Q&A: Businesses & Hobbies
INTRO #AD (just in case this counts as social media) I was invited to join the CFE (not final software) opportunity for Businesses & Hobbies. Thank you to the EA Creator Network for this chance t...
Forum Discussion
I'll begin.
Ok, I'd like to know more business customization options. Inspiration's calling. My first question is what are all the business activities, target customer filters, and business icons there are? Any more fun options when creating a business?
And, of course, are the old businesses (Retail Stores, Restaurants, Vet Clinics, and Residential Rental) updated in some way?
And as the livestream lost power, what are the new traits and aspirations? And what does the business perk tree look like? What does the small business panel have (in the tab where you can also look at other businesses)?
SMALL BUSINESS SYSTEM
Create/edit Small Business UI. (Note: Cheerlead option comes with the High School Years EP)
When "Make Selected Criteria Required" is checked, Sims MUST meet this requirement to visit the lot as a customer. When unchecked they will have priority, but other Sims can come to make up numbers later.
BUSINESS ACTIVITES (by type)
These change Sim autonomy when on the lot, and also show on lot info panels so you can see what services a Small Business offers straight from the Map. Business Activities are much like Club Activities [GT] in that they are varied and plentiful, but also not exhaustive (things are missing, same as with Clubs).
Some activities are also grouped together and might not be immediately obvious, but every Business Activity can be hovered over for a tooltip with more details. (E.G. Use Hot Tubs - This includes both Hot Tubs and Hot Springs [SE])
Food and Drink - All things Grilled Cheese, Bake, Cook, Drink Bar Drinks, Drink Coffee, Drink Ranch Nectar, Drink Tea, Eat, Eat Popcorn, Grill, Make Ranch Nectar, Make Treats, Mix Bar Drinks. (Missing: Drink Trays, Globe Bar, Juice Fizzer, Kava Bowl, Punch/Fondue Fountains)
Art and Music - Acting Routines, Cross-stitch, DJ, Dance, Do Comedy, Do Pottery, Get Tattooed, Knitting, Listen To Music, Paint, Play An Instrument, Play Guitar, Play Piano, Play Pipe Organ, Play Violin, Practice Tattooing, Produce New Track, Sing, View Art, View Collectibles, Watch Live Entertainment.
Hobbies - Attend Classes and Lectures, Build Robots, Cheerlead, Debate, Do Gemology, Do Research, Do Séances, Do Spa Activities, Do Yoga, Fabricate Objects, Flower Arranging, Go Skating, Meditate, Program, Read, Record Video, Rocket Science!, Use Bubble Blower, Use Cauldron, Use Microscope, Use Science Objects, Use Telescope, Watch Movies on TV, Woodwork, Work Out, Write.
Fun and Games - Go Bowling, Play Arcade Machine, Play Basketball, Play Cards, Play Chess, Play Darts, Play Don't Wake The Llama, Play Foosball, Play Football Toss, Play Hopscotch, Play Horseshoes, Play Physical Games, Play Pub Games, Play Simbles, Play Soccer, Play Table Games, Play Video Games, Play Who's Up Party Games, Put Puzzles Together, Use Lawn Water Slide, Wear Costumes from Costume Trunk.
Mischief and Mayhem - Cast Chaotic Spells, Cast Helpful Spells, Cast Spells, Drink Plasma, Hack, Possess Objects, Prank, Roar, Sabotage Objects, Swipe Objects, Use Alien Powers, Use Evil Ghost Mastery, Use Good Ghost Mastery, Use Vampire Powers, Use Werewolf Abilities. (Missing: Use Merfolk Powers)
Outdoor - Care for Animals, Conservation Activities, Fall Activities, Fish, Hangout by Fire, Horses Play and Learn, Look for Frogs, Moonbathing, Pets Play and Learn, Play In Park Fountains, Play with Pets, Spring Activities, Summer Activities, Swim, Tend Garden, Tend and Harvest Garden, Use Hot Tub, Use Water Vehicles, Use the Jump Platform, Winter Activities.
