EA, why don't you like Europe so much?
Okay, I don't want to be toxic or unpleasant so I will just highlight some complainments in below points. 1. Packs are always more expensive in Europe (around 25%). KITs cost in eurozone 4,99EUR (6...
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As said above: the game is Americanized, because it is developed in the USA.
They clearly try to bring in flavors and parts of other cultures when they can, but there's gazillion cultures to choose from, and as much as it might infuriate us Europeans (I'm from Finland, myself. Hey, at least there's a sauna in the game!) there's really not so many differences between our cultures and American one that it would provide differences in the -gameplay-. Most of the things to change would be just visual. Different looking houses with... a differently animated vacuum model, living the already existing western sim-life. Yes, there are huge differences in the cultures between European countries, and also as Europe-as-a-whole and the USA, but how many of those differences could be turned into new interesting gameplay in the Sims?
I like that they are doing small cultural things like clothes and food every now and then, those can be easy to add without them requiring actual pack-worthy gameplay idea. Any pack would require something fun and new to play with, something that doesn't already exist in the game, 'n therefore cultural additions can be tricky. However, I wouldn't be surprised if they'd use Kits for the cultural styles 'cause they can do those without needing to add gameplay.
That said, I love it whenever they add things from varied cultures around the world, much kudos! Looking forward to the next one.
Edit: Almost forgot! The higher price within EU must be because of VAT. 'm sure similar explanation can be found for various locations. If you don't know what it is, a quick wikipedia check on "Value-added tax" will give you more than enough information. Also notice how the USA is one of the very very few countries without it, meaning that when things produced in the USA are sold elsewhere, additional cost is added to the original price. So if this is the case it's not EA charging non-US citizens more, but the countries we live in taxing us for buying those products.
They clearly try to bring in flavors and parts of other cultures when they can, but there's gazillion cultures to choose from, and as much as it might infuriate us Europeans (I'm from Finland, myself. Hey, at least there's a sauna in the game!) there's really not so many differences between our cultures and American one that it would provide differences in the -gameplay-. Most of the things to change would be just visual. Different looking houses with... a differently animated vacuum model, living the already existing western sim-life. Yes, there are huge differences in the cultures between European countries, and also as Europe-as-a-whole and the USA, but how many of those differences could be turned into new interesting gameplay in the Sims?
I like that they are doing small cultural things like clothes and food every now and then, those can be easy to add without them requiring actual pack-worthy gameplay idea. Any pack would require something fun and new to play with, something that doesn't already exist in the game, 'n therefore cultural additions can be tricky. However, I wouldn't be surprised if they'd use Kits for the cultural styles 'cause they can do those without needing to add gameplay.
That said, I love it whenever they add things from varied cultures around the world, much kudos! Looking forward to the next one.
Edit: Almost forgot! The higher price within EU must be because of VAT. 'm sure similar explanation can be found for various locations. If you don't know what it is, a quick wikipedia check on "Value-added tax" will give you more than enough information. Also notice how the USA is one of the very very few countries without it, meaning that when things produced in the USA are sold elsewhere, additional cost is added to the original price. So if this is the case it's not EA charging non-US citizens more, but the countries we live in taxing us for buying those products.
