Origin says I have been playing for 18 hours but I believe I have played more than that. I usually play offline and I am not sure that time is being logged. I have had it since Sept. 2nd but I work so I am a casual player. I am not that far into the game. I have had 2 children and am trying to play 4 people in a family. I have also played some rotational game play but there is so much content I have not discovered or played with yet so here is my list given my limited experience with the game so far.
Likes:
-multitasking- understated unless you play the game, you can't possibly appreciate this enough. Love this feature.
-expressions are priceless- I play up close and personal now just to watch them eat. This game is so much more Sim focused. Love that about it.
-improved emotions that affect game play- Yes emotions really do matter now. I know people say we had them in the past and to some extent we did but not like now. I think this is another thing that has to be experienced to fully appreciate it.
-different emotional states- changes pretty quickly. I like that my Sim doesn't stay down for long but that it is still a challenge sometimes to fulfill their needs. I like that very much.
-goals for aspirations- gives direction I love this feature. I love trying to fulfill goals but I am a goal oriented kind of player so this fits great with my play style.
-ability to play a rotational game play style if you want to or just one family. Either way I don't feel forced in any direction. If I am not playing a family I really don't care what they are doing to be honest. I am fine with families replacing as they age and die. Honestly, Sims 3 worked the same way for me so missing nothing there.
-flat world except for the terrain I can view. I know I am the minority in this opinion but I hated having the terrain tool to change the level of well your terrain. Many times I would see a cute house, download it and find out there was an area my Sim would get stuck in or couldn't walk on due to the terrain not being level. Drove me nuts. Or the house would plop down on my lot and the sides would be up in the air ...hated that.
-I really love the graphics and the way the game looks. Routing is great. I have seen very little ghosting which is something I worried about prior to release.
Dislikes:
-camera is a little awkward to use even in Sims 3 mode given the fact I want to be up close and personal. It just takes some getting used to. I do wish the default camera had a tilt option
-I wish lighting was a tad brighter. Perhaps this is by design to mimic real lighting? If so, it is fine. I just need to buy more lights LOL.
- Wish there was a hot key for Manage Worlds. Maybe I just don't know my way around well enough to get to that quick enough. Right now, I hit the 3 dots and go to manage worlds that way. Maybe that is the fastest way. If so, it is not a big deal. Just a small thing really.
- I do wish sometimes the Sims would stop using their phone SO much. I haven't noticed it as much lately so maybe that was toned down already but it just seems like they are obsessed with it much like people in real life who get on my nerves with the constant phone usage.
- miss the color wheel. I can work with what is there but if I place down a refrigerator and it happens to clash with the color of my cabinets, I have to buy a whole new one. Wish I could just change the color.
- Also wish when my Sim gets married they was an option to change their last name. The cheat available for this can be tricky as I heard it can change the relationships of people in the house. I hope there is a fix on the way for this soon.
I don't have any of the problems Agatha stated. Not sure why but my Sims never stand around not doing anything. They are constantly moving around. Sometimes they are a little slow to take commands but that is because they might not be in the mood to do it. They do have little minds of their own to some extent now and you have to learn to play with that but I love that about the game. I think there is a certain learning curve to this game which makes it great. This game has an awesome foundation to build from and I am excited to watch it grow.
Other than what I have already stated, I absolutely love the game and am having a blast playing it. I really didn't think I would like it as much as I do. It is very stable and I have had very few issues with lag. The only time I get lag is when I am online with Origin. I wish that wasn't the case as I would prefer to stay online so I can access the gallery. Otherwise I have to wait to connect to it which I do when I am done playing to see if there is anything new I can download.
Speaking of which: I have ONE request. Can someone tell me what Ned's traits are? :D I saw that someone (a player) made him but we don't know what his traits are. I love him in the cow plant trailer. Does someone at EA have him on their computer and could tell me his traits at least.
You guys got us all involved with those cute trailers and he is not in the game. Please make Ned or tell us his traits. <3
Edit: Just found Ned made by one of the guru's. The name escapes me at the moment but THANK YOU!!
EA Staff (Retired)
