I have been a sims fan since the beginning, I have bought all the EPs, stuff packs, some store content, etc etc. This is really the only PC game I play and I'll admit I expect value for money.
Sims4 feels like the console versions, a small version of an incredible game-and its incredibly disappointing. For £40 I expected a LOT more from my base game-if I am investing that much into a game it should make me addicted like every other sims game I have ever owned! I gave the game a fair chance-I have played and invested my money so my opinion should count. I dont like how theres a fashion of jumping on people for their opinions on this forum, it distracts from the information EA need to improve this game.
Things I like-
Wow the multitasking. Seriously this is incredible and much more true to life which is a huge step forward!
Building is slightly easier when placing pre made rooms and extending rooms to make more space.
The emotions-this is also more true to life and a big step forward for the game.
The game runs more smoothly
Cooking and Gourmet Cooking
Money seems better balanced and I love the turning off of utilities-this is fab!
Height options-love this! Although wish you could make doors and windows smaller/bigger.
The sims are pretty and the customisation of the body is fab!
Pregnancy tests and working through pregnancy-fantastic! (But I dont understand when making this much better you then got rid of toddlers, feels a bit like one step forward, two steps back!)
Rounded building etc
Things I dislike-
I find it much harder to find free time-needs are taking up far too much time!
No locks on doors or privacy in bathrooms-my sims are constantly getting embarrassed and it drives me crazy
So little Public space-this game is boring in this respect-it feels like I am stuck in a tiny little world and the variety of things to do or places to go just isnt there.
Small worlds-far too small! I dont mind the loading screens if it means we can have a speedier game but please dont keep it so small!
The game is so empty with decor-so little choice and no CAS to improve it.
Things dont match-I can build a room and have so much trouble trying to make furniture look good in the decorated room, plus the same really applies with sims outfits-so little choice!
It does feel like youve stripped the game down so so much so you can force loyal gamers to chase improving the game by spending more money. It feels like a bit of a cheek when we have paid so much for the base game!
I HATE the no toddler thing. Yes some people aged them up because they found them annoying-but that was a choice. I want the option to play families and have a realistic experience from this. Babies to kids was fixed in Sims 2, this is a HUGE step back!
I also HATE the erosion of family stories in this edition. Family trees were wonderful and gave you a lovely continuation of the game over the longer term. I feel like you are trying to force people to play a certain way with these family omissions and I also feel that introducing them as a paid for EP would be a huge mistake as it would alienate a lot of your long term player base.
Lack of Pools-I really miss these. I know it seems like a small thing but it gave a good reason for sims to spend extended periods of time in the garden.
Normal jobs are gone. I really miss these, I dont understand the lack of options when there arent buildings in games to create to make jobs-it wouldve been much easier.
No auto roof feature. I really hate this. The roof was never a fun thing for me to build and it puts me off building in game which is a shame.
Services-the maid seems to come as she pleases rather than regularly like shes meant to, and the lack of services available is a pain.
No assigned beds-makes the game harder when you let sims do their own thing for a while
Loading screens between buildings in neighbourhood-this is quite annoying.
Married sims dont have name change, and then the babies dont have the option of fathers surname either. Im aware theres a cheat but I shouldnt need to cheat on such a simple feature.
The camera makes it really difficult to play! I miss the options the old controls gave you.
Teen heights-the same across all ages makes it really difficult to determine when in public spaces and so makes the game harder.
Being unable to save wants-by the time I get to them sometimes they are gone!
Babies only attached to bassinets. Really a HUGE step back. I love the new options for socialising with them but I hate that the family cant walk around multi tasking with them like in reality.
No Colour wheel.
Silly deaths-maybe give us the option to disable the more silly ways sims die.
Loading screens within neighbourhoods-this is a little much! At least let us walk next door!
Suggestions-LISTEN to your core gamers and customers. Lets face it we have all invested a LOT of money in the Sims over the years and I feel that loyalty should be rewarded. Dont try to tell us HOW to play-give us the choice! It is a series that lots of people who arent particularly gamers play and its a cash cow. Dont take this for granted and expect us to pay more for basic fun for our game! Please give us more options for in game-outfits, decor and items in free patches to bring the base game up to scratch!
We dont mind paying for expansion packs if they are worth the money and werent part of a base game in previous series.
Please please please make the time we all spent giving you our feedback on this game worth our time and effort-I am sure we are all busy and could find other things to do with our time but we are here trying to help your business!
Overall thoughts
This game has a lot of promise, it just doesnt feel finished and that is a huge shame and a missed opportunity for EA. You couldve really made up for the bad PR you have suffered recently by making a really solid Sims game that 'Wowed' everyone. Sadly I dont believe the statement your CEO made about the games you make being for the gamers after this experience. Once you started having feedback from your loyal fans pre release about glaring omissions you had announced you had made to the base game you couldve rescued it. Instead we had excuses and disappointment on release.
For a lifelong Sims fan I really wish you would up your game. Sims deserves to be the 'Wow' game of the year! Surprise us with how well you can make things-because you are obviously capable of doing so seeing the gorgeous parts of the game we all love like multitasking!
EA Staff (Retired)
