7 years ago

Preferences for Neighbourhood Layouts?

Hi all.

I wanted to ask what people's preferences are for the way neighbourhoods are created in the worlds. Do you have favourite neighbourhoods in the game? What do you like about them?

Something I'm personally not keen on in Brindleton Bay is that while the docks area is very run-down and almost quite low-end, they have that massive lounge area that is really massive and conspicuous. I think I understand the idea, that the area is undergoing some gentrification and maybe it's a social comment on big investors that buy up chunks of land in poorer areas, pushing out the lower-income households. However the placement of it really bothers me. I really love the feel of the docks area and I wish that was the feel of the whole zone and that they had a separate 'rich' area in another part of the map. Perhaps if it was positioned slightly further away it wouldn't be so out of place. I just feel like it ruins the story of that area a little. What do you think?

If I compare Brindleton Bay to Windenburg or San Myshuno: those worlds have very clearly defined areas. San Myshuno in particular has areas that are quite economically consistent. The Spice Market appears to be the lowest income area and Uptown is the richest. I really like that clear definition. Windenburg perhaps has more mixed areas, like on the island where there is a huge 64x64 lot and there are smaller lots by the beach, but since the surrounding area is woodland and the lots are spaced more widely apart, the contrast doesn't jar as much.

I'm just not really keen on all the extra 'stuff' around the lounge in BB because I feel like it restricts how creative I can be with that lot. And it's just so out of place with the rest of the area. I just wish they'd placed it elsewhere, maybe on that large lot in Cavalier Cove. I'd have really liked them to have had the 'rich' area with the lots as its own separate zone with a couple of lots for houses. Because I think I could have really told a lot of stories around that. It currently feels like they squashed two zones into one.

Other than that, I really love the style of BB! So I'm not complaining about the whole thing. I'm just thinking that I'd like them to keep the theme of the neighbourhoods more tightly themed for future worlds. I think the base game worlds did have those areas defined by prosperity and I like that more.

What about you? Which areas do you like? And how do you like the neighbourhoods to be themed inside the worlds?

astridentanja
7 years ago
"Oldeseadogge;c-16226503" wrote:
Saving it for when you enter a lot and find all the usual background, some of which you can enter, most of which you can't. Closest they've come to a TS2 neighborhood, only without the neighborhood level ability to add plants, buildings, and such. Presumably what you mean by no character. That leaves it up to the player to define the place via the lots they put down.

Yes, that’s the only possible way to give it character, the lots you put into it. But you won’t be able to see those lots the way you can in even Sims 2, because the streetlevel look of the town is the backdrop and that’s got nothing to do with what you put in there. My Newcrest will look exactly the same as your Newcrest, except for the house where I’m standing.
Saneksemoo
7 years ago
PREFERENCES FOR NEIGHBOURHOOD LAYOUTS?

Answer: Our own. CAW nuff said.
Hermitgirl
New Spectator
7 years ago
Since I finally got the last EP I feel like I can comment.

I can tell I'll still love Windenburg the best. It's a personal preference though in that I didn't want strict sidewalks and uniformity everywhere. I do like it for some of my sims but others... their personality doesn't fit there. I am really liking the new world Brindleton Bay also though because it's given me some lots that I can think of as rural... some that are more eclectic. There is so much foliage in some areas that I do get turned around and confused about where my sim is though. I've clicked on my sim to go "home" just to figure out where I can go or sent them jogging to explore the different areas. I'm not much of a builder so I appreciate the foliage and builds such as those raised beds that seem to come closer to my lot depending on where I'm building. I like the lively feel and variety it gives to the backgrounds. There's also a few lots that are completely surrounded by trees/foliage .. something I've been waiting for. I still enjoy the other hoods Willow Creek in particular. I usually end up using Newcrest to house NPC's or use for restaurants and businesses. All my techy and modern looking builds and scientists tend to wind up in Oasis.. well when I'm not replacing it with trailer parks that are high or low end.
Cabelle1863
7 years ago
Preferences for neighborhood layouts?

