I’ve been a longtime simmer & feel the sims 4 does lack on some gameplay elements. I kinda wanted to talk about what I think would improve the gameplay experience in the sims 4 for me. Especially with all the backlash it gets. This thread is not about comparing games as we already have a topic of it here :https://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/981468/blast-from-the-past-what-the-sims-used-to-be#latest For me, I think what would make the gameplay more enjoyable for me is:• Create a world tool With the lack of lot space & worlds in the recent packs ( forgotten hallow , glimmerbrook & del sol for one) , I think if we were able to create our own worlds & upload/download on the gallery, that would be a big improvement in the right direction. Especially since I wish I had an all mermaid world, all alien world, vampires etc in one world.• Cars I would like this to work in the way sims 2. At least to drive to the end of street or pull up/pull out. It’s just a realistic aspect that I feel is missing & something I would like to return. I wouldn’t even mind if it had a loading screen. Maybe they can even introduce a new world where you can drag race? • Improved occult’s The ones I think of the most is aliens & plantsims. Despite mermaids not having their own underwater world & very limited powers, aliens & plantsims got the short end. Aliens still have that weird face bug when they age that has yet to be addressed. Plantsims is not really a true life state in the game & more of a buff. • Professions Dine out for example, you have to own a restaurant to play it. Same with veterinarian. But what if you don’t want to be the owner? What if you just want to be an employee & work your way to the top? If “missions” is the direction the sims 4 is going now, why not add this gameplay in? It could be fun where you have to seat people, take orders, deal with complaints, etc & work your way to the top. Maybe it’s too late to add this but it could be implemented in A different profession in the future. Having said that, we don’t have many professions & I would like to see more before we move on to sims 5. • Ponds I miss creating my own ponds. Using a pool is not the same as creating a pond. I want to be able to add fish , swim in it & even fish. It would also be really nice for my fantasy gardens . These are just some of my things. Feel free to share below any ideas you have to make the gameplay experience better for you :) Edited: Accidentally posted it on the wrong thread lol. Mods please move if it’s not in the right section, thank you :)

"Justin;d-981594" wrote:• Ponds I miss creating my own ponds. Using a pool is not the same as creating a pond. I want to be able to add fish , swim in it & even fish. It would also be really nice for my fantasy gardens . If you add a fishing sign to a pool, you can fish in it. But I would love to have a proper pond, with pond life and vegetation, with little piers you can sit on and dangle your feet in the water while you fish.

I agree with all of your points, with a CAW tool probably at the top of the list. If that’s not going to happen, I’d like more Uncivilized worlds. No buildings. No roads. Just woods and maybe overgrown paths and lakes to swim in. Also: An option to paint the ceilings and an option to edit lighting colour and intensity in BB. The balance between negative personality traits and relationships needs to be fixed. Sims who hate children clearly don’t hate children when they get out of their way to cuddle them. And dear Sim while you’re at it, please stop mourning your nemesis. Fair treatment of occults. Indeed Merfolk should at least have their own underwater world. Adding them to a game that does not offer that kind of gameplay in any way is nothing more than a terrible tease. I’d rather not have them at all. I never really play with Merfolk because they can’t even swim in any of the oceans beyond Sulani. Not good enough. More power based interactions between different occults. Have them duel against each other and see who wins. Spellcaster vs vampire. Yes please. And I’ll add to that: user directed duels. Right now it’s all quite random and completely unchallenging. Also Werebeasts and other monsters and more mythical beasts in general. Something for kids to do. They’re bored out of their poor little heads. At least give them a bike. I’m not done yet. But it’s a start.

