More representation of indigenous cultures?

"Scobre;c-17730273" wrote:

"Nate_Whiplash1;c-17729610" wrote:
From a business perspective, I wouldn't do it---too much of a chance for it to backfire and offend people by not getting something right. I think we should leave it to modders

Actually it would be great for business to get more people to play the Sims games. Sims is playing too safe is already backfiring on the franchise and given it a joke reputation to only catering towards babies. Then again what do I know with business being my forte and all and doing really well both in school and work in that area. *shrugs* I rather the game cater to you know the actual laws the company is in with including diversity or the game is already doomed for living in the dark ages laws. Business that don't innovate tend to die fast. Pandemic has proven that of businesses not wanting to change their ways of doing business end up going out of business. It would be bad business practice not to have diversity and have a repeat of SimCity not wanting to change their ways too. Then again EA is kind of in the dark ages already, so why would Sims be any different from not innovating like their other cookie cutter knock off games too? Even on EA standards, EA Sports has more diversity than the Sims does and people wonder why those games tend to sell better than this franchise, simple inclusive customer base. But I find those that don't want culture tend to not want new Simmers anyways which is dangerous especially with the pandemic. Existing customer base isn't going to be enough to fund EA's pockets plain and simple. Some of already divorced the franchise years ago, so catering to people not wanting change is a lost cause. Thus why the Sims 3 got remained broken. People weren't willing for that game to change either.

Your argument would be valid if the Sims team were cultural experts--they're not. Look at the backlash that's already started with Snowy Escape and Japanese traditions not being followed properly--that made a lot of people angry. If the Sims team could do it properly, I'm all in...but they won't.....

"temporalgod;c-17730669" wrote:

"Scobre;c-17730273" wrote:
Even on EA standards, EA Sports has more diversity than the Sims does and people wonder why those games tend to sell better than this franchise, simple inclusive customer base. But I find those that don't want culture tend to not want new Simmers anyways which is dangerous especially with the pandemic. Existing customer base isn't going to be enough to fund EA's pockets plain and simple. Some of already divorced the franchise years ago, so catering to people not wanting change is a lost cause. Thus why the Sims 3 got remained broken. People weren't willing for that game to change either.

this might sound weird coming from a straight male, sports are a massive turn off, especially when it comes to videogames, I don't how some people could watch that garbage or play those repetitive games.

"Scobre;c-17730317" wrote:

You assume Sims team isn't culturally diverse. Also it wasn't just Japanese culture, but Korean culture too that there was some feedback and honestly glad it was. They don't even do the American culture properly. XD All they represent is the hipster style for this so called "American" representation and oh there is an even bigger backlash for American representation too.

, I'm sorry for stereotyping but to outsiders like me those are the only Americans these days.

LOL I know quite a few women who like sport style games too. Rocket League is quite popular right now even though not an EA game of course. With the small towns it does feel like that. Not all of us live under a rock thankfully. But yeah that stereotyping is ruining the franchise. It does feel like those are the only two things the game is catering to and being that niche will keep a lot of potential future customers away. You summed up Sims 4 direction really well. I just know the bay area where the studio is more diverse than that. Sims community is more diverse than that too. I just don't understand the censorship of the Sims games these days. They are playing too safe. I want them to start taking risks with gameplay and they have started to but still a long way to go to get to the level of risk E-Teen games are taking these days. Gaming has changed and sad when EA can't even keep up with the soccer mom's Disney is doing these days which already has the reputation of being behind in diversity. There is a comic that has been shown with many of my state jobs that sums up what EA is doing with their games which is equality but they need to get to the equity level to reach more customers.
https://www.publichealthnotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Equality-Vs-Equity..final-edit-1.jpg

"temporalgod;c-17730816" wrote:

"Scobre;c-17730785" wrote:

LOL I know quite a few women who like sport style games too. Rocket League is quite popular right now even though not an EA game of course. With the small towns it does feel like that. Not all of us live under a rock thankfully. But yeah that stereotyping is ruining the franchise. It does feel like those are the only two things the game is catering to and being that niche will keep a lot of potential future customers away. You summed up Sims 4 direction really well. I just know the bay area where the studio is more diverse than that. Sims community is more diverse than that too. I just don't understand the censorship of the Sims games these days. They are playing too safe. I want them to start taking risks with gameplay and they have started to but still a long way to go to get to the level of risk E-Teen games are taking these days. Gaming has changed and sad when EA can't even keep up with the soccer mom's Disney is doing these days which already has the reputation of being behind in diversity. There is a comic that has been shown with many of my state jobs that sums up what EA is doing with their games which is equality but they need to get to the equity level to reach more customers.
https://www.publichealthnotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Equality-Vs-Equity..final-edit-1.jpg

