"MidnightAura;c-16413350" wrote:
"Paigeisin5;c-16413058" wrote:
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.
I agree. I’ve been a Simmer since the original game and this direction saddens me. When I think of the sims 4 I think of cash cow. I see a game that has become a shadow of its former self and taken major steps backwards whilst taking few steps forwards. I see a game that is hiding in the shadows of its predecessors. The path doesn’t seem to be: “How can we make this series progress whilst innovating and appealing to old and new fans?” But more “let’s see how far we can push people financially”
I say this all the time because I feel some forget but EA is not a tiny little indie company with no funding, the devs are not your friends or your family and need protecting from people simply saying “I don’t agree with this” I don’t blame the devs for this mess. They are doing the best they can I believe. But people have the right to say they aren’t happy and to be told they shouldn’t feel that way or their feelings aren’t valid is not acceptable. There is way too much taking criticisms of the game too heart. And I can’t really understand that. I don’t get that defensive over games my Husband has worked on and put his heart, blood, sweat and quite often air miles into. Not everyone will like it. That’s life.
I play many a game when I’m not playing the Sims and I can say JoAnne is right. There are no other communities I’m a part of that accept this practice as happily as the simmimg community seem too. In other communities the simming community is ridiculed because we seemingly throw money at them for anything. (Not saying that’s my view) Simmers have no where else to go but this is the problem, EA will test the waters and the community lap it up. Part of the problem. My husband is a game developer for a multi national gaming company and even he says they are doing this because they can. And if he can see it and that there’s money to be made so will the powers that be that make the sims 4.
A lot of people are starting to go : “Wait a minute this Game is stagnating or not really offering us a different experience than before other than how we pay for it” and it’s a good thing. I have no problem with those who enjoy it, but I take issue with those who air those concerns are getting told your concerns aren’t a good enough reason or just stop playing/buying. That’s not the answer. Last time fans did that with an EA game the game crashed and burned. Does anyone want that for this game? No. We wouldn’t be here otherwise.
Oh I agree - as a human being on what you and others say - but at the same time what you explain is exactly why the design the game is ever shifting for the next generation of adults seeing most of them have no idea what Sims 1 or 2 was really like. To most of them if you try to show them by loading up your old Sims 2 game - they agree well it looks okay but it is old - that's all they see - not all the fun we see and experiences. They don't care.
Sims 3 has the advantage of being very different - open world, unlimited creation abilities - and does not look old - it does still appeal to newbies though as a little dated - but all it offers can override that as todays youth likes everything faster - instant gratification - so playing out what we older people enjoy is often not a 14 year olds cup of tea. Too much indepthness - that we like - is boring to many kids of today. EA knows that - they bring in girls that code - something unheard of just 10 years ago - or at least quite rare is a thing - and girls in that group are EA's demographics age they work with and see what appeals to them as they are not only the players of tomorrow, they will be the game designers of tomorrow. EA is quite smart if you ask me - and instead of destroying the franchise they are actually ensuring it's future.
Hey I am older than most simmers - and can see this - even if I wished old values had a place - they just are not where the money is or will be. But at the same time I would give my eye teeth to have a modernized remake of Sims 2 - maybe with an open world - I'd love that - but it will never happen.
