PLEASE HELP IM NEW TO SIMS 4

@Moonlight_Love12, like @crinrict stated it seems like for now at least you will have to go with playing The Sims Mobile.  But in the event you ever get a computer that can handle a game like The SIms, here is a bit more info (in addition to what @SheriGR stated):

First off I found the Sims 4 base game to be fun by itself, and this was back before EA added swimming pools, ghosts, toddlers, etc.! 😎   However, some people found playing with only the base game to be a bit bland.  That said, I wouldn’t want to only play with the base game for the past 4 years, so of course I eventually go all of the packs that EA offers for The Sims 4! 😉  I’m kind of a “more is more” type of person. 😳  But there are many people who only play with the base game.  They are probably the type of people who believe “less is more”. 😃

Also keep in mind that Stuff Packs (SPs) have mostly clothing, hair, furniture, and building items with one or two items that offer new gameplay.  SPs are the least expensive because they are the smallest packs and don’t offer a lot of new gameplay.  Next there are Game Packs (GPs) that offer more items than SPs and a lot more new gameplay!  Finally there are the Expansion Packs (Eps) that offer the most items and a lot more gameplay than the other two type of packs!  They are the most expensive, but you get the most out of them.  When I didn’t have most of the packs, I concentrated on EPs and GPs because they offer the most bang for your buck, and change the game the most! 

When buying packs for the Sims, it helps to think about what you want out of the game. A realistic player will probably love the Laundry Day SP while a fantasy player will probably prefer the Vampires GP.  Then there are some packs which work perfectly with both styles of play, like the Get to Work EP (work is realistic, but this pack also brings Aliens to the game for those fantasy players!).  I prefer playing with families, so the Toddler Stuff SP and the Parenting GP are must-haves, while a person who prefers to play only with single Sims or couples without children will probably prefer Luxury Party SP, Jungle Adventure GP, or Get Together EP.

When on a budget, it is best to do a little research  The official Sims 4 site is a good place to go in order to see what items/gameplay each pack offers.  You can also visit the official TS4 forums and see what other players liked and disliked about each pack.  Another good place to go for information is the “Carl’s Sims 4 Guide” site. (Just Google it.) Finally I find it really helpful to view “Let’s Play videos on YouTube, or the Developers’ Livestreams and the new Gurus’ Garage  (both are on the Twitch TV site!)  These will let you see either a certain pack in action, or let you see elements of certain packs as they are in the game!

I realize that you can’t afford a PC right now and therefore The Sims 4 is not an option for you at this time.  But you might be able to afford a PC in the future! 😇 I hope this is the case! 🤞

Finally I have played the original The Sims, The Sims 2, The Sims 3, & The Sims 4.  Some people prefer TS3 while others prefer TS4.  (I actually love all four versions, but I think my favorite was TS2! ❤️ The graphics of TS2 wouldn’t hold up today, but I think it had the most fun gameplay! 🥳 )  I don’t know which one you would prefer, but I will say that if you can’t afford a higher-end computer, I would go with TS4 over TS3!  While TS4’s graphics are the best, it actually plays better on most computers than TS3 does. 🤨 This is because TS3 had an open world.  This was a fun idea, but would tax lesser computers so that they would either play really slow and choppy, or usually grind to a halt! 😮😢 The color/patter wheel would also slow down the game incredibly if you had a bunch of patterns saved in it (which of course I did, since I was addicted to the CASt color/pattern wheel! 😃 This along with the open world made my game almost unplayable. 😞  It would take about 45 minutes just to load the game, and then when the game finally loaded, it would stop every couple of minutes and I would have to wait for it to catch up.  I filled this time reading many, many large books!  I love to read, but I got more reading done “playing The Sims 3” than I did when I actually set aside time to just read!!! 🤨😃🤭  Of course people with really great computers didn’t have these problems, and if you can afford a great gaming computer than TS3 is an option for you.  (Some people even play both of them! 😎 )  The Sims 4 isn’t as taxing on computers since it has little neighborhoods in each town that are semi-open, but when traveling to another neighborhood in a town you will have a loading screen.  I find the many short loading screens way more preferable to a 45 min. loading screen at the beginning of the game, but other people might not.  Also there is not a color/pattern wheel in TS4.  This wheel was my favorite thing about TS3, but like I stated before, it slowed down my game incredibly!  Every time I opened CAS or went into Buy/Build Mode it would take another 30 min for that to load!  This was in large part my fault since I couldn’t stop saving patterns and color combinations. 😳 I was obsessed! 😃:eahigh_file:

