Likes:
>Emotions--they are really the only revolutionary update and benefit.
>Multitasking--it is cool and effective, though some are unnecessary, like writing a book and chatting, it slows the progress of writing and is counter productive.
Dislikes:
>HUGE: Removing Create a Style was one of the most backward moves I can imagine. CASt was the most intuitive and creative tool in TS3. Now the game is so predefined its boring and flat--which brings me to my next dislike
>Everything is flatland, there is no terraforming. No more scenic houses on ridges. The landscaping as a whole is worse looking and less malleable--one more instance of killing the creativity The Sims games used to thrive in proffering.
>There is no sense of community. Kids don't come home with friends, unplayed families don't progress on their own, and one's neighbors are undesired loading screens apart. The decay on friendships is far to great, and the loading screens don't make anyone want to load on over to Chana's house to keep her as a good friend for a day.
>Teens are too tall. They look like adults and its creepy when you realize a sim can't flirt with them.
>No pools, it really sucks. The Sims without pools is like having games without players. I have no idea why this was removed. Are swimming animations just too much? Too many sims dying of drowning? The pool was the staple of having made it, being rich enough to build a nice one and having enough time to plan a pool party. Now that is gone; we have to invite everyone to the local bar for a party because the lots are too small to host our own.
>Babies are apparently just objects. The game has too much an interest in the adult sim life when being and caring for a baby and toddler was a huge aspect of the game. There was excitement in the effort required to rear a child. now its is just boom, bam, new adult sim ready to work and sleep for 9/10ths of their life.
The game is far too stripped. The missing aspects aren't things that should be missing from the base, vanilla game either. These aspects are GONE and likely to remain gone for ever. More and more I keep going back into TS3 where lives and the stories are more fluid and creative.
TS4 is a good game, but it is not a good sequel for The Sims.
EA Staff (Retired)