Why Video Games Get Boring: The Psychology of Funhttps://gamedesignlounge.com/why-video-games-get-boring/I came across this article on the web.The Sims Studio is guilty of all these game design sins.They need to take each of these points and put them on the wall in huge text.1) Making a Game Too Repetitive Can Make it Boring A common tactic used by game developers is to recycle as many gameplay elements as they can throughout their game in order to speed up the production process. In and of itself there is nothing wrong with this strategy. It actually makes a lot of sense if it means a couple of years can be shaved off of production time.The issue occurs when the gameplay is essentially copy and pasted with only a few minor variations thrown in, in an attempt to keep players interested.2) Video Games Become Boring When They’re Too PredictableJust like movies with overused plot lines can be boring, the same is true of video games. When a player feels like they know what’s going to happen and they’re correct time and time again, they can quickly begin to lose interest.In order to keep players interested, game designers need to maintain an element of surprise. Great game designers can put themselves in the position of the player so that they can steer things in a completely new direction just when the player thinks they have everything figured out.3) Video Games With Not Enough Challenge Can Quickly Become Boring What makes you feel better? Being handed a blue ribbon for participation, or earning a blue ribbon for working hard and breaking a sweat? I don’t know about you, but I certainly prefer the latter.Game designers must present their players with a worthy challenge in order to maintain their interest. But it isn’t quite as simple as just giving them a challenge. The challenges must be in the correct order and have the correct difficulty level in order to keep players from becoming frustrated. 4) Players Get Bored With Video Games When They’re Not Rewarded for PlayingOne of the most important elements that should be included in every video game is rewards for the players. Video game rewards can take many forms. They might be an in-game currency, collectibles that expand the story, new outfit options, new playable areas, new abilities, or the unveiling of an interesting plot point.When a player goes through long stretches of gameplay without being properly rewarded, they can start to become bored. An important element of video game rewards is making sure that players know that they exist and that they’re coming2) Video Games Become Boring When They Simply Aren’t FunEveryone has different tastes when it comes to fun, so there’s no one size fits all when it comes to this point. But the fact stands, when a video game isn’t fun for a player, they will inevitably become bored.Over the years, many simmers have said all of this.

I think the Sims personalities need work. Here are my suggestions: 1.Better Aspirations for Sims that aren't just tutorials2. More impactful Traits that make the gameplay more interesting3. Change Emotions so that they don't override traits4. Change Moodlet values to reflect a more realistic Emotions system (Sad moodlet from a death of a parent should override a Happy moodlet from decor). 5. Add an Interest/Hobby System that has points added to it based on how much the Sim does the activity (reading, art, music). 6. Add an Attraction System with Turn ons and Turn offs to make relationships more complex and challenging.

"bixters;c-17665433" wrote:I think the Sims personalities need work. Here are my suggestions: 1.Better Aspirations for Sims that aren't just tutorials2. More impactful Traits that make the gameplay more interesting3. Change Emotions so that they don't override traits4. Change Moodlet values to reflect a more realistic Emotions system (Sad moodlet from a death of a parent should override a Happy moodlet from decor). 5. Add an Interest/Hobby System that has points added to it based on how much the Sim does the activity (reading, art, music). 6. Add an Attraction System with Turn ons and Turn offs to make relationships more complex and challenging.THIS. And I'd like to add to this list:7. Fears and phobias8. Sim FlawsI was watching a Let's Play of the old Sims Medieval game, which I played a long time ago, and I think the character creation in that would be a good reference for some very interesting new Traits. They also had it designed so you have to choose one Fatal Flaw for your character. I absolutely love that. I think having a new behavioral Flaws system for our Sims would be huge in bringing personalities to life, adding some obstacles, and allowing our Sims to be more relatable and less "Mary Sue" characters. Something else I'd like to see, since playing the Batuu pack, is more character voices and accents. This would go a long way to distinguishing cultures and making each Sim more unique. I'd love to have a few fantasy/fictional accents as well for Aliens and stranger Sims. The voices of the main NPCs in Batuu are so cool and different and very noticeable. Please give us more of that for our own use.

How to make the sims 4 gameplay experience better

crocobaura
Seasoned Ace
5 years ago
"Justin;d-981594" wrote:

• Ponds
I miss creating my own ponds. Using a pool is not the same as creating a pond. I want to be able to add fish , swim in it & even fish. It would also be really nice for my fantasy gardens .

If you add a fishing sign to a pool, you can fish in it. But I would love to have a proper pond, with pond life and vegetation, with little piers you can sit on and dangle your feet in the water while you fish.
CAPTAIN_NXR7
Seasoned Veteran
5 years ago
I agree with all of your points, with a CAW tool probably at the top of the list.
If that’s not going to happen, I’d like more Uncivilized worlds. No buildings. No roads. Just woods and maybe overgrown paths and lakes to swim in. Also:

An option to paint the ceilings and an option to edit lighting colour and intensity in BB.

