What I like:
I like that the game is less memory intensive/more like sims 2 in that way, the neighborhoods are broken up well but too sparse,
I do really like that there is more impetus to actually play thru the different career paths to unlock content,
I like the collectables and the hidden locations.
I appreciate that there are specific rewards for advancing in skills and in jobs.
I like that there are specific goals in advancing thru the aspirations.
I like that hosting an event is more like a minigame with its own goals and reward levels. it makes success much more solid then any of the previous games where i always wondered how to ensure i had a good date.
I like that sims conversations, interactions and even woohoo can change in quality depending on a sims mood.
What I don't like,
feeling like i am starting over with DLC, is there any way to port content, furniture, clothing etc, from ts3 to ts4? that would be amazing and make me feel like im not reinvesting hundreds of dollars, Im unlikey to spend as much, are the models that different or can they be reused/migrated? for me it really is going to be crucial to have access to that old content to encourage me to purchase more. if you can add that, you own me. there should be a free game patch to do that, even if some of the content is only compatible if i purchase certain expansion packs. they have to have the base models to work from, but a lamp is a lamp, if I bought any lamps in ts3 i should be able to load them and use that skin on a ts4 lamp.
PLEASE, let content migrate!!!!!
Suggestions:
I think that the lack of content over all is not that big of a deal, I want aliens and ghosts back. Id appreciate more less expansive and less expensive expansion packs.
give me one $10-$15 expansion pack that gives me graveyards, ghosts and ghouls, have it add a new town with 4 venues, a graveyard rather than a park, and the same three neighborhoods. with that I get the ability to dice the grim reaper for my life when i die, a fruit or plant or potion that can bring a ghost back to life, the ability to have kids with a ghost, ghost household members, ghost kids, the ability to play a ghost, walk thru walls posess other sims, and poltergeists, all things related to ghosts.
another $10 dlc can give me witches and warlocks, which would give me magic items, magic spells etc..
another $10 would give me vampires and werewolves, associated career path, items and interactions
another $10 would give me faeries and genies with all their accoutrements.
it would allow me to feel like im spending less at one go but keep me coming back for more and can be very formulaic.
1-2 additional career paths, 10-20 new items, themed furniture, new social interactions.
slightly more for a new neighborhood and added venues.
With expansions driving actual new gameplay features, other than item interactions and animations. being the ones that cost $20-$25.
but lay it on thick with the new functionality. I expect to spend ~$300-400 on this game over the lifecycle for expansions. I just want to be made to feel like every dollar is worth it and that EA actually cares that I feel im getting my moneys worth.
I would probably pay $30 just for a fully featured steam punk theme collection. but not all at once, you have to give it to me in manageable pieces that don't overlap.
I miss sims medieval, I can still play the game, but can you give me a medieval town to play in? obviously an expensive expansion, but I think a popular enough one if you can port the clothes and items from that game and the interactions and locations, and load it as a theme world into the sims 4 engine? when sims visit they have to change to period garb. Make it like going to the ren fest, the main square can have the stocks and throwing vegetables, jousting you can visit the king and queen in the throne room, use a medieval privy, purchase a turkey leg or steak on a stake. you can watch the jester perform, or an old puppet show, get dressed in knight gear and have a duel, the map could have some unique herbs and additional digging locations. you could pick up some interesting illnesses. no places to live, only venues in all 5 sections of the map. but a cave to explore a well to wish in, an apothacary to visit for some strange potions that may do strange things to you. a monster that may eat you, pirates and bandits and rabbid chinchilla.. fun.. but it NEEDs to have dragons!!, there need to be pet dragons again soon.
Let me invite a friend on origin to play with me on my map, like going out as a group or having a friend over, they can interact with my game or whatever sim im choosing to play at that time. they'd move in and become my sim if the sims moved in or got married. but that friend would still be able to log in and control that sim maybe, that's more complex but maybe. just a little bit of multiplayer.
I want basements, dishwashers, and butlers, and pools, hot tubs, woohoo in the shower, bathroom stalls, toddlers, alien abductions and alien babies all back too, so please get an expansion going for all that.
a moon base or alien planet as one of the new worlds.
I want houseboats back at some point.
Overall?
I like the basis, i think that there is a very good theme going with the way things are mapped out. especially with finishing events, it all seems very promising, I just want to see it follow the same themes when introducing more content and expansions. The new building feature is awesome, the new create a sim is awesome. I think people are totally focusing on the negative of "missing" content rather than seeing all the new features and functionality for the fantastic new gameplay experience that it is. I really think this takes the best of the three previous games and goes for accessibility and playability without huge load times, in excess of several minutes in my case.
I find that getting sims to like each other is a bit harder now. That may be a good thing. I cant just perform x number friendship interactions then switch to x number romantic interactions then have them jump in bed together. I have to put more thought into it, I have to pay attention to how they are conversing, their moods and how they're responding to each other. its pretty neat.
EA Staff (Retired)
