Planet Coaster has hand holding while walking so why can t Sims 4?

OT - but I wanted to add that I wanted to buy Planet Coaster. So I went looking for videos and checked the requirements. Yeah...looks amazing, but my aging gaming laptop doesn't have the muscles to run it, not at its best. So I decided to finally buy the desktop I've been eyeing for a while. Which reiterates that when someone wants something enough, they do what's necessary for it. I love playing games and I always have to upgrade. And since Nvidia came out with their Pascal architecture, I have been biding my time for a new desktop.

Back on topic -

"Sims_4funn;15375819" wrote:
@phoebebebe13 @chesterbigbird @Mstybl95 @Cinebar @blueturtleotter

Sooooooo.... Basically Maxis/EA cannot afford the engine it would take to make the game more realistic and coincide with today's tech?.... OR they are concerned that not enough people would buy it because they wouldn't be able to afford the PC needed to play it on?

The definitely can't afford it at this point. While in development, possibly, but not now.

However, the issue is not what they can or can't do. The issue is where they want to spend their money. They choose to hire cheaper FX designers rather than programmers. That's why we have all this lovely scenery and nothing to do with it. This is a fact. One of the guru's stated in an interview before release that the engine was designed in a way that they wouldn't need to hire "expensive engineers" to make changes. (Which is most likely why there is very little added gameplay.) And in another interview a guru stated that the FX designers had so little to do that they literally tried to find things to do. That's why we got such details as the subtle curtains blowing around...but we can't open windows. And this is also why CL has an amazing background and no new real gameplay. It's also why there are no new systems added to the game - like interests or attractions - and everything new is object based interactions. - even groups and clubs are all object or interaction based. Sims don't do things TOGETHER, they do them in tandem. As in...near each other and talking. Those things were already in the game, they just slapped a label on it.

And as for sales...I think their release cycle speaks for itself. Obviously, more people are willing to buy the cheap stuff pack, but not the game packs or the EPs. So basically, they wanted the mobile crowd and they got them. Customers that are not willing to spend all at once, but instead in small bursts. And whether or not they meant to leave their old customers behind, they did. And I bet their bottom line is feeling it. One thing they have always said about this game..."we don't know why people buy The Sims, but they just do". They always expected simmers to buy everything and anything. Well, I think it would have done their marketing department a little service to actually try and understand why. If I was in charge, anyone who said "Olympus" would be fired right now. The Sims was once the only successful title besides sports. It made a steady income for EA. Everyone knows the label. Now it is considered a joke. And I don't mean the laughing with you kind.

"azxcvbnm321;15376020" wrote:
It's just sad that the #1 positive mentioned about Sims 4 is that it'll practically run on a tablet because minimum specs are so low. Is Sims 4 supposed to be an AAA game or a mobile tablet game?

If you look at Fallout 4's minimum specs, they are even higher than Planet Coaster, yet that hasn't stopped Fallout 4 from being a top seller week after week on Steam. Just because a toaster can run it does not make a game great!

You might want to hang out in the Tech forum for a while, especially after new features get patched in or a larger pack gets released or a big sale brings new players in. Sims 4 does not "practically run on a tablet."

As for comparing vastly different genres of games, nah. I've always suspected that in today's mature gaming market (compared with 2000, when RPGs and FPSs were much more limited in what they could do technically), the market for life simulations is much smaller than the market for games like Fallout 4, and needs to run on a mid-level computer as well as a high-level one in order to break even on sales. And I assume that big companies like EA actually do market research to figure that sort of thing out.

"blueturtleotter;15375995" wrote:

"phoebebebe13;15375833" wrote:

"Sims_4funn;15375819" wrote:
@phoebebebe13 @chesterbigbird @Mstybl95 @Cinebar @blueturtleotter

Sooooooo.... Basically Maxis/EA cannot afford the engine it would take to make the game more realistic and coincide with today's tech?.... OR they are concerned that not enough people would buy it because they wouldn't be able to afford the PC needed to play it on?

