Do you think Maxis will surprise us with another Stuffpack in October?

"BrittanyChick22;c-17596860" wrote:

"crocobaura;c-17596422" wrote:

"BrittanyChick22;c-17596389" wrote:

"elelunicy;c-17596297" wrote:

"@BrittanyChick22;c-17595977" wrote:
How many stuff packs do you guys need? Sims 4 has 17! That's the most stuff packs a sims game has ever had and if you ask me it's gone overboard.

Lol. Let’s see:

TS2: 9 stuff packs, $20 per stuff pack, last stuff pack released 4 years 2 months after the base game release. That’s $180 worth of stuff packs in total, averaging $43.2 worth of stuff packs per year.

TS3: 8 stuff packs, $20 per stuff pack with the exception of Katy Perry Sweet Treats which was $30, last stuff pack released 4 years 3 months after the base game release. That’s $170 worth of stuff packs in total, averaging $40 worth of stuff packs per year.

TS4: 17 stuff packs, $10 per stuff pack, last stuff pack released 5 years 10 months after the base game release. That’s $170 worth of stuff packs in total, averaging $29.14 worth of stuff packs per year.

Essentially TS4 has the least amount of stuff packs. This doesn’t even account the fact that both TS2 and TS3 had a store selling more DLC, while TS4 never had a store.

My point is the game has 17 stuff packs to choose from. If that's not enough to keep you entertained, then clearly something is wrong with the game since its not keeping the player interested in its gameplay. Stuff is nice to have, but if that's all it can offer then the player will reach for anything to keep game from being dull.

It's not that the game is dull, but from what I see, many people like to play it quest style. They finish aspirations, top careers, skills, etc., instead of using them as tools for creative sandbox gameplay.

I beg to differ, in my personal experience sims 4 is dull and people get bored with packs very quickly, this thread even proves it. The moment we get something new and shiny, people are happy but it just doesn't last very long. it's because these packs don't offer in depth game play, I have come across a lot sim 4 players even in the sims 3 community who have said how bored they get with sims 4, they play around in cas or they like building but other than that a lot of then x right out the game the moment they open it. But that's the problem, what tools? There's not a whole lot of tools in the sims 4 to work with, plus there's really no right or wrong way to play a sandbox game.

I'll give you my personal reason for having bought Nifty Knitting and still would buy the new game pack tomorrow if the theme interests me:

I don't (and i never haven't) play the sims pack by pack. With knitting i have tried plopsy and have had my sim rock in the new chair and that's it for now, because the rest still doesn't integrate in my sim's stories. It will eventually, maybe tomorrow maybe next month or maybe next year. So, not having tried it all i can't be bored with the pack...

There are tons of stuff i haven't tried yet from packs that i have from the start. I also don't master a skill or an aspiration every time... i do it if im playing a special guy that in fact is a master.

But what i do know is that if a theme interests me i want to have that gameplay available to make different stories for my sims.

My play is as deep as the storylines i create and those are deeper if i have more content to use and interconnect in my characters life.

Just saying that not everyone buys a new pack after the other because is bored of the latest content.

Hmm...

I buy new dlc for The Sims 4. I do it because I enjoy the game and have a lot of fun.

Previously when I have tired of a game I took a break from playing. Or I left it altogether.

"BrittanyChick22;c-17596860" wrote:

"crocobaura;c-17596422" wrote:

"BrittanyChick22;c-17596389" wrote:

"elelunicy;c-17596297" wrote:

"@BrittanyChick22;c-17595977" wrote:
How many stuff packs do you guys need? Sims 4 has 17! That's the most stuff packs a sims game has ever had and if you ask me it's gone overboard.

Lol. Let’s see:

TS2: 9 stuff packs, $20 per stuff pack, last stuff pack released 4 years 2 months after the base game release. That’s $180 worth of stuff packs in total, averaging $43.2 worth of stuff packs per year.

TS3: 8 stuff packs, $20 per stuff pack with the exception of Katy Perry Sweet Treats which was $30, last stuff pack released 4 years 3 months after the base game release. That’s $170 worth of stuff packs in total, averaging $40 worth of stuff packs per year.

TS4: 17 stuff packs, $10 per stuff pack, last stuff pack released 5 years 10 months after the base game release. That’s $170 worth of stuff packs in total, averaging $29.14 worth of stuff packs per year.

Essentially TS4 has the least amount of stuff packs. This doesn’t even account the fact that both TS2 and TS3 had a store selling more DLC, while TS4 never had a store.

My point is the game has 17 stuff packs to choose from. If that's not enough to keep you entertained, then clearly something is wrong with the game since its not keeping the player interested in its gameplay. Stuff is nice to have, but if that's all it can offer then the player will reach for anything to keep game from being dull.

It's not that the game is dull, but from what I see, many people like to play it quest style. They finish aspirations, top careers, skills, etc., instead of using them as tools for creative sandbox gameplay.

