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ajusticeus's avatar
ajusticeus
Rising Scout
4 months ago

Transforming The Sims: From Virtual Playground to Profitable Marketplace

I believe that video games can be more than what they currently are. I wrote a blog about this subject and I believe the Sims could be the first game to implement the New World. I am so glad to see so many Simmers out there, vibing with the game. If I could play this game all day, I would.

Imagine stepping into a vibrant digital marketplace where Simmers can effortlessly trade their unique digital creations, from whimsical furniture to stunning architectural marvels, all while forging connections with fellow gamers from around the globe. This is not just a fantasy; it’s a transformative vision for the future of gaming that extend beyond mere entertainment, where players can unlock new income opportunities while immersing themselves in the enchanting world of The Sims. Picture a bustling bazaar filled with custom furniture, stylish outfits, and rare collectibles—all crafted by the creative minds of fellow players. A world where your passion for building dream homes and designing lavish lifestyles can be monetized, empowering you to turn your gaming adventures into a legitimate source of income. With each trade, Simmers would not only exchange digital treasures but also share ideas and inspiration, enhance their gameplay experience, and foster a thriving community that celebrates creativity and entrepreneurship. This integration of commerce within the gaming universe could redefine the very fabric of how we perceive work and leisure, blending them seamlessly into a singular experience. It will create a vibrant ecosystem that could foster collaboration and innovation, allowing players to showcase their talents and creativity in a way that truly reflects their individuality.

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I believe the Sims could pull it off. I would love to get your input, What do y'all think?

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  • logionX's avatar
    logionX
    Seasoned Hotshot
    4 months ago

    That sounds a bit like Roblox to me, something that EA have said that they would like the next sims game to strive towards. Something like a digital marketplace or a way for people to provide EA with content that they can make money off.

    I am pretty much against this whole idea because I have seen plenty of people trying this model and failing. The chase for the "next big thing" is something that we have seen with many games that have failed because they spent millions building a game that no one wanted to use. For example Bethesda and their paid mods in their games. The community disliked the whole idea of having to pay for mods, mod creators that provided content to the platform where not met with positive feedback. The content itself was poorly made and overpriced. Rockstar Games made great open-world games until they discovered the profitability with GTA Online where they could just make a few cars and offer players way to bypass grinding the game for money by buying shark cards. Why bother spending money on developing a game when it could just be a digital marketplace?

    So I don't believe in this business model, I think it will reduce development for The Sims and instead they will focus on making money off content that they themselves or other people are making.

    The Sims have survived for all these years because of the escapism, creativity, free content like cc and mods, and the support from the community and EA's support in the form of new developed content and bug fixes.

    It should not be a digital marketplace.

    • ajusticeus's avatar
      ajusticeus
      Rising Scout
      4 months ago

      Thanks for your input! Great point about GTA, and those shark cards became ridiculous. The only one to benefit from that relationship was Rockstar and not the players themselves. I just wonder how big is this digital world going to become and how video games will play a major role. I appreciate your response, good convo!

  • amapola76's avatar
    amapola76
    Seasoned Hotshot
    4 months ago

    This idea is a hard no for me... and moreover, I am a bit suspicious about the motives/goals of the post, particularly the continued push in the face of universal distaste for the idea by someone who appears to be a new/unknown forum member. OP seems to have some personal monetization scheme in mind, and continuing to push that seems to me to fly in the face of the spirit of the forum rules, at least.

    • ajusticeus's avatar
      ajusticeus
      Rising Scout
      4 months ago

      Bad taste my friend. This is an open forum, and discussions are the point. I wanted to spark some conversation from my fellow Simmers. So whatever conspiracy you are implying is bad taste. You don’t have to speak negatively. If you don’t agree, you don’t agree. No need for names. Great way to use slang though. 

      • amapola76's avatar
        amapola76
        Seasoned Hotshot
        4 months ago

        Slang??

        Anyway... you joined the forum just six days ago, you have only 34 posts, and the vast majority of them are in this thread, that you started four days ago, which is about monetization of the game. A little suspicion is hardly unwarranted. 

