I absolutely agree that the phone use is too much. It was too much before the update that added more of it. I have no idea why they did that, I've seen so many people asking for options to turn off the phone because of how invasive it is , and then they made it worse. Also, the new phone walk style could have been added to the optional walks in CAS. Why in the world did they force it on all of our Sims? Can they please change that? It's especially infuriating because phones ignore the off-the-grid lot trait. So there's no escape whatsoever.
I've been saying for years now that the tech gameplay isn't fun, partly because it's not optional. This is still a game and it needs to be engaging. Watching my Sims stand there looking at their phones indefinitely is anything but engaging. Some things in life, when simulated, just aren't interesting. And the constant spam calls from random townies don't even make sense half the time, I really wish I could block all of them.
And I wholeheartedly agree that Sims 2 did it right, in making the player have to actually go out and buy your Sim a phone to use it. Man, do I miss that. I could give it to the few Sims I'd want to have it, and all of my Occults, retro Sims and oddballs could be blissfully phone free, as intended.
There must be a way to toggle off the phones. Toddlers don't use them, right? C'mon devs, give us a break. I'd really like to be able to update my game again one day and buy a new pack. ?
