Forum Discussion
i_love_frogs_11 wrote:Also, while I appreciate that they made a list to show a taste of what it can really offer, I find it icky that the cross-pack compatibility list was used on what is meant to be the post with main features and selling points of the pack, because that requires owning OTHER packs in order to get use of THIS pack. That should be a bonus, not a selling point.
A true "hobbies" pack would work more like TS2 Freetime and could offer sewing, glassblowing, ballet, more scientific hobbies or interests in nature, and new sports. A pack adding in some new use or functions for basegame/already existing hobbies in the game should NOT be allowed to be part of a selling key-feature!
This is where I disagree. In the polls they've asked if we want them to expand on existing systems and I always put that high priority. I don't think it can be treated just as bonus because it takes development time as well. This pack wouldn't be half as good without the time they put into making it crosspack compatibile. Maybe in the former sims games we got used to treating that as a bonus, but there are so many packs in TS4 that it's an actual workload. Businesses & Hobbies seems to acknowledge even stuffpacks (laundry is mentioned at least). Did I want the pack to have more hobbies? Yes I did and I find the name a bit misleading in that sense. But I appreciate where they put the focus here.
simsimsereThat’s an interesting perspective. I’d been thinking along the same lines as i_love_frogs_11, but you’re right that it must take a lot of work to make this system compatible with all previous packs, including stuff packs. And if we’ve got those packs already, we do get added value from them, I guess.