those (Anger Management, Couples Counseling, Parenting, Physiology, Lifetime Happiness, Fire Safety).
I never really got to explore Sims 3 University Life other than sending a Sim to campus and getting past the welcome week and the Aptitude Kit. I need to go back and play this pack more to see if my opinion changes.
Sims 4 Discover University was more complicated than it needed to be for my playstyle. I had a difficult time even getting a Sim into one of the colleges. Then I found out about the other bugs people were having in regards to GPA, Class Performance, Term Papers, getting around campus, etc. This made me stop playing altogether.
Cats & Dogs was the biggest disappointment for me. Not only pets are super buggy, but the world itself is underwhelming: no swimmable water (which would totally make sense in this type of environment) and tons of sick stinky drooling strays. The only thing I liked about this world was the lighthouse and woohoo option. Even smaller worlds score better imo. Today I rarely have this pack installed. Even CAS and BB is not my style, although there is one great wooden floor that I used quite frequently.
I don't own all the packs, so... I'll just say my least fave pack I own so far. I like them but this one in particular got shoved while I've ranked them - that being Eco Lifestyle. I'm aware this gives me gameplay but I prefer the other EPs gameplay. Sometimes it can get repetitive and feel lackluster. I also don't like the fact we don't have any empty slots other than the apartments. I've tried a good chunk of it's features in one day, thus telling me it doesn't have a lot of depth in it. I do like most of CAS & BB and use it in everything. It was either between this or Get Together, but I can cause chaos with that one.
Eco Lifestyle is also reminiscent of Into The Future a bit - except with the environment. ITF feels more "chaotic" if you want a dystopian world.
Ambitions > Island Paradise > World Adventures > Generations > Showtime > Seasons > Supernatural > University Life > Pets > Late Night > Into The Future
Island Living because it feels like it was a gamepack that got released as a full expansion pack. The world is beautiful and I love the idea of mermaids but it all feels half finished. If it was a gamepack it would be amazing but as an expansion it's lackluster.
Discover University is a frustrating pack for me. I enjoy the concept of being able to participate in college life, but the gameplay set up annoys me.
I hate the fact that you cannot live in Britechester unless you are an enrolled student (with the exception of a few lots/households). I dislike that you have to go through a waiting period just to get into college so you can live in the dorms. I also am totally annoyed at the fact that you cannot go into Build Mode in the dorms to decorate them however you please. Instead, you must go to the university kiosk to purchase the few things you can put in your dorm.
This EP tests my patience, and despite how much I love the concept, it is a pet peeve.
I'd say the new career ideas with Get To Work are great, but I wish there was an option for them to progress without me having to join my sim to work. Especially if I play a bigger household which has more than 1 sim having active careers, then I can't progress both of their careers at the same time..
I generally love something in all the packs, but I picked eco lifestyle because it has frustrated me the most. It took me forever to figure out how to get people to take bags off their heads with the new repeal voting function. The most frustrating thing is that I can't enjoy the new traits because my Sim keeps hugging bags of garbage and it looks so weird and they even store garbage in their inventory. I also don't understand what the recycling and composting does or how to make the neighborhood green so I'll have to watch some videos. I really love crafting new items though.
Voted cats & dogs as I absolutely love pets but can't do anything with them/ control them or learn about their personalities and needs. Constant going outside to use the 'toilet' is also annoying. Also find the pets are sooo needy - always having to pet them etc I need them more to fend for themselves :smile: .. Taking up household slots too is annoying. I agree with someone else in this thread who had weaknesses for most of them - definitely feel like they all have their problems in some way.
As others already mentioned the negative points of university, which I all agree, except that I don't find it hard to get good grades, my personal most hatred and funbreaking thing is the dorm system. It would be better if I, the player, could decide who lives there and not the game. When raising a child from the beginning, why can't that child choose to go to university with at least one of his friends from school? I think it was a better system in Sims 2.
I'd have to go with University. It was my favorite pack in Sims 2 and Sims 3 - I looooved the way it was done in Sims 3.
The Sims 4 version is just a bunch of rabbit holes and doing homework. The housing is weird to live at and I just don't bother anymore.
I still use the pack for getting degrees for my adult sims, but they usually get one while working and living at home. I just wish the pack was more fun and less stress.
Also, I miss the drum kit that came in Sims 2 University. And the dorm system of assigning rooms by doors and being able to lock them. And the ability to make extra money by working in cafeteria. Where's all these features?
The Sims 3 University was great, too with the dorm system and the active lessons, giving presentations and having to actively participate in the class.