Back when the sims 3 was issued a lot of people could not afford a computer to run the game. PC's have come down in price since then. The average PC to run the sims 3 or 4 desktop $700 USD now. This was a big issue for many since back when the sims 3 was issued you were looking at a few thousand to run the game properly.

The sims 4 was originally olympus an on line game that they switched to PC. The engine is limited. Why they went this route with the game only EA can answer. The requirements are the same for TS3 and 4 only the games are programed differently. If they chose to continue with the same engine as TS3, TS4 might not be as limited.

We get people all the time in tech that want to spend $500 or less for a PC on this game. $500 or less gets you a PC for general use and is not meant to run any PC game that has actual requirements to run. Many dont want to spend the money on a PC but they are willing to drop a lot of money on the game and then find out their PC can't run it. There are a few heavy gamers that also play the sims however majority don't want to buy a gaming PC just to play the sims.

If EA made a game as powerful as coaster planet you would be looking at thousands of dollars on a desk top PC to run the game. Gaming laptops are even more expensive than desktop. Chester has a new top of the line desktop PC and is having issues with Coaster Planet. Imagine what it is doing to lesser PCs .

The Sims 3 was very successful despite its requirements for an expensive gaming PC; so successful it supported the release of 2 EPs a year, something The Sims 4 is unable to do even though it is designed to run on toasters. I don't think, if it is true, that The Sims 4 was designed to run on low spec computers was to increase sales, is working because they'd be releasing more content for it if it was selling well.

I personally knew 2 people who purchased new computers just so they could play The Sims 3 at launch. People will pay a lot of money to play a game they love. Gaming is an expensive hobby and if your computer is not designed to play games, you should not expect them to run on your general purpose machine. The Sims series should not be held back. There will never be innovation and improved A.I. if Maxis do not utilise modern technology. The series will stagnate.

The Sims 4 bought nothing new to the series. The Sims in it could not even react as well as sims in the predecessors until they patched the game a year after release.

If a game wows players, is innovative and has fantastic gameplay, players will upgrade to play it.

You know a few people who did. I know many more people who did not buy computer for the sims 3 or did not buy a computer until later when the computers dropped in price. Im one of them. I was not spending thousands of dollars on a computer to play the sims 3. I actually stopped buying the game when the computer I had at the time could not handle the game. I did not buy the rest of the game until I could afford a computer to play it. There is no way I would drop thousands of dollars on a computer for this game since I would rather play most games on console. There are plenty more like me. I do help in tech and the average person (which is a majority) would not spend thousands of dollars on a computer. There are more non PC gamers playing this game than there are heavy gamers that would spend thousands of dollars on a gaming computer. Again we get people all the time in TS3 Tech section stating they are coming back to sims 3 because they can now afford to buy a computer. They will ask what kind of computer they need. We also get newbees and the occasional person who still bought a plum computer and can't run the game.

EA wants to make money. The more people that can play the game, the more sales they make. If the sims 4 does not cater to you, don't play it. I don't play it. Im fine with still playing 2 and 3.

"Mstybl95;15376049" wrote:
snip

However, the issue is not what they can or can't do. The issue is where they want to spend their money. They choose to hire cheaper FX designers rather than programmers. That's why we have all this lovely scenery and nothing to do with it. This is a fact. One of the guru's stated in an interview before release that the engine was designed in a way that they wouldn't need to hire "expensive engineers" to make changes. (Which is most likely why there is very little added gameplay.) And in another interview a guru stated that the FX designers had so little to do that they literally tried to find things to do. That's why we got such details as the subtle curtains blowing around...but we can't open windows. And this is also why CL has an amazing background and no new real gameplay. It's also why there are no new systems added to the game - like interests or attractions - and everything new is object based interactions. - even groups and clubs are all object or interaction based. Sims don't do things TOGETHER, they do them in tandem. As in...near each other and talking. Those things were already in the game, they just slapped a label on it.
snip

No, it's not a fact, it's a false rumor. They haven't hired FX designers instead of programmers. There are two FX artists credited on TS4 (Don Livingston and Art Matsuura), both of them are credited on various packs since TS2. No new FX artist was hired for TS4. Check the credits.

