Carl's take of ways for improvement.

Watched this and I think it’s fair and constructive - no name calling, respectful of those of us who actually enjoy the game as it is and lots of solid reasoning. I appreciate the thought that went into this video and I don’t disagree with most of what he pointed out. I get a lot of enjoyment out of the game personally, but I do think that I would be fine if negative emotions, relationships and interactions hit harder (especially if we still have the moodlet solver reward lol).

I like the idea of greater increase in random death BUT I would like that to be optional. Maybe give us 3 different options of percentages - 3%, 33%, 50% chance or something. I used to hate it when my family would be on a great track and then that darn rocket ship would crash before I was done with that character so all that work would be made null because I didn’t save periodically lol.

I like the idea of differentiating relationships but I don't like the idea of bringing chemistry, attraction or the reputation system back. Make that optional. I want to choose exactly who my sims get with, no exceptions.

I do love the idea of choosing difficulty level for gameplay.

"TheSpotted_C;c-17270715" wrote:
Watched this and I think it’s fair and constructive - no name calling, respectful of those of us who actually enjoy the game as it is and lots of solid reasoning. I appreciate the thought that went into this video and I don’t disagree with most of what he pointed out. I get a lot of enjoyment out of the game personally, but I do think that I would be fine if negative emotions, relationships and interactions hit harder (especially if we still have the moodlet solver reward lol).

I like the idea of greater increase in random death BUT I would like that to be optional. Maybe give us 3 different options of percentages - 3%, 33%, 50% chance or something. I used to hate it when my family would be on a great track and then that darn rocket ship would crash before I was done with that character so all that work would be made null because I didn’t save periodically lol.

I like the idea of differentiating relationships but I don't like the idea of bringing chemistry, attraction or the reputation system back. Make that optional. I want to choose exactly who my sims get with, no exceptions.

I do love the idea of choosing difficulty level for gameplay.

I feel like that's on the player. If you know you are going to do something that has a chance of death save before doing that action, it's such a simple "exploit" yet people complain about the "random" deaths. Should be complaining about yourself not saving the game more often. There are also things that factor into random deaths, like cooking at low level skill on a cheap stove, going to space with a low rocket science skill etc, many of such occasions can be avoided if you know how to actually play the game, and it should be like that for everything. Sims no longer even need to go to the shower to put themselves out when they are burning they can use a fire extinguisher on themselves that's how ridiculously easy TS4 is.

Random encounters can also make for a challenging more entertaining game, like the burglars that come to your house at night to steal things or the repo man that comes when you don't pay your bills. The repo man should exist in TS4 as a third consequence for not paying the bills, instead of the player barely getting any penalty, and the fact that it's the third one and not the first one is already making it pretty nice. Vampires that come at night to suck sims blood and give a moodlet that can easily be overwritten and doesn't even last that long, doesn't influence the rest of my sims day so it's kind of pointless.

Interesting video. These are things many of us pointed out way back in 2014. My own thread written back then of why all Sims are the same is buried here somewhere. Emotions are often given to any Sim and the same result or buff as any Sim with a particular trait. Both Sims would wish for the same thing. Behave the same way. Also, Skills over lapped with any emotion and or trait producing the same wish of what to do next and the very same buffs.

There haven't been any new buy rewards in years, either. Extra trait rewards are one of the most ignored features and not many added since release. They are the same base game rewards we had in 2014. I can't go along with remaning tense to uncomfortable over and over.

I like Carl, I'm glad he made the video, but I do want to ask Carl why it took him so long. Because at one point if you were a member on Carl's site you were not allowed to be negative about TS4 at all. I wonder what changed since I know of people who got the boot for being or expressing a negative view of the base, or any DLC.

He didn't touch upon how the past few years Maxis is rehasing and reusing assets already in the game, slapping a new DLC name on them and sellig a new pack with the very same objects, objectives or reused rewards, or interactions or rewards as 'new'. Nor how many times Maxis is reusing an object (the Sim pc) to meet the requirements of how to fill the duties of any at home career or 99% of all other careers. Nor the fact Maxis created a magic pack that barely adds in any new gameplay (assets rewards) that don't already exist in the game (spell potions) Sims could already earn with points to get those mood solvers.

