We're not a major group of players who play historical gameplay, and I just recently started myself, but we are still fairly many, who play in a vast array of ways. So how could the experience of the game be improved? I am not a programmer, and I don't know if everything I suggest here is even possible, but some is, and some would even make EA money, so I'm hoping someone picks up a few of these things at least. CAS and BB Kits to fit different time periods. This is the easy one, and EA has opened the door with the medieval build-kit. What we also need is a buy-kit (or stuff pack) with functional off the grid objects, things like toys, sinks, toilets, tubs and stoves that work while still looking medieval. And of course a CAS-kit to go along with it. Other suggestions would be art deco bb kit + the roaring twenties cas kit, art nouveau BB + Edwardian CAS, vintage swimsuit kit, CAS-kits for each of the decades in the 20th century along with bb-kits for some (we have plenty of mid-century modern furniture after all). The ability to turn off and on CAS-items for random. This would be an improvement for everyone, that with a shift-click be able to turn off and on clothes, accessories or hairstyles for random generation on NPCs. It would definitely help historical gameplay, but also just random gameplay where I could disable the CAS I hate from showing up on random NPC sims. (To be fair I'd love more options than this, like hiding and unhiding CAS, disabling it for certain age groups or genders or certain worlds.) Introduction of landline phones and newspapers. We are plenty of people who miss these, even among players who never play historical gameplay. The ability to turn off the mobile phones and laptops. This would work in combination with the above. A simple toggle on and off for the phones and laptops for everyone in game, including NPCs. This would also help with the technophobe lifestyle so that my sim isn't constantly tense about all the present technology because he or she has a phone they never use in a house with no other technology. The ability to turn off and on drive bys by cars. This would help with immersion. The ability to turn off certain functions on computers, say for instance videogames, in live mode on any computer by shift clicking it. Including computers on community lots. This would also help for other players by freeing up computers in libraries or university commons so you can actually use them for studying rather than them constantly being occupied by some random NPC playing video games. I'm sure there are many more ways to make historical gameplay better and more immersive, but these are some of the things that I've noticed and thought of when playing historical myself. What do you wish for?

Maybe they could add a time period toggle in game settings and then the worlds will load up with period appropriate look and behavior. So roads get replaced with dirt roads instead of asphalt, cars get replaced with horse driven carts, townies get appropriate attire, etc. And you get no computers, no phone, no TV, etc., you'll need to entertain your sim with period acceptable means of entertainment.

I would totally be a “historical player” if we had options like this! I love to watch the Ultimate Decades Challenge from SeeJenGame and it’s so inspiring. But I am intimidated by all the mods that are needed to make that look and feel realistic. And I have such little time to game now, I wouldn’t get anywhere if I had to set up a save for this and then be constantly updating the mods for it. "crocobaura;c-18329336" wrote:Maybe they could add a time period toggle in game settings and then the worlds will load up with period appropriate look and behavior. So roads get replaced with dirt roads instead of asphalt, cars get replaced with horse driven carts, townies get appropriate attire, etc. And you get no computers, no phone, no TV, etc., you'll need to entertain your sim with period acceptable means of entertainment. That would be absolutely amazing.

@JAL i hope we get a "Offline lot trait" for base game, similar to "Off-the-Grid", but with water and power, and opposed to "Fast Internet", with NO internet or wireless connections.

"crocobaura;c-18329336" wrote:Maybe they could add a time period toggle in game settings and then the worlds will load up with period appropriate look and behavior. So roads get replaced with dirt roads instead of asphalt, cars get replaced with horse driven carts, townies get appropriate attire, etc. And you get no computers, no phone, no TV, etc., you'll need to entertain your sim with period acceptable means of entertainment. I agree it would be absolutely fantastic if that ability was there. I do think all the different maps would take up a huge amount of resources, though, so it might not be reasonably doable, but it's a fantastic idea.

turn off phones and using phone while walkingalso turn off randomized townies would really help cause then game would not keep spawning unsuitably dressed simsalso ability to change work outfitsselect npc we want so our queen is not selected as maid and king is not gardener to peasantsalso we need to be able to make more food with cauldron and firepit thingsand it would be nice to be able to cook with fireplace or have old style oven

JesLet40

Seasoned Ace

10 months ago

Suggestions for improving historical gameplay

We're not a major group of players who play historical gameplay, and I just recently started myself, but we are still fairly many, who play in a vast array of ways. So how could the experience of the game be improved? I am not a programmer, and I don't know if everything I suggest here is even possible, but some is, and some would even make EA money, so I'm hoping someone picks up a few of these things at least.