Size of Sims 2 neighborhoods. I need room!
Ability to place lots where I want
Ability to change the backdrop. The same backdrops all the time gets old.
CAW so we can make our own worlds. Would help with the variety I need
ayyitsmell
New Spectator
7 years ago
I love Windenburg the most, especially the area where the cafe (Hare and Hedgehog) and the Discotheque is. I think the surroundings are beautiful in this neighborhood. I haven't explored Brindleton Bay too much, but so far I like the ambiance there. It's very beachy and reminds me of home sometimes. I also like the idea behind San Myshuno because every district has such a distinct personality. I really like the central gathering areas where they can eat, socialize, and enjoy the festivals. However, I wish I could place apartments in other neighborhoods, like in Sims 3. What the three of these have in common in terms of layout is that although its one world, there are different areas that give the world a bit more variety, rather than just lots in one town, like Newcrest or Willow Creek. Also, I miss finding the secret lot(s) around the town.
docsprock
7 years ago
"Writin_Reg;c-16206918" wrote:
The worlds are just too small. I like separate areas - like one area for businesses with a lot more than 4 lots and several areas for residences with a variety of type of places to live with at least as many empty lots as they have pre-done lots. If they have 6 families in a world - then we also need 6 lots with empty residence already built and another 6 lots totally empty to put our own designs in.

I still won't use San Myshuno for many reasons out side of a place to go to festivals and to make friends. I object to many things - but number one is the fact we cannot even build a single apartment building ourselves - never mind the fact there is no residential homes or duplexes period and what about shopping and other types of city type entertainment? San Myshuno represents city living - when in fact it is like a street corner or a couple blocks of a city - not a city at all. It's like welcome to the city block party - not welcome to the city. I mean who every heard of an entire city smaller than all the small towns we already have in the game. Fake backdrops is nothing but a deception and the only reason they can even call it a city.

Cities need stores, lots of parks, restaurants, movie theaters, clubs, museums, galleries, offices - big business, but cities also hold every variety of living style one can find - not just a few brownstones.

I saw people posting on facebook a while back asking what city was San Myshuno even based on. I said probably none as really what about that place looks like a real city - the painted 2 d back drop where your sims cannot even go? It's like a great big lie and then they insist it is a city world. What world exactly - Barbie Land?

I know it is a game - but jeez don't call things something they are not. They just need lots less fakery and a lot more useableness in these worlds. Real places our sims can go and live. My sims can't go into fake buildings. I mean, rabbitholes in the last game were bad enough (and got constant complaints) - but by golly at least my sim could go into the things and get options. Exactly, What is the point of pictures of fake buildings anyway but to waste space we could actually use in this game for if nothing else but to place lots, to build our own buildings then.. The fake needs to go away - period. It's a game, not a picture book.

Something to consider anyway - seeing most of us are not 12 - regardless of what age they were hoping to attract. Incidently even the 12 year old also complain about this - so technically it has no point.

Hiya Reg! Long time!

Plus I agree. I just got this game, and am already bored. The towns are VERY small with nothing to do in them. I found just keeping your sim home and grinding skills to be most efficient at job advancement.

Social is easy to control when everyone in town parades past your front door all day. Just walk outside and introduce yourself. Social maxed. There are no stores, restaurants, theaters, or really anything to do.

Romantic interactions are useless. Start getting flirty, and ready to make a move for a first kiss? Have to drop down and do push-ups while your date pulls out a book to read.

Building has become so simple, it has lost any challenge. In an empty world you can create maybe a dozen homes in a couple hours. Then what?

How can you do multi-generational legacies? There is not room for an extended family. Have three kids and the town is full!

I see so much potential that the Devs didn't want any part of.
drake_mccarty
7 years ago
You know they used to bring up the game’s potential all the time. Talked it up, only to not live up to the expectations they made for themselves.

Worlds are TS4’s weakest asset, and yet Maxis treats them like they are extraordinary, game-changing additions every time when they manage to squeeze out a tiny over-decorated world. The use of decoration to imitate buildings inside the playable area is ridiculous, and has only gotten worse with each new world. The worlds are lazy IMO. I’m sure they put work into them, but they are mostly decorative landscapes. Not impressive for a Sims game.
TheGoodOldGamer
7 years ago
The builder in me wants more open canvases like Newcrest with simple layouts, and various backgrounds to place builds in. I'm not too picky tbh but more worlds with empty lots to fill would be nice. I don't want to remove pre-made lots (tho I do tweak them a lot). So there are some lot sizes (the bigger ones) I haven't been able to build on because they already come with something on them.
catitude5
7 years ago
They aren't even worlds, they are part of a neighborhood. I pretend the whole this is one big city.
ChadSims2
Seasoned Novice
7 years ago
"Cabelle1863;c-16228043" wrote:
Preferences for neighborhood layouts?

Size of Sims 2 neighborhoods. I need room!
Ability to place lots where I want
Ability to change the backdrop. The same backdrops all the time gets old.
CAW so we can make our own worlds. Would help with the variety I need

I want this