I hope you are happy with whatever version of the Sims you can afford!  Please feel free to update us on what happens!  Best of luck and Happy Simming! 🥳

@PugLove888 thank you for the detailed reply 😃 For sims mobile, am i able to download it on an acer tablet? 😮😮 (I found out i cant get that laptop bc its now sold out 😭) 

Wait sorry does Sims 4 base game have those stuff you mentioned (swimming pools, ghosts, toddlers, etc) or is it some sort of expansion pack? 😅😜

Are there expansion packs in Sims Mobile? Apperently its free? Maybe? I dont know 😯 (is that true? 😮) 

Thank you so much for explaining what SPs, GPs and EPs are. (This game seems more complex to me 😅😅)

Are (SPs), (GPs), and (EPs) available on Sims Mobile? 😮 Yeahh im more of a realistic player - I did see laundry day as well as (I forget the name) but it was something about opening a business like a restourant and job opportunities. Does the base game have job opportunities or do i gotta get some sort of pack? Same here, I like the family stuff. I watch youtubers play that and it seems fun 😃

Thank you for giving me those links ill check them out later in the morning 😄😄🙌🙏

Thank you again for helping me 😇😇 And i will update 😃😃😃😃😃

@Moonlight_Love12, you're welcome! 🙂  I'm sorry the laptop you wanted is sold out! 😢  I hate when that happens! 

Yes, the Sims 4 base game has swimming pools, ghosts and toddlers!  But it did not have any of those when it first came out. ☹️  EA added them later for free, in a game patch! :eahigh_file:  So, all those were free and for anybody who gets the game now will have those in their game from the start! 😉

@SheriGRdescribed the Sims 4 as a dollhouse on steroids (I love this description! ❤️:eahigh_file: ) Well if that is true, then I would say The Sims Mobile is a dollhouse on coffee! 😃 

The Sims Mobile (as with all mobile games, especially free ones) is a less detailed version of the Sims.   That is just the nature of mobile games -- they are usually geared more toward a casual gamer, while PC and console games (like on PS2 or Xbox) are usually geared more for someone who really likes gaming! (Not that there aren't some casual gamers on consoles or PCs, and not that there aren't' serious gamers who play mobile games -- its just that if you are going to spend more than $5.00 to get a game, you are probably going to dedicate a lot more time playing it than a game you can just play on your phone while waiting in the doctor's office or on the bus, etc. 😃

I am not the most tech savvy person (I usually help people here with gameplay questions), but the Sims mobile is made to play on smart phones and tablets! :eahigh_file: (The Sims 4 however is not! ☹️ )  So, that means that it would shock me if you couldn't play the Sims Mobile on the tablet you are considering getting!  However, if your tablet or smart phone has so many apps on it or has its storage pretty full in other ways, then you might have difficulty playing the Sims Mobile.  My phone is so full right now that I can't even download it! 😳 I would have to erase other stuff on my phone first!  🤭  I don't know if you have a smart phone, or if you do how full its storage is, but if you don't have a lot of stuff on your phone already, then you should be fine. 🥳  In that case you wouldn't even need to buy a tablet.😉  But if your phone is full (or you don't have one) then you would need to buy the tablet.

Also, in order to play Sims Mobile, you will need to have a "persistent Internet connection".  So if you don't have one in your home, you will have to play the game in a place like the library, or coffee shop, restaurant, etc. 🤨

And while the Sims Mobile is free to play, it does offer in-game purchases.  Most mobile games are set up this way.  Those purchases aren't necessary in order to play the game, but they often are items that people really want.  If you are tight on money then I would resist the temptation to buy in-game purchases, at least until you have enough money to purchase them.  Also, if you are under 18, your parents might have to buy them for you.  These purchases aren't really "expansion packs", but could sort of be viewed as a kind of mini-expansion.  The difference being that these type of purchases usually only offer one item, while an actual expansion offers many items or abilities. 😉 So you don't have to worry about EPs, GPs, or SPs with the Sims Mobile …. you would only have to consider in-game purchases.