He doesn't touch upon the fact none of the traits (as shallow as they are) don't even make sense. The evil Sim being the most obvivous by wanting to be best friends with someone they supposedly can't stand and reach out to give them a hug. Or why good Sims would ever autonomously perform rude introdcutions. Or why any Sim telling a lame joke would suddenly be awarded a skill point in charisma.

Half the Sim population can gain charisma without even trying.

The overlaps are unbearable to me and have been since day one. I wrote an very long thread pointing out how Sim A, B and C could have all the same emotions, whims, and behave the same based upon gaining a skill, or being in a room of decor, or gaining a cooking skill etc. Let alone the fleeting emotion overridden by any decor (no matter how cheap) could be a mood solver. Why bother earning mood boosters (points), or for that matter casting spells if it's all already in game.

It's my opinion this far out, (five years going on six) the core is the biggest problem this game ever had, and no, though I'm sure he wants improvements, these are things we asked for in 2014 and every year since, and it's not going to be improved with any new pack or patch, and time to hang it up (players) and just hope TS5 with a different vision of what makes a good life simulator (no moodlets and buffs) is where they go the next time and return to their roots rather than trying to include every type person on earth, but consider life isn't so simple.

ETA: If he needs other examples of what we mean when we say shallow. Look at gameplay of groups. Book clubs are the sum of get a book throw it down get another book. Wow, that's some deep gameplay right there, and no one building relationships though they were in the book club for years. This is only one of ten thousand examples of shallow, hollow gameplay.

ETA: More interactions that make no sense. Why can any Sim talk about their latest book when they haven't even written one, nor have they even praticed writing? If any Sim has the trait that makes them work out they don't really need it do they? Any Sim can inspire granny to get on her all fours and do some pushups. Heck, any object or aura or object can make granny do some workout routines. Any Sim feeling romantic can influence any other Sim to flirt with all in room and become romantic. Why bother watching a romantic station when the Sim standing beside your Sim can arouse your Sim into flirting and cheating with whomever is near by. Flaws in trait behaviour. Does a jealous person run around wanting to talk to their love interest twenty four seven? I don't think so, they are jealous of outside influences, such as other Sims and or wondering what the other person is doing, jealousy isn't Needy, it's envious. And one would think they would know where there is envy and strife there is every evil work, (but not in TS4) but no matter, the jealous Sim is still going to chat it up with the cheating parties, and have a good time as a threesome in a relatioship.

Then let's look at romantic interactions between a married couple. Sometimes it was like watching an old rerun of the Dick Van Dyke Show or I Love Lucy. When TV wouldn't allow couples to sleep in the same bed. But had twin matching beds. Or later, they were in the same bed but you could see they couldn't cross an invisble line to cuddle etc. But we can see the dividing line of the TS4 bed. Is that watered down for a reason, or just poor bed design? We will never know, but Sims don't even cuddle in bed in TS4 or spoon or do anything other than give each other highfives. It's like a return to an old Lucy show.

"Sigzy05;c-17270593" wrote:

"JoAnne65;c-17270581" wrote:
The answer doesn’t lie in what can be done to this game, it lies in what can and will be done in the next. Sims 4 = Sims 4 and Sims 4 will always be Sims 4. People seeing it the way described in the video indirectly are just saying this: stop developing for Sims 4 and start developing Sims 5, using our suggestions. And please don’t just listen to gamechangers suggestions, also listen to paying customers that, in spite of not having a huge YouTube following, most definitely are committed to the franchise.

I understand what you are saying....but I do believe this game can still be updated to be much better and fully enjoyable, the devs just have to want it. A game is a game, it's code, they can add an entirely new wants system to this, they can at least make it work better and change what makes whims pop up, they can make relationships deeper, they can improve the AI, etc.

I’m just really having a hard time to believe that but who knows I’m wrong and it is actually the devs being unwilling to make those adjustments necessary. Because wouldn’t it come down to that? They know how it works, a lot of them worked on the earlier games. They know how it has to be done, they know the issues simmers are having with this version, so, why don’t they? I fear because they can’t, because the game is what it is and they have to work with that (like Sims 3 had its clear limits and even though they tried to cater fans requesting things, they just couldn’t in the same way players were used to in Sims 2). I don’t believe they are unwilling, I fear they are incapable.

