"fullspiral;c-17748859" wrote:
I just realized that Snowy Escape could have been so much more than just a new neighborhood to level up skills and I think its because the Maxis teams have been stuck in a grove how they design Sims 4 packs - a range of activities based on skill advancement but not a while new type of gameplay.
I'm not sure how much of it is skill advancement or skill-building type of play.
I think the core issue with Sims 4 is the completely faulty, superfluous, superficial "emotions" game design. Their 'goal', it seems, is to trigger emotions with new packs. And that's usually tense, or sad, or just not in tune at all with what simmers expect. I feel like sometimes they've given up and are just trying to ruin the game.
Simmers want "fear" or "real" emotions, but the game design is strictly superficial coding to get the animations going. pouting while eating, slamming fridge doors, stomping around, shuffling with head down. I guess that's where their real animation budget went?
The problem is that the much touted emotion system of S4 is strictly superficial coding for those animations and they do NOT affect sims inlong term, at all.
But yes, as to the OP? I agree, that description you gave is much more about game PLAY vs watching a sim go down the slopes over and over again. Or taking selfies on hikes. It's all GAME controlled. Players DO NOT rule.
I didn't answer because I don't think adding more gameplay was the issue this time around but in other packs I sure do think they needed to add more. I have issues with the advertisement of the game. There is way too much focus on things that don't matter like the whole train in the video and the "ride" the gondula which is a teleport. It almost sets us up for disappointment. I haven't played too much but I have been enjoying it so far. I mean how about that hot pot experience...sims SITTING, talking and eating without playing musical chairs. Please tell me everyone is having this experience LOL.
HOWEVER.... @fullspiral hit the nail on the head with the issues with the game in general which makes anything they add feel like the same. Emotions are too limited and everything they add just adds another emotion that we have seen time and time again for other activities. It makes everything feel old and not fresh. Adding Fear could have really stepped this pack up. Think about a sim getting to the edge of the intermediate mountain and being afraid to go down that first time. How boring is it to see sims sad because they are not skiing well...LOL...like what?? Not mention now we have this shared burden making the whole household sad LOL. It is getting to the point where I believe my sims need to go to therapy. Traits really need to play in how a sim reacts emotionally to at the very least give us some variety. We also need interests to make these sums feel unique. I feel like lifestyles is a start but I think the sims 2 interests did it better.
Ultimately, it doesn't matter what they add to the expansion pack. They could spend an entire year adding tons of content. If that content only manipulates the emotion system, we will be having this conversation again.
I guess my answer should be other...lol