CAS and BB Kits to fit different time periods. This is the easy one, and EA has opened the door with the medieval build-kit. What we also need is a buy-kit (or stuff pack) with functional off the grid objects, things like toys, sinks, toilets, tubs and stoves that work while still looking medieval. And of course a CAS-kit to go along with it. Other suggestions would be art deco bb kit + the roaring twenties cas kit, art nouveau BB + Edwardian CAS, vintage swimsuit kit, CAS-kits for each of the decades in the 20th century along with bb-kits for some (we have plenty of mid-century modern furniture after all).
The ability to turn off and on CAS-items for random. This would be an improvement for everyone, that with a shift-click be able to turn off and on clothes, accessories or hairstyles for random generation on NPCs. It would definitely help historical gameplay, but also just random gameplay where I could disable the CAS I hate from showing up on random NPC sims. (To be fair I'd love more options than this, like hiding and unhiding CAS, disabling it for certain age groups or genders or certain worlds.)
Introduction of landline phones and newspapers. We are plenty of people who miss these, even among players who never play historical gameplay.
The ability to turn off the mobile phones and laptops. This would work in combination with the above. A simple toggle on and off for the phones and laptops for everyone in game, including NPCs. This would also help with the technophobe lifestyle so that my sim isn't constantly tense about all the present technology because he or she has a phone they never use in a house with no other technology.
The ability to turn off and on drive bys by cars. This would help with immersion.
The ability to turn off certain functions on computers, say for instance videogames, in live mode on any computer by shift clicking it. Including computers on community lots. This would also help for other players by freeing up computers in libraries or university commons so you can actually use them for studying rather than them constantly being occupied by some random NPC playing video games.

I'm sure there are many more ways to make historical gameplay better and more immersive, but these are some of the things that I've noticed and thought of when playing historical myself. What do you wish for?

crocobaura
Seasoned Ace
10 months ago
Maybe they could add a time period toggle in game settings and then the worlds will load up with period appropriate look and behavior. So roads get replaced with dirt roads instead of asphalt, cars get replaced with horse driven carts, townies get appropriate attire, etc. And you get no computers, no phone, no TV, etc., you'll need to entertain your sim with period acceptable means of entertainment.
babajayne
10 months ago
I would totally be a “historical player” if we had options like this! I love to watch the Ultimate Decades Challenge from SeeJenGame and it’s so inspiring. But I am intimidated by all the mods that are needed to make that look and feel realistic. And I have such little time to game now, I wouldn’t get anywhere if I had to set up a save for this and then be constantly updating the mods for it.

"crocobaura;c-18329336" wrote:
Maybe they could add a time period toggle in game settings and then the worlds will load up with period appropriate look and behavior. So roads get replaced with dirt roads instead of asphalt, cars get replaced with horse driven carts, townies get appropriate attire, etc. And you get no computers, no phone, no TV, etc., you'll need to entertain your sim with period acceptable means of entertainment.

That would be absolutely amazing.
thornwill
Seasoned Newcomer
10 months ago
@JAL i hope we get a "Offline lot trait" for base game, similar to "Off-the-Grid", but with water and power, and opposed to "Fast Internet", with NO internet or wireless connections.
JesLet40
Seasoned Ace
10 months ago
"crocobaura;c-18329336" wrote:
Maybe they could add a time period toggle in game settings and then the worlds will load up with period appropriate look and behavior. So roads get replaced with dirt roads instead of asphalt, cars get replaced with horse driven carts, townies get appropriate attire, etc. And you get no computers, no phone, no TV, etc., you'll need to entertain your sim with period acceptable means of entertainment.

I agree it would be absolutely fantastic if that ability was there. I do think all the different maps would take up a huge amount of resources, though, so it might not be reasonably doable, but it's a fantastic idea.
Simmingal
Hero
10 months ago
turn off phones and using phone while walking
also turn off randomized townies would really help cause then game would not keep spawning unsuitably dressed sims

also ability to change work outfits
select npc we want so our queen is not selected as maid and king is not gardener to peasants

also we need to be able to make more food with cauldron and firepit things

and it would be nice to be able to cook with fireplace or have old style oven
crocobaura
Seasoned Ace
10 months ago
"JAL;c-18329864" wrote:
@Simmingal Yes please! All my housewives keep being randomly picked to be mailmen, bartenders or vendors.

You could register them as self-employed and put housewife as their career.
thefirsttemplar
Rising Traveler
10 months ago
They seriously need to make a sims game spin off set in an earlier period, even if it's just the 90's.
thefirsttemplar
Rising Traveler
10 months ago
A medieval kit won't do anything to a game where all sims are smart phone addicted and pull it out all the time, even in idle animations.

We need a spin off.
OldeSimsFan
Rising Rookie
9 months ago
Agreed. Despite the recent updates claiming to eliminate the phone issue my sims continue their addiction. Even when running. IRL that would be an invitation for a nasty fall with possible injuries.
JesLet40
Seasoned Ace
9 months ago
I think it has gotten worse after the "fix". I even tried installing a mod but to no avail, they're constantly picking them up. During conversations, during arguments, when upset because someone died... it's been insane lately.