Does this pack feels like PSa ?

"LiELF;c-17507564" wrote:

"filipomel;c-17507395" wrote:
If you think about it, being environmentally conscious is kind of an important thing in modern human life. Is it really that strange that a life simulator is diving into an extremely important area of modern human life?

I would argue caring about the environment is just as much a part of life as pets are, or the seasons, etc.

Yes, it's an important part of reality. Definitely.

But my problem here, is that the Sims 4 clings too much to reality in the wrong ways. Yes, the Sims games have always been life simulators. But not in the PSA way that Sims 4 has been. Not in the ultra socially conscious way it has been promoted. Past Sims games weren't preachy or Utopian. They were more tongue-in-cheek and laughably true to reality in satirical ways. The Sims 4, while childishly goofy with its poop jokes and humor, also takes itself way too seriously with its "message to the people of the world" and tries too hard to rack up those social points with young groups.

In a way, it's like being parented by my video game. Like the company doesn't trust its players to play "the right way" in their own games. So instead of taking a humorous, casual, neutral stance on content and gameplay, they push the DLC to weigh heavily on this "live the best life in your game for everyone, whether you like it or not", propaganda. Always sending a "feel good" message and tying it into the kind of realism that sometimes oppresses. Why even use the tag line, "play your way"? Clearly, they don't want us to anymore.

Anyway. My point is that the pack wouldn't be about sending a message. It would be about balanced gameplay that put the fate of the Sims' world in the player's hands. For good or ill. And the diverse personalities of the Sims 2 would dictate how each Sim would react (or not react.) It would still be an Eco pack without the PSA.

The game play and the 'intention' or 'message' behind the pack should be two separate conversations. I don't think someones efforts for spreading environmental awareness should ever be discredited, no matter who preaches, be it a young girl or a video game developer. If anything I feel like this area of the Sims 4 with trying to be socially aware is one of the games strongest points, how they approach their socially aware efforts I feel can be better at times, but something I feel should be encouraged none the less, not just for the Sims team, but for all video game developers. I feel like people don't understand just how big of a deal this is, that a popular mainstream video game is releasing content purely about environmental awareness. Whether it's too PSA like or preachy is another area of discussion, one where criticism is fair, but some are painting this pack and the team behind this pack in a negative light, and I don't think that's fair

As for the game play and what you think it should be like, I think your ideas are great and I would've loved to see features similar to what you described, but that's not the pack we're getting unfortunately. I agree that this pack is extremely polarizing, however this is the teams first attempt at creating a pack with Eco lifestyles being the central theme, so for a first time pack I'm trying to be a bit more open minded and less picky.