"DreamaDove;c-16719315" wrote:
I really don't want any mental disabilities-- and I can't imagine EA putting that in, given how sensitive the subject is. I would like some physical disabilities, though. I'd like to have sims who walk with a cane, sims who use a wheelchair, and maybe blind/mute/deaf sims.
Mental disabilities could be handled through traits -- we already have the Erratic trait, bringing back traits like Neurotic or Absent Minded could help simulate mild mental illness. When I play elders I'll usually change out a trait to something opposite to simulate change in personality; an Active Sim will become Lazy, a Neat Sim will become a Slob, etc. I'd love to have more traits as well that would work, like Grumpy (milder form of Mean) is a trait I'd really like for my elders. If they add traits that aren't super-exaggerated, that could work.
Physical disabilities trouble me a bit more. I know that Grant has mentioned stairs that turn into ramps when a wheelchair approaches, but that would only work for shurt steps like getting up on a patio or front door. What about inside the home? Would the wheelchair user be limited to a single floor, or could we get home elevators? (Small elevators would be handy for retail builds as well.) There could also be routing issues as well with bathrooms and kitchens that would have to be taken into account -- a counter height that works for a standing Sim might not work for one that's in a wheelchair.
My final concern is regarding the community; will we be deluged with screenshots from some of the more deviant Simmers torturing disabled Sims? I know, we can always flag those posts but then we get into the argument of "political correctness" and "they're just characters in a video game".
My personal view is that if a Sims 5 is on the drawing board, disabilities be a part of that base game from the start. That gives a lot more time to fully develop them in a way that doesn't ridicule them, and it can include build mode items for a more realistic experience. Maybe get input from actual disabled players what they'd like to see. But at this point of the game, it might be really hard to fit disabilities into Sims 4 without them becoming a caricature.