"Neia;15376149" wrote:

"Mstybl95;15376049" wrote:
snip

However, the issue is not what they can or can't do. The issue is where they want to spend their money. They choose to hire cheaper FX designers rather than programmers. That's why we have all this lovely scenery and nothing to do with it. This is a fact. One of the guru's stated in an interview before release that the engine was designed in a way that they wouldn't need to hire "expensive engineers" to make changes. (Which is most likely why there is very little added gameplay.) And in another interview a guru stated that the FX designers had so little to do that they literally tried to find things to do. That's why we got such details as the subtle curtains blowing around...but we can't open windows. And this is also why CL has an amazing background and no new real gameplay. It's also why there are no new systems added to the game - like interests or attractions - and everything new is object based interactions. - even groups and clubs are all object or interaction based. Sims don't do things TOGETHER, they do them in tandem. As in...near each other and talking. Those things were already in the game, they just slapped a label on it.
snip

No, it's not a fact, it's a false rumor. They haven't hired FX designers instead of programmers. There are two FX artists credited on TS4 (Don Livingston and Art Matsuura), both of them are credited on various packs since TS2. No new FX artist was hired for TS4. Check the credits.

Do you just choose to misinterpret?

It was stated in two separate interviews.

"Mstybl95;15376171" wrote:

"Neia;15376149" wrote:

"Mstybl95;15376049" wrote:
snip

However, the issue is not what they can or can't do. The issue is where they want to spend their money. They choose to hire cheaper FX designers rather than programmers. That's why we have all this lovely scenery and nothing to do with it. This is a fact. One of the guru's stated in an interview before release that the engine was designed in a way that they wouldn't need to hire "expensive engineers" to make changes. (Which is most likely why there is very little added gameplay.) And in another interview a guru stated that the FX designers had so little to do that they literally tried to find things to do. That's why we got such details as the subtle curtains blowing around...but we can't open windows. And this is also why CL has an amazing background and no new real gameplay. It's also why there are no new systems added to the game - like interests or attractions - and everything new is object based interactions. - even groups and clubs are all object or interaction based. Sims don't do things TOGETHER, they do them in tandem. As in...near each other and talking. Those things were already in the game, they just slapped a label on it.
snip

No, it's not a fact, it's a false rumor. They haven't hired FX designers instead of programmers. There are two FX artists credited on TS4 (Don Livingston and Art Matsuura), both of them are credited on various packs since TS2. No new FX artist was hired for TS4. Check the credits.

Do you just choose to misinterpret?

It was stated in two separate interviews.

Where's your source then ?

I don't see how I can misinterpret a list of names in credits by the way. Just check yourselves for all the TS4 packs, there are only two people credited as FX artists. Just look when these two people have started working on the Sims.

"azxcvbnm321;15376020" wrote:
It's just sad that the #1 positive mentioned about Sims 4 is that it'll practically run on a tablet because minimum specs are so low. Is Sims 4 supposed to be an AAA game or a mobile tablet game?

If you look at Fallout 4's minimum specs, they are even higher than Planet Coaster, yet that hasn't stopped Fallout 4 from being a top seller week after week on Steam. Just because a toaster can run it does not make a game great!