As for your other question about job opportunities in The Sims 4 base game, most jobs give you an opportunity for a raise along with other items that you can only get if you unlock it by getting promoted! 😎 (Well you can also use a cheat to gain access to those locked items, but that is a different story! 😃) You wouldn't need a pack for to get those promotion benefits.  But if you want to own a restaurant, retail store, or vet clinic, then you would need an expansion pack that corresponds to those.  

I hope I explained this well enough! 😳  I also hope you enjoy what ever you end up getting! 🥳

@PugLove888 Its okay i spent time researching more and I found this laptop. Its out of my budget but I talked to my mom and she said its okay because its a decent price. 

The laptop is called "HP 15.6" Laptop - Jet Black (AMD Dual-Core E2-9000e/500GB HDD/4GB RAM/Windows 10)" Im planning on picking it up at Bestbuy today. Do u think I could play Sims 4 on that or Sims Mobile? (is it possible to play sims mobile on a laptop?) 😮 My mom said to not get the tablet even if its in my budget because it wont benefit me later on. 

This is the link of that laptop; 

https://m.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/hp-15-6-laptop-jet-black-amd-dual-core-e2-9000e-500gb-hdd-4gb-ram-windows-10/12554075

I cant play Sims Mobile on my phone because my device isnt compatiable. 🤨

Even if it was compatiable i doubt ill be able to download it bc i got low storage. 

Ikr! That comment @SheriGR left was so funny :eahigh_file: :eahigh_file:

Ypu seem like a tech savvy person 🤓 but thank you for spending your time to answer my questions 🥳 

I might just start with Sims Mobile first to see if i like it and if i do ill go to Sims 4. But is it possible to have it on a laptop? Its strange i know but my phome isnt compatiable and the laptop maybe? 😮😣

@PugLove888 Its okay but i did find something else. This laptop is definately out of my budget but I talked to my mom and she said its a decent price. 

Im planning on picking it up today at Bestbuy. This is the link to the laptop: 

https://m.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/hp-15-6-laptop-jet-black-amd-dual-core-e2-9000e-500gb-hdd-4gb-ram-windows-10/12554075

Is that laptop good for Sims 4? Can i play Sims Mobile on it too? Its weird i know but i feel like i should give sims mobile a try before i step into sims 4. My phone isnt compatiable for Sims Mobile and even if it was i barely fot any space on my phone 😢😢😢 So u cant play it offline? 😮😮

Oooo you seem like a techy person but thanm tou again for answering all of my questions 🙏🙌🙏🙌😇😇

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@Moonlight_Love12 wrote:

@SheriGR Ooo okay yeahh i just read your other post thank you so much for explaining to me about tha

What expansion pack is the best and is there like an expansion pack that linda bundles some together (idk if that is possible? 😮😮) 

Expansion packs are free on the sims mobile? 😮 Do u just use the simeloens for those expansion packs? 😮

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(Update note:  Sorry @PugLove888  I didn't see your awesome replies before I posted this - darn refresh - but I think that it mostly compliments rather than overlaps the info you shared? I apologize for any repeated information, as you stated great info that would need no clarification!)
 
I'm sorry... as I said, I have had limited exposure to the mobile/free version, and I'm not sure which expansions are available for it and what they include.

