Forum Discussion

Re: Feedback: Shopping Cart Icon and main menu ads

I paid thousand in the game, why do i still have have ads ?? The welcome screen, and the atrocious flashing shopping cart button that won't shut the hell up.  Not buying anything until it's gone.

Is there plans to fix this ? If not, how do i get at least a partial refund for the now unplayable game ?? 

I just can't. Seeing this ** me off and I rage quit the game.

12 Replies

  • Sketch793's avatar
    Sketch793
    Seasoned Ace
    1 year ago

    You get ads because selling their products is how businesses make money and advertising generally increases sales. It only takes a moment to close the popup at the Main Menu, if you even get one, and it only takes a moment to click on the flashing shopping cart and then close that popup. As for the shopping cart not shutting up? I must have missed something because mine doesn't make any noise at all. 

    I do understand how you feel but advertising is just a fact of life. It's not going to go away because you don't like it. The only thing you can control is your reaction and frankly, I think you are overreacting. I'll continue to enjoy my game and just ignore the advertising, which is, after all, very easy to ignore.

  • EowynCarter's avatar
    EowynCarter
    Seasoned Ace
    1 year ago

    i PAID, and a lot, for the game. I was buying stuff before they disgusted me with ads, making the game unplayable. I’ve given them more than enough money to make the game sustainable.

    I don’t think ad free is a big ask when i’ve spent hundreds. Had I knew, i would have invested my money elsewhere; I’ve stop buying stuff when I had everything but a few kits before.

  • Coraychi's avatar
    Coraychi
    Seasoned Hotshot
    1 year ago
    @Sketch793 Yes, things won't change, because people continuously accept less than the bare minimum because "things won't change".

    And also, to say "which is, after all, very easy to ignore" when EA, The Sims Team, or whoever is in charge of these changes, is actively attempting to make it LESS easy to ignore, is silly.
  • EowynCarter's avatar
    EowynCarter
    Seasoned Ace
    1 year ago

    How is that easy to ignore. you're forced to open the pop up, then close it. I don't even know what pack was advertised because it make me so angry.  

    How to get rid of this ???  @EA_Cade are you still there ? Give us a sign please ! Give us hope our game will be playable again.

  • Sketch793's avatar
    Sketch793
    Seasoned Ace
    1 year ago

    No, you aren't forced to open the popup, although you are strongly encouraged. I find it easy to ignore a little yellow light on the top bar because I'm not usually even looking at the top bar unless I'm reading messages. The little message underneath the shopping cart (Decorez vos pieces...) is harder to ignore, so I usually open the popup if I get one of those.

    When I do choose to open the popup, I usually close it immediately by pressing ESC right after I click on the basket. Takes about 1 second.  After that, even the little yellow light is gone. The light doesn't come back until the next time I load the game from the desktop.

    As I said, it's very easy for me to ignore. It only takes me a few seconds, at most, each time I start from the desktop. I wish the loading screens were that short. 

  • EowynCarter's avatar
    EowynCarter
    Seasoned Ace
    1 year ago

    Even a minor annoyance is to much. I didn't pay hundreds to look at ads but to play, period. 

  • OzSimsFamily's avatar
    OzSimsFamily
    Seasoned Ace
    1 year ago

    @Sketch793   In your own words, you confirmed what simmers are saying… “it is harder to ignore, so I usually open the pop-up…”.

    Please do not belittle or ignore other simmers in the fashion that Corporate EA seems to be  showing themselves to be doing given the lack of response to the concerns raised about this issue.  While you may find this blinking light and shopping cart a trivial annoyance, for some simmers it causes anxiety and/or potential health issues.  Many people in the simming community suffer constantly with mental and/or physical issues (including myself).  


    Blinking or flickering lights are a recognised trigger for many issues including depression, hyper-vigilance, anxiety, migraines, seizures……….

    Please consider that by your actions and words belittling this issue, it feels, to me, as if you are belittling my ongoing struggles as well!

    This issue makes a hard daily struggle even harder as I had previous used Sims 4 as a recognised part of my therapy and I know that there are others in the simming community who used Sims as a means of controlling (or perhaps temporarily escaping) their reality.  My therapy group (and potentially other groups this psychology clinic deals with…) is now using different games and other methods.  


