NEW TRAILER TOMORROW We are getting... something

"Sk8rblaze;c-16361928" wrote:

"DeservedCriticism;c-16361906" wrote:

"Strawburry3;c-16361901" wrote:

"DeservedCriticism;c-16361858" wrote:

Because you guys keep buying.

Where is their incentive to stop...? The percent of the community that puts their foot down is in the severe minority. Everyone just wants the new content, regardless of what it takes to get it.

No argument here. And I won’t deny that I contribute to the problem. Sometimes it’s hard not to jump at the opportunity of something new when there are so many aspects of TS4 I feel we are still missing. Nonetheless, I agree that EA will do whatever it wants regardless of what we say so long as the money continues rolling in.

Sometimes I feel like the Sims Community is the first video game community that might actually have Stockholm Syndrome, because it feels like that very desperation to have the game feel complete also helps boost their sales.

It's an actual thing mobile games are renowned for. If you Google it, you can actually read up on research surrounding the topic.

What many developers do is they'll create a situation where the user either cannot play the game any further, has some super "worthy" deal dangling in front of their face that they can only get for a limited time, or makes them feel they need to pay to get ahead. Then, to ensure some get their dosage of dopamine, users cave in and buy into the app's microtransactions to feel as if they are succeeding and winning.

I'd argue it's similar with The Sims 4. Huge lack of content, then when they finally release something, because you once loved the game or the franchise, you feel compelled to buy it, but the high doesn't last long as the packs lack depth. So you wait for the next one. Rinse and repeat.

Think of the main menu, for instance. Notice how they show all packs and specifically highlight the ones you don't have, to make you feel like you absolutely have to complete your collection. A very nice remainder EVERY time you boot the game that you're missing those packs. Even more, when you go to the world screen, if you're missing a world that comes with a pack, they STILL show it, but with a lock, to remind you that this world exists, and you can't have it.

Sure, but I think F2PMMOs and mobile games deserve their own category since they make that kinda obvious they want your money, but some people fall into that trap anyways.

With Sims, I'd say it's the first non-free model that can actually get close to Stockholm Syndrome, ironically because people buy to try and complete the game. Definitely unique in that regard.

But whatever, let's wait and see if this is free or not. If it isn't, I'mma make a killing selling pitchforks.