"telemwill;c-17862074" wrote:
Most games with subscription services are MMOs where the subscription gains you access to areas of the game, like worlds in Sims. Some also allow you to purchase worlds. If you let your subscription lapse your character is only allowed in free sections of the game and those you have actually purchased.
It is hard to see how this would work in Sims because our Sims don't go on adventures to other worlds; they live there. Also Sims expansions include CAS and Build and Buy items. In subscription games these are either free or additional purchases (often microtransactions).
All in all, a subscription based Sims game sounds like a very different experience from what we are familiar with.
Um, actually they do not live in the Realm of Magic. That is a separate area your Sims visit to get spell training and learn potions. If they must do online, it should be a portal like there is to travel to Realm of Magic. I could see subscriber early access to CAS/build-buy items, or exclusive CAS/build-buy items for subscribers.
The main benefit I can see for an online space would be for Simmers to interact directly with other players who are actually online at the same time. Then I suppose there are the millennials and teens who expect to be able to share everything and connect with their friends on social media. However, online spaces like that, are usually unusable for anyone under age 13, and can be unsafe for anyone under age 18. The single player experience is ESSENTIAL for parents who want to share the game with their preteens (age 10-12). Heck, I remember letting my 8 year old cousin have at it with The Sims 1 Livin Large with buy mode only. She enjoyed arranging furniture in the rooms. I also remember letting my 5 year old niece play with Sims 2 with CAS mode only. She was into dressing her Barbies at the time, and loved dressing up the Sims (especially since I had lots of G- and T-rated custom content, and nothing worse). My sister later told me that was perfect for her.