IF you were to get The Sims 4 for a laptop (one that is capable of running it), and you are asking which expansion I would recommend to get first (before other expansions, as you have to get the base game  The Sims 4  before you can 'expand' it with an expansion pack, per my previous note...), this is my order/opinion on that:

Very hard to choose. For me, if I had to add one at a time again for the ones I have I would go this order:

#1 ― Seasons Very cool, lots of features added, and it made gardening and flower-arranging for a career interesting and a nice combination for my retail stores in 'Get To Work'. If you don't have 'get to Work', you can still work in the career and build the skill and sell arrangements - which can be pricy with certain high quality flowers from your garden.) I've had a lot of fun with the features of this pack... and it is WAY cool to see it snow and cover their world...) There are a lot of challenging parts that are a cool switch-up in your worlds.
#2 ― Get To Work (I would combine with the 'Dine Out' pack so you can do restaurants also...) This pack allows you to build, purchase and run retail stores, and I use it a lot. ( You can also own & run restaurants if you add the 'Dine Out' pack. The restaurants are less profitable to my Sims for the time and effort spent, but are really a great challenge and fun. ) The stores (retail) are my favorite if used to sell their wares. You get a pretty nice profit if you sell high quality skilled items your Sims make (or grow). My Sim households who do this as a large household working and running the store as a group are both millionaires now. They do work hard and rotate managing/cooking for the store, etc., but it is a fun, great challenge. Just scale back to make it less work. Still... potential for great money!
#3 ― City Living I enjoy this 'world' as an option for visiting or living in. I've always had my Sims in one of the penthouses or the 'Old Salt House' so they are not throwing away the rent money and because you avoid a lot of the hassles that apparently come with their apartment life.
#4 ― Cats & Dogs I just started using my 'Cats & Dogs' world and features... I'm enjoying it, but the dogs can be a bit of a handful, especially at first —  a bit like having a toddler. The dogs I have are adorable, but somewhat needy. I highly recommend a doggie door and fenced in yard. They love swimming in the pool, too! There is also an annoying bug currently where I cannot hire a gardener, which is a near deal-breaker since I have a (valuable) greenhouse and want backup for if my Sims. I added 'Patchy' for help, though. (Scarecrow — I think from the Seasons pack, and if you are his friend and chat with him he helps in the garden, and even picks up in the house some). It is pretty cool, though, if you love pets &/or cuteness. 
#5 ― Get Together As far as I'm aware of, I don't use these features as much as I thought I would... but I may be using more than I realize. I tend to make very involved and large households that are already a handful, and external social gathering options are of less interest to me, but that is my game style. If you love social gatherings that doo not include your own or other created households, I would move it up on the list above 'City Living'. Some of my favorite 'build-mode' items came with this.

Oh, and yes, they do offer some as bundles. Check the website, Amazon, etc., for those.

Enjoy your new virtual adventures!  🙂

@SheriGR @PugLove888 I just got ny laptop today and its nice! (its kinda laggy a bit so im a little unsure about it but i got 30days before the return policy expires so ill give it a few more days to test it out). 

I went on origins and tried the demo and it was fun and i wanted to play more :eahigh_file: 😢 💔

I tried to download the Sims Mobile Game but it turned out to be a bust. I searched online on how to download it. Apperently you need a program called "BlueStacks" in order to play Andriod apps on ur PC. I downloaded that (it took forever omg 😢 😞 

After getting it installed it asked me to download the Sims Mobile and it turned out to be an apk file. The video told me to take that file and drag it into BlueStacks. I did what it asked and well it crashed 4 times. It asked to either reboot the engine or to restart my computer and ive tried both ways 2 times. 

I dont know how else to do this. This probably sounds really stupid but I even tried to go on rhe google play store and see but apperently my device wont work. It was looking for a mobile device not PCs. I tried looking for some sort of google play for PCs but no luck.

Do you know how to get that game onto a PC? 🤒

Ooo those expansion packs seem so interesting :eahigh_file: 😃 I wish i can be able to play them ☹️ Maybe one day tho ;-; As for now i can only play Sims Mobile..well if i can actually get it on my PC  😮😮

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@Moonlight_Love12 wrote:

@SheriGR @PugLove888 I just got ny laptop today and its nice! (its kinda laggy a bit so im a little unsure about it but i got 30days before the return policy expires so ill give it a few more days to test it out). 

I went on origins and tried the demo and it was fun and i wanted to play more :eahigh_file: 😢 💔

I tried to download the Sims Mobile Game but it turned out to be a bust. I searched online on how to download it. Apperently you need a program called "BlueStacks" in order to play Andriod apps on ur PC. I downloaded that (it took forever omg 😢 😞 

After getting it installed it asked me to download the Sims Mobile and it turned out to be an apk file. The video told me to take that file and drag it into BlueStacks. I did what it asked and well it crashed 4 times. It asked to either reboot the engine or to restart my computer and ive tried both ways 2 times. 

