Play to change in The Sims 4 Eco Lifestyle Expansion Pack!

One more comment - if Island Living had been different, with no Conservationist career (but with more fleshed-out mermaids, more ocean gameplay) -- I think this pack would be seen in a much different light. Because it appears to be the pack that people DID want a few years ago.

"Pegasys;c-17485572" wrote:
One more comment - if Island Living had been different, with no Conservationist career (but with more fleshed-out mermaids, more ocean gameplay) -- I think this pack would be seen in a much different light. Because it appears to be the pack that people DID want a few years ago.

This is a no brainer. I mean they literally already did the whole "change the environment for the better" thing in IL, and tbh that EP suffered greatly from it, it had lacklustre island gameplay in favour of the green crap. I don't know if they plan out EP themes ahead of time or not, but I guess they don't because otherwise they'd never include that stuff in IL and then double down on another EP.

Thing is - even if you want to live in the world as is - all the sims will be tense and angry all the time because sims hate even a puddle of rain water! And perhaps that is better than so happy all the time, but I have never been a fan of the ridiculous angry walk and tense is not much better - good luck even making friends to fix the town when everyone is tense and angry!

At first I thought it was a joke. But who knows, maybe some people relate to this - I'll stay open minded. I don't think I'll be getting this for myself though.

"AdamsEve1231;c-17485216" wrote:

but honestly, complaining about it isn't going to fix anything. Every game expansion, game pack, and stuff pack adds at least a little bit of value to the game.

If we can't complain, what can we do to get our voices heard? It's not like we can vote with our wallets - so many people buy out of brand loyalty, to be a completionist, because they don't know enough about the pack before buying, because people are desperate for ANYTHING that might change up this stagnant game, or because of EA's often sketchy (and arguably predatory) marketing tactics. They could literally make a My First Colonoscopy pack and make bank.

"AdamsEve1231;c-17485216" wrote:

I've kept my expectations low with most expansions and packs in general, and I've never been disappointed.

I gotta say that this is a depressing way to view a franchise. We always have to keep our expectations in check and assume we'll get the bare minimum. (And even then, I'm still often disappointed.) Even when we get a pack that we want, tons of us are praying that it's half as good as older takes on the idea.

Anyway, here are some of my honest thoughts on the pack.

• The concept itself isn't good for an EP, but it's novel enough to be a GP. Like Spa Day. I'd actually be somewhat excited if this was a GP, because those are meant to have a smaller scope, cost less and are generally done better than EPs.
  
• If we could make other worlds dirty and grungy, my opinion would do a complete 180. That would add depth and consequences. That would make the worlds less static.
  
• I don't think we'll get PlantSims here. But if we did, and they were done well, I'd consider buying this pack. My world is occult-based, and I can't make a diverse community of occults when I'm limited to 3 different kinds - and 1 of those (mermaids) doesn't work outside of Sulani & Britechester because no other worlds allow for swimming.
  
• I like the dirt and grossness of the pre-fixed world. If I ever get this pack, I want to keep it that way, instead of turning it into another generic neighborhood. Dingy BB/CAS items would be fantastic for Rags to Riches challenges and stories.
  
• Even if this pack ended up being good, I'd still be bitter about it. Time and resources were put into this over farming, and now we have to wait that much longer for farming. If we ever get it. Remember when that one Guru (Grant?) admitted that no one wanted StrangerVille, but he wanted to include it for his own sake? I don't want Maxis to prioritize what they want over what we want. Yes, we'll still get what we want eventually. But we should get what we want first, and then get the new stuff.
  
• "But a lot of people wanted Eco stuff!" Yeah, I know. But it's still very niche and offers very narrow gameplay. And people have been asking for farms for far longer.
  
• I'm interested in the candle-making stuff. Just imagine living in a run-down building with no power.
  
• But I'm also burnt out on crafting, since nearly all the in-game hobbies are about crafting something + we're getting knitting.
  

"Cherryl93;c-17485300" wrote:
The problem with the sims 4 is twofold.

First of all, it feels too “silicons valley”. Game content creators trying to prove their “creativity”, feeling like they need to give us new/modern/up to date content while all simmers are asking for are the basics. Perhaps just a tiny bit improved. Yes, robots are cool. (University) Yes, changing the world for the better is cool (ecoliving). Yes, different cultures are cool (city living/ get together). But you know what’s also cool? Being able to relate to your sims. How? Well by being able to play out our own ordinary lives for starters. Unfortunately, when it comes to ordinary life, the gameplay is just so limited, players have to resort to mods and custom content to try to create any kind of realistic storytelling.

On the other hand it feels like EA is so desperately trying to prove it’s an ethical company with modern norms and values.
- EA is a sustainable company = eco living
- EA is anti racism = different cultures (names/looks/foods)
- EA is LGBT friendly = Same sex households, transgender sims
- EA cares about equal rights = let’s put a female sim as the main sim on every cover / in every trailer

Don’t get me wrong. These are all very positive introductions to the game. However, it seems EA cares more about its image lately than about its actual games, a feeling that wasn’t around in previous sims series. If only we could go back to the times where the created content was actually about adding value to the game.