    {You may notice that I used a capital letter for the “identifying pronoun” Corporate… There are many “identifying pronoun” groups that I have a lot of respect for, participating and identifying with some myself while actively supporting others even though not identifying as such myself.  But Corporate is definitely a group I do not identify with nor do I have any respect for corporations that seem to put profit before people - which truly makes no sense because in most filing systems “e” comes before “r”. Humour to possibly ease some of the tension surrounding this issue???  There is no threat here, implied or otherwise, as I am merely stating my personal feelings about modern societal norms and emerging modes.  I am not belittling them as a Corporation, I am merely requesting that they consider the health and well-being of their customers ie the people of the gaming community who are enabling their corporation by purchasing the games they produce and please provide a response to the concerns raised about this issue.}

  • daikoyu's avatar
    daikoyu
    Seasoned Ace
    1 year ago

    I saw the messages too from the shopping cart. If you play offline the blinking and messages will stop but then you can’t use the gallery. Really frustrating that it still there and we don’t even get a toggle for it! (Maybe because most people would toggle it off. This shopping cart don’t bring any benefit, player still need to restart the game and download it)

  • Sparkiekong's avatar
    Sparkiekong
    Seasoned Hotshot
    1 year ago

    I shouldn't receive advertisements inside of my game. This isn't a mobile gacha. The point that I'm trying to make here is that I already OWN IT ALL. I don't need pop ups reminding me of things I already have! 

    My problem with the cart is that it reminds me of packs that I already own. The blinking or even a non-blinking light in the UI not only annoys me but it has moved the entire ui in that area around when I go up to the top right, I immediately get confused about if I'm going to the gallery or not. The lit up icon up there is an eyesore and there are many people who are neurodivergent and have problems with things like that. It may seem little importance to you, but it's a big deal for many. Even if it is just as easy as click it and get it done, I don't feel like I should have to do that. I've already bought everything, I shouldn't need the reminders. When something comes up that's new, sure, remind me... 

    My other problem is that now I'm getting these purple box pop up ads in the bottom right and it's again NOT necessary. I see ADS on the login and have clicked on them quite frequently to see what's coming up. I have NO problem with the ads on the login screen. I flat don't need them in the game which is now advertising to me three times in three spots at random intervals. It's horrible. I hate it. This game was a creative outlet and a way to tell stories and help me write and now I have no desire to even fire it up. All of this has killed my creativity and I'm looking for other avenues to satisfy what this game has taken from me by placing ads in it.

    I paid ALOT of money already to this game. I have never complained or been upset about any changes they have made over the years... but this is too far. I own everything they've put out since the beginning, even the not so great ones. If this is the turn this game series is taking. They won't receive anymore money from me. I will not buy anything more. I'm already upset. The gallery is a joke and is now over-protective about really common names and words being suddenly profanity and I won't go into that whole thing, but this ALL is really too much.

    I'm at my limit. These things need addressed today.

  • Ulfric_Grimbrand's avatar
    Ulfric_Grimbrand
    Seasoned Ace
    1 year ago

    I don't need, or want any more ads from EA, especially in game.  If I wanted those kits, I would have already bought them.  I already receive e-mails with new content for the Sims from EA, enough.

  • daikoyu's avatar
    daikoyu
    Seasoned Ace
    1 year ago

    Shopping Cart, daily rewards... so when comes the ingame shop which we can access via shopping cart? Can’t wait to get ads for this lovely chair and only need to pay 50 Simpoints for it or this lovely bed which cost only 100 Simpoints!

  • Sparkiekong's avatar
    Sparkiekong
    Seasoned Hotshot
    1 year ago

    This new update further confirms my decision of no longer buying these games. This latest update is a primer for in-game purchase models. I've seen this happen too many times in games now to be optimistic about it. This is how it starts.

    1. Game starts adverts on front page

    2. Game then gets adverts in game 

    3. Game adds a nifty - in game menu where you can do things in game for free points to buy things. "It's totally free and you don't have to buy anything!" 

    4. Game let's that happen for a few months to get us used to it and to stop complaining about it.

    5. Game adds in some things that are really hard to get points up for but are really cool to make you want to buy extra coins to speed up the process.

    6. Game adds in game purchases for coins because everything you do for free is just a coin or two less than what you need to get the coolest item.

    Welcome to your new Gacha... you didn't even know it happened. 

    No thanks. I'm done. This is exactly the wrong direction for me to enjoy this game. The ads aren't going away and they're only going to get worse. It's a shame because I really enjoyed Sims 4... it was a good avenue for inspiring my writing. I'm highly disappointed in this direction.

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