I understand what romantic interests are and actually like how it is included in the game. But I can see the older audience wanting a gameplay feature without strings attached to resemble a different kind of relationship in the real world. However, this is a Teen rated game, not a M rated one where gameplay elements can definitely get even more mature. Personally, I do think the majority of Sim fans are older/mature now so I don't see the big deal with trying a more realistic and mature life simulator. Did you know that TS3 age demographic is between 16-24? And is why the game comes off as the most mature in the series.
TS2 sold 1 million copies in 10 days while TS3 sold 1.4 million copies in 7 days. Those statistics mean something because clearly it shows who is the majority of the fanbase who supported TS3. Curious as how one would think TS4 could top that when they go and target teenage girls (what I read I think) and by the way that's really weird when TS/TS2/TS3 has been for teen and up for males and females. Talk about losing focus. The proof of the pudding is in the eating.
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/the-sims-3-john-buchanan
https://www.cnet.com/news/sims-3-sets-franchise-sales-record/
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/the-sims-2-sells-a-million-smashes-ea-records
The thing about emotions in TS3 is that some completely miss out on all the subtle cues of the A.I. The human-like emotions on a deeper meaning are there but only the observant will see it. The Sims themselves are the most improved and advanced, A.I. wise, I've ever witnessed and yes I played TS and TS2 which are two of most best video games of all time to me.
https://www.gdcvault.com/play/1012450/Modeling-Individual-Personalities-in-The
https://aliceandkev.wordpress.com/
http://intrinsicalgorithm.com/IAonAI/2009/10/aiide-2009-ai-challenges-in-sims-3-richard-evans/