I remember when Sims Medieval had an option to Duel to the Death, but once we got Lightsabers we didn't get the option, Lightsabers are even more deadlier than swords and only force sensitives like Luke, Anakin, Obi-wan Kenobi, Mace Windu, Yoda, Maul, Starkiller and Sidious should be wielding such weapons, even some of them lost a limb or two, hell Anakin used his lightsaber to murder children, I was disappointed that they weren't lethal or the fact that we didn't even get force powers with the pack, Disney and Katleen Kennedy didn't stick to the lore or the multitude of Star Wars sources and gave us a bad fanfic with unlikable characters, I'll rather have the Lucas version of the Sequel trilogy where Darth Maul and his Twi'lek Sith apprentice Darth Talon are the villains and were running the criminal underworld, at this point The Mandalorian and Baby Yoda are the only things keeping Disney Star Wars afloat.

True. But yes exactly playing too safe. New Spiderman game in the meantime looks amazing and has Miles as Spider-Man from Into the Spiderverse. Disney owns Marvel now too, so seems like that game will sell well for them. I do love the Mandalorian. It stunk they switched directors during the last trilogy so lore was all over the place. Lego games are probably selling well for them too. I just don't understand why EA wants to stay so out of date with their games. They need to invest in upgrading their systems and marketing and direction otherwise who knows Disney might buy them out too just like they have with everything else. Why EA not having culture is bad for business because their business between Disney will go beyond the contract that expires in 3 years. They'll become Disney's lapdog.

"Sharonia;c-17728866" wrote:
Not meaning to be offensive here but personally I'd rather they focus on improving the game play rather than focusing on inclusivity and representation all the time. None of this was needed in previous iterations of the Sims and people still managed to enjoy the games.

Some enjoyed previous games more than others.

"Karon;c-17729302" wrote:

"Icewolf;c-17729018" wrote:

"Sharonia;c-17728866" wrote:
Not meaning to be offensive here but personally I'd rather they focus on improving the game play rather than focusing on inclusivity and representation all the time. None of this was needed in previous iterations of the Sims and people still managed to enjoy the games.

Yes, I agree totally. Representation is nice but it's not really needed at this point. I'd rather just that we keep this a simple game, without feeling the need to add every real life representation into it just because.

@Icewolf I'm pretty sure you're saying that because you're not the one lacking representation, darling.

Agreed! It seems to always be the case that the represented people are the ones decrying inclusivity as unimportant.

"Alexai;c-17733853" wrote:

"Karon;c-17729302" wrote:

"Icewolf;c-17729018" wrote:

"Sharonia;c-17728866" wrote:
Not meaning to be offensive here but personally I'd rather they focus on improving the game play rather than focusing on inclusivity and representation all the time. None of this was needed in previous iterations of the Sims and people still managed to enjoy the games.

Yes, I agree totally. Representation is nice but it's not really needed at this point. I'd rather just that we keep this a simple game, without feeling the need to add every real life representation into it just because.

@Icewolf I'm pretty sure you're saying that because you're not the one lacking representation, darling.

Agreed! It seems to always be the case that the represented people are the ones decrying inclusivity as unimportant.

no it's because ea only puts the focus on representation rather than gameplay. if the game was in a good state people wouldn't really care about what's added but we can see ea intentions on representing everyone and their mom rather than focusing on the game itself because it's cheap and ez money. as if they gave a f#ck about us lol.
also, some people seems to think the sims should be this one realistic life simulator when it's not, it's a cartoony life simulator and it has enough fantastic elements to tell us once again that it's not a game to be taken seriously.

Right I'm just going too say it, yes I would love all types of cultures to be represented in the game, but heres the thing someone always gets offended because most people a delicate little flowers those days lol, it's just isnt worth the carry on, we have enough agruements even as far as war in the real world about religion and culture etc, best too keep unnecessary real life issues out of it, I say

"bella_goth;c-17733883" wrote:

"Alexai;c-17733853" wrote:

"Karon;c-17729302" wrote:

"Icewolf;c-17729018" wrote:

"Sharonia;c-17728866" wrote:
Not meaning to be offensive here but personally I'd rather they focus on improving the game play rather than focusing on inclusivity and representation all the time. None of this was needed in previous iterations of the Sims and people still managed to enjoy the games.