I dont know how else to do this. This probably sounds really stupid but I even tried to go on rhe google play store and see but apperently my device wont work. It was looking for a mobile device not PCs. I tried looking for some sort of google play for PCs but no luck.

Do you know how to get that game onto a PC? 🤒

Ooo those expansion packs seem so interesting :eahigh_file: 😃 I wish i can be able to play them ☹️ Maybe one day tho ;-; As for now i can only play Sims Mobile..well if i can actually get it on my PC  😮😮

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I'm happy for you! Congrats on the new laptop! Unfortunately I am not familiar with how to install the versions you are mentioning int this post, but since I am not completely sure this is not what you're looking for, I will share a link to a few things.

This link is a listing of Amazon's 'Sims 4' games, expansions and combo packs:  The Sims 4 (Amazon)

This link is a listing of Origin's 'Sims 4' games, expansions, stuff packs and combo packs: The Sims 4 (Origin)

This is a thread about the system requirements to run Sims 4: System Requirements (for The Sims 4)

Guess I'll hand off to @PugLove888 or someone else to answer the rest.

Have fun! 😃

@SheriGR,  that is quite alright.😇  Between the “refresh” and even just people answering the same post at the same time, this is bound to happen from time to time! 🤭 My objective is to try to help other people, and that is what you are also trying to do! ❤️ Besides, Moonlight_Love can now compare both of our suggestions and make a better decision! 🥳

@Moonlight_Love12, I’m so glad you found a laptop! :eahigh_file:  I think your mom is right in that a laptop is more versatile than a tablet, and will be of more use for you in the future!  (Sounds like something my mom would say! 😃 ) 

I’m sorry your phone isn’t compatible with the Sims Mobile. ☹️ But like me you have very little storage in it anyway 😳 . I guess the term “tech savvy” is relative.  Thank you ❤️ , but I really don’t know much about computers.🤭  I know aspects of them, but mostly just how to use them for my general purposes.  So, your ordeal with trying to get The Sims Mobile on a computer went way over my head! 😳😃

Hopefully your laptop can run The Sims 4 .  And if it can and can handle a few expansions, here is my opinion to go alongside SheriGR’s opinion:

