For sims 5, Sims should get preferences set in all categories.
Instead of Sims all acting like vapid punchable douchebags like in this game, I would advice to seriously deepen their taste since you can't just like art. People tend to have a specific taste there. Someone who just says they like all art comes across as someone who is clueless about the whole thing.
So here's a list of things I would want each sim to have an opinion on, something outside of traits, just a taste profile.
-Art.
You could select dislikes art, (not compatible with selecting styles) but you can also select specific styles and as many as you like. Your sim will respond positively to those styles, and won't care about anything not selected. Won't hate it either unless they'd have some trait that makes them picky. Of course this does mean art needs to be divided in categories, and sims could get a desire to purchase an art piece in a specific style.
-Music.
Again, disliking music could be an option, but you could also select the musical styles they like, maybe dislike too since with music people tend to react stronger to disliked music since you can't NOT hear it when it's on.
-Instruments.
Could dislike all instruments, or like some. Sims will only pick up instruments they like which should prevent every sim jumping on any instrument they see and actually have some personal interest here.
-Sexual preference.
This would allow sims to be asexual, gay, bi, straight and pansexual. Sexual preference is different from sexual identity of course, but that would be another part of character creation.
-Video games.
Could dislike videogames, but also like specific genres. So they'd pick those games to play. That way your supposedly cool gamer isn't playing something lame like well.. most of the options Sims get. I'd also advice them to give sims acces to a larger variety of games, EA is sitting on a lot of licenses, if they won't sell them so other developers can use them, they could at least let our sims play them.
-Geek interests.
Seriously, this is also such a broad spectrum. Let us be more specific. Mainly, a sim could be a fantasy or science fiction geek, or both. Maybe some other things too. Either way there should be sub genre's there.
-Food.
Let us pick what dishes our sims love, what they hate and of course through this you can make a sim vegetarian or vegan. No need to spend a trait on that.
-Electronics.
Should be able to set a degree of interest there, like sims could just use their phone for basic stuff, others could be crazy about it and yes, it should be possible for sims to not have a build in phone at all. Which would also allow sims to buy different kinds of phones.
-Fashion.
Do they care about fashion or not? This could affect their need to want new clothes and be interested talking about it or pursuing careers in it. If they don't care at all, they should not even get the option to initiate conversations related to that.
-Supernatural things.
Could dislike it all, or be interested in something specific here. Or all.
And I am sure more could be added, as long as it gives sims actual personality so they can move away from punchable douchebags and maybe go back to slightly goofy but varied friendly sims as they where in sims 1 and 2.
As expansions add new content, new instruments, foods and all that could be added.
So here's a list of things I would want each sim to have an opinion on, something outside of traits, just a taste profile.
-Art.
You could select dislikes art, (not compatible with selecting styles) but you can also select specific styles and as many as you like. Your sim will respond positively to those styles, and won't care about anything not selected. Won't hate it either unless they'd have some trait that makes them picky. Of course this does mean art needs to be divided in categories, and sims could get a desire to purchase an art piece in a specific style.
-Music.
Again, disliking music could be an option, but you could also select the musical styles they like, maybe dislike too since with music people tend to react stronger to disliked music since you can't NOT hear it when it's on.
-Instruments.
Could dislike all instruments, or like some. Sims will only pick up instruments they like which should prevent every sim jumping on any instrument they see and actually have some personal interest here.
-Sexual preference.
This would allow sims to be asexual, gay, bi, straight and pansexual. Sexual preference is different from sexual identity of course, but that would be another part of character creation.
-Video games.
Could dislike videogames, but also like specific genres. So they'd pick those games to play. That way your supposedly cool gamer isn't playing something lame like well.. most of the options Sims get. I'd also advice them to give sims acces to a larger variety of games, EA is sitting on a lot of licenses, if they won't sell them so other developers can use them, they could at least let our sims play them.
-Geek interests.
Seriously, this is also such a broad spectrum. Let us be more specific. Mainly, a sim could be a fantasy or science fiction geek, or both. Maybe some other things too. Either way there should be sub genre's there.
-Food.
Let us pick what dishes our sims love, what they hate and of course through this you can make a sim vegetarian or vegan. No need to spend a trait on that.
-Electronics.
Should be able to set a degree of interest there, like sims could just use their phone for basic stuff, others could be crazy about it and yes, it should be possible for sims to not have a build in phone at all. Which would also allow sims to buy different kinds of phones.
-Fashion.
Do they care about fashion or not? This could affect their need to want new clothes and be interested talking about it or pursuing careers in it. If they don't care at all, they should not even get the option to initiate conversations related to that.
-Supernatural things.
Could dislike it all, or be interested in something specific here. Or all.
And I am sure more could be added, as long as it gives sims actual personality so they can move away from punchable douchebags and maybe go back to slightly goofy but varied friendly sims as they where in sims 1 and 2.
As expansions add new content, new instruments, foods and all that could be added.