I beg to differ, in my personal experience sims 4 is dull and people get bored with packs very quickly, this thread even proves it. The moment we get something new and shiny, people are happy but it just doesn't last very long. it's because these packs don't offer in depth game play, I have come across a lot sim 4 players even in the sims 3 community who have said how bored they get with sims 4, they play around in cas or they like building but other than that a lot of then x right out the game the moment they open it. But that's the problem, what tools? There's not a whole lot of tools in the sims 4 to work with, plus there's really no right or wrong way to play a sandbox game.

Yes, the fun doesn't last long for them because they rush to finish the aspirations, skills, careers, etc. and go through all the gameplay a new pack offers. That's actually a wrong way to play a sandbox game, because the Sims is not a game you finish. It's like you get a bucket and a spade at the beach and you fill up the bucket with sand and say you're done, when in fact you're meant to use the bucket to create sand castles.

"crocobaura;c-17596422" wrote:

"BrittanyChick22;c-17596389" wrote:

"elelunicy;c-17596297" wrote:

"@BrittanyChick22;c-17595977" wrote:
How many stuff packs do you guys need? Sims 4 has 17! That's the most stuff packs a sims game has ever had and if you ask me it's gone overboard.

Lol. Let’s see:

TS2: 9 stuff packs, $20 per stuff pack, last stuff pack released 4 years 2 months after the base game release. That’s $180 worth of stuff packs in total, averaging $43.2 worth of stuff packs per year.

TS3: 8 stuff packs, $20 per stuff pack with the exception of Katy Perry Sweet Treats which was $30, last stuff pack released 4 years 3 months after the base game release. That’s $170 worth of stuff packs in total, averaging $40 worth of stuff packs per year.

TS4: 17 stuff packs, $10 per stuff pack, last stuff pack released 5 years 10 months after the base game release. That’s $170 worth of stuff packs in total, averaging $29.14 worth of stuff packs per year.

Essentially TS4 has the least amount of stuff packs. This doesn’t even account the fact that both TS2 and TS3 had a store selling more DLC, while TS4 never had a store.

My point is the game has 17 stuff packs to choose from. If that's not enough to keep you entertained, then clearly something is wrong with the game since its not keeping the player interested in its gameplay. Stuff is nice to have, but if that's all it can offer then the player will reach for anything to keep game from being dull.

It's not that the game is dull, but from what I see, many people like to play it quest style. They finish aspirations, top careers, skills, etc., instead of using them as tools for creative sandbox gameplay.

Where is the sandbox? This game is literally as linear as it can be and this game is depending too much on imagination instead of actual content. If a game is only fun if you use your imagination only, there is a massive problem.

No matter how many tables and chairs they add to the game, no matter how many layers of paint (EP's/GP's and SP's) they try to paint over it, it's not going to make the game better. (at least not for me).

The foundation, the base game, is broken. They have to rework many, many core systems in order to make the game remotely fun and entertaining. Personalities, Consequences, SMARTER Sims, Memories, Traits that actually have impact on the gameplay and on the Sims themselves. At this point in time (6 years later already) every single Sim still feels and plays the same.

If I fight with one Sim, cheat with another Sim, they get angry for 1 second and the moment after they are making jokes and having fun again with eachother. How is that even a thing? They haven't put any resources in developing a decent system to make cheating/fighting have consequences at all. It's always so dull seeing Sims making jokes right after they had a fight or cheated in their lovers faces.

Do I think they will overhaul the core of the game? Nope. I think because this game is already 6 years old they don't care that much anymore. We all can see how buggy the game is, how buggy new packs are and how long they remain unfixed. They don't give a plum anymore.

The same will happen with this game like with all the others: Let it die and abandon ship with 50 000 000 bugs so people will jump ship to buy The Sims 5.
I cannot wait for the developers to start trash talking The Sims 4 the moment they announce The Sims 5. They always do that.

They always start trash talking the earlier generations when they try sell a new one.

"rudy8292;c-17597145" wrote:

"crocobaura;c-17596422" wrote:

"BrittanyChick22;c-17596389" wrote:

"elelunicy;c-17596297" wrote:

"@BrittanyChick22;c-17595977" wrote:
How many stuff packs do you guys need? Sims 4 has 17! That's the most stuff packs a sims game has ever had and if you ask me it's gone overboard.

Lol. Let’s see:

TS2: 9 stuff packs, $20 per stuff pack, last stuff pack released 4 years 2 months after the base game release. That’s $180 worth of stuff packs in total, averaging $43.2 worth of stuff packs per year.

TS3: 8 stuff packs, $20 per stuff pack with the exception of Katy Perry Sweet Treats which was $30, last stuff pack released 4 years 3 months after the base game release. That’s $170 worth of stuff packs in total, averaging $40 worth of stuff packs per year.

TS4: 17 stuff packs, $10 per stuff pack, last stuff pack released 5 years 10 months after the base game release. That’s $170 worth of stuff packs in total, averaging $29.14 worth of stuff packs per year.

