The Sims 4 is six years old now, is it time to move on?
The Sims 4 turned 6 this month, no other Maxis or Sims game has over 4 years of content development and numbering at 35, the Sims 4 has more packs than any previous game released.
Which brings me to the subject of my topic, is it time for the Sims 5?
That question is less based on do you enjoy playing the Sims 4 (I still play the Sims 3 for example) but is the Sims 5 be in a better position to address community issues and bring something fresh to simmers?
Some of you will say, I just want “babies” and not the sims 5, but clearly after 6 years the team has struggled to implement many of the communities requests. For example a color wheel would be an easy obvious fix for skin tones - but for whatever reason Maxis simply can’t make it work despite how easy it might seem to us to add.
So I base my arguments on four points,
1. I don’t believe the Sims 4 functions properly as a long-term service game and not sustainable in its current format without drastic changes to its retail and game mechanics. Otherwise it risks becoming outrageously expensive and trapped within a cycle of limited gameplay without evolving.
2. The sims 4 is what it is. After six years, the Sims developers are still struggling with how to implement features or request into an engine/game possibly not designed for them in mind or conflict with other mechanics.
That doesn't mean its a bad game, it might just not be able to do everything everybody wants from it.
3. Emotions, every action your sim takes or requires has an emotional action or reaction and cannot be disabled in any form outside of setting them in a cheated “neutral” state.
Emotions are the foundation of the Sims 4 (according to their own GDC presentation) to the point of conflicting, breaking or influencing all game play with sims. Its the reason I believe babies are objects in this game (emotional babies might not be a think we want lol).
I believe a whole new rethinking of the emotional system is needed and designed with a personality system partnering it.
4. The Sims 5 would allow Maxis to take the community’s requests, feedback and create a new game with some new ideas. Allowing them to evolve the series, taking lessons from all the past games, community and make something potentially great. Or...it could be an utter MMO Second Life like clone, online only disaster.
Regardless, what do you think?
Personally I voted 3, simply because...I still play Sims 3 and jump between whatever game I'm in the mood for.
Which brings me to the subject of my topic, is it time for the Sims 5?
That question is less based on do you enjoy playing the Sims 4 (I still play the Sims 3 for example) but is the Sims 5 be in a better position to address community issues and bring something fresh to simmers?
Some of you will say, I just want “babies” and not the sims 5, but clearly after 6 years the team has struggled to implement many of the communities requests. For example a color wheel would be an easy obvious fix for skin tones - but for whatever reason Maxis simply can’t make it work despite how easy it might seem to us to add.
So I base my arguments on four points,
1. I don’t believe the Sims 4 functions properly as a long-term service game and not sustainable in its current format without drastic changes to its retail and game mechanics. Otherwise it risks becoming outrageously expensive and trapped within a cycle of limited gameplay without evolving.
2. The sims 4 is what it is. After six years, the Sims developers are still struggling with how to implement features or request into an engine/game possibly not designed for them in mind or conflict with other mechanics.
That doesn't mean its a bad game, it might just not be able to do everything everybody wants from it.
3. Emotions, every action your sim takes or requires has an emotional action or reaction and cannot be disabled in any form outside of setting them in a cheated “neutral” state.
Emotions are the foundation of the Sims 4 (according to their own GDC presentation) to the point of conflicting, breaking or influencing all game play with sims. Its the reason I believe babies are objects in this game (emotional babies might not be a think we want lol).
I believe a whole new rethinking of the emotional system is needed and designed with a personality system partnering it.
4. The Sims 5 would allow Maxis to take the community’s requests, feedback and create a new game with some new ideas. Allowing them to evolve the series, taking lessons from all the past games, community and make something potentially great. Or...it could be an utter MMO Second Life like clone, online only disaster.
Regardless, what do you think?
Personally I voted 3, simply because...I still play Sims 3 and jump between whatever game I'm in the mood for.
