Is The Sims too childish now? Teen & Adult players have been forgotten

"PmlTry;c-17481318" wrote:
“But it would spoil things very much for me if they made the sims the way they are in, say, Sims 2. I have that game too and I can't play it without getting bored very quickly. I just can't be creative enough with it. The sims fight against me left, right, and centre to do their own thing when I want them to do something else. They have their own personality which makes it so that I can't be creative with them and tell stories in my game play the way I like to, which is really frustrating. If I wanted them to do their own thing I may as well watch a movie because my game play style is to create a story, not to watch them make the story.”

I found that element of free will in Sims 2 a spur to creativity. And you do know you could turn it off, right?

This is not about going back to Sims 2. (For the record, I prefer Sims 3.) This is about a newer version actually being an improvement rather than a regression that caters solely to people who want to build worlds of nothing but pretty people and fashionable clothes.

Some people are happy to just take pictures of their sims and post stories. They use pose player with lots of fake poses and interactions and, as long as they have their pretty pictures, they probably don't even notice that the actual gameplay is lacking.

"crocobaura;c-17481332" wrote:

"PmlTry;c-17481318" wrote:
“But it would spoil things very much for me if they made the sims the way they are in, say, Sims 2. I have that game too and I can't play it without getting bored very quickly. I just can't be creative enough with it. The sims fight against me left, right, and centre to do their own thing when I want them to do something else. They have their own personality which makes it so that I can't be creative with them and tell stories in my game play the way I like to, which is really frustrating. If I wanted them to do their own thing I may as well watch a movie because my game play style is to create a story, not to watch them make the story.”

I found that element of free will in Sims 2 a spur to creativity. And you do know you could turn it off, right?

This is not about going back to Sims 2. (For the record, I prefer Sims 3.) This is about a newer version actually being an improvement rather than a regression that caters solely to people who want to build worlds of nothing but pretty people and fashionable clothes.

Some people are happy to just take pictures of their sims and post stories. They use pose player with lots of fake poses and interactions and, as long as they have their pretty pictures, they probably don't even notice that the actual gameplay is lacking.

And here's what I don't understand about this, (because I'm sure this is true for a lot of people). How on earth did they get those stories and pictures from games past? I certainly saw them around during sims 2 and 3 times. Surely they didn't have to "fight" with their sims to set this up. Is it just simply a matter of free-will off? I know mods for sure to set up poses but I dunno... I also don't really remember people complaining that their sims were having lives? Maybe it's a case of didn't know what they were missing?

For me, I do think the game is too childish but that's because there's little to no consequences. If something bad happens, I have to force it and fight with my game. Ha! Exactly opposite of people that don't think it's childish. :D I do want bad things sometimes though. That's real. I'd like some of it to be surprises too, I'm not a fan of how I have to do that all myself. I'd like some twists and turns. I miss backstories. I can understand why people can appreciate it as a safe space though. I was pretty annoyed with this version at first, but I've learned to live with it and appreciate it for what it does offer but sometimes I do miss the challenge. (Without having to think and create my own). In past versions, I could do this easily but the option to turn everything off was also there, so I could play both ways. In this version I have just this one way. I have learned to live with it, and I like this version a lot more than I did, but I still do think it's childish. No challenge does equal childish IMO, but that's just my opinion too. However, that said, just because I think it's childish doesn't mean I can't play it either. :D You like what you like and childish doesn't have to equal bad.

"crocobaura;c-17481332" wrote:

"PmlTry;c-17481318" wrote:
“But it would spoil things very much for me if they made the sims the way they are in, say, Sims 2. I have that game too and I can't play it without getting bored very quickly. I just can't be creative enough with it. The sims fight against me left, right, and centre to do their own thing when I want them to do something else. They have their own personality which makes it so that I can't be creative with them and tell stories in my game play the way I like to, which is really frustrating. If I wanted them to do their own thing I may as well watch a movie because my game play style is to create a story, not to watch them make the story.”

I found that element of free will in Sims 2 a spur to creativity. And you do know you could turn it off, right?

This is not about going back to Sims 2. (For the record, I prefer Sims 3.) This is about a newer version actually being an improvement rather than a regression that caters solely to people who want to build worlds of nothing but pretty people and fashionable clothes.

