Speculations about Game Pack

LeGardePourpre · May 19

Hi,

There was a long pause before Stuff Packs came back and now it's the turn of Game Packs to be missing.

So it makes me think that Maxis (EA HQ) continues to transfer development to Maxis Europe.

It wouldn't be surprising because the EA HQ studio will have to focused on Project Rene and Project Dolores at some point.

Atreya33 · May 19

I heard rumours about Game Packs not releasing for some time. It was in a video of iron seagull.

At time 2:00 he mentions henford hen talking about no more GP

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-Q-pCpSUM78

As simmer who loves supernatural gameplay, I find this a very sad thought. I love my spellcasters and werewolves. Even vampires who are not my favourite are very well done. The occults in the expansion packs just never reach the same potential. And stuff packs just are to small for a full lifestate. Paranormal stuff and to some extent crystal creations can help but it's not the same as an occult lifestate. So no Game Packs will mean an even longer drought for a fleshed out occult lifestate.

And even without the occults, some game packs are so great that they are more essential to the game than some of the expansions. I am thinking about parenthood, jungle adventures and spa day.

Some of the last EP feel so watered down, so little to offer outside the one main feature that they feel overpriced. GP felt like a good balance between content and pricing. (with the exception of my wedding stories)

I feel EA doesn't have the resources to produce all types of content. Especially with project Renee and Dolores on the horizon. And now game packs are on the chopping block.

Simmingal · May 19

I'll start worrying if I don't see occult GP for spooky season

this year so far seems to be split in 4 month seasons from which each contain one pack of different types and some kits

s1 (January-April) : Stuff Pack + kits
s2 (May-August) : Expansion Pack + kits

which makes me think
s3 (September-December): Game Pack + kits

this would complete the pattern and since we haven't seen gp or occult for a while regardless of all the fairy speculation and "hints" i think its high possibility next gp is occult

LeGardePourpre · May 19

Stuff Packs were missing from Feb. 2021 to Sep. 2023 (32 months after SP18 Paranormal Stuff)
I imagine Game Packs could come back after Feb. 2025 (32 months after GP12 Werewolves).

I still think about GP13 Grim Reaper for the 25th anniversary of the franchise.
So in that case 2 SP + 2 EP should be released in 2024.

FreddyFox1234 · May 20

Atreya33 wrote: »

I heard rumours about Game Packs not releasing for some time. It was in a video of iron seagull.
At time 2:00 he mentions henford hen talking about no more GP

Oh, this is disappointing. I tend to trust henford hen about things like this. I was hoping we’d get another game pack soon, but now that doesn’t look at all likely.

LeGardePourpre wrote: »

Stuff Packs were missing from Feb. 2021 to Sep. 2023 (32 months after SP18 Paranormal Stuff)
I imagine Game Packs could come back after Feb. 2025 (32 months after GP12 Werewolves).

Are packs still going to be released all through next year? How much longer is content going to keep being made for this game?

LeGardePourpre · May 20

FreddyFox1234 wrote: »

Are packs still going to be released all through next year? How much longer is content going to keep being made for this game?

As Lyndsay Pearson said at BTS livestream TS4 will coexist with Project Rene the same way as The Sims FreePlay and The Sims Mobile coexist since 2017.

At least the next 5 years new packs will still be released.

While Maxis Europe is learning how to develop Game Packs, Maxis (EA HQ) will keep on releasing Expansion Packs.

FreddyFox1234 · May 20

@LeGardePourpre At least the next five years? Wow!

Atreya33 · May 20

Simmingal wrote: »

I'll start worrying if I don't see occult GP for spooky season

Occult GP aren't tied to Halloween/spooky season. Vampires released in February, werewolves in June, strangerville in February. Only realm of magic (10 September) was released in the right season but still weeks away from Halloween. I don't think EA holds back occult game packs just to release close to Halloween.

Erja888 · May 20

I still think "For Rent" was planned as a GP and then something happened and they had to switch their plan, created more CAS and B/B and released it as an EP... Not a big fan of occults, however GPs had some nice themes (Spa Day, Dine Out). Maybe we will see a GP and another SP at the end of the year?!

LeucosiaX · May 20

I prefer game packs because it's the best value for your dollar and it comes with new gameplay which is exactly what I want from a game. Seems the obvious choice.