I hope there will be a proper University refresh and they will add all the old features back.
simming since 2000┃origin: daFigg ┃radiohead-head, potterhead, doodie-head
I don't really know whether or not my vote counts really, as I have never played Eco Lifestyle myself, but the pack has never appealed to me at all. I watched the official livestream for it on YouTube a little while ago when it was on offer to see if it did interest me, but it still didn't.
Comments
@superkyle221 If you're still deciding whether the EP is worth your while here are a few articles detailing some of the gameplay features that came with Cottage Living.
https://simscommunity.info/2021/07/08/the-sims-4-cottage-living-henford-on-bagley-world-tour/
https://simscommunity.info/2021/07/09/the-sims-4-cottage-living-all-about-groceries-and-new-delivery-options/
https://simscommunity.info/2021/07/09/the-sims-4-cottage-living-new-traits-aspiration-guide/
https://simscommunity.info/2021/07/14/the-sims-4-cottage-living-all-about-lot-challenges/
https://simscommunity.info/2021/07/15/the-sims-4-cottage-living-all-about-rabbits/
https://simscommunity.info/2021/07/21/the-sims-4-cottage-living-all-about-animal-clothes/
https://simscommunity.info/2021/07/21/the-sims-4-cottage-living-all-about-chickens/
https://simscommunity.info/2021/07/22/the-sims-4-cottage-living-introduction-to-village-errands/
https://simscommunity.info/2021/07/22/the-sims-4-cottage-living-all-about-cows-llamas/
https://simscommunity.info/2021/07/22/the-sims-4-cottage-living-an-introduction-to-canning/
https://simscommunity.info/2021/07/22/the-sims-4-cottage-living-all-about-animal-treats/
https://simscommunity.info/2021/07/23/the-sims-4-cottage-living-cross-stitch-skill-guide/
https://simscommunity.info/2021/07/23/the-sims-4-cottage-living-finchwick-fair-guide/
https://simscommunity.info/2021/07/26/the-sims-4-cottage-living-oversized-crops-guide/
https://simscommunity.info/2021/07/24/the-sims-4-cottage-living-all-about-wild-foxes/
https://simscommunity.info/2021/07/24/the-sims-4-cottage-living-all-about-wild-birds/
The game often makes Vlad the leader of one of its stupid clubs. A Sim with the Loner trait, Undead Aura, and Uncontrollable Hissing. Makes perfect sense.
This was why I LOVED the gameplay from Sims 2 University. It allowed me to gain more skills and friends than going straight from teenagers to adults without anything in between. Young adults are exclusive to University. I didn't have to deal with trying to get them accepted to a certain college. The pack came with 3 colleges preloaded and I only had to choose which one(s) to put in my game. Doing the skills, homework, term paper and going to class was enough to fill the Class Performance Meter easily. I could use the rest of the semester for socialization and other skills my Sims wanted to work on. My Sims were mostly Knowledge or Family Sims so they would study the other skills related to those (Anger Management, Couples Counseling, Parenting, Physiology, Lifetime Happiness, Fire Safety).
I never really got to explore Sims 3 University Life other than sending a Sim to campus and getting past the welcome week and the Aptitude Kit. I need to go back and play this pack more to see if my opinion changes.
Sims 4 Discover University was more complicated than it needed to be for my playstyle. I had a difficult time even getting a Sim into one of the colleges. Then I found out about the other bugs people were having in regards to GPA, Class Performance, Term Papers, getting around campus, etc. This made me stop playing altogether.
Eco Lifestyle is also reminiscent of Into The Future a bit - except with the environment. ITF feels more "chaotic" if you want a dystopian world.
I hate the fact that you cannot live in Britechester unless you are an enrolled student (with the exception of a few lots/households). I dislike that you have to go through a waiting period just to get into college so you can live in the dorms. I also am totally annoyed at the fact that you cannot go into Build Mode in the dorms to decorate them however you please. Instead, you must go to the university kiosk to purchase the few things you can put in your dorm.
This EP tests my patience, and despite how much I love the concept, it is a pet peeve.
The Sims 4 version is just a bunch of rabbit holes and doing homework. The housing is weird to live at and I just don't bother anymore.
I still use the pack for getting degrees for my adult sims, but they usually get one while working and living at home. I just wish the pack was more fun and less stress.
Also, I miss the drum kit that came in Sims 2 University. And the dorm system of assigning rooms by doors and being able to lock them. And the ability to make extra money by working in cafeteria. Where's all these features?
The Sims 3 University was great, too with the dorm system and the active lessons, giving presentations and having to actively participate in the class.
I hope there will be a proper University refresh and they will add all the old features back.