Some people are happy to just take pictures of their sims and post stories. They use pose player with lots of fake poses and interactions and, as long as they have their pretty pictures, they probably don't even notice that the actual gameplay is lacking.

"PmlTry;c-17481318" wrote:
“But it would spoil things very much for me if they made the sims the way they are in, say, Sims 2. I have that game too and I can't play it without getting bored very quickly. I just can't be creative enough with it. The sims fight against me left, right, and centre to do their own thing when I want them to do something else. They have their own personality which makes it so that I can't be creative with them and tell stories in my game play the way I like to, which is really frustrating. If I wanted them to do their own thing I may as well watch a movie because my game play style is to create a story, not to watch them make the story.”

I found that element of free will in Sims 2 a spur to creativity. And you do know you could turn it off, right?

This is not about going back to Sims 2. (For the record, I prefer Sims 3.) This is about a newer version actually being an improvement rather than a regression that caters solely to people who want to build worlds of nothing but pretty people and fashionable clothes.

No, you couldn't turn off what I'm talking about. Sim's personalities. I hate how they are done in Sims 2. Animations are great, but the personality of the Sims themselves is so deep and I can't stand it. I want a completely blank state to tell my stories. (And I dislike Sims 3 too for other reasons. I have the gamebut again get bored very quickly). Sims4 IS a better version for my game play style. Which has nothing to do with building worlds of pretty people, but even if it did, and for those that it does, that game play style is not wrong or more childish than someone elses and there's no reason Sims teams shouldn't cater to them.

"crocobaura;c-17481332" wrote:

"PmlTry;c-17481318" wrote:
“But it would spoil things very much for me if they made the sims the way they are in, say, Sims 2. I have that game too and I can't play it without getting bored very quickly. I just can't be creative enough with it. The sims fight against me left, right, and centre to do their own thing when I want them to do something else. They have their own personality which makes it so that I can't be creative with them and tell stories in my game play the way I like to, which is really frustrating. If I wanted them to do their own thing I may as well watch a movie because my game play style is to create a story, not to watch them make the story.”

I found that element of free will in Sims 2 a spur to creativity. And you do know you could turn it off, right?

This is not about going back to Sims 2. (For the record, I prefer Sims 3.) This is about a newer version actually being an improvement rather than a regression that caters solely to people who want to build worlds of nothing but pretty people and fashionable clothes.

Some people are happy to just take pictures of their sims and post stories. They use pose player with lots of fake poses and interactions and, as long as they have their pretty pictures, they probably don't even notice that the actual gameplay is lacking.

For me, having played all games since Sims 1, this is the one version i do NOT find lacking. It's perfect for my game play style and storylines. I don't use pose player, have very few mods (and only use ANY mods 50%of the time, no CC ever) and only once in a blue moon take pictures/screencaps if some big event happened in my story. I just play and create stories about Sims kids/toddlers and big families.

That being said, people that do love taking pictures and posing Sims, it doesn't make them less mature or childish either.

"No, you couldn't turn off what I'm talking about. Sim's personalities. I hate how they are done in Sims 2. Animations are great, but the personality of the Sims themselves is so deep and I can't stand it. I want a completely blank state to tell my stories. (And I dislike Sims 3 too for other reasons. I have the gamebut again get bored very quickly). Sims4 IS a better version for my game play style. Which has nothing to do with building worlds of pretty people, but even if it did, and for those that it does, that game play style is not wrong or more childish than someone elses and there's no reason Sims teams shouldn't cater to them."

Why "cater to them" at the expense of others? What I saw happen with Sims 3 is the ability to play with different styles narrow.

Would it spoil your game-play to know other people could play it differently?

"PmlTry;c-17481655" wrote:
"No, you couldn't turn off what I'm talking about. Sim's personalities. I hate how they are done in Sims 2. Animations are great, but the personality of the Sims themselves is so deep and I can't stand it. I want a completely blank state to tell my stories. (And I dislike Sims 3 too for other reasons. I have the gamebut again get bored very quickly). Sims4 IS a better version for my game play style. Which has nothing to do with building worlds of pretty people, but even if it did, and for those that it does, that game play style is not wrong or more childish than someone elses and there's no reason Sims teams shouldn't cater to them."

Why "cater to them" at the expense of others? What I saw happen with Sims 3 is the ability to play with different styles narrow.