Eleri · May 20

@Erja888 My theory is that Horse Ranch was actually planned as a GP. Horses are a GP-sized concept. Being a rancher is a whole separate lifestyle, sort of like being a vampire or a werewolf. It's not like owning a pet or being part of a club or going to the beach where a wide variety of sims can have that as a part of their game play. They added some bits and bobs of other game play to fluff it up and called it an EP. I suspect For Rent was always intended as an EP, but they scaled back their original ambitions for the content involved.

Simmingal · May 20

Atreya33 wrote: »

Simmingal wrote: »

I'll start worrying if I don't see occult GP for spooky season

Occult GP aren't tied to Halloween/spooky season. Vampires released in February, werewolves in June, strangerville in February. Only realm of magic (10 September) was released in the right season but still weeks away from Halloween. I don't think EA holds back occult game packs just to release close to Halloween.

I mean yeah not like they do that but also I know I'd be disappointed they missed the opportunity to release occult pack at such perfect timing 🤣 especially since all the stars seem to be aligned to make it happen this year

then again if not I'll next be disappointed in spring because thats also perfect timing for fairies... and then in the summer because that is also perfect... okay sorry. never bad time for fairies just give em to me 🧚‍♀️

LeucosiaX · May 20

I think For Rent was intended to be a Game Pack. Horse Ranch feels like an expansion pack worth of stuff, just chimped on the equestrian center and lie action competitions, main street town area and missing vineyard event. Inflation skimped on what could have been the vision. Could at least add gambling on horse competition as a fun productive rabbit hole.

AlanSims · May 20

LeucosiaX wrote: »

I think For Rent was intended to be a Game Pack. Horse Ranch feels like an expansion pack worth of stuff, just chimped on the equestrian center and lie action competitions, main street town area and missing vineyard event. Inflation skimped on what could have been the vision. Could at least add gambling on horse competition as a fun productive rabbit hole.

Apartments have always been part of the most requested EPs like Seasons, Pets and University. They would not have made that a Game Pack. I think Horses could've started as a game pack and evolved into EP.

Amapola76 · May 20

LeGardePourpre wrote: »

FreddyFox1234 wrote: »

Are packs still going to be released all through next year? How much longer is content going to keep being made for this game?

While Maxis Europe is learning how to develop Game Packs, Maxis (EA HQ) will keep on releasing Expansion Packs.

Now that is not a phrase that inspires confidence in the result.

crocobaura · May 20

Amapola76 wrote: »

LeGardePourpre wrote: »

FreddyFox1234 wrote: »

Are packs still going to be released all through next year? How much longer is content going to keep being made for this game?

While Maxis Europe is learning how to develop Game Packs, Maxis (EA HQ) will keep on releasing Expansion Packs.

Now that is not a phrase that inspires confidence in the result.

They made the waffle and pizza oven stuff pack and people were pretty pleased with the outcome. If they had enabled the pizza and waffles recipes for restaurants it would have been perfect.

Amapola76 · May 21

crocobaura wrote: »

Amapola76 wrote: »

LeGardePourpre wrote: »

FreddyFox1234 wrote: »

Are packs still going to be released all through next year? How much longer is content going to keep being made for this game?

While Maxis Europe is learning how to develop Game Packs, Maxis (EA HQ) will keep on releasing Expansion Packs.

Now that is not a phrase that inspires confidence in the result.

They made the waffle and pizza oven stuff pack and people were pretty pleased with the outcome. If they had enabled the pizza and waffles recipes for restaurants it would have been perfect.

That's fine. I'm not saying they can't do a great job. I am specifically saying that specific phrase does not inspire confidence.

It's like having a medical student take out your gallbladder or the assistant stylist do your highlights... they could be a savant, and it might turn out great, but it's a gamble, regardless.

crocobaura · May 21

Amapola76 wrote: »

crocobaura wrote: »

Amapola76 wrote: »

LeGardePourpre wrote: »

FreddyFox1234 wrote: »

Are packs still going to be released all through next year? How much longer is content going to keep being made for this game?

While Maxis Europe is learning how to develop Game Packs, Maxis (EA HQ) will keep on releasing Expansion Packs.

