Forum Discussion

techbilt's avatar
6 years ago

Basic Cost Per Item for each Pack in sims 4

this doesn't include any gameplay mechanics

So scrolling the internet I've noticed a lot of players and game changers have said that it feels more like a game pack, so as a side project of mine (mostly because I'm curious) I've been keeping track of how many items are in each pack, this doesn't include gameplay. All items in CAS are weighed the same, interactive items are weighed the same as decorative items. I might keep this thread updated as more packs come out is anyones interest. Also, let me know if I got anything wrong count wise. (I am also doing these for sims 2 and 3 as well but they're not nearly as easy to count for.)
Base game and Expansions
https://66.media.tumblr.com/e36c9c0ab7e018e4538b9aa9b4239db2/tumblr_ptm4a4kDUw1xi5hclo1_640.png
Number
0
E01
E02
E03
E04
E05
E06
E07 Title
BASE GAME
Get To Work
Get Together
City Living
Cats & Dogs
Seasons
Get Famous
Island Living CAS items
682
210
113
122
183
150
177
134 Buy/Build
1236
352
330
271
389
158
255
181 Worlds
3
1
1
1
1
0
1
1 careers
12
3
0
1
1
1
2
4 price
$60.00
$39.99
$39.99
$39.99
$39.99
$39.99
$39.99
$39.99 value
$0.03
$0.07
$0.09
$0.10
$0.07
$0.13
$0.09
$0.12

Game Packs
https://66.media.tumblr.com/a330e40f9e7ccf7a5e5613d22a1d92be/tumblr_ptm4a4kDUw1xi5hclo2_640.png
Number
G01
G02
G03
G04
G05
G06
G07
G08 Title
Outdoor Retreat
Spa Day
Dine Out
Vampires
Parenthood
Jungle Adventures
Strangerville
Realm of Magic CAS items
74
50
25
72
55
41
40
TBA Buy/Build
81
121
124
130
88
168
98
TBD Worlds
1
0
0
1
0
1
1
TBD careers
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
TBD price
$19.99
$19.99
$19.99
$19.99
$19.99
$19.99
$19.99
$19.99 value
$0.13
$0.12
$0.13
$0.10
$0.14
$0.10
$0.14
$TBD

Stuff Packs
https://66.media.tumblr.com/7c00a5c3317817ffae8d1f233c327c4a/tumblr_ptm4a4kDUw1xi5hclo3_640.png
Number
S01
S02
S03
S04
S05
S06
S07
S08
S09
S10
S11
S12
S13
S14
S15 Title
Luxury Party Stuff
Perfect Patio Stuff
Cool Kitchen Stuff
Spooky Stuff
Movie Hangout Stuff
ROmantic Garden Stuff
Kids Room Stuff
Backyard Stuff
Vintage Glamour Stuff
Bowling Night Stuff
Fitness Stuff
Toddler Stuff
Laundry Day Stuff
My First Pet Stuff
Myschino CAS items
41
12
29
37
27
19
30
25
27
20
12
29
20
34
TBD Buy/Build
12
32
23
33
34
32
41
39
41
35
29
23
48
35
TBD Worlds
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
TBD careers
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1 price
$9.99
$9.99
$9.99
$9.99
$9.99
$9.99
$9.99
$9.99
$9.99
$9.99
$9.99
$9.99
$9.99
$9.99
$9.99 value
$0.19
$0.23
$0.19
$0.14
$0.16
$0.20
$0.14
$0.16
$0.15
$0.18
$0.24
$0.19
$0.15
$0.14
$9.99
  • It's not as simple as looking at the number of items compared to the price of the pack. You've got the "under the hood" stuff, the programming that makes aliens possible in GTW and clubs in GT and mermaids in IL, or the ability to customize a menu and send your Sims out to eat in DO, or even in an SP like Movie Hangout the movies and popcorn popper. That programming takes people, and labor is a large part of Cost of Goods Sold (dragging out my Cost Accounting from 30+ years ago). Just because they're not using actual materials like metal and wood and fabric to make a sofa doesn't mean it's free.
  • @stilljustme2 I only use the game to build or make pretty sims, the live mode just doesn't keep me engaged enough to play it which is why I didn't include any of the gameplay mechanics. But I do think its interesting to see where the trade-offs might have been like in seasons, for example, they sacrificed items to give us the calendar and the ability to create our own holidays.
  • I'm a builder too and don't care much for gameplay but it's a bit unfair to say they sacrificed items to add functionality to the game. People who actually play would say they sacrificed functionality to give us more items in some packs :tongue:
  • Sure its a two sided coin and I'm presenting it from my side of the coin someone who play in live mode is welcome to bring their side of the coin, but I just find it interesting that the community as a whole tends to say that Seasons in the best expansion back (from builders to story tellers) and I just find it interesting that its got the least items out of any expansion pack but still has such great replay value and is so loved by the community.
  • In the sims 1 and 2 we would get 100 new build/buy items but at least 20 had new gameplay interactions, now we get 400 but 395 of those are just wall decals, chairs and plants
  • g01denswan's avatar
    g01denswan
    Rising Spectator
    The price we pay for an EP, GP or SP is not only for the objects. We're also paying for their other expenses associated with running a business, such as rent, insurance, furniture, computers, software licenses, marketing, etc.

    Also, some items take more time for them to create than others so you can't just take the price and divide by the number of objects. For base game objects, they can just remesh, retexture and reuse the same interactions/animations, but new interactive objects require new programming and animations that take a big chunk of the pack's budget.

    You also need to consider that not all new game play such as running a business in GTW, setting restaurant menus in DO, and creating holidays in SN are objects. These systems take time to program and take up a part of the pack's budget.
  • Seasons adds weather which affects every player and adds functionality which is pretty much forced on us all - builders, live mode players, Sim makers. No other pack does that, you can choose which aspects you want to incorporate into your builds/Sims/gameplay. I'm with you in that I look at objects too rather than functionality, it would be interesting if someone did the equivalent comparison but for additional gameplay, interactions, functionality.
  • I'm really hoping someone does, I'm not skilled/smart enough to figure out how to do it on my own.
  • "Techbilt;d-961626" wrote:
    this doesn't include any gameplay mechanics

    All items in CAS are weighed the same, interactive items are weighed the same as decorative items.

    These two things are a major factor, though. Gameplay mechanics are the major selling points, for one thing.
    And interactive/uninteractive items make a major difference. Look at Cats&Dogs, there are tons of pawprint decals and similar clutter that is completely passive but pushes the number of items up a lot. I can imagine GTW and Get Famous have a lot of decorations as well. Seasons have lower item count but the weather is likely one of the most complex mechanics. Parenthood has a lot of mechanics in the character values and the events related to it. Etc.