April Patch Speculation 2020 (Available Now April 7th)

"LeGardePourpre;c-17460729" wrote:
@kwanzaabot

About recording, SWTOR 6.2 June Update is postponed for an unspecified duration as a result of the recording studios being closed down for the moment.

It seems sometimes this task can't be done at home.

....and yet we have a 6 month roadmap?

Funny how EA can't record audio but somehow they're still managing to bring out 3 packs in the next 6 months.

Two plausible explanations:

1. Maybe it's got more to do with SWTOR not having the budget to book the studio time. They're a Bioware game, and an MMO besides, and it's also nearly 10 years old, so I'd be very surprised if EA has much faith in them. The Sims, being newer and more profitable, is going to get more attention by EA to allow them to do what they need to do.
2. SWTOR is developed by teams in Edmonton and Austin--and likely maintained by a skeleton crew at this point while Bioware proper works on their flagship titles. The Sims team is at EA HQ, in Redwood Shores, within spitting distance of San Francisco. SWOTOR and The Sims are not going to be using the same recording studios. Like, at all. Texas, Alberta and California are extremely far away from each other.

If we don't get a March Patch (increasingly likely) I'm feeling we will get an April patch, probably mostly bug fixes with maybe some small content drop - likely a t-shirt, or a hat or something. Or maybe some additional swatches for something - more framing options for windows and doors, perhaps.

I’m hoping it’s a great amount of bug fixes! Tons of free time.

"Irdiwen;c-17437829" wrote:
I just wish for communication. No pack? Fine. No patch? Okay. But no communication? That’s where things are going amiss right now.

I'd also second this!Communication is a disaster.
And my assumption is - no patch for both April and May especially considering the situation. Probably some content in June. Isn't it how the things were last year - with February SV and June IL and nothing in-between?

"Irdiwen;c-17437829" wrote:
I just wish for communication. No pack? Fine. No patch? Okay. But no communication? That’s where things are going amiss right now.

This and exactly.

Owned Cars with Garages, Selectable Babies with Strollers can be included into the patch and also fixes too

"LeGardePourpre;c-17438730" wrote:
But they can't do a livestream from home... right ?

I mean from 3 or 4 SimGuru homes.

"@kwanzaabot;c-17438636" wrote:
Probably worth remembering that:
A, Maxis are working from home,
and B, the next pack is in the "voice/sound recording" stage (usually the last stage of development before a game is ready to ship). (Source: https://simscommunity.info/2020/03/04/the-sims-4s-9th-expansion-pack-is-in-the-final-stage-of-production/)

So, a patch for April is most likely coming, and it's pretty likely to be a pre-GP patch (if not April, then the May patch will be the pre-pack patch)

These news were before COVID-19, it's outdated now. The development process have been slow down since 2 weeks.

I don't know how voice/sound recording could be possible from home in particular the simlish songs with famous artists.

Depends on what equipment the person has at home. I have a friend who was contacted for some voice work just as everything was shutting down who mentioned it in passing - admittedly as a job he'd planned to pass on because he didn't think his home equipment was up to it, but the client wanted him to give it a try anyway. But the point I'm extracting from it here is that home studios *may* be a viable option, depending on the resources at said home studio.

And finally make NPC's appear at foodstalls!!
It's not an issue with the existing foodstalls, but if you build a (public) lot en place a foodstall, there will be no vendor unless you hire one... seems odd.

Same goes for bars at swimmingpools. Feels weird to have to make your own drink at a public pool. (Maybe add vendingmachines)

"lindaatjuh;c-17447274" wrote:
And finally make NPC's appear at foodstalls!!
It's not an issue with the existing foodstalls, but if you build a (public) lot en place a foodstall, there will be no vendor unless you hire one... seems odd.

Same goes for bars at swimmingpools. Feels weird to have to make your own drink at a public pool. (Maybe add vendingmachines)

Yeah I just go ahead and hire npcs.

"lindaatjuh;c-17447274" wrote:
And finally make NPC's appear at foodstalls!!
It's not an issue with the existing foodstalls, but if you build a (public) lot en place a foodstall, there will be no vendor unless you hire one... seems odd.

Same goes for bars at swimmingpools. Feels weird to have to make your own drink at a public pool. (Maybe add vendingmachines)

It works a little bit better if you designate the lot as a bar. Sims will sit on the side of the pool and chat and swim occasionally. And I agree about the NPCs. You shouldn't have to hire them if the lot is not owned. They should just show up like other lot employees.