Now that is not a phrase that inspires confidence in the result.

They made the waffle and pizza oven stuff pack and people were pretty pleased with the outcome. If they had enabled the pizza and waffles recipes for restaurants it would have been perfect.

That's fine. I'm not saying they can't do a great job. I am specifically saying that specific phrase does not inspire confidence.

It's like having a medical student take out your gallbladder or the assistant stylist do your highlights... they could be a savant, and it might turn out great, but it's a gamble, regardless.

I suppose it depends on how close they are to their graduation and some would struggle even after that because they have no natural inclination to their field and they only trained in it because it pays well.

SERVERFRA · May 21

Personally, I think they are just doing the same thing that they did with the Stuff Packs & taking a 3 year break from Gameplay Packs for whatever reason.

Arca · May 22

Simmingal wrote: »

Atreya33 wrote: »

Simmingal wrote: »

I'll start worrying if I don't see occult GP for spooky season

Occult GP aren't tied to Halloween/spooky season. Vampires released in February, werewolves in June, strangerville in February. Only realm of magic (10 September) was released in the right season but still weeks away from Halloween. I don't think EA holds back occult game packs just to release close to Halloween.

I mean yeah not like they do that but also I know I'd be disappointed they missed the opportunity to release occult pack at such perfect timing 🤣 especially since all the stars seem to be aligned to make it happen this year

then again if not I'll next be disappointed in spring because thats also perfect timing for fairies... and then in the summer because that is also perfect... okay sorry. never bad time for fairies just give em to me 🧚‍♀️

There are winter fairies

Remember Tinkerbell's sister is winter fairy?

Horrorgirl6 · May 22

Erja888 wrote: »

I still think "For Rent" was planned as a GP and then something happened and they had to switch their plan, created more CAS and B/B and released it as an EP... Not a big fan of occults, however GPs had some nice themes (Spa Day, Dine Out). Maybe we will see a GP and another SP at the end of the year?!

I doubt it because it was shipped with tamarong world.

logion · May 22

I thought the reason why we are seeing more expansion packs and less game packs is that it's a way to cover costs. A lot of game development studios are struggling right now.

I guess it's possible that they are transferring development of sims4 packs to Europe, I haven't thought about it that way. But they have only worked on two packs so far right?

LeGardePourpre · May 22

@logion wrote: »

But they have only worked on two packs so far right?

Yes, Maxis Europe worked on Home Chef Hustles and Crystal Creations.

It wouldn't be the first time.

Previously Maxis Salt Lake did TS3 Expansion Packs while Maxis (EA HQ) was working on Project Olympus :

The Sims 3 EP06 Showtime
The Sims 3 EP07 Supernatural
The Sims 3 EP09 University Life
The Sims 3 EP11 Into the Future

catloverplayer · May 23

I think the next gamepack will be either bands,fairies,hotels,waterparks or themeparks.

Atreya33 · May 23

Horrorgirl6 wrote: »

Erja888 wrote: »

I still think "For Rent" was planned as a GP and then something happened and they had to switch their plan, created more CAS and B/B and released it as an EP... Not a big fan of occults, however GPs had some nice themes (Spa Day, Dine Out). Maybe we will see a GP and another SP at the end of the year?!

I doubt it because it was shipped with tamarong world.

Toomarang has the same amount of lots and neighborhoods as Tartosa. It also feels similar in size to strangerville and even selvadorada (if you count the temple and jungle location). To me personally the size of Toomarang is gives the impression that this was initially a GP.

RandomTokenCode · May 23

Atreya33 wrote: »

Horrorgirl6 wrote: »

Erja888 wrote: »

I still think "For Rent" was planned as a GP and then something happened and they had to switch their plan, created more CAS and B/B and released it as an EP... Not a big fan of occults, however GPs had some nice themes (Spa Day, Dine Out). Maybe we will see a GP and another SP at the end of the year?!

I doubt it because it was shipped with tamarong world.

Toomarang has the same amount of lots and neighborhoods as Tartosa. It also feels similar in size to strangerville and even selvadorada (if you count the temple and jungle location). To me personally the size of Toomarang is gives the impression that this was initially a GP.

However, game packs focused on lot type before don't have worlds.

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