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I'm Out For Now
Kolby
Posts: 1,126 Member
I just want to express to EA/Maxis that as a life-long Simmer I have reached a point where I'm just done hanging on to expectations and hopes for this series. The "My First Pet Stuff" is the final nail in the coffin. When "Cats & Dogs" was announced instead of just "Pets" I knew that this would be a very SLIM pack compared to what we used to have in TS3. From viewing the trailer, I can see that this pack should have been tied into "Cats & Dogs." I was very disapointed to see how limited that expansion was, no small animals or caged birds/reptiles like previous iterations.
This year, TS4 will be 4 years old. We have half the content that TS3 received in that amount of time. I never defended TS3 until now because I always thought the Sims were ugly and the worlds seemed cheap; when TS4 came out I never looked back. I bought TS4 Digital Deluxe and have purchased every DLC available. (Except for Jungle adventure) I won't purchase that "Game pack" either because it's not enough. Stop taking full expansion concepts and trimming them to fit into a game pack. I hated TS3 store so I'm glad that didn't make a return but come on. The formula to The Sims has been severely interfered with. It's unfortunate because I think TS4 is the best looking title to date, aesthetically.
Of the DLC we have now, how many missed connections are there?
No bunkbeds in Parenthood/Kids/Toddler stuff.
No bikes/strollers in Parenthood/Kids/Toddler stuff.
No slow dancing in Get Together.
No Bands/Celebrity status.
No burglars in Get to Work. (Where are the risks in this game? Unpredictability? Dangers?)
No crafting trades in GTW either. (Toys, flowers, electronics etc?)
No tattoo artists or makeovers for the current HIDEOUS randomized townies. Ugh.
No swimmable oceans/ponds/lakes in Jungle/Outdoor retreat.
No zombies, robots, werewolves, plantsims, witches, etc.
No driveable cars/garage items.
No university, seasons, proper vacations.
No small animals/pets in "cats & dogs".
No seamless viewing of apartments of the same building to visit neighbors.
I realize there is only so much they can add per pack, I really do. And some of the new ideas are nice. But I am always running out of things to do with my Sims. TS4 likely has less than one year of life left before a possible TS5 announcement. Did the Maxis studio budget get severely cut, limiting gameplay additions to the game? Why isn't EA pumping this franchise with developers and $$$ to load us up with desirable content? These are just things I have been thinking about constantly and need to vent. I'm hoping the right "SimGuru" will come upon this and take it for full value. This is important to myself and many other long-time members of The Sims community.
This year, TS4 will be 4 years old. We have half the content that TS3 received in that amount of time. I never defended TS3 until now because I always thought the Sims were ugly and the worlds seemed cheap; when TS4 came out I never looked back. I bought TS4 Digital Deluxe and have purchased every DLC available. (Except for Jungle adventure) I won't purchase that "Game pack" either because it's not enough. Stop taking full expansion concepts and trimming them to fit into a game pack. I hated TS3 store so I'm glad that didn't make a return but come on. The formula to The Sims has been severely interfered with. It's unfortunate because I think TS4 is the best looking title to date, aesthetically.
Of the DLC we have now, how many missed connections are there?
No bunkbeds in Parenthood/Kids/Toddler stuff.
No bikes/strollers in Parenthood/Kids/Toddler stuff.
No slow dancing in Get Together.
No Bands/Celebrity status.
No burglars in Get to Work. (Where are the risks in this game? Unpredictability? Dangers?)
No crafting trades in GTW either. (Toys, flowers, electronics etc?)
No tattoo artists or makeovers for the current HIDEOUS randomized townies. Ugh.
No swimmable oceans/ponds/lakes in Jungle/Outdoor retreat.
No zombies, robots, werewolves, plantsims, witches, etc.
No driveable cars/garage items.
No university, seasons, proper vacations.
No small animals/pets in "cats & dogs".
No seamless viewing of apartments of the same building to visit neighbors.
I realize there is only so much they can add per pack, I really do. And some of the new ideas are nice. But I am always running out of things to do with my Sims. TS4 likely has less than one year of life left before a possible TS5 announcement. Did the Maxis studio budget get severely cut, limiting gameplay additions to the game? Why isn't EA pumping this franchise with developers and $$$ to load us up with desirable content? These are just things I have been thinking about constantly and need to vent. I'm hoping the right "SimGuru" will come upon this and take it for full value. This is important to myself and many other long-time members of The Sims community.
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Comments
I suppose we could dream about a next Sims game that can actually stand next to the games of now and the future with improvements in graphics and hardware/Software that make games look so crisp and more realistic. But I don't know if EA is up to that challenge when it comes to the Sims Franchise. They like to keep it old school when it comes to computer specs, graphics and OS systems. They also like the formula they have created with EP, GP, and SP. They could give up on the whole thing today and still make money of the good name of The sims.
It would be great if they would take our ideas and really see them for what they are, instead of getting offended by it. We only want a great gaming experience...and we have been willing to pay good money for it.
If they are truly in the process of making another Sims game... a Sims 5.... I hope it's great. They only way that would happen is if they raise the bar really super high. A base game loaded with a lot of features they reserve for EP's. A base pack with Weather, Pets, Careers, Family (I'm talking at least 8 life stages) Building tools and options...lots of them, landscaping tools, tons of color, texture, furniture and decor options. A base game so big you need a new gaming rig to play it. And before anyone goes all ballistic on me for saying so... If you can dish out the cash that has been spend on TS4 with all it's EP, GP, and SP... then you can afford to upgrade your existing computer to run a newer fuller Sims game. And even with a full Base game like this... there is still room for more original DLC expansion... instead of the same ole thing over and over.
