More Illness/Disabilities/Birth Defects?

"Bettyboop55;c-17071668" wrote:
Hello @stilljustme2 :) I had real difficulty remembering what the consequences were for a neglected pregnancy in TS2 but I think you are right about the predetermined trait and the child/teenager penalty for a poor toddler taming phase. Will Wright intended us to understand there would be consequences. I also remember that illness was more of a serious matter then. I had a teenager with flu and no matter what I did I still lost her.

In TS3 we have retained the predetermined trait. I would prefer to do without it and don't necessarily think it will translate well to TS4. I do like the idea of having certain foods, drinks and actions having an impact on the future sims likes and dislikes. I am not sure the emotion/trait system in TS4 is flexible enough to deal with that though or indeed mental illness. I think such deep dark issues as birth defects etc should be left for a darker version of the game. There is no way it can be lightly dismissed as amusing in the current franchise.

As I keep saying the time is not right for EA to introduce disability to the sims franchise. Your point about waiting for the ubiquitous TS5 is a good one and would fit better. If the intention is to build disability into the new game right from the start it can be in a way and at a level which is acceptable to all players. I would expect there to be on off toggle for those of us who want to escape and play with witches and fairies :)

Finally I agree the aging process in the sims is poorly portrayed and the use of walking sticks and wheelchairs should be a recognised part of the portrayal, along, sadly, with the more mental deterioration at that age.

@MadameLee representation of disability in the sims franchise should include mental illness. It is as much a factor of everyday life as walking with a walking stick. Now that Grant has been replaced things might change about using the trait system but I can't help agreeing with him that a mental illness trait does not sit well in the current trait system and rather trivializes a very serious subject. There is also the issue of how to portray those disabilities which do not have such obvious indicators such as wheelchairs, diabetes, epilepsy, sight impairment. Perhaps if EA waits to include these things in the next iteration then it can all be represented in a way which allows us all to enjoy playing and does not trivialise or cause offence. I want to see a more inclusive game but I want it done properly, with care and consideration.