"Mikezumi;c-17066114" wrote:
My preference is for realism so my suggestions might not be of use to you. I do use OneEuromutt's Default replacement hair retextures for base and EP hairs but, because I rarely use EA hair, can't say how much difference they make.
https://oneeuromutt.tumblr.com/post/117193493186/sims-3-base-game-hair-retexture-replacement-no-hq
For me, it's more of an overall aesthetic. When I'm playing Sims 3, the way sims and the environment are animated, I definitely prefer to have a more realistic look. Whereas when I'm playing Sims 4, the animations and environment complement the slightly cartoonish (I'd actually describe it as more anime/comic book-esque tbh) skins, hair and clothing.
I'd honestly say that Sims 3 feels like it was graphically indecisive when it comes to EA default. Some EA default clothing items look more detailed and appealing than others, some parts of the sims have more detail than others, the hair texture looks like it's trying to be realistic but the styles make no sense. Like they couldn't decide what kind of style they were going for. Whereas with Sims 4, the EA default style, while not realistic, is at least artistically cohesive throughout the game.
(in my head I'm picturing this scenario:
Sims 3
EA: Okay, we're giving each of you a body part to design. You people over there in that general direction, make us some hairstyles. And the rest of you in the back corner, make some clothing items.
Random person in corner: But I'm the janitor.
EA: Eh, you'll figure it out.
Graphic Artists: *each designs parts based on personal style and preference*
EA: Now we put it all together.
Graphic Artists: Something seems a little off about this.
EA: It's fine. We spent the rest of the budget on gameplay.
Sims 4
Graphic Artist #1: So I made these sets of clothing and checked with Cathy and Dexter over there working on pants and underwear to make sure we're all on the same page and using a similar set of base textures for denim, silk, cotton, etc.
EA: Good, good. Make sure to check what each style with the base sim design we've got set up just to make sure they all look okay together, touch up if needed.
Graphic Artist # 2: I made a few hair styles I added a bit of personal touch to these 3, what do you think?
EA: Those 3 look really nice, but I think we need to tone this down here it doesn't really match the default skin. And Brenda, for the last time, this makeup looks ridiculous on our base male, please do it over and use the textures we told you to!
Game Tester: So I was playing with this new feature and my sims started doing this really annoying thing whe-
EA: *interrupts* Not now Chad, we're making art over here. Take it to programming.
Programmer: Bug?
Game Tester: Yea. It's really-
Programmer: Fill out a form an put it in the bug bin. *points to giant stack of papers*)