That is the only way I will invest into another version of this franchise. Otherwise....I will move on and find other games to play and when I feel nostalgic for the sims...I always have TS2 and TS3 (which plays great on my computer).
1.) Like you've stated in your post, this amount of content they've put out so far is half of what Sims 3 put out in the same amount of time. I get the feeling they're not finished; the devs are taking things more slowly with the Sims 4, making everything more fleshed out, which I like.
2.) Budget cuts. Remember when one of those devs tweeted that they're not working on a Sims 5, and that if the Sims 4 doesn't do well, there won't be a Sims 5? As much as I feel like he shouldn't have posted that, I think it's true. Let's be honest, Sims 4 debuted with a lack of content, and I believe the game was rushed out. They've spent so long coding the game, giving us back those features that should've been there upon release; I don't think working on the Sims 5 was really something they had much time for.
And then there's also the fact that while I think Sims 4 and it's expansions are selling well, due to the amount of complaints, I don't think they're making as much money from Sims 4 as the previous games. If they were to release a Sims 5 anytime soon, it could be even more lackluster than what we've got now.
So yeah, I think Sims 4 is gonna stay around for quite awhile before a Sims 5 is announced; but who knows, I could be wrong.
I would prefer the Sims team to take their time releasing packs, since I prefer quality over quantity. It feels like the Sims 4 came out not too long ago, so I'm not really ready for a Sims 5 yet
* * * *
Only My Opinion/gut feeling.
If TS 4 is so lacking in depth and development beyond the great looks, why expect a TS 5? Where would they go from here? VR? --Any new iteration of any game needs a WOW factor.
Would they be willing to design and launch a game that requires expensive equipment-- beyond what is already needed for "4" with all the bells and whistles. Full-bore gamer rigs seem to be advisable to those who want to know what they need to play "4" with all packs so far, taking into account the ones they'll no doubt hatch this year and the next. Personally, while buying or even building a gamer-class computer system is within my financial reach I choose not to expend resources on something useful for just gaming. "That's Just Me".
The Sims franchise itself is approaching its 20th anniversary. The core concept was born and developed in the late 1990s. It's also a niche game, as compared to EA's top shelf titles.
Seems to me that they'll issue expansion material through 2020 and call it a day. If I were among the EA bean-counters, that is what I would definitely suggest.
Once that stops being fun and interesting to me , I will move on from the sims altogether and play other games. Thats why I chose a "gaming" pc so I could run other stuff also.
And when gaming stops being fun...I'll just use my computer for practicing my writing skills or something.
-You can't actually visit a doctor in 'Get-to-work'
-You can't actually work in a restaurant in 'Dine out'
-You can't build an apartment in 'City living'
Also lacking:
-Hardly any relationship to their surroundings. They have no memories, no rage periods, lacklustre reactions and traits. Moodlets act as smoke and mirrors for all of this.
-They lack turn ons/offs , likes/dislikes, more traits, zodiacs, anything that might make their personality interesting.
-Couldn't even give us open-neighbourhoods. I understand not having open worlds but, even neighbourhoods? You can go to someones house, but need a loading screen to actually get inside? Silly.
as of recent, there are 2 packs (an EPa nd a SP) focusing on pets, yet neither one features parrots or reptiles
I wish they stopped stuff packs and made two GP teams. By the time they release the requested content, we will have a ton of stuff packs. I can’t imagine. I think they need to combine their resources and work on
More Gp’s
I'm also an old school simmer, I've been playing since 1 and have played various Sims games on multiple consoles and loyally bought new expansions upon release over the years. My passion for the series started to wane with 3 and 4 didn't bring it back, it only solidified my point in that I'm not finding The Sims franchise as fun as I used to. It's shame because I don't want this franchise to fail, I adore The Sims and have done since the first day I played it. I don't take any pleasure out of being negative about EA's decision regarding the franchise. I just feel like we're at a point where all we're doing is regressing and that this is going to cause the future of the franchise to be in jeopardy.
Sims can multi task & dance together as a group.
Rome wasn't built in a day.
This is only the 4th installment.
I think sim players expect EA to give them everything they want in the same game. They have to learn how to get it all together, though. Trail and error. TS4 may be an error, but EA has more exp to make us a 5th game that is even better.
#NoTS5
I recently started playing a new game and I am so in love with the feel of community. Everyday people come out of their homes to walk to work or school. They eat in the restaurants, go to church, do yoga in the town center and go fishing in the local streams. It feels so full. They are not just randomly jogging\walking around with absolutely no purpose.
I also really miss the lack of choices. I want to play this save as a vampire family that takes over the entire world and then in the next save I want no supernaturals at all. Or maybe I want to play the crazy cat lady and then the next game I want to be the cat. I miss playing my way.
If there is to be a Sims 5 they need it to be a lot better and different. Maybe take some stuff back to Sims 3. Open world's, customisation for clothes and decor back.
I think for ageing they should make it gradual!(if that's even possible?) No more spinning in stars and ta-da. Make it gradual. Oh! And have babies as babies not objects!!
As well as have things like weather and university as base game!
I feel the same way, and sometimes i think too if i'm too old for this type of game. But then i see that i'm not the only one with this opinion and we aren't only a few simmers either.
I am eagerly awaiting University and Seasons, and hopefully a Witches game pack, Farming, and some sort of Superstar expansion.
Hopefully they will add missing NPCs, make traits matter more, and add more drama and danger.
#DramaAndDanger