Perhaps the reason behind our lack of enthusiasm for the stuff packs comes from the fact some of us have been with the Sims franchise from the very beginning. Because of that, we believed Sims4 would be better than the three previous versions. Even though we were warned Sims4 was going to be different from anything we had seen before, we were not expecting this new style of the Sims would include the kind of marketing and development we are seeing today. It has been a rollercoaster of ups and downs since it was released. Even more than the Sims3 was after it's release.
Add-ons such as expansions packs, stuff packs and game packs are being done in a totally different way this time around, and it is causing a lot of discord among the fans. Personally, I was excited about the stuff packs and game packs in the beginning. Being able to choose what I wanted in my game seemed like a fine idea to me. Until this latest one was rolled out. I guess it makes sense if some folks wanted just small pets rather than cats and dogs, but the bulk of this stuff pack is focused on cats and dogs. If this stuff pack had included more than four small pets in cages I probably would have purchased the pack. But I wanted more than four huge cages and a tiny pet that is tethered to them. And the thought of having more costumes for my cats and dogs just isn't enough for me to hit the 'buy me' button. My cats and dogs are happily enjoying their lives without much more than collars. I have nothing against those who enjoy dressing their pixel pets in costumes. Doing so just isn't the way I play the game.
You add in the troubling fact we went through this after toddlers were released and it smacks of EA trying to give us as little as possible with the least amount of effort on their part. I also believe there should be a lot more emphasis placed on getting the bugs and glitches ironed out before they even think about adding anything more to the game. Thank you to the modders who have found solutions to some of the bugs that have been hanging around since the day Sims4 was released. Some of us would have given up on the game if not for your efforts.
Even with knowing the Sims4 was headed in a somewhat 'new direction' I am still shocked at how little new gameplay is being added to the packs. And we have every right to question why new content is not really new at all. It's beginning to feel as if nothing new will ever happen.
We have been down this road of waiting for something new to add to our games since The Sims began. We bought the stuff packs and expansions, we purchased dlc from the Sims3 store and I bought probably more than I should have; more than I had time to play around with. But it was new and exciting and in most instances made the game more enjoyable. What made the store popular with the fans was the fact there was a lot to choose from that covered many different styles of gameplay that appealed to some and not others. Freedom of choice at it's finest in my book.
But we are growing tired of the tiny stuff packs that add fluff and little substance. I need to see some substance added to the game. And that cannot happen when all we get to choose from is a couple of stuff packs filled with stuff that has one or two new interactions attached and would have made much more sense coming to us in the form of an update.
Yes, the way EA is trying to squeeze every last dime out of our pockets is getting old. And it is disturbing they have chosen to do this to us. We can keep our money and say no to purchasing what doesn't appeal to us for whatever reasons we have. But doesn't it make better business sense to at least try to bring something new and unique to the table for us to get truly excited about? At this point, I am going to take a break from Sims4 and go back to Sims3 again. For the fourth time. In spite of Sims3 having it's sometimes irritating quirks, it is still a much more immersive and satisfying game than Sims4.
