Sims 4/5 hopes and predictions
Since this is the place for speculation on future packs and versions of the Sims, I thought I would make this thread to discuss ideas for the next version of the Sims. Here are some things I hope ...
Forum Discussion
I'm not really all that interested in VR support -- the costs right now are so far beyond the average user that it would have limited appeal, and there is a massive competition in systems that EA would have to decide which to support. Article
I think it's likely we see more base game content in a Sims 5 base -- toddlers definitely (though the ones we got are definitely worth the wait), and likely pools (we probably could have gotten them in base game if the release had been one or two months later, when you consider how quickly they were patched in). If we get teens that feel a bit more complete and maybe skewed a bit younger then we might not need preteens -- I don't want to see the game get cluttered with too many age stages. If we did get pre-teens, then take out Young Adults and just group them into one long Adult age stage. There are really no major differences between Adults and YAs anyway other than a few early wrinkles. YAs were originally just to represent the college years when they were introduced in Sims 2, then Sims 3 gave them their own full status but nothing to really separate them from Adults until Generations (when Adults got mid-life crises).
And I really do not want a return of the micro-transactions of the Sims Store. It's way too early to overspend to keep up with the Landgraabs and find yourself with a bunch of stuff you never use. The pack pricing system ($10 US for an SP, $20 for a GP and $40 for an EP) makes it easier to budget for the average player. Plus, if you can't afford to buy the high priced points bundles you end up with a significant disadvantage in terms of item pricing next to those who can get them. I suppose I could go with a limited store if the items were actually purchased with real money rather than "points" and it was mostly items that were bonus type items (worlds and venues), but I'd prefer to stay away from that.
Mostly what I'd like is to see more emphasis on actual life events and less on the "party" aspect. Some of the "party" complaints have been a bit overblown (the only parties I've thrown in game in recent saves have been weddings and the occasional birthday party for aging up (most of the time I just go with the family cutting the cake). I'd like to see a potential Sims 5 take a page from Playstation and its "Play with Life" slogan. Recognition of significant events -- births, graduations, marriages (and divorces), retirements, deaths. When teens age up to Adult and go off on their own, more connection with the family left behind -- phone calls, letters. Greater connection with the world around them -- not that big a fan of newspapers but maybe a Community News column you can read on the computer or tablet, or maybe a twice a week newspaper so they don't stack up as easily. More emphasis on Sim on Sim interaction and less on "stuff"; one of the best things about Parenthood is that it didn't really add a lot of "stuff" -- the meat of the pack is in the interactions.
Of course, YMMV and all that. B)
I think it's likely we see more base game content in a Sims 5 base -- toddlers definitely (though the ones we got are definitely worth the wait), and likely pools (we probably could have gotten them in base game if the release had been one or two months later, when you consider how quickly they were patched in). If we get teens that feel a bit more complete and maybe skewed a bit younger then we might not need preteens -- I don't want to see the game get cluttered with too many age stages. If we did get pre-teens, then take out Young Adults and just group them into one long Adult age stage. There are really no major differences between Adults and YAs anyway other than a few early wrinkles. YAs were originally just to represent the college years when they were introduced in Sims 2, then Sims 3 gave them their own full status but nothing to really separate them from Adults until Generations (when Adults got mid-life crises).
And I really do not want a return of the micro-transactions of the Sims Store. It's way too early to overspend to keep up with the Landgraabs and find yourself with a bunch of stuff you never use. The pack pricing system ($10 US for an SP, $20 for a GP and $40 for an EP) makes it easier to budget for the average player. Plus, if you can't afford to buy the high priced points bundles you end up with a significant disadvantage in terms of item pricing next to those who can get them. I suppose I could go with a limited store if the items were actually purchased with real money rather than "points" and it was mostly items that were bonus type items (worlds and venues), but I'd prefer to stay away from that.
Mostly what I'd like is to see more emphasis on actual life events and less on the "party" aspect. Some of the "party" complaints have been a bit overblown (the only parties I've thrown in game in recent saves have been weddings and the occasional birthday party for aging up (most of the time I just go with the family cutting the cake). I'd like to see a potential Sims 5 take a page from Playstation and its "Play with Life" slogan. Recognition of significant events -- births, graduations, marriages (and divorces), retirements, deaths. When teens age up to Adult and go off on their own, more connection with the family left behind -- phone calls, letters. Greater connection with the world around them -- not that big a fan of newspapers but maybe a Community News column you can read on the computer or tablet, or maybe a twice a week newspaper so they don't stack up as easily. More emphasis on Sim on Sim interaction and less on "stuff"; one of the best things about Parenthood is that it didn't really add a lot of "stuff" -- the meat of the pack is in the interactions.
Of course, YMMV and all that. B)
