"vikinglexi;d-966624" wrote:
https://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/801025/ea-silence-on-family-play-and-family-play-fans
This thread is a continuation of the above link.
I believe that family play has again fallen by the wayside. This thread isn't about EA and Maxis' current focus (occults and builders) but on the lack of good domestic type play in general since Seasons. I myself play all types of styles so no hate on other types of gameplay.
Examples of what I'm talking about
Toddler are petty much the same as children below with the addition of lack of any new traits.
Children can't show visible occult status, have had the same 4 aspirations since launch, it's a flip of the coin if they get clothes and hair in a new pack.
Teens are basically restricted adults.
Elders, They exist?
This thread isn't exactly a complaint but an observation. Please no hate towards other types of play/players. Also no posts on the speculation of preteens (and other mid-stages) as I believe that they're basically confirmed to never be in sims 4 and are basically a mashup of ways that children and teens can be improved.
I've also played every Sims game since 2000, so I know how play was in other games. This thread isn't about what made family play in the other games better or worse, the issue is sims 4 domestic play.
Would love to hear about ways you all believe family play can be improved :) .
Only started playing a few months back, over 900 hours in, from what i've played, there is a signifcant lack of options towards child and teen phases, more child phase due to how anonymous they are as when they come out of toddler stage where you spend a lot of time looking out for them then suddenly on age up they are a lot less demanding, more independent and can more or less take care of themselves with exception to a few things like paying bills, repairing stuff and getting a paying job.
However with that said, it still seems like the bases are covered on what children get up to, so there isn't a lot to find in such a phase. adding more hairstyles and clothes doesn't really bring anything because on age up to teenager, it suddenly doesn't matter all that much.
aside from aspirations the problem we face is a lack of trait slots to make a difference and even when children get two trait slots it should open up to child traits that convert to regular traits on age up to teens. however certain adult skills should be allowed for children to help them build towards their basic skills and when those complete they can learn a few more adult skills. kids are taught cookery classes in school as they learn at home as well, being independent means learning to cook to survive, in the same way kids can learn to weight lift or run around on a treadmill or punch the punching bag. stuff like that can help out creativity and active skills and later cooking and fitness skills.
Aspirations could give a leg up, but i'd like to see a lot more of those from basically learning how to cook, to writing, math and other types of activities which can help build new skills that were teen/adult/elder only and contribute towards regular aspirations when children do age up. An example would be: completining social butterfly aspiration completes the first stage aspiration of friends of the world. same goes for the other aspirations. so if the math aspiration was added and completed? it would contribute towards nerd brain, as writing would to bestselling author and so on.
Elders? i don't pay much mind to elders. The problem with elders is that they have no useful purpose on the game other than taking up resources. I've seen some elders in real life being as fit as a fiddle, running around easily, enjoying such activity. while others enjoy a nice life being able to continue their usual activities without much issue, from gardening to other things. only in specific cases should elders become dangerously tired as 5 minutes on a treadmill is just such a massive penalty it isn't worth wasting time on unfortunately. if the tiredness penalty was raised a bit, there might be an option to get some activities in with the elders. only thing i can get out of elders is to mentor others and that is it, at least they will have a use before they pass on and this game doesn't do them any justice.
