Electronic Arts is preparing for the future, and one that is increasingly focused on streaming and cloud technology."At EA, we envision a future in which games go even further beyond the immersive experiences players enjoy today," Moss said. "I'm talking about games that offer living, breathing worlds that constantly evolve. You'll play them one day, and when you come back the next, things have changed based on inputs from other players, AI, and even the real world. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ea-has-1000-people-working-on-a-ridiculously-ambit/1100-6462918/?ftag=GSS-05-10aab8e&utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&utm_content=5bda490a1adf640001f82c03&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter

Glad their preparing for cloud tech. That's a better way of saving our games.

Oh yay, more always-online stuff that people didn't ask for. As if the Olympus and Simcity debacles weren't enough.If the next Sims game focuses heavily on other players making changes to my game, at least I'll know to save my money

Thanks for sharing the article @simgirl1010 :) The engine aspect of Project Atlas will see EA further unify its engine work to focus even more on the Frostbite engine- I can see that the direction that the EA is going is to establish their cross-platform technology & products, which means, for any future development for The Sims franchise will go along the same direction. I'm totally fine with that, but, how are they going to maintain the same quality for all platforms? We were told that due to performance issue, they can't do this & that... So, I'm a bit skeptical about it... On the "services" front, EA has big plans to deepen the "social capabilities" of its games, and this includes advancements to how you meet up with and spend time with other players in games, as well as sharing content captured in those games to the wider world. For matchmaking specifically, Moss said EA is making changes to allow for a more personalised experience that pulls from data you share with EA. Moss stressed that EA is being mindful of respecting player privacy.- I like this idea, but, for The Sims specially, I would like to have an option to immerse in my own virtual world, but at the same time, I can also interact with the other players when I want to... like most MMO games out there... For example, like WOW where I can choose to play solo or with a team... I'm not really into data sharing, although it could be good in personalising individual experience... but, I would not like it if it's only meant for marketing purposes..Project Atlas is EA's new streaming and cloud technology, which will allow gamers to play graphics-intensive titles potentially in a browser because the content is streamed and not stored locally. EA is working on a streaming service of its own, but details about subscription pricing, titles, and more have not yet been disclosed. - I'm not against cloud technology, it's good in general as it's saving us a lot of space and will probably optimised our game experience... But, most of the time, I would like to play offline and pull my data locally. And I'm not into paying the subscription, possible upgrade, etc.... And I'm very concern about the security...EA also plans to leverage AI and machine-learning to make significant advancements to the believability of the interactions in its games. NPC behaviour stands to become far more realistic and dynamic, while the commentating in sports games could also get a boost of believability...."Leveraging AI and machine learning will also give game makers the ability to craft in-game interactions with non-playable characters or - NPCs in a way that is virtually indecipherable from a human interaction," Moss said. "So, instead of a pre-scripted, pattern-based logic for NPC behavior, this would make it possible for an NPC to engage in a way that is dynamic, contextual, and absolutely believable. - I personally like this idea as it's one of my research topics that I would like to explore in the future... The dynamic interaction is probably one of the best feature that EA could actually integrate in The Sims.. And with the new development of VR, I think it will be the best combo in the new gaming industry... But, in the end, I hope that we'll not immerse in the virtual world too much... :D

Admittedly, using machine learning for better AI sounds impressive (although it's expensive on processing power right now on EA's end, especially if it requires constant retraining to adapt), but the other online parts like cloud and streaming integration are a bit iffy to me, if only because of past experiences with online integration. Plus it's EA, so this sounds like another reason for microtransactions to creep into their games.

"icmnfrsh;c-16807992" wrote:Admittedly, using machine learning for better AI sounds impressive (although it's expensive on processing power right now on EA's end, especially if it requires constant retraining to adapt), but the other online parts like cloud and streaming integration are a bit iffy to me, if only because of past experiences with online integration. Plus it's EA, so this sounds like another reason for microtransactions to creep into their games.Couldn't agree more.. :D

EA Project Atlas | EA Forums

Simburian
New Traveler
7 years ago
"IngeJones;c-16809836" wrote:
"simgirl1010;c-16807996" wrote:
The part about your game changing from day to day reminds me of Animal Crossing. I used to get so upset when I'd load my game and get a notice that one of my favorite animals had left town. Imagine loading your sims game only to find one of your sims had moved to another town. In another player's game :p

I'd love it! I am assuming we'd be able to mark certain households as Favorites like we can now to stop them being culled and stop them moving to other players' games. With that safeguard I'd love to see what certain families I'd no longer planned to play directly ended up deciding to do, and whether their new player enjoyed having them.