Social - Be Friendly, Be Funny, Be Mean, Be Mischievous, Be Romantic, Fight, Give Speech, Hug, Kiss, Scare, Tell Jokes. (Missing: WooHoo, Sparring/Practice Fighting)
Kid Activities - Battle With Voidcritters, Do Homework, Perform Puppet Shows, Play In Closet, Play Marbles, Play On Playground Equipment, Play With Toys, Play with Infant & Toddler Toys, Use Activity Table, Use Science Table.
Home Activities - Bathe and Shower, Browse and Buy Items, Browse the Web, Clean, Do Laundry, Fix Objects, Sleep, Stay Near Household Sims, Try On Outfits, Watch TV.
BUSINESS PRESETS
You can pick from various presets based on existing venue types. Venues types available are based on your installed content. You can use the presets as-is, or use them as a starting point and customise them. Custom lists of Business Activities can be saved as a new preset for future use.
Arts Center - Paint, Play An Instrument, View Art, Watch Live Entertainment
Bar - Drink Bar Drinks, Watch TV, Be Friendly, Play Pub Games
Bowling Alley - Bowl, Drink Bar Drinks
Café - Drink Coffee, Eat, Read
Cat Café - Play with Pets, Drink Coffee, Drink Tea
Community Garden - Tend Garden, Be Friendly
Gym - Work Out, Bathe and Shower
Karaoke Bar - Sing, Drink Bar Drinks, Watch Live Entertainment, Be Friendly
Library - Read, Do Homework, Browse the Web
Lounge - Do Comedy, Play An Instrument, Watch Live Entertainment, Drink Bar Drinks
Maker Space - Fabricate Objects, Woodwork, Be Friendly
Museum - View Art, View Collectibles, Paint
Nightclub - Dance, Listen To Music, Drink Bar Drinks
Onsen Bathhouse - Use Hot Tub
Park - Fish, Swim, Grill, Play On Playground Equipment
Pool - Swim
Pottery Studio - Do Pottery, Browse and Buy Items, Attend Classes and Lectures
Recreation Center - Play Table Games, Work Out, Paint, Play On Playground Equipment
Shop - Browse and Buy Items
Spa - Do Spa Activities
Tattoo Parlor - Get Tattooed
University Commons - Do Homework, Read, Play Physical Games, Play Video Games, Be Friendly
TARGET CUSTOMERS
These are customer demographics and again take their cue from the Club system [GT].
New detail with this pack - the rules can be strict (specifically ONLY these customers) or loose (these customers preferred, but other Sims also welcome). So you could have a business ONLY attract Teens, but might run out of new customers quickly unless you create more Teens, or they are spawned via other gameplay. Preferring Teens usually spawns Teens until the save runs out, then calls in other customers to make up numbers.The Target Customer Criteria are the same as for Club Requirements (inc. newly patched in Occult filter and updated Financial Status brackets), with the addition of one more category of customers - Supervised Customers:
Target Customer UI is similar to the Club Requirements UI.These are customers that need to be brought to the venue by a Caregiver Sim aged Teen+. Once at the venue the Caregiver will either stay on the lot and enjoy the facilities, or drop off their charge and leave before picking them up later. Staying at the business is the default, but the box can be unchecked.
Sims will arrive with children and pets, and either stay on the Small Business lot with them or leave them in your care. (Note: Cats and Dogs come with the Cats & Dogs EP. Horses come with the Horse Ranch EP)Does "Horses Play and Learn" miss a comma? And what can customers do with horses on the lot?
There is no comma. This Business Activity sets autonomy for Horses - they will play with Horse Balls and use Horse Obstacles. Humanoid Customers on the lot will interact with Horses according to Business Activities that change humanoid Sim autonomy (such as Be Friendly or Care for Pets). Employees will also interact with Horses according to Employee Tasks.
SMALL BUSINESS SYSTEM
Pick from 30 Small Business logos.
BUSINESS LOGOS/ICONS
There are 30 premade Small Business graphics to choose from. Each of these are available as either a black, white or coloured version decal in BB, so your signage can match the icon if you wish.
Small Business Venue.Residential (Small Business)
SMALL BUSINESS MAP ICONS
There are new Map Icons for Small Business Venues and Home Businesses. Small Business Venue lots have a large open sign icon, whereas Home Businesses have the normal Plumbob icon for occupied homes, with a smaller, inset open sign icon.