The minimum specs are really low on the sims 3 too. Now try running the whole game on minimum specs and it won't happen. Like @luthienrising stated come in tech for a while. The game can not run on low end computers, tablets or a toaster. One should always look at recommended requirements to run the sims 4 or any other game for that matter. Minimum requirements are for base game only with no packs, patches or EPs added. Since the game has mandatory patching really the minimum requirements no longer apply. EA should get rid of them

"Neia;15376186" wrote:

"Mstybl95;15376171" wrote:

"Neia;15376149" wrote:

"Mstybl95;15376049" wrote:
snip

However, the issue is not what they can or can't do. The issue is where they want to spend their money. They choose to hire cheaper FX designers rather than programmers. That's why we have all this lovely scenery and nothing to do with it. This is a fact. One of the guru's stated in an interview before release that the engine was designed in a way that they wouldn't need to hire "expensive engineers" to make changes. (Which is most likely why there is very little added gameplay.) And in another interview a guru stated that the FX designers had so little to do that they literally tried to find things to do. That's why we got such details as the subtle curtains blowing around...but we can't open windows. And this is also why CL has an amazing background and no new real gameplay. It's also why there are no new systems added to the game - like interests or attractions - and everything new is object based interactions. - even groups and clubs are all object or interaction based. Sims don't do things TOGETHER, they do them in tandem. As in...near each other and talking. Those things were already in the game, they just slapped a label on it.
snip

No, it's not a fact, it's a false rumor. They haven't hired FX designers instead of programmers. There are two FX artists credited on TS4 (Don Livingston and Art Matsuura), both of them are credited on various packs since TS2. No new FX artist was hired for TS4. Check the credits.

Do you just choose to misinterpret?

It was stated in two separate interviews.

Where's your source then ?

I don't see how I can misinterpret a list of names in credits by the way. Just check yourselves for all the TS4 packs, there are only two people credited as FX artists. Just look when these two people have started working on the Sims.

https://themaresnest.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/the-roast-of-graham-nardone-9.jpg

(Pls ignore website, couldn't find the direct link to MTS) Screenshot, Grahamns comments are in the quote.

FX people got whatever they wanted, because their work is cheap and doesn't take very long. I find it hilarious that Graham says they didn't have enough to do seeing how every world is completely made up of VFX. They had too much to do.

Either way, this interview is from before launch - you know when they deliberately lied, and misled ALL of us trying to sell this game. I wouldn't be surprised if even this explaination was inflated to sound better than reality.

"drake_mccarty;15376223" wrote:

"Neia;15376186" wrote:

"Mstybl95;15376171" wrote:

"Neia;15376149" wrote:

"Mstybl95;15376049" wrote:
snip

However, the issue is not what they can or can't do. The issue is where they want to spend their money. They choose to hire cheaper FX designers rather than programmers. That's why we have all this lovely scenery and nothing to do with it. This is a fact. One of the guru's stated in an interview before release that the engine was designed in a way that they wouldn't need to hire "expensive engineers" to make changes. (Which is most likely why there is very little added gameplay.) And in another interview a guru stated that the FX designers had so little to do that they literally tried to find things to do. That's why we got such details as the subtle curtains blowing around...but we can't open windows. And this is also why CL has an amazing background and no new real gameplay. It's also why there are no new systems added to the game - like interests or attractions - and everything new is object based interactions. - even groups and clubs are all object or interaction based. Sims don't do things TOGETHER, they do them in tandem. As in...near each other and talking. Those things were already in the game, they just slapped a label on it.
snip

No, it's not a fact, it's a false rumor. They haven't hired FX designers instead of programmers. There are two FX artists credited on TS4 (Don Livingston and Art Matsuura), both of them are credited on various packs since TS2. No new FX artist was hired for TS4. Check the credits.

Do you just choose to misinterpret?

It was stated in two separate interviews.

Where's your source then ?

I don't see how I can misinterpret a list of names in credits by the way. Just check yourselves for all the TS4 packs, there are only two people credited as FX artists. Just look when these two people have started working on the Sims.

https://plum.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/the-roast-of-graham-nardone-9.jpg

(Pls ignore website, couldn't find the direct link to MTS) Screenshot, Grahamns comments are in the quote.

FX people got whatever they wanted, because their work is cheap and doesn't take very long. I find it hilarious that Graham says they didn't have enough to do seeing how every world is completely made up of VFX. They had too much to do.