The balance between negative personality traits and relationships needs to be fixed. Sims who hate children clearly don’t hate children when they get out of their way to cuddle them. And dear Sim while you’re at it, please stop mourning your nemesis.

Fair treatment of occults. Indeed Merfolk should at least have their own underwater world. Adding them to a game that does not offer that kind of gameplay in any way is nothing more than a terrible tease. I’d rather not have them at all. I never really play with Merfolk because they can’t even swim in any of the oceans beyond Sulani. Not good enough.

More power based interactions between different occults. Have them duel against each other and see who wins. Spellcaster vs vampire. Yes please. And I’ll add to that: user directed duels. Right now it’s all quite random and completely unchallenging. Also Werebeasts and other monsters and more mythical beasts in general.

Something for kids to do. They’re bored out of their poor little heads. At least give them a bike.

I’m not done yet. But it’s a start.
ck213
Seasoned Scout
5 years ago
Why Video Games Get Boring: The Psychology of Fun
https://gamedesignlounge.com/why-video-games-get-boring/

I came across this article on the web.
The Sims Studio is guilty of all these game design sins.
They need to take each of these points and put them on the wall in huge text.

1) Making a Game Too Repetitive Can Make it Boring
A common tactic used by game developers is to recycle as many gameplay elements as they can throughout their game in order to speed up the production process. In and of itself there is nothing wrong with this strategy. It actually makes a lot of sense if it means a couple of years can be shaved off of production time.

The issue occurs when the gameplay is essentially copy and pasted with only a few minor variations thrown in, in an attempt to keep players interested.

2) Video Games Become Boring When They’re Too Predictable
Just like movies with overused plot lines can be boring, the same is true of video games. When a player feels like they know what’s going to happen and they’re correct time and time again, they can quickly begin to lose interest.

In order to keep players interested, game designers need to maintain an element of surprise. Great game designers can put themselves in the position of the player so that they can steer things in a completely new direction just when the player thinks they have everything figured out.

3) Video Games With Not Enough Challenge Can Quickly Become Boring
What makes you feel better? Being handed a blue ribbon for participation, or earning a blue ribbon for working hard and breaking a sweat? I don’t know about you, but I certainly prefer the latter.

Game designers must present their players with a worthy challenge in order to maintain their interest. But it isn’t quite as simple as just giving them a challenge. The challenges must be in the correct order and have the correct difficulty level in order to keep players from becoming frustrated.

4) Players Get Bored With Video Games When They’re Not Rewarded for Playing
One of the most important elements that should be included in every video game is rewards for the players. Video game rewards can take many forms. They might be an in-game currency, collectibles that expand the story, new outfit options, new playable areas, new abilities, or the unveiling of an interesting plot point.

When a player goes through long stretches of gameplay without being properly rewarded, they can start to become bored. An important element of video game rewards is making sure that players know that they exist and that they’re coming

2) Video Games Become Boring When They Simply Aren’t Fun
Everyone has different tastes when it comes to fun, so there’s no one size fits all when it comes to this point. But the fact stands, when a video game isn’t fun for a player, they will inevitably become bored.

Over the years, many simmers have said all of this.
fjb792
5 years ago
I think the Sims personalities need work. Here are my suggestions:

1.Better Aspirations for Sims that aren't just tutorials
2. More impactful Traits that make the gameplay more interesting
3. Change Emotions so that they don't override traits
4. Change Moodlet values to reflect a more realistic Emotions system (Sad moodlet from a death of a parent should override a Happy moodlet from decor).
5. Add an Interest/Hobby System that has points added to it based on how much the Sim does the activity (reading, art, music).
6. Add an Attraction System with Turn ons and Turn offs to make relationships more complex and challenging.
LiELF
Seasoned Ace
5 years ago
"bixters;c-17665433" wrote:
I think the Sims personalities need work. Here are my suggestions:

1.Better Aspirations for Sims that aren't just tutorials
2. More impactful Traits that make the gameplay more interesting
3. Change Emotions so that they don't override traits
4. Change Moodlet values to reflect a more realistic Emotions system (Sad moodlet from a death of a parent should override a Happy moodlet from decor).
5. Add an Interest/Hobby System that has points added to it based on how much the Sim does the activity (reading, art, music).
6. Add an Attraction System with Turn ons and Turn offs to make relationships more complex and challenging.