Would it spoil your game-play to know other people could play it differently?

Sims 2 and 3 already catered to them, Sims 4 can cater to a new audience. That's allowed. And nope, I think MOST people play differently than me I don't care less how they play. I'd also never say they are wrong or childish or immature to play that style as many people do about story tellers and people who thing Sims 4 is the best. I will never understand judging others in that way.

If it was optional of course that'd be fine, but so far it never has been and I don't think it'd be an option now.



I'm happy with Sims personalities as long as they are weak and don't include turn ons/turn offs.

If the Sims team could make it so that you could do something in settings to say that "Yes I want personalities but at a mild/moderate/strong" level. Same with emotions and turn offs/turn ons, then fine. But I don't see that happening. If the option is there (which I doubt it would be) it'd probably be an all or nothing method which would spoil my game play style andruin many of my stories, so no I don't want it.

"Sims 2 and 3 already catered to them, Sims 4 can cater to a new audience."

At the expense of those of us who've been playing for years?

And yes, there were more options for game-playing in the older versions, more scope for creating interesting looking Sims. There was the option of story progression, (which could be turned on or off,) etc. family trees, which you could use or not use, toddlers, lots of traits, etc. etc. After that, Sims 4 is a straightjacket. Nice that you find it comfortable, but many, many of us don't.

What happened with Sims 4 seems pretty obvious. EA decided to do to the Sims what they did to Sim City, changing it from a creative sandbox game to a competitive online version. Then came the Sim City rollout fiasco, and they realized they couldn't afford a repeat, so some frantic rejiggering took place, which they tried to pass off as new exciting features. "Good NEWS guys! Remember all those legacies you liked to create with family trees? No more of THAT! And forget toddlers. And forget large, complex, open worlds. Now they're tiny and nicely cartoonish! Oh, and you'll have to use Origin, which means sometimes you'll have to wait over an hour for your game to download. Isn't it GREAT???!!! "

Nope. It's not.

Look, I've given Sims 4 a chance. I bought it, downloaded it. Gave it a try. If there's a Sims 5, I'll check it out, but I suspect if we ever see it, it will be aimed at even younger players. Too bad.

"PmlTry;c-17481775" wrote:
"Sims 2 and 3 already catered to them, Sims 4 can cater to a new audience."

At the expense of those of us who've been playing for years?

And yes, there were more options for game-playing in the older versions, more scope for creating interesting looking Sims. There was the option of story progression, (which could be turned on or off,) etc. family trees, which you could use or not use, toddlers, lots of traits, etc. etc. After that, Sims 4 is a straightjacket. Nice that you find it comfortable, but many, many of us don't.

What happened with Sims 4 seems pretty obvious. EA decided to do to the Sims what they did to Sim City, changing it from a creative sandbox game to a competitive online version. Then came the Sim City rollout fiasco, and they realized they couldn't afford a repeat, so some frantic rejiggering took place, which they tried to pass off as new exciting features. "Good NEWS guys! Remember all those legacies you liked to create with family trees? No more of THAT! And forget toddlers. And forget large, complex, open worlds. Now they're tiny and nicely cartoonish! Oh, and you'll have to use Origin, which means sometimes you'll have to wait over an hour for your game to download. Isn't it GREAT???!!! "

Nope. It's not.

Look, I've given Sims 4 a chance. I bought it, downloaded it. Gave it a try. If there's a Sims 5, I'll check it out, but I suspect if we ever see it, it will be aimed at even younger players. Too bad.

Like I said, I've been playing for years too, since it first came out and Sim City before it. It wasn't at the expense of all long-term players. It was at the expense of some players who have one playstyle that Sims 2 and 3 catered towards, and catered towards other players who have a playstyle similar to me and a few other play styles as well. The players who enjoyed SIms 2 or 3 better are welcome to keep playing them. The players that prefer Sims 4 can play Sims 4. No one forces anyone to play a different version. The older versions are still there.

