How much Online Multiplayer is enough?

Option 5: Multiplayer does not exist and i can actually enjoy my game without dumb restrictions and real humans bothering me

cause i just know making multiplayer would cut out all the romance and mischief due to trying to keep kiddos safe and untraumatized

+multiplayer games have tendency to become toxic creep hubs which i don't want sims to become

but maybe if i really try i could allow:

option 6: there is few "Meetup" lots or meetup world in the game that can be visited by all players by 1 sim of choice (if they want to)

and those lots can't be edited by anyone

and you can only send one sim at time and chat and do certain interactions and activities

+ it be restricted to avoid weird things like someone tryna woohoo your sim continuously or whatever and restricted so you can't use mods or cc on those lots cause it could break stuff

and maybe there could be like events or something

but otherwise game is 100% single player and no one can bother you

or well i guess there could be friends chat or something

just eh. I see neverending creep opportunities when it comes to multiplayers and id rather not go back to club penguin and habbo hotel world

but maybe thats just me p_p

I personally do not want a full, proper multiplayer component in The Sims franchise for fear of the harm that could come to single player. It is not easy, and some would argue impossible, to balance a game to equally be fun in both multiplayer and single player.

Further, multiplayer brings up the questions of:
1) online only game or mode,
2) anti cheat software and the availability of official cheating,
3) content filters (think forum banned words not allowed in the game) and dealing with griefers/harassment and children,
4) live service/microtransactions (multiplayer live services can be pricey to maintain and play, so how will it affect the monetization?),
5) servers (public only, private, or rented and how complicated is the set up?) and what is server versus client side,
6) content exclusive to single player versus multiplayer modes (one side can easily be or feel neglected and some things will not work well for both),
7) servicing the divided community (this issue is fairly complex, but even now play styles can divide the community fairly heavy handedly and adding a multiplayer mode, which would be practically a different game away, would divide it further; servicing both will be next to impossible with just in my experience items perfectly fine for certain playstyle ruin other playstyles and I cite the eternal PVE v. PVP debate for this alongside all the other single v. multi debates),
8) competition/PVP (do we want to, or even can we, avoid it?),
9) the amount of control a player has (your main question of scope, as well as the question of server admins/moderation) especially versus other players,
10) how will DLC and mods/CC work (does everyone need the same DLC and mods/cc to use it, just the host, or will it be available at all?)

I am sure I am missing more, and this doesn't even account for the fun and true form of the multiplayer mode. I have seen many games try to sit on the fence here and I cannot think of example off the top of my head where it doesn't show because everything has a trade off. For example, if I had to pick a multi design, I'd want it 100% client side/private server for player control. However, that also means EA will have next to no control over cheating and harassment.

Now, I have played a number of games with multiplayer and control is always my utmost important thing to have in regards to it (and if I don't, I could very well dislike the mode or game depending on how integral it is). Similarly, if you are looking for that MMO, GTA Online experience for your multiplayer, you'd probably hate this sort of form for a number of reasons.

This all being said, I am not against things like the gallery. I would consider that somewhat of an asynchronous multiplayer element. However, sharing a server with a stranger is the last thing I want (and the anti cheat software, online only requirements, game limitations, etc. that come with it).

No disrespect to those who do want multiplayer to come to the Sims, but I prefer Sims as a solo activity. :smile:

Oh darn I didn't see the no never ever option??
Lol so, if this ever was to become a thing I think a household sounds reasonable. If it's online I don't see the point to controlling anything bigger. But a single sim is too little imo

Never, Ever. :s

If Sims will ever be an online multiplayer game I won't be playing it anymore.

The day multiplayer comes to Sims is when I step away I have no interest in it whatsoever. Seriously does everyone not see the endless limitations we got stuck with because Sims 4 started as multiplayer.

I'd say this option. But, just saying, even though I'm not against online, if the online isn't optional, I'm going to stay on TS4 or TS2...

The mainline should never have a multiplayer component, because it would most likely come with restrictions even for offline single players and also siphon development money from the single player features.

However, if they made a spinoff that is only multiplayer (Sims Online 2 (or already 3?)), then this would be my prefered option. EAch player controls one neighborhood in a giant metropolis. We set out own local laws, festivals and souveniers that other players visiting us can enjoy. For souveniers I think at the very least a postcard collection that keeps growing with each player we visit.

I dont want to play with anyone. I dont want other people's sims interacting with my sims. I dont want to be forced to be online all the time. I dont want to be punished for choosing to play single player only. If TS5 is multiplayer only, I refuse to buy.