Oh, yes, Definitely. I agree.

"Gordy;c-17485606" wrote:

"AdamsEve1231;c-17485216" wrote:

but honestly, complaining about it isn't going to fix anything. Every game expansion, game pack, and stuff pack adds at least a little bit of value to the game.

If we can't complain, what can we do to get our voices heard? It's not like we can vote with our wallets - so many people buy out of brand loyalty, to be a completionist, because they don't know enough about the pack before buying, because people are desperate for ANYTHING that might change up this stagnant game, or because of EA's often sketchy (and arguably predatory) marketing tactics. They could literally make a My First Colonoscopy pack and make bank.

"AdamsEve1231;c-17485216" wrote:

I've kept my expectations low with most expansions and packs in general, and I've never been disappointed.

I gotta say that this is a depressing way to view a franchise. We always have to keep our expectations in check and assume we'll get the bare minimum. (And even then, I'm still often disappointed.) Even when we get a pack that we want, tons of us are praying that it's half as good as older takes on the idea.

"SimTrippy;c-17485533" wrote:

Yeah this has got to be one of the worst things about it actually. Why not give us a dark seedy magic world? And uhm idk EP-sized WITCHES ????. I understand that you can't please everyone but it isn't like this community isn't vocal enough for them to not have noticed the uber subtle hints to "we want a magic EP" and confused them with "eco living, anyone?"

I doubt we'll ever get an occult EP, since they clearly prefer catering to the realism players. I feel that's the reason the Magic Realm was hidden away and underdeveloped, and why the CASsets were fairly tame and had no exclusively-witchy clothing - they wanted to make the pack as appealing as possible to appease them.

Anyway, here are some of my honest thoughts on the pack.

• The concept itself isn't good for an EP, but it's novel enough to be a GP. Like Spa Day. I'd actually be somewhat excited if this was a GP, because those are meant to have a smaller scope, cost less and are generally done better than EPs.
  
• If we could make other worlds dirty and grungy, my opinion would do a complete 180. That would add depth and consequences. That would make the worlds less static.
  
• I don't think we'll get PlantSims here. But if we did, and they were done well, I'd consider buying this pack. My world is occult-based, and I can't make a diverse community of occults when I'm limited to 3 different kinds - and 1 of those (mermaids) doesn't work outside of Sulani & Britechester because no other worlds allow for swimming.
  
• I like the dirt and grossness of the pre-fixed world. If I ever get this pack, I want to keep it that way, instead of turning it into another generic neighborhood. Dingy BB/CAS items would be fantastic for Rags to Riches challenges and stories.
  
• Even if this pack ended up being good, I'd still be bitter about it. Time and resources were put into this over farming, and now we have to wait that much longer for farming. If we ever get it. Remember when that one Guru (Grant?) admitted that no one wanted StrangerVille, but he wanted to include it for his own sake? I don't want Maxis to prioritize what they want over what we want. Yes, we'll still get what we want eventually. But we should get what we want first, and then get the new stuff.
  
• "But a lot of people wanted Eco stuff!" Yeah, I know. But it's still very niche and offers very narrow gameplay. And people have been asking for farms for far longer.
  

Not really!! Where's cars and garages? Non object babies? Actual personalities? Turn ons and offs? Where are the normal everyday juicers instead of giant alchemy stations? Who has a trash recycling machine on their damn house?

I’m digging it! Sure you can say they recycled but haven’t they done that in almost every pack. I don’t think it’s a bad thing. I’ve said this before, they do listen to the community they give us tiny bread crumbs of what we want because it’s hard to appease everyone and remember they want to try “new” ish things which this story is newish. I feel certain people are reading into it to much. I think those people are afraid they might enjoy something about the pack even if it is a new window. You guys are killing me about the farming. I would of like that as well but come on... snap out of it. The message is a good message unlike shooter games (which I enjoy too) it’s something that’s going on now so if your feeling a certain way about a “message” your obviously ignorantly righteous. A Shame really!

"Sigzy05;c-17485613" wrote:

Not really!! Where's cars and garages? Non object babies? Actual personalities? Turn ons and offs? Where are the normal everyday juicers instead of giant alchemy stations? Who has a trash recycling machine on their ???? house?

They cater to realism that's trendy and allows for recycled animations.

Ironically love this expansion announcement, yes cus of ladders but it also looks actually promising.
Big realism player so eco sims trying to save the world, welcomed.

Hopefully, this world is a little more open and better than Sulani was, SP would help give it a full vibe if as time passed, new relatives came and carried on their parent's legacy, families took over and raised animals in little gardens and the overall feel was ALIVE.


Like community gardens/lots people share IRL, that but in sims