THIS. And I'd like to add to this list:

7. Fears and phobias
8. Sim Flaws

I was watching a Let's Play of the old Sims Medieval game, which I played a long time ago, and I think the character creation in that would be a good reference for some very interesting new Traits. They also had it designed so you have to choose one Fatal Flaw for your character. I absolutely love that. I think having a new behavioral Flaws system for our Sims would be huge in bringing personalities to life, adding some obstacles, and allowing our Sims to be more relatable and less "Mary Sue" characters.

Something else I'd like to see, since playing the Batuu pack, is more character voices and accents. This would go a long way to distinguishing cultures and making each Sim more unique. I'd love to have a few fantasy/fictional accents as well for Aliens and stranger Sims. The voices of the main NPCs in Batuu are so cool and different and very noticeable. Please give us more of that for our own use.
NationalPokedex
5 years ago
To a point that @CK213 made, I definitely think the game needs more risk to balance all of the reward. I want to be on my toes that bad things could happen to my Sim at any moment and it's up to me to get my Sim out of a bad situation.

One thing that's always bothered me, for example, is that Sims can get sick but they can't die from any illness they get. Why why why why why why why why why! I hardly notice or care when my Sims get sick because I know they'll eventually be fine.

I just think the game needs to be harder (but I know a lot of people don't like that in their games so.....I'll just continue making my own gameplay as hard as possible for myself).

And I agree with the other comments, as well.
Babykittyjade
Rising Observer
5 years ago
For me what would really thrill me in this game is those little details I'm always complaining of like not being able to sit on the floor for a proper picnic or just relax on the couch, in front of the fireplace, sit on the counter, better cuddling. Those seemingly meaningless details mean a lot to me.

Traits traits traits and more traits! But meaningful ones. And an emotional overhaul including fear. I noticed how much I love pet personalities and it's because they are not overshadowed by all of that excess emotion. My stubborn dog wont listen and my lazy one won't run Haha.

Most of all we need a sense of danger in this too happy game. Be it zombies, apocalypse, illness, natural disasters, something, ANYTHING. It would really make the happy times and achievements feel rewarding.

A generations kind of pack for kids. Because I live playing adventures with them but they are soooooooo limited with so little to do.

I would love everything mentioned in this thread of course but this would especially make the game even more fun for me.
oddRebelisaac13
5 years ago
"LiELF;c-17665455" wrote:
"bixters;c-17665433" wrote:
I think the Sims personalities need work. Here are my suggestions:

1.Better Aspirations for Sims that aren't just tutorials
2. More impactful Traits that make the gameplay more interesting
3. Change Emotions so that they don't override traits
4. Change Moodlet values to reflect a more realistic Emotions system (Sad moodlet from a death of a parent should override a Happy moodlet from decor).
5. Add an Interest/Hobby System that has points added to it based on how much the Sim does the activity (reading, art, music).
6. Add an Attraction System with Turn ons and Turn offs to make relationships more complex and challenging.

THIS. And I'd like to add to this list:

7. Fears and phobias
8. Sim Flaws

I was watching a Let's Play of the old Sims Medieval game, which I played a long time ago, and I think the character creation in that would be a good reference for some very interesting new Traits. They also had it designed so you have to choose one Fatal Flaw for your character. I absolutely love that. I think having a new behavioral Flaws system for our Sims would be huge in bringing personalities to life, adding some obstacles, and allowing our Sims to be more relatable and less "Mary Sue" characters.

Something else I'd like to see, since playing the Batuu pack, is more character voices and accents. This would go a long way to distinguishing cultures and making each Sim more unique. I'd love to have a few fantasy/fictional accents as well for Aliens and stranger Sims. The voices of the main NPCs in Batuu are so cool and different and very noticeable. Please give us more of that for our own use.

We actually did get something like this but that was with sims medieval & I thought that was pretty cool & felt like a game changer when it comes to your sims personality. I would like for this to return. I always wanted fears but never thought about phobia. I think that would be pretty cool to have . It could add new gameplay depth & finally my sims can be scared of a vampire sneaking into her house at night to drink from her lol

I saw that kylo & reye had their own voices. That’s pretty cool & would like this implemented if we ever get a actual world adventures pack
oddRebelisaac13
5 years ago
"CAPTAIN_NXR7;c-17665142" wrote:
I agree with all of your points, with a CAW tool probably at the top of the list.
If that’s not going to happen, I’d like more Uncivilized worlds. No buildings. No roads. Just woods and maybe overgrown paths and lakes to swim in. Also:

An option to paint the ceilings and an option to edit lighting colour and intensity in BB.