I do remember in a previous Sims iteration (3)? that Sims moved out or died off. I didn't like it much after coming across a baby left on it's own after the parent died off whilst I was playing another household.
Cinebar
7 years ago
"frog211;c-16809767" wrote:
cloud streaming would be nice. im a part of the project stream beta thing by google, and despite my internet being garbage, i've still been able to play assassins creed odyssey in my browser, and it's nice. imagine being able to play the sims or other games in your browser. i'd be down for that. least when i get a decent internet connection of course.

While you play they spy. No thank you. And when you log off, they continue to spy. Then you hop on over to your phone and they spy. You just want to buy a pair of shoes one day, and there they are, showing you five hundred pair from companies you have never heard of, who know you name, where you live, your address, who you married, how many kids, their names, where they live, how long they have been in school, what you drive, what is your eye color, how tall you are, the last time you used the bathroom, that you ate some hot sauce and you will need some tablet for your stomach soon, if you and honey had an argument, what is was over, and whether it was about those shoes you didn't really want anyway. No thank you. Oh, and how to manipulate you into believing anything they decide to add to gadgets for you to see.
SimsAddict_244
New Spectator
7 years ago
If there's no single player mode then I'll pass and stick with S2/S3/S4. There's some interesting things for new games but if the future of the Sims is to be an online only experience, then I'm not interested. That is not my vision of what the Sims is about. To me, the sims is about us, the players being the ones in control over what happens in our game. However, if this is completely optional with also a single player mode within then I'll just wait for the reactions before I consider playing it.
OctavieKnite
7 years ago
If Sims becomes an always online multiplayer game I'm done with the series. Unless it's couch play with friends I always play alone, and I don't like anything that has to be online all of the time
Writin_Reg
7 years ago
How this got turned into just an online multi-player - I don't get it. If you read about S.E.E.D - that is not what it's all about. The online storage is part of it so players can use what ever device they need to get to their games. How does that force connect you to other players unless that is the game you choose to play? It talks about AR in some games - bring ones imagination to life - making things possible that wasn't before and giving players choices on how to play their game - not one way but many ways.

I will never play multi-player connected to others sims games - I am not a multi-player gamer. But I have read most articles they have published (which is not a whole lot either) about their plans with interest as it sounds to me they are trying to offer a one stop service to play how every player wants to play and on more of your devices.

It is all new - not something like we have ever had before - so turning it into something that has been around is not where EA is going. Yes it will require online - and the cloud holds all your content but that does not mean you play or connect to anyone to enjoy your game. There is a lot more info we don't have - but they sure make it sound like it's all about how each of us want to play - but will require being online - even by your self from what I can see.

I am sure we will learn more as they give more info - but that is at least the way I have seen what info we have so far.
Hermitgirl
New Spectator
7 years ago
I don't get it either. If it's an option it is, and there will be buyers if it's intriguing and done well. I'm a singleplayer type of girl normally, but I have played some online role player games so if I pay for a game that does both. I'll try it both ways. I might like it both ways.
The "matchmaking" sounds intriguing to me. It would be really cool if they could group players per preference in a front ended manner. Perhaps you end up in a world more geared to you and others preferences (that match). Not sure that would be suitable for the sims and no where in this article or blog post does it mention the sims will be done this way.
Although again .. I wouldn't be surprised if it were optional.
I'm seeing shades of secondlife though .. and unless they police or control a world anything akin to that more heavily for performance for various users, flow, and actual gameplay being managed and actively encouraged. I don't see it being all that more than a second .. secondlife.
If they apply this smart AI though .. to single player and even multiplayer games with the world changing in a way that makes sense (some might not want it to make sense). It could be interesting.
TS1299
7 years ago
"MidnightAura;c-16809078" wrote:
Spider-Man, God of War, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Red Dead Redemption 2, Far Cry 5, Detroit: Become Human, the new Assassins Creed Game, Uncharted: The lost Legacy are all major AAA titles that have launched this year,or last either as a full stand alone, single player game that can be played offline or as a full single player with optional multiplayer. My Husband worked on one of the above titles as a developer and none of his future projects require online only gaming mode. Sorry but to say it’s the future of gaming is just false. Maybe for EA but not in the bigger picture. As a dev my Husband doesn’t believe in this strategy of EA, he thinks it’s nonsense, let’s just say that. The rest I couldn’t repeat here.

