Frequent Issues Within My Game

@HazelBoo968   Welcome to a wonderful source of information, insight and inspiration for all things Sims 4.

Many of your issues are ones that other simmers have discussed as well and if you explore the forum you may find that other simmers have created or discovered work-arounds for some of the issues you face in your game.

”eating meals” as a group is currently virtually impossible in Sims 4.  It becomes so frustrating watching and trying to manage this issue.  I have even resorted to calling all my sims to the room, then locking the doors before “calling to meal”.  I know… restrictive practices…  Even then they don’t stay seated as a group eating their meal… they will get up and wander to another section of the room and start reading a book while intermittently eating their meal… or two will get up from the table and start chatting in another section of the room .  Some will just plough through the meal, ignoring everyone else and then start working on homework when they finish eating???  I would just like my sims to sit and talk with each other having a pleasant family and/or friends and/or romantic meal.  Thank goodness for the sanity saving mods that can be found on Curse Forge.

”pets wants and needs” This is another potentially frustrating issue in the game as are all the sick and hungry strays.  I now usually assign different animal care “chores” to the children, teens and adults (young to elder) from the family bulletin board (parenthood pack), although I can’t remember if those bulletin board chores are from a mod.  There is also a mod to help with the sick and stray animals, as well as some for your pets and animals needs…

”npc house manners”. It is possible to lock the computer to various levels in the computer security settings ie lock for everyone, lock for everyone except the active sim, lock for everyone except household…. Otherwise you could have a small separate study/hobby room with a door that you lock for everyone except household. I get annoyed when they come in and start making meals or cakes or herbalism potions… and the way I get around this is to lock the kitchen door to everyone but the household, and I keep the BBQ (grill) in my inventory or locked in a “shed” until I need it for my story.  Then it comes out and needs to be cleaned before use as we would IRL when we store it away in the garden shed or garage…

”bad relationships”. Fully agree.  There are varying levels of relationship between exes and it would be nice to have a toggle or slider as part of the breakup scenario to adjust these relationships ie best friends to enemy with benefits… I have many friends who are separated or divorced and each relationship has a different dynamic - one family friend group has mum and dad both living in the family home but in separate areas and they and their kids have developed a unique lifestyle with dad about to marry again and build a new extension on the family home for him and his new wife and maybe? more children.

”dramatic emotions”. The excessive cartoonish mannerisms etc is what makes Sims 4 different from other Sims.  Personally, I agree with you in not liking it so I tend to use only the moderate traits instead of the overdone ones like hot-headed, high maintenance, mean…. If you prefer more realistic gameplay, maybe try a different iteration of Sims (1, 2 and 3 have some fabulous gameplay and unique gameplay in each that you will find being requested to be added to sims 4 by simmers in other posts.  You will also find that each iteration also has its own issues)

”CAS outfits categories”  Agree with all that you have said.  I would love if I could have a favourite tab in CAS (and in BB) for the things I use regularly.  If you click on the arrow above each of the icons, you will be able to click on the 1 through to 5 to create additional outfits for each category.  I usually give my sims 5 everyday outfits ranging in style and seasonal needs; then multiple formal ranging from black tie, black and white, to less formal with different hair, make-up and accessories to match; for party I have a couple of outfits and usually at least one costume for the san myshuno geekcon festival and one for Halloween (added via calendar); swimwear I usually have swimming, poolside party, sun protection and diving outfits… CAS takes me a long time to create each of my sims.  Have fun with this feature.

”lag” can be very frustrating not to be expected as it is Sims 4 and was developed supposedly “for easier access to a wider range of computer systems”.  But given how old the game is and how many expansions are available, it is not surprising that there are issues.

”broken expansion packs” seem to have become synonymous with Sims 4 pack releases unfortunately.  When conversing on other gamer forums, the letters “ea” usually are taken to mean early access???

I have to agree with you about all the upcoming new life simulations.  I am particularly excited about Life By You, Inzoi and Paralives, although there are others I am watching and others that I have started playing now.  My children and grandchildren are very excited about Inzoi and Life ByYou and one is playing another game.  Looks like future-me will be spending even more time playing computer games but playing a wider variety of games so I can play the different games with different children/grandchildren.

I have been a simmer since it first started. I remember the excitement and a touch of fear when I finally brought it home and then first started loading The Sims. Retro music tracks from previous sims iterations bring back so many happy (and sometimes scary) memories.  As a family, we have many fond memories of multi-generational family playtime with Sims from my parents (now deceased) through to my grandchildren. As a family, we currently do tend to play previous iterations rather than Sims 4.  

Thank you @HazelBoo968  for taking the time to list your concerns.  While agreeing with you, my response has still brought many happy memories.  Here’s to many more years of happy simming…