5 years ago

DLC Features That Should be in the Base Game Next Time (either fully or partially)

Hey guys, so I wanted to make this list for a long time already and thought today might be the day. I just think in 2020 after 20 years of the Sims there are several things we should have in the base game already instead of it coming later in DLC. I will list DLC from the entire franchise and then name the things from that DLC I think should be in a base game by now.
I am basing my decisions on a statement a Guru once made (don't remember exactly) about DLC. He/She said that the content that comes with the base game is the crucial parts of life that are such a big part of it, that exist in almost everyone's life. The DLC on the other hand is meant to expand the game in a direction the player chooses.

The packs (ones marked as fully mean the whole DLC should be in the base game) :

- From Expasion Packs:

Sims 2:

- University: Plastic Surgery
- Nightlife: Drivable Cars, Fury, Turn-ons/offs
- Open for business: Some kind of makeover, especially a grooming (haircuts, barbers) option
- Free Time: Basketball hoops or some kind of sport, Nursery Rhymes
- Apartment Life: Some kind of Social Class system

Sims 3:

- Ambitions: Earthquakes or some kind of disaster, Bake Sales for Kids, Motorcycles, Firefighters
- Late Night: NPC hosted Parties, Zodiac Signs
- Generations: fully
- Seasons: Online Dating
- Showtime: Customizable Career Outfits

Sims 4:

- Get to Work: taking photos (was first exclusive), hospitals and births, illness
- Get Together: More Activities for friends (board games, darts etc.), dancefloor
- City Living: Politics career, Apartment buildings, Vegeterian trait, Singing
- Cats and Dogs: Color wheel
- Pets (Sims 2, 3, 4): Animals, some kind of minor animals should be in the base game, either lizards, bees, birds, insects, snakes, turtles, rodents
- Seasons (S2,S3,S4): Some kind of weather (not necessarily actual seasons), meaning some more cloudy or sunny days or even rain. Actual Seasons would be awesome too if possible. Giving Gifts, Swings
- Get Famous: Good and Bad Reputation, Scars in CAS
- Discover University: Education career, Bicycles, Personal storage chest, Roomates, Repoman, Facial piercings

- From Game Packs:

- Dine out: Restaurants or some kind of Dining (while owning one could come with the "Business Expansion")
- Parenthood: fully
- Strangerville: Military career, Laptops

- From Stuff Packs:

Sims 2:

- Celebration Stuff: More wedding gowns in base game

Sims 4:

- Movie Hangout Stuff: Movies
- Romantic Garden Stuff: More landscaping options in base game
- Fitness Stuff: Earbuds
- My First Pet Stuff: Either in base game as previously mentioned or part of Pets EP
- Tiny Living: Multi-object combinations (Bookcase with TV etc.)
- Nifty Knitting: Plopsy or some kind of way to sell owned/crafted objects either online or in a store (like the consignment store)

Comment below if you have additional ideas.

28 Replies

LoveMcQueen
5 years ago
At the very least we need to have pets and seasons in the base game. This way pets can have new content in future expansions without people freaking out (MFPS) and that we don’t have to go years without weather and seasons in the game again.
Purrloin9
5 years ago
I don't agree with everything here, but I agree with a lot of it. Seasons for sure should be in the base game if nothing else. It is insane having to wait years for something as natural and basic as seasons in a life simulator.
Phonecallz
Seasoned Ace
5 years ago
"ListentoToppDogg;c-17667217" wrote:
I don't agree with everything here, but I agree with a lot of it. Seasons for sure should be in the base game if nothing else. It is insane having to wait years for something as natural and basic as seasons in a life simulator.

We wish. If I recall, weather was meant to be part of The Sims 2 base game. Seasons is definitely one of the most requested and fan favourite features, so I can't see them ever adding it to a base game, they can always create enough content to make it an Expansion Pack.
CAPTAIN_NXR7
Legend
5 years ago
I especially agree with seasons, generations and genetics.

We’ve been getting so used to getting Seasons as an expansion pack since apparently it takes a long time to develop, but the weather is very much part of our daily lives and affects our mood in different ways. I do feel that development for this needs to be prioritized.
Basic generational gameplay should also be there from the start. This means proper execution of all life stages, included at launch, from babies to ghosts. From the crib to the graveyard.
Genetics wise, scars, skin blemishes and body hair should be an option. And transport too.

The only problem is that specific themes such as Seasons or Generations are usually the most sought after EPs, which means they generate a huge amount of revenue and I’m not sure the company is willing to give up such an easy buck.
On the other hand they’d be able to explore other kinds of gameplay we did not have in previous Sims titles.

Unfortunately, selling popular themes as separate DLC does make more sense to a company. Of course it doesn’t necessarily make sense to the simmers, it never really has, but this is the world of capitalism. It’s not a world that is made to make sense to the consumer. It’s a world that only makes sense to the corporation.
SimmerGeorge
5 years ago
"ListentoToppDogg;c-17667217" wrote:
I don't agree with everything here, but I agree with a lot of it. Seasons for sure should be in the base game if nothing else. It is insane having to wait years for something as natural and basic as seasons in a life simulator.