"JoAnne65;c-17270811" wrote:

"Sigzy05;c-17270593" wrote:

"JoAnne65;c-17270581" wrote:
The answer doesn’t lie in what can be done to this game, it lies in what can and will be done in the next. Sims 4 = Sims 4 and Sims 4 will always be Sims 4. People seeing it the way described in the video indirectly are just saying this: stop developing for Sims 4 and start developing Sims 5, using our suggestions. And please don’t just listen to gamechangers suggestions, also listen to paying customers that, in spite of not having a huge YouTube following, most definitely are committed to the franchise.

I understand what you are saying....but I do believe this game can still be updated to be much better and fully enjoyable, the devs just have to want it. A game is a game, it's code, they can add an entirely new wants system to this, they can at least make it work better and change what makes whims pop up, they can make relationships deeper, they can improve the AI, etc.

I’m just really having a hard time to believe that but who knows I’m wrong and it is actually the devs being unwilling to make those adjustments necessary. Because wouldn’t it come down to that? They know how it works, a lot of them worked on the earlier games. They know how it has to be done, they know the issues simmers are having with this version, so, why don’t they? I fear because they can’t, because the game is what it is and they have to work with that (like Sims 3 had its clear limits and even though they tried to cater fans requesting things, they just couldn’t in the same way players were used to in Sims 2). I don’t believe they are unwilling, I fear they are incapable.

I don't think it's so much a matter of can't or don't want to as lower priorities. The amount of changes needed is -in total- probably at least a game pack, if not a full expansion pack, worth of programing and interface adjustment. All done for free, because they'd have to be released as patches. That's time and resources that they can, and presumably have been, spending on new game packs or expansion packs, and making money for EA/Maxis... who pays their salary. Like with most things, it really comes down to money.

Let's face it, most of these issues aren't actually bugs. Despite some people's experience to the contrary, they are features that would be nice, but aren't strictly needed for many - I might even dare to say most - people to enjoy the game as is. (I'm sure the number of people who want, or would at least appreciate these changes is actually pretty high. Those people just either aren't active on forums/twitter or else don't see it as something important enough to be worth speaking up about. As with anything, the vocal minority is often a fairly tiny fraction of the actual market.) The team at Maxis needs to produce stuff that will sell more than they need to add free features and enhancements that may - no, will introduce new bugs that they'll then have to spend more time fixing that could be spent perhaps testing the next paid expansion.

"Sigzy05;c-17270717" wrote:

I feel like that's on the player. If you know you are going to do something that has a chance of death save before doing that action.

The beauty of different opinions! I think anything that allows for maximum choice and accomodation of play styles is good. ?

"DaWaterRat;c-17270847" wrote:

"JoAnne65;c-17270811" wrote:

"Sigzy05;c-17270593" wrote:

"JoAnne65;c-17270581" wrote:
The answer doesn’t lie in what can be done to this game, it lies in what can and will be done in the next. Sims 4 = Sims 4 and Sims 4 will always be Sims 4. People seeing it the way described in the video indirectly are just saying this: stop developing for Sims 4 and start developing Sims 5, using our suggestions. And please don’t just listen to gamechangers suggestions, also listen to paying customers that, in spite of not having a huge YouTube following, most definitely are committed to the franchise.

I understand what you are saying....but I do believe this game can still be updated to be much better and fully enjoyable, the devs just have to want it. A game is a game, it's code, they can add an entirely new wants system to this, they can at least make it work better and change what makes whims pop up, they can make relationships deeper, they can improve the AI, etc.

I’m just really having a hard time to believe that but who knows I’m wrong and it is actually the devs being unwilling to make those adjustments necessary. Because wouldn’t it come down to that? They know how it works, a lot of them worked on the earlier games. They know how it has to be done, they know the issues simmers are having with this version, so, why don’t they? I fear because they can’t, because the game is what it is and they have to work with that (like Sims 3 had its clear limits and even though they tried to cater fans requesting things, they just couldn’t in the same way players were used to in Sims 2). I don’t believe they are unwilling, I fear they are incapable.