Yes, I agree totally. Representation is nice but it's not really needed at this point. I'd rather just that we keep this a simple game, without feeling the need to add every real life representation into it just because.

@Icewolf I'm pretty sure you're saying that because you're not the one lacking representation, darling.

Agreed! It seems to always be the case that the represented people are the ones decrying inclusivity as unimportant.

no it's because ea only puts the focus on representation rather than gameplay. if the game was in a good state people wouldn't really care about what's added but we can see ea intentions on representing everyone and their mom rather than focusing on the game itself because it's cheap and ez money. as if they gave a f#ck about us lol.
also, some people seems to think the sims should be this one realistic life simulator when it's not, it's a cartoony life simulator and it has enough fantastic elements to tell us once again that it's not a game to be taken seriously.

Exactly. The only color EA cares about is green (money). A lot of their diversity marketing ends up being pandering. Id love to see more cultures being included but imo its not a higher priority than gameplay. Of course someone will say why not both? Id love both too. But EA cant deliver that for me as it seems

"StrawberryYogurt;c-17734001" wrote:

"bella_goth;c-17733883" wrote:

"Alexai;c-17733853" wrote:

"Karon;c-17729302" wrote:

"Icewolf;c-17729018" wrote:

"Sharonia;c-17728866" wrote:
Not meaning to be offensive here but personally I'd rather they focus on improving the game play rather than focusing on inclusivity and representation all the time. None of this was needed in previous iterations of the Sims and people still managed to enjoy the games.

Yes, I agree totally. Representation is nice but it's not really needed at this point. I'd rather just that we keep this a simple game, without feeling the need to add every real life representation into it just because.

@Icewolf I'm pretty sure you're saying that because you're not the one lacking representation, darling.

Agreed! It seems to always be the case that the represented people are the ones decrying inclusivity as unimportant.

no it's because ea only puts the focus on representation rather than gameplay. if the game was in a good state people wouldn't really care about what's added but we can see ea intentions on representing everyone and their mom rather than focusing on the game itself because it's cheap and ez money. as if they gave a f#ck about us lol.
also, some people seems to think the sims should be this one realistic life simulator when it's not, it's a cartoony life simulator and it has enough fantastic elements to tell us once again that it's not a game to be taken seriously.

Exactly. The only color EA cares about is green (money). A lot of their diversity marketing ends up being pandering. Id love to see more cultures being included but imo its not a higher priority than gameplay. Of course someone will say why not both? Id love both too. But EA cant deliver that for me as it seems

they do try to do both things as seen in island living and snowy escape, however the content is so lacking that the main selling point of these packs is how beautiful they are and the "exotic" aspect of them. but the gameplay? island living didn't even had half the things island paradise delivered, and snowy escape has so many reused content it should be labeled winter eco lifestyle.
and the sentiments/lifestyles are glorified moodlets.

i wouldn't mind more cultural inspired content on the sims in fact i'd love native american stuff but i know it will be poorly done, people will complain, the budget spent on ""researching"" won't make up for the gameplay and we'll get yet another shallow but pretty world sold for 40$.

the sims biggest problem is ea, who allowed maxis to reuse a flawed engine for the main sims title, who won't even hire more people to work for the game, who will assign the minimal budget for them, who changed ts4 marketing from "smarter sims, weirder stories" to "the sims is my safe space" because it was evident the sims were dumber and the stories were repetitive. but what does ea do with these issues? focus highly on representation because they know getting a wider public will get them more sales while cleaning their company image altogether.

but i think people has a limit, i don't care if my culture is put perfectly on the game cuz at the end all sims will act the same, do the same and this "uniqueness" they couldn't deliver with gameplay and are trying to deliver with set dressing is nothing but a scam.

"GrimlyFiendish;d-983928" wrote:
The other day I noticed one of the new necklaces for female Sims has a colour option that is the same as the Australian Aboriginal flag, it got me wondering if perhaps there should be more indigenous representation in the Sims, or if it was something that was just too much risk of getting way wrong (like having Sims wearing first nation head dressed Coachella style, or female Sims being able to play a digeridoo).

What do others think, is more indigenous representation something EA should strive for, or is there just too much of a risk that it wouldn't be done right and would end up being tokenistic or insulting to indigenous cultures? Is this something better left to the CC and Mod creators?

In some way, I think they could get wrong or maybe they don't want to do it, because a lot of people wouldn't notice it. I think it would be cool if they wanted to do representation by having it being inspired by rather than getting a lot of it wrong. Making another world of sims to play in and see the land for themselves. I think it's always on how the consumer will use it or take it.