Either way, this interview is from before launch - you know when they deliberately lied, and misled ALL of us trying to sell this game. I wouldn't be surprised if even this explaination was inflated to sound better than reality.

Your link got "plum"-ed but I guess it was this comment on MTS : http://modthesims.info/m/showthread.php?p=4432554#post4432554 ?

SimGuruGraham never said they hired more FX artists for TS4 though. Yes FX artists were not scoped against, yes, they had their own list of suggestions of things to do. But they didn't hire more FX artists, they were already there ! And I'm glad they kept them, these are the guys who provided us with all the Seasons and other FX I loved in the past, and based on their work on TS4, I think they are getting even better. I want them for my TS4 Seasons too !

"Neia;15376236" wrote:

"drake_mccarty;15376223" wrote:

"Neia;15376186" wrote:

"Mstybl95;15376171" wrote:

"Neia;15376149" wrote:

"Mstybl95;15376049" wrote:
snip

However, the issue is not what they can or can't do. The issue is where they want to spend their money. They choose to hire cheaper FX designers rather than programmers. That's why we have all this lovely scenery and nothing to do with it. This is a fact. One of the guru's stated in an interview before release that the engine was designed in a way that they wouldn't need to hire "expensive engineers" to make changes. (Which is most likely why there is very little added gameplay.) And in another interview a guru stated that the FX designers had so little to do that they literally tried to find things to do. That's why we got such details as the subtle curtains blowing around...but we can't open windows. And this is also why CL has an amazing background and no new real gameplay. It's also why there are no new systems added to the game - like interests or attractions - and everything new is object based interactions. - even groups and clubs are all object or interaction based. Sims don't do things TOGETHER, they do them in tandem. As in...near each other and talking. Those things were already in the game, they just slapped a label on it.
snip

No, it's not a fact, it's a false rumor. They haven't hired FX designers instead of programmers. There are two FX artists credited on TS4 (Don Livingston and Art Matsuura), both of them are credited on various packs since TS2. No new FX artist was hired for TS4. Check the credits.

Do you just choose to misinterpret?

It was stated in two separate interviews.

Where's your source then ?

I don't see how I can misinterpret a list of names in credits by the way. Just check yourselves for all the TS4 packs, there are only two people credited as FX artists. Just look when these two people have started working on the Sims.

https://plum.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/the-roast-of-graham-nardone-9.jpg

(Pls ignore website, couldn't find the direct link to MTS) Screenshot, Grahamns comments are in the quote.

FX people got whatever they wanted, because their work is cheap and doesn't take very long. I find it hilarious that Graham says they didn't have enough to do seeing how every world is completely made up of VFX. They had too much to do.

Either way, this interview is from before launch - you know when they deliberately lied, and misled ALL of us trying to sell this game. I wouldn't be surprised if even this explaination was inflated to sound better than reality.

Your link got "plum"-ed but I guess it was this comment on MTS : http://modthesims.info/m/showthread.php?p=4432554#post4432554 ?

SimGuruGraham never said they hired more FX artists for TS4 though. Yes FX artists were not scoped against, yes, they had their own list of suggestions of things to do. But they didn't hire more FX artists, they were already there ! And I'm glad they kept them, these are the guys who provided us with all the Seasons and other FX I loved in the past, and based on their work on TS4, I think they are getting even better. I want them for my TS4 Seasons too !

I didn't say they hired anyone. I said their work was quick and cheap so they were allowed to do what they wanted. Do you think other departments got so lucky? Probably not.

VFX doesn't add to a game. Sure it might add to the players visual enjoyment, but that is 100% valueless to the game, which is what I paid for. Graham's comments demonstrate the mindset that Maxis has where they can make decorations, tell us how AMAZING they are, and sell us packs full of functionless content. Look @ CL - they went gaga over the world, and most of every neighborhood is set dressing. To each their own I guess, I would prefer some meat on my sandwhich not just a fancy wrapper.