This week something entirely new will be introduced to the Sims series: a pack that leads the player through a story, made up by the developers. I’m really curious what the community thinks of this new approach (and also how the pack will be received). So, a poll (and I’d love to read arguments too).
A pack with a story 236 votes
Great idea! The franchise should explore this kind of gameplay more
Interesting, but it should always be an on the side thing and just this once
Bad! They’d better spend their time and money on gameplay that sticks to what this franchise is about
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Comments
Zumi and the Winchester Brothers
The Watcher's Caretaker - A Limited ISBI
Of course, players should be able to opt out of it if they wish (which they can opt out in StrangerVille so good on EA), but yeah. The Sims console games frequently had that story approach and they were all fun as heck. So I am all for it. Basically, to me, StrangerVille seems like Sims: Castaway and Sims: Life Stories, but it will allow more freedom and actually be apart of the main game, so I think it's awesome.
Side note: I swear I owned Life Stories back in the day but it has mysteriously vanished from my house...hmmm...*puts on conspiracy helmet*
The thing is I LOVE games with a strong story, if it’s a game where the story is lead by the player through choices, I like it even better.
I also liked Castaway and the Sims Medieval as I can appreciate them for what they were as full stand-alone games.
I can’t comment yet of course on the the StrangerVille or whatever it’s called Mystery. There is a part of me that thinks the game should be and was always meant to be about the player telling their own stories not having a scripted one set out for them. Arguablely though the latest game is all about “The story WE (as in the developers) want to tell” which has been stated by a producer which I think is wrong for the franchise but that’s a whole other topic. The game is very goal orientated and linear enough,
I think the fact it is something new for a main game series is a good thing as I think the game needs to try new things. But from next week we will know just how much value the story has and from there I could then say “In my opinion it’s a good thing or it’s the worst thing ever”
But in theory, putting my rage at EA aside, it's not much my thing this whole story driven game thing. I don't mind that type of gameplay sometimes. But I prefer making my own story, which Sims is amazing for. That being said I'm not outright opposed to the idea of this type of pack existing. Just because a pack doesn't really fit my interests doesn't mean it's bad or shouldn't exist. There's lots of different simmers with lots of different playstyles and interests out there. Maybe it could be a good thing, maybe not. Honestly, I wouldn't mind giving it a shot myself, it could be worth a shot at least. Which isn't going to happen, but whatever. It's not because of the pack itself. I just want to see how the pack is actually executed before deciding. Sims 4 has taken some pretty good ideas and ruined them, so.... yeah. Of course this "maybe yes maybe no" idea could be where they really shine (not that I have much hope. But whatever).
https://graceymanorsims3.tumblr.com/
Cool to know they did delve into it in Sims 2.
*Fairy Jared and Vampire Connor*
So, this poll is NOT about Sims 4. It’s about introducing a storyline based addition to this so far purely sandbox franchise. I haven’t voted myself yet by the way because I’m really on the fence about it. Which is another reason I’m curious for opinions, my mind is still pretty open about this one. I agree with those by the way who say a lot depends on the quality of this pack, how it will turn out. So this poll is purely about the different concept/approach. Look at it this way: I could have made this poll before they announced this pack in the first place.
P.s. I also see a parallel with Sims Medieval by the way, which as we know was created as an on the side game
https://sims.fandom.com/wiki/The_Sims_Stories
https://sims.fandom.com/wiki/The_Sims_Life_Stories
https://sims.fandom.com/wiki/The_Sims_Pet_Stories
https://sims.fandom.com/wiki/The_Sims_Castaway_Stories
I've never played Sims 4 and that announcement caught my eye because of the concept of the story. I may not play it so soon because it must be a rip-off... maybe on a huge sales.
I think it's cool to have these options here and there. Sims 4 started bland for me. Sims Medieval is cool, but it's a different way of playing. It's hard to have the same kind of gameplay in every installment, otherwise people will complain that they don't innovate.
@thuggishsplicer Yes, that link crossed my mind as well. And I must confess that I've never explored that aspect of that pack so far because it felt so scripted. No opinion there though, I should try it first (Utopia/Dystopia; I presume that's what you're referring to).
My Sims 3 Studio
My forum builds thread
Is it safe by the way to edit a poll (the introduction text)? I’d like to add my explanation why I deliberately posted it here, that my question isn’t about Sims 4. I think the future of the franchise and the directions they choose for it also matter for us, the people who mainly or solely play Sims 3 (and 2). Don’t want to mess up the results though.
I understand your reasoning I still won't vote because I really have no opinions about the future of the franchise but I am sure others do and, since they will probably be the future players, I will leave it to them
Zumi and the Winchester Brothers
The Watcher's Caretaker - A Limited ISBI
I didn´t like WA at all, I´ve explored a tomb only once, but I thought it was boring. After that I just used the objects from WA for my Sims.
I´ve tried out TS3Medieval, but didn´t like to fullfill quest, in order to get something in return.
And when I played TS4 for a short time I didn´t like the restrictions in build/buy mode, where you couldn´t just buy the oven,e.g., you wanted, because you liked the design more, you had to enable the thing by playing a certain career. I had to cheat a lot in this game, which I didn´t like.
I just don´t like doing quests in a Sims game.
So this is a bad, too, they should focus on giving players tools for being able to play the game as the players would like and they should focus to enrichen the gameplay with more interaction between Sims.
Quests don´t help with making the game better, once they´re done the re-playability is lost.
https://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/953447/streuner-a-cat-s-tale
No, you either avoid the story and just put your Sim there like any other world or play a story driven script. Think what this says, we want slow dancing, it's four years later, no sorry, we had to write and animate a linear story script. We want this or this or that we still don't have in TS4. No, sorry we took our time and money and wrote, animated, scripted a story. We want to play our own stories, No, sorry, if you don't play our story you won't get or see any weirdness in the town. And techinially you are buying our town for $20 if you avoid the 'story'.
See my signature, this is blasphemy to the great Will Wright.
Number one rule of The Sims> 'Games are not the place to tell stories, but let the players tell their own stories. Gurus wanted a story driven pack, how many? 1% of all Simmers of the pc versions ever asked for more story driven packs? Maybe console players do, and maybe mobile gamers do, but PC players don't because we understand the concept of The Sims pc version and it doesn't belong. But I digress, maybe they win in the end and all of TS5 or all next packs will all be Story Mode and make console and mobile players happy.
ETA: And they have wasted two GPs already with JA and this new one coming out. Don't mean to get on a soap box. lol But think about it. Two GPs with scripted play. And this one even more than JA...money and time spent on something those of us who loved the original focus of The Sims abhor. It's like they don't understand their own game.
@Cinebar Yes, can’t help but agreeing with that, which is why the “just this once” addition in the second option is crucial for me. I happen to love WA, but at the same time I’m glad they only did a pack like that just once. That is... they also kind of did for the last EP but in a much more half-baked way. I only love WA because you can tell they put a lot of time and effort in the exploring aspect of that pack, the tombs and the adventures.