The balance between negative personality traits and relationships needs to be fixed. Sims who hate children clearly don’t hate children when they get out of their way to cuddle them. And dear Sim while you’re at it, please stop mourning your nemesis.

Fair treatment of occults. Indeed Merfolk should at least have their own underwater world. Adding them to a game that does not offer that kind of gameplay in any way is nothing more than a terrible tease. I’d rather not have them at all. I never really play with Merfolk because they can’t even swim in any of the oceans beyond Sulani. Not good enough.

More power based interactions between different occults. Have them duel against each other and see who wins. Spellcaster vs vampire. Yes please. And I’ll add to that: user directed duels. Right now it’s all quite random and completely unchallenging. Also Werebeasts and other monsters and more mythical beasts in general.

Something for kids to do. They’re bored out of their poor little heads. At least give them a bike.

I’m not done yet. But it’s a start.

Yea I agree with sims not being “mean” enough. Even with evil trait & hates children they still give them a hug & act all fake lol. We need sims with a better emotion system. Especially with having a spouse catch you on cheating, they don’t even care all that much. That bugs me

Even if merfolk don’t get underwater I can live with it as long as they make all body of water swimmable in the worlds. I would love to swim in that beautiful water in SG.

I was disappointed when I made my vampire sim & a spellcaster fight each other. I was expecting something epic like TVD or something . But they just have that cloud animation /:

I don’t understand the purpose of not having kids ride bikes. Was the animation really that difficult to do? Or at least give them a skate board to ride
oddRebelisaac13
5 years ago
"CK213;c-17665268" wrote:
Why Video Games Get Boring: The Psychology of Fun
https://gamedesignlounge.com/why-video-games-get-boring/

I came across this article on the web.
The Sims Studio is guilty of all these game design sins.
They need to take each of these points and put them on the wall in huge text.

1) Making a Game Too Repetitive Can Make it Boring
A common tactic used by game developers is to recycle as many gameplay elements as they can throughout their game in order to speed up the production process. In and of itself there is nothing wrong with this strategy. It actually makes a lot of sense if it means a couple of years can be shaved off of production time.

The issue occurs when the gameplay is essentially copy and pasted with only a few minor variations thrown in, in an attempt to keep players interested.

2) Video Games Become Boring When They’re Too Predictable
Just like movies with overused plot lines can be boring, the same is true of video games. When a player feels like they know what’s going to happen and they’re correct time and time again, they can quickly begin to lose interest.

In order to keep players interested, game designers need to maintain an element of surprise. Great game designers can put themselves in the position of the player so that they can steer things in a completely new direction just when the player thinks they have everything figured out.

3) Video Games With Not Enough Challenge Can Quickly Become Boring
What makes you feel better? Being handed a blue ribbon for participation, or earning a blue ribbon for working hard and breaking a sweat? I don’t know about you, but I certainly prefer the latter.

Game designers must present their players with a worthy challenge in order to maintain their interest. But it isn’t quite as simple as just giving them a challenge. The challenges must be in the correct order and have the correct difficulty level in order to keep players from becoming frustrated.

4) Players Get Bored With Video Games When They’re Not Rewarded for Playing
One of the most important elements that should be included in every video game is rewards for the players. Video game rewards can take many forms. They might be an in-game currency, collectibles that expand the story, new outfit options, new playable areas, new abilities, or the unveiling of an interesting plot point.

When a player goes through long stretches of gameplay without being properly rewarded, they can start to become bored. An important element of video game rewards is making sure that players know that they exist and that they’re coming

2) Video Games Become Boring When They Simply Aren’t Fun
Everyone has different tastes when it comes to fun, so there’s no one size fits all when it comes to this point. But the fact stands, when a video game isn’t fun for a player, they will inevitably become bored.

Over the years, many simmers have said all of this.

Thank you for this. It’s really insightful & so accurate. I feel like the sims 4 has yet to be challenging for me. I like to play games to have fun but also to have some type of challenge & feel good about completing something. Sims 4 needs that. I think everything in this game is easily handed to you for the most part.