Rec Center

"Simmerville;d-1006860" wrote:
With Growing Together we're getting a new lot category, and the Rec Center actually has me excited.

But now that we had the live stream, I started wondering what is actually the features of the Rec Center lot?

I only know that our sim can go there to mentor a painting class, probably much like the yoga instructing.
We have seen elders play table games, but I guess they could do that in a regular park, too?
We've seen a variety of "services" like a playing room for infants/toddlers?, reading nook, playground, activity objects etc. But as far as I know all of those can be used on other lot categories, too.

So - please share - what is special with the Rec Center lot that we won't get at other lots? I'll still build rec centers in several of my worlds, and I plan additions not seen yet, but can I combine some of them with other lot categories without losing out on much functionality?

To be honest, I feel that this has been a problem with community lots since mid Sims 2. There isn't really that much unique about them. I realised this in Bon Voyage when you could complete like half your travel guide without ever having to leave your home as they were tied to objects available in the home catalogue. I miss the days of the Sims 1 and early Sims 2 where you HAD to go to community lots to engage with shops, services and NPCs you couldn't do at home.

In TS1 you could do stuff like buy clothes, cooking ingredients, quest for magical ingredients, go on picnics, go to a carnival and play games, go dining or get quick bites to eat. There were unique NPCs who offered unique services.

It feels like the only purpose to go to a community lot in TS3 and 4 is to talk to other Sims, especially true for libraries, museums, gyms and bars that don't really offer that much gameplay that you can't do at home. They are just hangout lots where Sims are more inclined to do a specific activity.

And given that people essentially just hang out outside your home all day, there isn't really any need at all visit a community lot at all.

"LeGardePourpre;c-18236025" wrote:
It's a place where the NPC townies must play games (table)

Of course Card game is still disabled, they won't do this autonomously.

This is because you can't play cards solo, you need at least one other sim to play with you.

You can also add gym equipment to the recreation center. Frankly to me it appears like they just updated the arts academy lot type to include gym and games. I guess we'll need to wait and see what the lot requirements are and what other objects work with this lot type to get full understanding of it.

So far, it just sort of seems like a generic lot but with the ability to hold events. Or an Eco Living Community Space without the voting.

Which doesn't seem super exciting to me, but then again, I have seen a lot of people ask for the ability to hold events on generic lots over the years, so maybe this is partially a response to that. I suppose you could, for example, designate a lot as a rec center, but design it to look like a church (lots of churches do have rec centers, after all), and then you would be able to hold events and group activities there. I wonder whether we will be able to have weddings at rec centers?

I figure I will initially leave the premade rec center as it is, and use it a bit to see whether anything else springs to mind. I'm sure other players will come up with lots of unique ideas.

Ah, I forgot about the throwing party like baby shower there. That might make it worth using that lot category.

My plan is to rather make "community center", including a couple offices, a meeting room, maybe a reception desk, and a doctor office (mainly for story telling). Maybe a small craft seller market. A small library and gaming nook will still fit the bill, though. My game is organized in 8 regions, and one such center per region would be perfect. It's a plus if they vary a bit. I just need to find available lots in already packed worlds, LOL.

I plan on placing basketball hoops, ping pong tables and bowling alleys in some rec center lots. If they don't autonomously use those items at the lot type I'll make a club or two that will.

You can host various events at the rec centre like family reunions, baby showers, and sleepovers. One of the gurus on twitter (simgurunova maybe?) mentioned about the rec centre sleepovers.

Imagine hosting a rec centre sleepover with 20 of your closest pals... :o

I imagine it would also go well with Get Together for hosting various club events/gatherings since it's a general public space that can be customized to suit your needs/wants depending on the club type.

Now that I think about it....

Making an area in the rec centre for hosting sleepovers might be fun!

- a large private room with space for plenty of sleeping bags
- a sitting area with a massive big screen tv for watching movies
- a small kitchenette with popcorn machine, microwave, dining table, etc
- speaker/stereo/jukebox for playing music and dancing
- a bathroom to fulfill toilet/hygiene needs
- access to a fenced in private area with a firepit for roasting marshmallows
- or instead of an indoor movie watching space, use the outdoor makeshift tv from the Little Campers kit
- I wonder if our sims can order in pizza at the rec centre?

"Simmerville;c-18236332" wrote:
My plan is to rather make "community center", including a couple offices, a meeting room, maybe a reception desk, and a doctor office (mainly for story telling).

You know, come to think of it, it wouldn't be a bad place to put a small office with veterinary equipment, too. At the very least your vets could pop in occasionally to stock a retail freezer with wellness treats, so that your other sims could buy them while they're there.

"AncientMuse;c-18236366" wrote:

I imagine it would also go well with Get Together for hosting various club events/gatherings since it's a general public space that can be customized to suit your needs/wants depending on the club type.

You inspired me. When I have clubs that need to meet in a specific venue, they occupy most of the sim limit on the lot， especially for some functional venues like a library for no computer family. They can do more in line with the club than being influenced by the auto actions of the lot.