I personally still create legacies. Toddlers have been in the game for over 3 years now and they are better than previous versions so not really a valid complaint at this point. And not all of us like Open Worlds or colour wheels, but hate building so think the gallery is the best thing ever. It's a different game play style, not a childish one but a DIFFERENT one, and it's okay to play a different game. The art style again, is a matter of taste. I personally find Sims 3 and Sims 2 sims very ugly. Beautiful animations, but ugly art. But guess what? Art is subjective and people are free to enjoy different things. Origin isn't my favourite thing in the world but has absolutely nothing to do with my game play style and it's better than having a bunch of disks cluttering up my desk.

For myself, Sims 4 is the perfect game due to my play style. I'm happy with it. I hope for your sake Sims 5 is what you are looking for. Myself, I don't think I'll move on to Sims 5 because I have no intention of starting all over again buying new stuff when I already have a fantastic game that I love. If it was exactly like Sims 4 in every single way but threw in story progression and gradual aging maybe I'd be tempted? Even then though it'd be a hard sell because my families are in a Sims 4 save file that most likely could not be transferred and I've played many of the same families for years and don't want to stop so I probably wouldn't go for it, and I'm not expecting that anyways. I'm expecting Sims 5 would be a brand new game with some things from previous versions and some things new to it. But either way, doesn't matter to me in the slightest as I am not really interested in it.

I have a great idea for a new Sims game that will give players even more of an opportunity to use their imaginations!

3-D sims!

EA could mold them of plastic, put on fake hair, include clothes you can take on and take off.No more need for power! No need to turn a computer on. Just send off for your sim and EA will send it to you in a little box. AND you could include miniature 3-D houses for the Sims to play in. Want a Sims world? Buy more sims and more little houses, maybe even little stores.

Want your sims to go from infancy to adulthoodl? EA could just include an in-app purchase that involves sending out for a toddler 3-D sim, then a child 3-d sim, then a teenager... And once your sims become adults, EA can give its customers a break and include a small pen so you can draw on wrinkles. Can't say fairer than that, right?

Want to move your sims? Simply put your hand around the sim's torso and move them forward in little hops. Want them to talk? Use your own voice, making it squeaky for children, flutey for women, and deep for men. For gestures, merely raise and lower their flexible arms with one finger.

When, how, and if your sims die will be up to you. Drop your sim from the second floor and say it committed suicide! Add on fake bandages and say they survived! You can even say a MONSTER attacked them and let your dog chew on the sim while you squeal for your sim, "Oh NOOOOOOH the MONSTER is EATING me!" Borrow mom's blender and drop your sim in and say it was an industrial accident!

The limit is only your imagination in EAs revolutionary new approach to gameplay!

"PmlTry;c-17481982" wrote:
I have a great idea for a new Sims game that will give players even more of an ability to use their imaginations!

3-D sims!

EA could mold them of plastic, put on fake hair, include clothes you can take on and take off.No more need for power! No need to turn a computer on. Just send off for your sim and EA will send it to you in a little box. AND you could include miniature 3-D houses for the Sims to play in. Want a Sims world? Buy more sims and more little houses, maybe even little stores.

Want your sims to go from infancy to adulthoodl? EA could just include an in-app purchase that involves sending out for a toddler 3-D sim, then a child 3-d sim, then a teenager... And once your sims become adults, EA can give its customers a break and include a small pen so you can draw on wrinkles. Can't say fairer than that, right?

Want to move your sims? Simply put your hand around the sim's torso and move them forward in little hops. Want them to talk? Use your own voice, making it squeaky for children, flutey for women, and deep for men. For gestures, merely raise and lower their flexible arms with one finger.

When, how, and if your sims die will be up to you. Drop your sim from the second floor and say it committed suicide! Add on fake bandages and say they survived! You can even say a MONSTER attacked them and let your dog chew on the sim while you squeal for your sim, "Oh NOOOOOOH the MONSTER is EATING me!". Borrow mom's blender and drop your sim in and say it was an industrial accident!

The limit is only your imagination in EAs revolutionary new approach to gameplay!

Nah, never did enjoy playing dolls, even as a kid. But for someone complaining that the game is childish, your tone is coming across quite childish? Almost temper tantrum-ish. Believe it or not, Sims 4 players are allowed to enjoy the game the way it is. You are allowed to enjoy whatever game you want, and I hope you do.

Anyways, I've stated my opinion. I enjoy it the way it is. You aren't going to convince me that I don't, and my kid needs the computer for school now so I'm heading out. Have fun playing whatever it is you enjoy.