Sims 4 EP Suggestion: Horses
Dear [team responsible for S4 Expansion Packs], I won't beat around the bush explaining just how much I loved having horses in the Sims 3 Pets EP, so I'll just get to it: Please consider adding ...
Forum Discussion
@Starsrukk, @Player_jp5s5eav , and @RandomBuzziness , I would guess that EA is working on something similar right now. They have pretty much given us all the most requested packs that we have had in past versions of the Sims, and according to them we have at least 2 years left in the Sims 4, so that would leave several Expansion and Game Packs they would need to release in that time. Also, they have made some strides (pun intended!) at giving us some modes of transportation for single Sims (aqua zips in Island Living, brooms in Realm of Magic, and bikes in Discover University), so it is in the realm of possibilities that this will continue with horses. 🤞
Even better, during the developer's Guru Garage livestream on Twitch right before Discover University was released, one of the Sim Guru's came in later than the others and when asked why he was late he answered "Oh, I've been busy working down on the farm." and then he stifled a smile! 🤨🙂 So even though this is speculation, there is a very good chance that they are working on a Farm Pack right now! 😉 Gurus have been known to drop hints like this in the past! 🙌 And what is a farm without horses!?!
If the pack was just horses, I would guess it to be a Game Pack, but if it is a farm, I would think it would be an Expansion Pack. 😇
Yeah, exactly. My main struggle was trying to figure out how they would implement an actual expansion pack that uses horses as a very strong focus, but adds enough that it stands as an expansion and not a game. I had thought of farms, but with how Seasons came out with the gardening career, I began to wonder where that would take the farm approach. I know there are farms that focus completely on livestock... but, with all the Equestrian dreams this post has, that can take away a lot of things the horse lovers want and likely focus more on farm life.
Before your post, PugLove88, I was thinking it was likely a good thing for the horse lovers that Cats & Dogs was all about cats and dogs, because if horses were added in... I still see a lot of limitations from what the game play has shown. In that world, the most you'd likely be able to do with horses is customize them in CAS with the option to make a Llama, a few types of bridles, saddles and covers for cold weather. There would be some, but very few build items to make a stable and game play... It just see the social interactions not changing much from the ones you have with cats and dogs. Talk to, nuzzle, brush coat, give treat. Maybe there would be some training ability, but at best it would have been to learn how to jump over various pole heights and simple tricks like counting. I don't even want to think how traveling would go at that time. Magically the bridle appear on the horse, but all the sim can do is walk it around the lot? I cringe.
@Player_jp5s5eav, well, that is why I was ambivalent about horses not being in Cats & Dogs... on the one hand I missed them 😢, and on the other hand I was relieved that they weren't included since they wouldn't be as fleshed out (pun not intended) if they were lumped in with cats and dogs (and neither would the cats and dogs be as fleshed out if horses were also in the pack).
But even if horses are in a farming pack, I don't think it would be as bad as if they were included with cats and dogs for the simple reason is that cats, dogs, and horses need 3 separate sets of animations (not counting the babies of each species). From what I understand, animations take a lot of resources, and for each new type of Sim that would require a lot. So by separating horses from dogs and cats, it should make it easier! 😇 Yes, there would be some animations for cows, chickens, sheep, etc., but I wouldn't think those would be as involved as any Sim animal that is part of your household or that your human Sims would interact with as extensively as they would a horse.
Also, since there is already a gardening system in place, I wouldn't think as many new resources would be involved in making a few crops. I would think that horses would be the star of the pack, even if it is a farming pack.⭐
As for transportation, no, horses wouldn't be as valuable as they were in TS3, but in some locations like the larger islands on Sulani (Island Living), or in the town of Glimmerbrook (Realm of Magic) there would be more room for them. It is also probable that a farming EP would have a new world, and that might have enough space for a horse to roam! But I would still think horses would be primarily to train, or do a jumping course, or do farm work. No, it wouldn't be like TS3, but as long as we keep that in mind we shouldn't be disappointed. 😉
There is also a possibility that they could make a horse GP and a farming EP, but I think that is less likely!
But you do bring up some good points on things like the possibility of saddles and bridles magically appearing if we were to take our horses out for a ride... for that reason we couldn't "store" them in our inventory. We would have to intentionally go to the barn and gear up our horses if we were to want to ride them. If we didn't, I know a lot of people who actually own horses would be very disappointed. It is a lot of seemingly little things people do for their horses that makes them and our bond with them be so special! ❤️ A horse and rider are more of a partnership. After all, horses are the only animals to compete in the Olympics, at least right now! There could be a competition that allows dogs and humans to compete together in the future, but as of now horses are the only ones to hold that honor! 😇I don't think that Brindleton Bay would have been a good world to include horses anyway. I love that world but to me it is much more suitable for smaller animals than horses. I have a feeling that Brindleton Bay was largely modeled after Sugar Maple Coast from the console version of Sims 3 Pets, which also did not include horses. I still think that a farming/ horse ranch world like Appaloosa Plains is still out there & we will see it before Sims 4 ends. The sooner the better for me! =D
It's so awesome to see you back @PugLove888 🥳@RandomBuzziness, thank you for mentioning this, as I was going to, but forgot!!! I totally agree that Brindleton Bay isn't that suited for horses! In the United States, when you think about horses you either think of the Old West of the 1800's or if you think of modern times you might think of the Great Plains states, or Montana, or the rolling hills of Kentucky. But Brindleton Bay is supposed to be a New England fishing village!
I loved the look of Appaloosa Plains! ❤️
It is good to be back! 🙂 Thank you @RandomBuzziness 😇