The sales speak for themselves:

God of war sold over five million copies in one month
Spider-Man sold 3.3 million copies in three days
Red Dead Redemption 2 sold over ten million in three days and broke the record for most sales on PlayStation and most pre ordered game to date.
Far Cry 5 doubled Far Cry 4 sales in one week and is the second biggest ever launch for a Bethesda title
Detroit: Become Human sold one million copies in two weeks.

All the above games we have,

I could go on but I don’t think I need to. The future of gaming is far from being an online experience which forces you to be so constantly whilst playing with friends. If it was none of the above games would be successful.

Wow that sounds amazing. Its also one of my dreams to become a game developer in the future. How is it working on those games? I admit I have not played those games since I dont have a super powerful pc yet, but those games are on the list of day 1 purchase after getting a new pc.

When it comes to the topic I think I can see the reason why EA/Maxis is going to extend The Sims 4 compared to its previous generations. The focus at EA is online, and you can see this by looking at EA list of games. The Sims Franchise is the only active AAA series from EA that is single player and offline exprience. Yes there is Need For Speed, but take a look at NFS2015, its online only game, and you cant even pause it. NFS2017 Payback removed Freeroam multiplayer and fans are angry so really, its a mulyiplayer game by now. There is a single player campaign but its only a small part if the game.

Since EA is multiplayer focused they want future projects to be multiplayer. You can see this by EA cancelling the development of a Single Player Star Wars game that many Star Wars fans are asking and that project is slowly turning to a multiplayer game by another EA studio. If I am honest I think the developers would love to make The Sims 5. They had learned some features on Sims 4, and can changr and inprove those. Example are the base game system. Overhauling Sims Emotion system in accordance to traits(For example Hot Headed Neat Sim will be angry if the place is dirty and Lazy Slobs sim will be Happy if the place is again dirty instead of uncomfortable) will need a massive overhaul on how their moodlets, and Each moodlets will need to change depending on traits,skills, relationships, current events, etc. They could do that in Sims 4, however it will taje a very ling time as it will affect rheir current, past, andfuture packs development, and the next three years are already planned.
However for a new game to happened they must convince EA to invest at the project and greenlight it. To be fair, I had a feeling that If EA greenlight the next project and approved it to be single player, Sims Team will have to use frostbite, an Engine where modding is not possible.
Cinebar
7 years ago
"Hermitgirl;c-16810820" wrote:
I don't get it either. If it's an option it is, and there will be buyers if it's intriguing and done well. I'm a singleplayer type of girl normally, but I have played some online role player games so if I pay for a game that does both. I'll try it both ways. I might like it both ways.
The "matchmaking" sounds intriguing to me. It would be really cool if they could group players per preference in a front ended manner. Perhaps you end up in a world more geared to you and others preferences (that match). Not sure that would be suitable for the sims and no where in this article or blog post does it mention the sims will be done this way.
Although again .. I wouldn't be surprised if it were optional.
I'm seeing shades of secondlife though .. and unless they police or control a world anything akin to that more heavily for performance for various users, flow, and actual gameplay being managed and actively encouraged. I don't see it being all that more than a second .. secondlife.
If they apply this smart AI though .. to single player and even multiplayer games with the world changing in a way that makes sense (some might not want it to make sense). It could be interesting.

What was described sounds more like the worlds would be server worlds and we wouldn't have any control if that came to this series. And did you catch the real world would also influence what happens the game world? Does that mean if a huricane had hit somewhere we come back to a game to find out all the houses were wiped out? Or does that mean whatever would be trending on Twitter or some other social media would be trending in our Sim world (again if this type of tech came to this series)? I would never be able to deal with server worlds where I'm not in some control of what happens or what type of Sims I allow into my worlds and or what is there today and gone tomorrow. It's one reason many who loved TS2 could not bear TS3's story progression. And it seems this new tech would take away even more world control for players. I can't see Simmers wanting to play worlds where their Sim house might be gone when they come back to the game, or like old crows ousting other birds from their nests, other players maybe evicting someone's Sim just to move in their own. lol

Sim players might have liked some of SP in TS3, but most of them who didn't play with it off, installed the mods to control all of SP so I don't see even them liking a world they can't actually control, either.
karon_shiruba
7 years ago
This just sounds like promises and promises, but right now it scares me. How would the games evolve using this? They would just spy us? What about The Sims Online? They are going to try that again? Just buy Second Life, EA, if thats what you want!
Fluteline24
New Spectator
7 years ago
Honestly, if they try multiplayer/online features again... they learned nothing from The Sims Online/SimCity/TS4's early development.

The Sims isn't a series that is meant to be online or played by multiple people at once. Period. And if this ends up being TS5, then I'm staying with TS3/4.