        Also, I didn't call you "names," other than referring to you as OP, which just means that you are the Original Poster (i.e., you started this thread). That's not a pejorative, it's a fact: you originated this post. 🙄

  • charmednmissouri's avatar
    charmednmissouri
    Seasoned Veteran
    4 months ago

    Having at one time created CC for the Sims 1, it became a job and took away from my game. I thoroughly enjoy just playing the game. So this would be a big ol NOPE for me. But good luck with it. 

    • ajusticeus's avatar
      ajusticeus
      Rising Scout
      4 months ago

      I hear you! What type of content were you creating? Lots? Were you constantly creating and not playing in your creations? Thanks for your input! 

      • charmednmissouri's avatar
        charmednmissouri
        Seasoned Veteran
        4 months ago

        Lots?  Ha ha, that's the one thing we didn't create! We created clothing, makeup, skins, cc sets that included furniture, wallpapers, flooring, etc. And yes, we did play our games and with our content. BTW, we charged NOTHING for it.  We were active members in several online forums, participating in challenges  right along with everyone else. Oh yes, I also taught special education at our local school and had a child who had been diagnosed as severely autistic. I actually got into the game to use it as a teaching tool to teach my son life skills. So I do have an idea of what I am talking about. I know that the Sims have come a LONG way since the early 2000's but I do believe one thing...don't make our game into something that becomes nothing more than a way for SOMEONE to make a dollar.  In my life, my son never took to the game, but I LOVED it and it became a way for me to relax. I didn't have to worry about a timer or trying to beat the clock to get to the next level. It became my THERAPY for many, many years. And often, I just designed houses. But it was relaxing. My husband often found me asleep with my laptop in my lap, after sitting down with the game to unwind, after my VERY stressful days at work, that didn't end when I came home.  My second job began with caring for my son when I walked in my door. Now that I have retired last year, it is still one on my ways to relax. I just can't see what you are envisioning working for our game. Maybe the next version of it. But I hope not.

         

    • ajusticeus's avatar
      ajusticeus
      Rising Scout
      4 months ago

      That whole NFT debacle in my opinion provided no value. What is the value in a monkey face? I think people spend a lot of time making creations in Sims that someone might want to purchase. I see the mods and creations that are already there for free. I just think video games will be a viable career option for people in the future. I see people don’t want sometimers in their game. I still believe it can be optional like playing online or offline.

  • BissenNess's avatar
    BissenNess
    Seasoned Hotshot
    4 months ago

    I'm neither a cc creator, nor a heavy cc user, so I'm not particularly excited about this. I would be okay if they added a marketplace to Sims if it was a world ("Blue Water Village Market"?) that appeared in manage worlds if you were playing while connected to the internet. Those who have no interest could stick to the other worlds and ignore that option. Those who wanted to check out the products could click on that world and connect to an online environment where they could click on stores, allowing you to search for product types or seller, and then load into a shop. There could also be a runway you could visit, where they would cycle through different creators' clothes, and a furniture gallery where they have show rooms by creator. 

    Maybe, instead of trading in real money, selling CC could be an in-game career, and the other simmers have to pay out of their sim's funds to have something added to their game, and the vendor sim takes home the money.

     

    • ajusticeus's avatar
      ajusticeus
      Rising Scout
      4 months ago

      There we go! That is what I am talking about! It would be interesting in my opinion to see what could be created. Can you imagine, your Sims rocking a digital version of some fresh sneakers? Or some fresh outfits that resemble a fit from your closet? I haven’t seen that yet. It doesn’t have to be forced and like I stated optional. The Sims is about options and customization for every player. I believe there is no need for limitations when it comes to Sims. I used the metaverse example because it’s wide open and I believe the Sims is already open to an extent for creativity. Thanks for your insight! Good Convo!

      • Miataplay's avatar
        Miataplay
        Seasoned Ace
        4 months ago

         We don't want to go there ... 🙂

        I'll create my own cc if it comes to this. 

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