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7 years ago
"Erpe;c-16243649" wrote:"drake_mccarty;c-16243615" wrote:
The Sims has survived on the same format since it’s creation, with successful new content lines added with each game. (Sims 2/Stuff Packs, Sims 3/DLC Store, Sims 4/Game Packs)
If EA’s analysis were that more stuff meant less money, then why exactly did they steadily release expensive Store exclusive content in addition to 2 full expansions and 2 full stuff packs every year for The Sims 3’s entire shelf life? I mean if they were losing money, then the obvious course would be to cut back on what you are spending - which did not happen. If anything the store saw expanded investment with the addition of premium objects and store exclusive worlds.
The push for a cheap investment with Sims 4 all stems from the game’s massive unpopularity when it launched, and EA’s desire to make the game a financial success by any means necessary.
EA’s policy has clearly changed a lot but graduately through the years.
TS1 was made very cheap because EA had only expected that maybe a part of the SimCity gamers would buy it. But suddenly a lot of young girls who hadn’t bought games before bought it too and the sales numbers exploded. So EA had to make a few EPs too and they became bigger and bigger.
But after 4 years EA released TS2 with a much improved basegame. EA now knew that this was about to become a very profitable series. But EA still wasn’t sure and the EPs were therefore quite big because EA doubted that smaller EPs or SPs would sell at all.
A couple of years later EA began to experiment with SPs too. The first one was made for Christmas and EA only hoped that it would sell a little before Christmas. So EA released it without copy protection. But again the sales numbers exploded. So EA released another SP as an experiment only a few months later (just before Easter) and to EA’s surprise it sold extremely well too. So after this EA began to release SPs regularly.
Then EA released TS3 and experimented with other types of expansions and with stuff sold in the store. But the conclusion apparently was that stuff was best sold in SPs and that expensive EPs didn’t sell as well as cheap SPs.
So EA released TS4 and with a modified policy. EA wanted multitasking, autonomy, partying and happiness to be in focus. But the multitasking and the autonomy wouldn’t work well with the open world if EA still wanted the minimum requirements to be low. So the open world was omitted and so was toddlers because EA didn’t think that they were important in a game with a different focus.
So TS4 was released without toddlers but with more autonomy, multitasking, partying and happiness and half of the EPs were replaced by a GP and more SPs such that simmers could buy everything for the same budget while EA could save some money by reducing the number of developers working on the game. The GPs proved to sell better than the EPs as EA had hoped. So EA later increased the number of GPs to 2 GPs each year while still only making 1 EP. But I am still sure that EA started the development of the next basegame too years ago and plans to release it in 2019 :)
What numbers do you have to prove EA didn't spend any money on The Sims? and it was produced cheaply? Do you realize that in 1998 2D games were the thing and not 3D, as not all that many people or home had a pc in their home like they do today. Cheap is subjective, when you are trying to equate 'cheap' to 2D gaming. That doesn't mean any less (the value of a dollar at the time) was any less. What would it equal today? Just because it was 2D doesn't mean it was cheap. I agree EA found a cash cow, as Will Wright and many others have said EA said great now make ten more of this...that's a fact. But going around and saying it was young teen girls who bought the game is complete bogus, it was never teen girls it was housewives and middle aged women. That is also a fact. But in almost every thread you keep saying their biggest demographic was teen girls that simply isn't true. They used to tell their demographics to the public. EA no longer does that publicly since they try to stay ahead of the competition like those other soical game companies they have sued in the past.
ETA: And reading the rest of your comments, where does it say EA didn't plan on SPs but it was an experiement. I sure would like to know where you get your info..from @jackjack_k ?Because most of this is nonsense. ETA: To date TS3 remains the most successful cash cow, bringing in over 24 million in less than five years in the store. That's no small change and has outsold any SP releases. ETA: From Will Wright's mouth, they hoped to bring in $200,000 for The Sims but was surprised when it sold in the millions.
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