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Vyo4's avatar
Vyo4
Seasoned Veteran
2 years ago

Bowling Night IDEA: Arcade Lot Type for Base Game

Bowling is a family game. Child and Teens can bowl with the Bowling Night Stuff Pack.

The tile size of the Bowling Lane, 3x12, makes placing it on a community lot more ideal.

However, the functionality of Townie Sims spawning and autonomously interacting with the Bowling Lane is restricted to the Bar, Lounge or Night Club community lots. Unfortunately Child and Teen Sims don't spawn on these lots types, that'd be inappropriate, and these lot types are designed to be frequented by Sims aged Young Adult and older. Besides, who would invite a child to a Bar?

More family gameplay is always welcome. It would be fun to see kids from other Townie families come out and freely bowl at a more appropriate location than a Bar. It's a great chance for Sims to make friends and meet others their same age, especially when starting a new family or save file.

Because Bowling Night did not come with a Bowling Alley Lot Type, that limits solutions to the Base Game.

Lot Traits? The Teen Hangout lot trait does not spawn teens at the Bar, Lounge or Night Club.

Parks, Pools, and Libraries spawn ages Child+, but Sims don't autonomously Bowl on these lots, as these lots are not designated for that.

IDEA: Arcade or Game Zone Lot Type.


Child Sims and older will spawn and gravitate toward recreational games. This new lot type will grow with the introduction of new rec games in future DLC.

BASEGAME

  • Chess Table
  • Card/Gaming Table
  • Gaming Pad

REC GAMES Cross-Pack

  • Bowling, Bowling Night
  • Button-Masher 9001, Get Together
  • Dartboard, Get Together
  • Foosball, Get Together
  • Console, City Living
  • Ping Pong, Discover University
  • Horseshoe Pit, Outdoor Retreat
  • Sabacc, Journey To Batuu
  • Void Critter Battle Station, Kids Room
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8 Replies

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  • SheriGR's avatar
    SheriGR
    Hero
    2 years ago

    @Vyo4 I love this idea! An arcade (or similar) or similar lot type would be amazing! It would also be great if on this lot people could add a bowling alley (if they own that pack) if they like that would be useable to those that visit. It would be amazing if the Sims visiting this lot could play video games (on computers, or even via console/tv), and of course all of the gaming aspects you listed from all of the packs, if owned. If I'm dreaming here I would also love if I could own such a place as a business where I sell items or serve food... perhaps where they could just purchase food at a counter (somewhat similar to how you can at a bar now), and if it's owned as a business the sales from this food would be your income... perhaps even along with payments per use for certain games? And to push it a bit further, if this could be combined with a movie theater, if desired, how fun would that be?!

    Anyway, if any new lot type(s) could make these gaming aspects workable in the manners you mentioned for dates, teens, kids, etc., this would enhance the game to me as well! You have my "XP" and "Me Too"! 🙌

  • simsplayer818's avatar
    simsplayer818
    Hero
    2 years ago

    Added my Me Too! I make many lots like this and usually end up making them a bar to get foot traffic, but then have to add more things to meet the lot requirements.

    I did initially think that Generic would cover these types of lots but I get zero foot traffic on my Generic lots, even with social lot traits. My bowling alley was totally deserted until I made it a bar. My kids play castle was changed to a National Park because it has less restrictive lot requirements. I detest lot requirements, mostly because they don't carry over to different countries. In the UK we would never have chess tables, BBQs, tables and chairs in all of our parks for example. In the Sims by the time you've placed a roller rink on a little park it doesn't make sense to put chess tables around it. I did add one successfully to a retail lot (shopping mall) though and that does get busy. So I'm going to do the same for a new bowling alley.

    So a lot type like this is a great idea, I'd  like it with no lot requirements at all so we could make it just the way we'd like it to be and still get visitors.

  • Pick-a-boo_doo's avatar
    Pick-a-boo_doo
    Seasoned Veteran
    2 years ago
    I just bought the Bowling Night pack during the Black Friday Sale, so I read this post with great interest.
    The reason I bought this pack was because I wanted an entertainment facility where my Sims could socialize as a family friend.
    However, as I researched the contents of this pack, I found out that this was not possible, and I was a little disappointed.
    I fully support this proposal.
    A long time ago, bowling became popular in my country.
    I remember going out to the bowling alley with my family and having a great time.
    I want Sims to have that kind of fun family time and opportunities for family interaction too.
  • simsplayer818's avatar
    simsplayer818
    Hero
    2 years ago
    @Pick-a-boo_doo I did the same thing when I got the pack, it didn't work out as I'd hoped. But once I made the bowling alley a Bar, that worked. I do find that Sims suddenly stop bowling and just sit down randomly though. It also needs enough bowling lanes incase random Sims take over.
    I also recommend putting a basement bowling alley in a mansion and then having your Sims use it at home. If I have wealthy or celebrity Sims I often add a home entertainment setup and because the bowling lanes take up so much space the basement is a good option.
  • Pick-a-boo_doo's avatar
    Pick-a-boo_doo
    Seasoned Veteran
    2 years ago
    @simsplayer818
    Hi there
    Thanks for the suggestion.
    While researching this pack, I found a Simmer's play blog that said the same thing happened. In the blog, that Simmer apparently used the Get Together pack's "club" system to attract people to bowling alleys.
    Considering improving the Bowling skill, it would be better to set up a bowling lane in the own Lot. However, I wanted to set it up as an "entertainment facility that can be used by families."
    That's why I totally agree with this post about wanting the lot trait that allows under Young Adult age to use the bowling alley.
    I'd like to create a place where Sims can gather in the lot and interact with Sims of a wide range of age groups, even if they don't use the club system.
    This pack is still disabled. This is because lately I've been playing the systems of the owned packs individually, and I'm currently playing the stories of other systems.
    When I finish the story I'm currently playing and play the Bowling Night pack, I'm hoping to see what's suggested in this thread come true.
  • simsplayer818's avatar
    simsplayer818
    Hero
    2 years ago
    @Pick-a-boo_doo I absolutely agree with you. I tried a club too, but the problem I had was that it was deserted except for the club. It was so weird having no other Sims there. But when I changed it to Bar, others Sims arrived.
    So it would be great to have a lot type specifically for this kind of activity.
  • Vyo4's avatar
    Vyo4
    Seasoned Veteran
    2 years ago

    Bumping this thread with another solution idea to help make a working community lot Bowling Alley spawn Child & Teen Sims and accommodate more family gameplay.

    IDEA Lot Trait: Family Friendly

    Since the Bowling Lane works as designed on only Adult-themed Community Lot Types (Bar, Lounge, Nightclub), where Townie Sims will autonomously bowl without being prompted, I'd like to suggest creating a new Base Game lot trait: Family Friendly.

    Lots with the Family Friendly trait will

    • Spawn Sims aged Child+
    • Transform the Bar object into a Concession Stand
      • Serve Bar Food
      • Serve Water
      • Serve Soda
      • Disable Mixology drinks

    However this solution doesn't address the weirdness of Child-aged Sims spawning at a Bar or Nightclub, but it does offer a quick-fix solution that works with existing Lots without the need to create a brand new Lot Type.

    Either solution offered in this thread may help achieve the primary goal: Spawning Child & Teen Sims on a Community Lot where they will autonomously bowl on the Bowling Lane object.

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