• I agree with Sheri in that Seasons is a good general EP to get if you can only get one! 🙂 I think this is because no matter who you are, you have experience with weather, and it is something everyone can relate to.  Realistic players like it for obvious reasons, but fantasy players like it for making each Sim day a little different, and they like the weather machine for its obvious fantasy/scifi uses! 🤓❤️
• I love playing with families so the Parenthood GP is one of my favorites! While it is not technically an “Expansion Pack”, it is a pack that is an expansion to your game.  GPs just aren't’ as big or complex as Eps, but EA has done a really good job on most of them!  I think this GP also works really nicely with the Seasons EP, since Seasons also has a lot of family activities/holidays!  This GP makes families act more like real families and not just a collection of different aged Sims! This GP also goes great with the Toddler Stuff SP and the Kid’s Room SP, as well as some others.
• Cats & Dogs is actually the one pack out of them all that I would get if I could only get one! 🐶🐱 (Seasons would be my second, though!)  The town of Brindleton Bay is lovely with a New England fishing coast vibe.  Animals are a must have for my life (just look at my Screen Name! 😃 ) ❤️  While you can adopt strays by befriending them, or through a shelter by calling them to bring over a dog or cat, you can also make your own cat, dog, racoon, or fox! 🤨 (The racoon is really a cat and the fox is really a dog in the game, but I love that they put this in the game!)  When you make your own pet, there are a variety of pre-set breeds to choose from, and you can cross breed them too; but the real fun is painting your own dog or cat (any color!) with numerous patterns that you can stamp or paint on!  I’ve seen some animals that have entire landscapes panted on them! 😎  The Gardener issue doesn’t affect me much because I’ve only had 2 houses with gardeners hired… I usually prefer to have one Sim not work so they can devote their time to gardening anyway.  For my extremely large gardens that are too difficult for one Sim to tend, instead of  hiring a Gardener, I just invite over the Gardening Club --- which brings me to…
• Get Toghether! If you love having your Sims visit a lot of different places, (dancing, museums, the gym, parties, etc.) then you will love this EP.  While I  am more of a homebody with my Sims, I have greatly benefited from joining the Gardening Club (called the Garden Gnomes) and instead of gathering at their default hangout, I have them gather at my Sims house, where do all the gardening free of charge while my Sim reaps the club benefits! 👿:eahigh_file:  And I totally agree with SheriGR in that this pack has some really beautiful furniture and architectural items! ❤️ (Unless you hate the English Tudor style!)  The main drawback for me with this EP is that Sims will constantly call your Sim and ask them to join clubs, which is great if that is what you want, but if you are trying to work on your career or train your dog, this is a nuisance! 😛
• City Living is a lot of fun, especially if you love colorful clothing and item, festivals , and new foods! They have a lot of ethnic foods in this pack that you can purchase at food stands and then once you eat the entire dish, you unlock the ability to cook it at home! 🥳  There are also 2 new hidden skills in this pack (a love for spicy food & the ability to eat with chopsticks).  Eat the the types of foods that correspond to these abilities and you will develop the corresponding trait!  There are clothing items and food from Africa, India, far East Asia, etc.)  But like SheriGR stated, if you live in a lot of the apartments you will get problems from either the neighbors or from the apartment itself (mice, roaches, breaking pipes) or even from the building superintendent!  So, the expensive penthouse apartments or the Old Salt House (just like SheriGR mentioned) are the easiest to live in! 😉
• Get to Work is a lot of fun as you get 3 new careers plus the ability to own shops, like SheriGR ;mentioned; but the best part in my opinion is that you can go to work with your Sim!  You can be a doctor, a police detective, or a scientist!  My favorite is the scientist , partly because I love science ❤️:🤓, but also because this career has some powerful items! 🤨 You go to work and you can make a various items, and some of those you can upgrade so they can do more and more powerful thigs!  Do you have a rare crystal that you want to keep but you also want the cash from selling it?  No problem, If you are a scientist you can build a Cloning Machine and clone your crystal! 😇 This pack also give you Aliens (from the planet Sixam) and the ability to visit Sixam! 😎
• Vampires GP is a must for any player who loves fantasy, or just really Gothic looking furniture, architecture and clothing! 🙂 There are all sorts of abilities you can unlock as your Vampire becomes more skilled.  This GP works very well with the Spooky SP too.
• If your Sims love the outdoors then I would suggest either Outdoor Retreat or Jungle Adventure! Both are GPs. Outdoor Retreat is great for families, and especially for collectors and people who love to fish.  There is also bug collecting and a new herbalism skill!  There are tons of new plants that you can bring back home and grow in your garden, as well as a family game table, horseshoe pit, and campfire! 🥳  Jungle Adventure I like more for either single or Sims or groups of adults, but kids can come too!  This pack is full of Central American and South American food, clothing, furniture, and architecture!  Learn about the culture from the locals, or become an archeologist and explore ancient temples !  I find this pack both beautiful and fun! ❤️🥳

Of course there are more GPs and SPs, but I prefer EPs and GPs to SPs, so I concentrated on those!  😉

I hope that either you can eventually get Sims Mobile to work on your laptop. 🤞   I’ve heard of people using mobile apps on their computers, but not often.  Then again, I’m not that tech savvy! 😃  I might not speak Greek, but I understand some of it much better than BlueStacks and apk files !  😃:eahigh_file:😳   I’m sorry SheriGR and I can’t help you with this, but I think you might get more help for Sims Mobile on your computer by going here:  https://answers.ea.com/t5/Technical-Issues/bd-p/the-sims-mobile-technical-issues-en

I would think it would be strange or even impossible to play this on your laptop unless it has a touch screen capability.🤔  I wish you the best of luck with it! 🙂

If you have any more questions about The Sims 4 don't be afraid to ask!  And please update us on your Sims progress! 

Best of luck and happy Simming! 🥳