Essentially TS4 has the least amount of stuff packs. This doesn’t even account the fact that both TS2 and TS3 had a store selling more DLC, while TS4 never had a store.

My point is the game has 17 stuff packs to choose from. If that's not enough to keep you entertained, then clearly something is wrong with the game since its not keeping the player interested in its gameplay. Stuff is nice to have, but if that's all it can offer then the player will reach for anything to keep game from being dull.

It's not that the game is dull, but from what I see, many people like to play it quest style. They finish aspirations, top careers, skills, etc., instead of using them as tools for creative sandbox gameplay.

Where is the sandbox? This game is literally as linear as it can be and this game is depending too much on imagination instead of actual content. If a game is only fun if you use your imagination only, there is a massive problem.

No matter how many tables and chairs they add to the game, no matter how many layers of paint (EP's/GP's and SP's) they try to paint over it, it's not going to make the game better. (at least not for me).

The foundation, the base game, is broken. They have to rework many, many core systems in order to make the game remotely fun and entertaining. Personalities, Consequences, SMARTER Sims, Memories, Traits that actually have impact on the gameplay and on the Sims themselves. At this point in time (6 years later already) every single Sim still feels and plays the same.

If I fight with one Sim, cheat with another Sim, they get angry for 1 second and the moment after they are making jokes and having fun again with eachother. How is that even a thing? They haven't put any resources in developing a decent system to make cheating/fighting have consequences at all. It's always so dull seeing Sims making jokes right after they had a fight or cheated in their lovers faces.

Do I think they will overhaul the core of the game? Nope. I think because this game is already 6 years old they don't care that much anymore. We all can see how buggy the game is, how buggy new packs are and how long they remain unfixed. They don't give a plum anymore.

The same will happen with this game like with all the others: Let it die and abandon ship with 50 000 000 bugs so people will jump ship to buy The Sims 5.
I cannot wait for the developers to start trash talking The Sims 4 the moment they announce The Sims 5. They always do that.

They always start trash talking the earlier generations when they try sell a new one.

I agree with you that some things would greatly improve the game if added to it, but I still get a lot of fun from it without playing cheating sims or sims that fight one another. If I want memories I take pictures and traits are not all useless. My sims get interests, hobbies, careers they pursue, which combined with their traits and life stories makes them quite unique. That's something you need to do, it's not a game fault. Sims making jokes after they had a fight or cheated in their lovers faces is down to them being inconsiderate asses, not the game being dull.

"@crocobaura;c-17597136" wrote:
Yes, the fun doesn't last long for them because they rush to finish the aspirations, skills, careers, etc. and go through all the gameplay a new pack offers. That's actually a wrong way to play a sandbox game because the Sims is not a game you finish. It's like you get a bucket and a spade at the beach and you fill up the bucket with sand and say you're done, when in fact you're meant to use the bucket to create sand castles.

There is no right or wrong way to play a sandbox game.
Some people don’t want to play with the bucket or build a sandcastle. They just want to roll in the sand. Other people bury treasure in the sand. Or their friend. Some like making a little zen garden.

For some folks the sandbox just happens to be too small, so they get annoyed and leave or hope they get a bigger one. Some folks do not like the texture of the sand, because it is not solid enough to drive their little dinky cars around. For others it’s perfect, because it works great with the stout little loader truck that they got.

There are many things one can do in sandbox. If that particular sandbox isn’t right for them, there is little left to do, except maybe for trying and finding other ways to play in it.

Honestly stuff packs as a concept are valuable for builders that aren't that into gameplay. IMO they could release 4 SP a year, but the themes needs to be better and actually add valueable stuff; I would love if they made stuffpacks inspired by certain architecture or interior designs, there are so many interesting periods and styles that are lacking in the game.

I'd be happy with a garden SP, just focused on plants and gardens, or a pack with interior from functionalism, or maybe a pack solely focused on vacation houses (with the gameplay feature of owning properties)...I want more stuffpacks that actually has A BUNCH of stuff in them

The later stuff packs seem to be "meatier" than the early ones, at least. I only own 4 of the SPs but when I've looked at the content you get in the older ones, they do seem lacking in comparison to their younger siblings.

God I hope not. 2 stuff packs is enough for one year

"elelunicy;c-17595782" wrote:

"@Bluebeard45;c-17595736" wrote:
First is Maxis is only a name now. EA bought the name and Will Wright rode off in the sunset. The Sims are owned by Wall Street now and it's all about $$$.

Lol what are you talking about. EA bought Maxis in 1997, three years before TS1 was even released. Many of Maxis’ games at the time were commercial failures & Will Wright ran out of money and had to sell the studio to EA to survive. Without EA, The Sims would never have been a thing and Maxis would have closed down more than 20 years ago.

And Will Wright only worked on TS1 & The Sims Online. He did not work on TS2 at all. Will Wright has been a completely irrelevant figure for the franchise for well over 15 years now.

You are wrong. Will Wright did work on TS2, he did work on it until nightlife.