@ListentoToppDogg Is there something specific you don't agree with? I would love to know. But yeah I realize I did overdo it a bit with this list.
SimmerGeorge
5 years ago
"Holiday;c-17667231" wrote:
"ListentoToppDogg;c-17667217" wrote:
I don't agree with everything here, but I agree with a lot of it. Seasons for sure should be in the base game if nothing else. It is insane having to wait years for something as natural and basic as seasons in a life simulator.

We wish. If I recall, weather was meant to be part of The Sims 2 base game. Seasons is definitely one of the most requested and fan favourite features, so I can't see them ever adding it to a base game, they can always create enough content to make it an Expansion Pack.

@Holiday Yeah unfortunately the Seasons pack has become the "game-saving" pack. Once this pack is out people see the game with whole different eyes (me included) because it's just such a vital point of a life simulator that it changes everything.
Because it's so vital I want it in the base game but judging by the past two games I don't know if they'll ever do it.

Also I love the new Lady Gaga album! ;)
SimmerGeorge
5 years ago
"CAPTAIN_NXR7;c-17667241" wrote:
I especially agree with seasons, generations and genetics.

The only problem is that specific themes such as Seasons or Generations are usually the most sought after EPs, which means they generate a huge amount of revenue and I’m not sure the company is willing to give up such an easy buck.
On the other hand they’d be able to explore other kinds of gameplay we did not have in previous Sims titles.

@CAPTAIN_NXR7 Lately a lot of Simmers have been complaining about how EA always does the same old packs and they don't get as hyped for them anymore (many of the packs like Seasons, University, Pets have been EPs in 3 or all 4 of the games). Also many people say they will refuse to move to the new base game since it's going to be empty, without weather etc.
Even the Sims Team said several times that they would love to explore more ideas rather than just make the same old packs. They are always relieved to get the "big" packs out of the way so they can do fresh stuff.

I really hope they grow out of this trend of making the same packs for every game. It has gotten old, Simmers are tired, the team is tired. But the money issue persists and big boss EA won't allow that. It could be a risk for them to give us those packs in the base game and then having to come up with pack ideas to replace them, that will sell as much. They could do it, I'm sure but Seasons, Pets etc are safe bets.
Cynna1065
5 years ago
I only ask for three things:

Seasons on day one
Pets
An attraction system

We shouldn't need to pay extra for those basic elements of life in a life simulator.
imahulazombie
5 years ago
i agree with you! for being the 5th game i think they should already know the priorities on a life simulator which means to put in the base game all the basics of life, because that's what the base game is for. dlcs should be about making additional content like supernaturals or something.

in sims 2 devs were already trying to fit seasons in the base game.
it's been 15 years, if they keep making it an expansion pack it just screams greed.
CAPTAIN_NXR7
Legend
5 years ago
"SimmerGeorge;c-17667265" wrote:
"CAPTAIN_NXR7;c-17667241" wrote:
I especially agree with seasons, generations and genetics.

The only problem is that specific themes such as Seasons or Generations are usually the most sought after EPs, which means they generate a huge amount of revenue and I’m not sure the company is willing to give up such an easy buck.
On the other hand they’d be able to explore other kinds of gameplay we did not have in previous Sims titles.

@CAPTAIN_NXR7 Lately a lot of Simmers have been complaining about how EA always does the same old packs and they don't get as hyped for them anymore (many of the packs like Seasons, University, Pets have been EPs in 3 or all 4 of the games). Also many people say they will refuse to move to the new base game since it's going to be empty, without weather etc.
Even the Sims Team said several times that they would love to explore more ideas rather than just make the same old packs. They are always relieved to get the "big" packs out of the way so they can do fresh stuff.

I really hope they grow out of this trend of making the same packs for every game. It has gotten old, Simmers are tired, the team is tired. But the money issue persists and big boss EA won't allow that. It could be a risk for them to give us those packs in the base game and then having to come up with pack ideas to replace them, that will sell as much. They could do it, I'm sure but Seasons, Pets etc are safe bets.

I believe the hype for these packs has always been there. At this stage it has become a tradition for simmers to beg for Seasons, University and Pets, even if they know these packs will be released eventually. A lot of folks are very impatient so I wonder how many simmers will really refuse to move on if something like seasons wasn’t included in a new title. They managed quite well in the past.

I never agreed with weather not being part of BG, and indeed the company needs to grow out of this trend. I also understand that the Sims Team would be happy to do fresh stuff for a change, but in the end they’re only the ones working for EA. I do believe that the ongoing TS4 has been way more experimental with its themes, especially after all the big ones were released. This way they can gauge the interest of simmers and see what is and what isn’t popular. (And no, as much as I like The GP I doubt they’ll be planning another Star Wars ?).

I too believe that someone on the team will need to pitch an incredible idea in order to get EA on board if they want to replace the all favourites with something else that will generate the big bucks. It’s taking a huge chance, but I do hope it’s something they’ll consider. Although I’m afraid EA may think to themselves: If it ain’t broke, why fix it?
Knock on wood.