I don't think it's so much a matter of can't or don't want to as lower priorities. The amount of changes needed is -in total- probably at least a game pack, if not a full expansion pack, worth of programing and interface adjustment. All done for free, because they'd have to be released as patches. That's time and resources that they can, and presumably have been, spending on new game packs or expansion packs, and making money for EA/Maxis... who pays their salary. Like with most things, it really comes down to money.

Let's face it, most of these issues aren't actually bugs. Despite some people's experience to the contrary, they are features that would be nice, but aren't strictly needed for many - I might even dare to say most - people to enjoy the game as is. (I'm sure the number of people who want, or would at least appreciate these changes is actually pretty high. Those people just either aren't active on forums/twitter or else don't see it as something important enough to be worth speaking up about. As with anything, the vocal minority is often a fairly tiny fraction of the actual market.) The team at Maxis needs to produce stuff that will sell more than they need to add free features and enhancements that may - no, will introduce new bugs that they'll then have to spend more time fixing that could be spent perhaps testing the next paid expansion.

That would come down to being unwilling then, having other priorities. I’m not a developer so I have no idea obviously, but I genuinely thought they just can’t make those adjustments or they would. If they can and turn the basegame into something good they’d even win me over. Because the basegame and the sims and how they act are my main problem with the game. Is it just a vocal minority, are you sure? Even gamechangers are joining in now.

"DaWaterRat;c-17270847" wrote:

"JoAnne65;c-17270811" wrote:

"Sigzy05;c-17270593" wrote:

"JoAnne65;c-17270581" wrote:
The answer doesn’t lie in what can be done to this game, it lies in what can and will be done in the next. Sims 4 = Sims 4 and Sims 4 will always be Sims 4. People seeing it the way described in the video indirectly are just saying this: stop developing for Sims 4 and start developing Sims 5, using our suggestions. And please don’t just listen to gamechangers suggestions, also listen to paying customers that, in spite of not having a huge YouTube following, most definitely are committed to the franchise.

I understand what you are saying....but I do believe this game can still be updated to be much better and fully enjoyable, the devs just have to want it. A game is a game, it's code, they can add an entirely new wants system to this, they can at least make it work better and change what makes whims pop up, they can make relationships deeper, they can improve the AI, etc.

I’m just really having a hard time to believe that but who knows I’m wrong and it is actually the devs being unwilling to make those adjustments necessary. Because wouldn’t it come down to that? They know how it works, a lot of them worked on the earlier games. They know how it has to be done, they know the issues simmers are having with this version, so, why don’t they? I fear because they can’t, because the game is what it is and they have to work with that (like Sims 3 had its clear limits and even though they tried to cater fans requesting things, they just couldn’t in the same way players were used to in Sims 2). I don’t believe they are unwilling, I fear they are incapable.

I don't think it's so much a matter of can't or don't want to as lower priorities. The amount of changes needed is -in total- probably at least a game pack, if not a full expansion pack, worth of programing and interface adjustment. All done for free, because they'd have to be released as patches. That's time and resources that they can, and presumably have been, spending on new game packs or expansion packs, and making money for EA/Maxis... who pays their salary. Like with most things, it really comes down to money.

Let's face it, most of these issues aren't actually bugs. Despite some people's experience to the contrary, they are features that would be nice, but aren't strictly needed for many - I might even dare to say most - people to enjoy the game as is. (I'm sure the number of people who want, or would at least appreciate these changes is actually pretty high. Those people just either aren't active on forums/twitter or else don't see it as something important enough to be worth speaking up about. As with anything, the vocal minority is often a fairly tiny fraction of the actual market.) The team at Maxis needs to produce stuff that will sell more than they need to add free features and enhancements that may - no, will introduce new bugs that they'll then have to spend more time fixing that could be spent perhaps testing the next paid expansion.

Some things aren't that costly as they seem....adding sim bios for example would go a long way and it's just some UI in CAS and live mode with a text box, going through the trait exclusive moodlets and optimising their value to be more impactful is something else they could easily do for a better gameplay experience.

This video sums up my issues with this game perfectly. I'm glad someone from the game changers finally focused on gameplay rather than just build mode. More people who have at least some influence should speak up more about it. The only other one i've seen mention it is Plumbella.

"EnglishSimmer" did a similar vid on YT about missing content titled "there is nothing to do in the Sims 4"