I've got about 80 hours logged so far (even with work, lol) and a few things have risen to the top of my list that I like and don't like.
Likes:
* I really like how needs are tuned, how long actions take, and that sims will generally direct themselves to fulfill what they need most.
* I like that I can modify and change around the community lots to make them suit me and my play style better.
* The simplicity of the map is growing on me, it definately makes finding specific families easy, and I can see the potential for adding neighborhoods or towns in the future.
* The art style and emotions are fantastic, I love watching the sims do their thing.
* The new jobs are fun and interesting, and the job goals make me focus on goals, which is a good thing.
* The new skills too, and programming, the way they really open up and allow a sim lots of options on what to do. For instance, maxing out painting is very rewarding with the final tier of options available.
* The child and teen stages and goals are fun and interesting, and give them substance instead of just waiting for them to age up to YA.
* No maternity leave. I used to hate being forced to lose 6-7 sim working days per birth.
* The new pathing and emotions are just fantastic.
Dislikes
* I don't like that when a child ages up, the only thing they retain is a small bump to grade if they managed to get an A. The lack of carryover for skills is discouraging.
* The loss of friends. Whenever I go into world management, townies seem to move on - including best friends, boyfriends, and fiance's.
* Missing options while on location, like telling children to do homework, to send them to school from afar, or go to work.
* When a sim dies, the game seems to randomly roll who is affected by it, rather than who is in close proximity and had the highest relationship with them. It's strange to see a friend who never even knew the deceased rush in sobbing, while the long-time husband and soulmate whom she died at the feet of, carries on cooking breakfast.
* No "call in sick" option. Writing excuses is fine and good, but they appear to only work for the next day. When a sim is giving birth, she should be able to call in sick a day.
Suggestions
* I would love to have a map that was editable, at least on some level. While I like the community lots, I feel stilted by the lack of options to add to what is there.
* Loading screens for houses in the immediate neighborhood. I like that the area around the house is open, and feels lush, but I shouldn't have to leave my family in statis mode just to visit a close neighbor.
* Inability to edit the neighborhood park. It's just a basic lot with nothing to do but catch frogs, pick flowers, and have a barbeque. I want the option to spice it up to suit my family. Add a pirate ship and chess board, or even a wedding arch. To personalize it.
* Let us rotate lots.
* Please don't let extended family and friends disapear without a trace. I understand why townies might be shuffled (though I wish they weren't), but townies tagged as good friends, best friends, boy/girl friends, or fiance's shouldn't disappear.
* When a family member marries a townie and moves out of the main house, please don't let their spouse and children run off either, leaving them single and lonely.
* Eventually, I would like to see the return of the main favorite jobs in some form, such as doctor, athlete, business, and so on. I can totally see doctor, for instance, in the new format, splitting off from say Family Practice or Surgeon tracks, and such.
Anyway, thanks for a great game, and I look forward to what you guys come up with in the future to add to it.
Dez
EA Staff (Retired)
