Hello Sims team,
First of all thank you for this opportunity to voice our opinion and to listen to us. I am a long time simmer who started out when sims 1 had just 1 expansion. I like a mix of family gameplay and occult elements. I have a feeling with recent patches that you are listening to us. I like many of the recent updates like bunk beds, the return of the relax on bed option, more skintones, the soon to come haircolors,...
Here are my suggestions/feedback:
Hair colour swatches vs sliders : First of all I would like to say I am really happy we are getting more haircolors. I am wondering however why you chose to add additional color swatches and not sliders like you did for skintones and make up. My reasoning is the following: hair colors, just like skintones, come in a big variety in the real world, way more than can be done by swatches alone. Finding the correct haircolors can also help simmers to recreate themselves or their family. Could you please elaborate why you went for swatches instead of sliders.
Updating existing packs? : a while ago (early 2020?) you had a poll where you asked us which packs we would like to see updated. But there hasn't been any news on that. Are you still considering this? Could you please tell us? Even if the answer is no, I would prefer to know it instead of hoping for something that is not happening.
Importance of options : with so many packs it is important to give players option to toggle certain features. Have all features from all packs active at the same time can be a bit much. Some of the options in this game are well handled like the option to disable fame global and at an individual level. Another good option is to choose if we want to do laundry at a lot based level by placing the objects of the pack. I hoped bust the dust had followed the same way of activating the game play mechanism. For snowy escape you handled this perfectly for the take of shoes sign, which can be set by lot, but missed the opportunity to allow school uniforms outside of mt. Komorebi. It is always nice if we can use options (in the options menu or on the lot) to set the game to our personal preference.
Don't restrict gameplay to one world : the best packs are those whose features can be used in most worlds. Of course this is not possible for everything but it would be nice to see this available when possible. The most obvious example is swimming in oceans. In the ideal scenario this would have been patched in for existing worlds (even if this were only for newly started saves) however I am happy to see the feature is implemented in discover university and snowy escape. Another example is the rock climbing walls from snowy escape. Of course the mountain can only be done in the world that comes with the pack. But it would have been helpful to give us access to the rock objects in the debug catalogue so we could have sims practice in other worlds, for example in granite falls.
No Fake buildings between playable lots : The most recent worlds all follow the trend to add tons of decorative fake buildings in between lots. This can be seen in discover university, eco lifestyle and snowy escape. I understand this helps to create a certain atmosphere but it also severly limits the creativity for building new homes. With so many fake buildings, we have to match to not look totally out of place. There is little room for imagining this is anywhere else. Another downside is that these neighbourhoods take long to navigate through and seem empty because the sims are scattered around a big area.
Size does matter : this version of the sims has a few very large objects. Instead of including yet another set of chairs or the same kids drawing table over and over, it would be nice if you could offer smaller versions of those gigantic objects. This would be especially useful for tiny homes or apartments. To be more precise I am talking about the telescope, microscope, piano, cupcake machine, cauldrons and doll houses. I don't mind having big versions, but I would like for those big versions to not be our only option.
Integration between packs : for people who own several packs, it is always nice to see more integration between packs. For example tying the mountain climbing skill to the wall in fitness stuff. Another great example is the clubs which are updated for newer skills. It would be nice if the calendar could also receive new traditions. For example a tradition to watch a movie or to go to do something wellness related (massage, sauna,.. from spa day)
control over situational outfits: I understand the need for these if you want to create a specific setting, but it can be really frustrated because we have no control over them what so ever. Would it be possible to allow us to set them. For example on a dresser, or by shift clicking a sim with testingcheats? That way we can at least change them if we don't like them. Alternatively there could be an option to turn them off per category.
Patching in features from packs : for the most part, I have come to accept you occasionally do this. But for me it is important that the original pack still has some value. Get to work still has plenty to offer, even without the photography skill. Outdoor retreat still has a vacation world and the herbalism skill to offer after rental lots being patched in the base game. Perfect patio on the other hand feels kind of empty with no unique gameplay feature of its own. If I am allowed to make one suggestion on this topic it would be to patch in the baking skill into the base game. The current baking recipes obviously should stay with the pack, but that way all the birthday cakes could finally be set to baking instead of cooking.
roadmap: Please give us a roadmap for the rest of the year. It is nice to know what is coming. I am currently holding of of paranormal because I might need it for a bundle feature. But maybe I am needlessly waiting.
All in all, I really enjoy the game and look forward to what is to come.
EA Staff (Retired)