So now, every time you open the Sims 4, a pop up will come up, showing you a random DLC you don't own, and telling you to buy it, even with a timer at the bottom. The items are completely random and not on saleWhat do you think about this?I think it's horribly intrusive and unnecessary. It really shows where this company's priorities are- MONEY!Why don't they work on improving the actual game rather than trying to sell their overpriced DLC?? I thought Ubisoft was bad, this might be a new low!This video is based on this article from the Sims Community: https://simscommunity.info/2020/04/17/the-sims-4s-main-menu-is-now-reminding-players-that-they-dont-own-certain-packs/

I find it annoying. When I don't own it, I don't want it.Also, you know when there were the pictures of the latest released packs, right? Like the box art or whatever it is called on the main menu. A couple of months ago it started to show the packs I don't own instead and it says something like: We think you would like this pack! And they literally show me the packs I absolutely don't want and that I avoid - Vampires, Strangerville, Island Living and Get to Work. What do these have in common? Occults or just something "extraterrestrial". One would have thought such advertisment would be personalized.

"bixters;d-974607" wrote:So now, every time you open the Sims 4, a pop up will come up, showing you a random DLC you don't own, and telling you to buy it, even with a timer at the bottom. The items are completely random and not on saleWhat do you think about this?I think it's horribly intrusive and unnecessary. It really shows where this company's priorities are- MONEY!Why don't they work on improving the actual game rather than trying to sell their overpriced DLC?? I thought Ubisoft was bad, this might be a new low!This video is based on this article from the Sims Community: https://simscommunity.info/2020/04/17/the-sims-4s-main-menu-is-now-reminding-players-that-they-dont-own-certain-packs/Yes. I've had that recently too. If it was on sale, I'd understand it as a marketing choice, even though it's pushy, but when it's not on sale, I definitely don't want it coming up like that.

Ok so I wasn't the only confused by the patch notes. Yeah the main menu is super annoying and still headache inducing. Like seriously get rid of that white background already. It is like they are trying to push packs and headaches on me at the same time. It is sad when the Sims 4 seems as pushy as its mobile counterparts. Actually one of the reasons why I stopped playing those because all their events were pay to play.

"Scobre;c-17461495" wrote:Ok so I wasn't the only confused by the patch notes. Yeah the main menu is super annoying and still headache inducing. Like seriously get rid of that white background already. It is like they are trying to push packs and headaches on me at the same time. It is sad when the Sims 4 seems as pushy as its mobile counterparts. Actually one of the reasons why I stopped playing those because all their events were pay to play.I don't play Sims Mobile but you can complete the events in Freeplay without spending any money.

Yeah, they really need to step back. Showing you which packs you don't own at the moment in the bottom half of the main menu and putting the little red banner on them when they're on sale is good enough. We don't need the pop-up adds. They made TS4 the most modular game in the series to date in terms of not having to install all of the expansions in chronological order to avoid bugs, which means that players can prioritize packs on their own terms and skip the content they don't want. For me, it's most of the SP's that I'll be skipping out on because only a few have stuff in them that I'm actually interested in, for others it's supernatural, or family stuff, or the still-buggy thing that is "Dine Out."They should just accept the fact that there are some players that won't want some DLC. Like when you're into a toy line as a kid, you have some kids who get (or bug their parents to oblivion trying to get) everything that comes out for it, because they want the complete set. Then, you have other kids who are content to just have all of their favorite characters, one or two of the better vehicles, and one minor playset, because that's all they need. The toy company can put the whole set on the back of the package with a big "Collect Em' All!" stamped on it all they want, but the customers will only buy what they want, no more, no less. That's Business 101. You can't make someone buy something they don't want. The best you can do is sell the thing someone doesn't want in a double/multi/bargain pack with the thing(s) they do want to move that junk inventory a little faster or discount the less popular items really heavily and break even or sell them at a loss as a result.Man, I'd hate to see the college transcripts of EA's marketing team, because the way they've been marketing TS4, it looks like they barely passed all of their major courses...

The Sims 4 Marketing has gone too far

43 Replies

SimsLovinLycan
6 years ago
"Lyoufln;c-17462101" wrote:

"EgonVM;c-17462084" wrote:
That is so annoying. Though the game does do that with world selection screen if you have online enabled (showing worlds from expansion/game packs you don't own). Seriously, the pack icons in the main menu are enough!
And it isn't the only time that was done. It was done in The Sims 3 as mentioned in the video, but also in The Sims 2. If you own an expansion pack or stuff pack but don't own the packs that came before it, you'll notice unclickable buttons in neighborhood screen, build/buy modes, and live mode. Hovering over them shows a message that this feature is from a pack you don't own.

Yeah, I guess The Sims has always had this sort of marketing for quite some time. I guess this one is really pushing people's buttons because it's so -in-your-face. Pop-ups are always annoying, eh?

Really, the checklist type things are much more tasteful than the pop-ups. You can ignore those graphics and the little store icons in TS3 if you're not interested, but pop-ups are just plain obnoxious. There's a reason why they were immediately branded a blight among internet users in the late 90's through the 2000's. No one likes to have an add pop up and blocking your view of the thing that you're actually interested in interacting with.
OldeSimsFan
Seasoned Ace
6 years ago
Enough with the pushy ads already!
Scobren
Legend
6 years ago
"simgirl1010;c-17461679" wrote:
"Scobre;c-17461495" wrote:
Ok so I wasn't the only confused by the patch notes. Yeah the main menu is super annoying and still headache inducing. Like seriously get rid of that white background already. It is like they are trying to push packs and headaches on me at the same time. It is sad when the Sims 4 seems as pushy as its mobile counterparts. Actually one of the reasons why I stopped playing those because all their events were pay to play.

I don't play Sims Mobile but you can complete the events in Freeplay without spending any money.

Not from when I played the Sims Freeplay. It always felt so rushed that you had to pay to play which I didn't. Both games always felt a step above of annoying ads of the Sims 4 ones which Sims 4 ones more than my taste of annoyance. It is like when you annoy someone who has worked in finances and business with marketing you know it is going too far.
atreya33
Legend
6 years ago
I also got a pop up with a timer to buy a stuff pack. I don't understand the timer because it is full price anyway.

It is very pushy. I think the greyed out icons on the main screen should have been enough.
EgonVM
Seasoned Ace
6 years ago
Well, it turns out even those who own all the paid add-ons aren't safe.
I just opened my game and had it pop up with the stuff pack I already own. Plus the picture next to it didn't match (I was advertised Tiny Living, the picture next to it was Perfect Patio).

I seriously had to post it on my YouTube community page. Seriously EA?
https://www.youtube.com/post/UgyTjVX_uE7ZLsfmf194AaABCQ?app=desktop
Peapod79
Seasoned Ace
6 years ago
I've played my game as recently as this morning and I'm not getting these pop ups? I've got the banner ad, and the usual icons on the bottom but I'm not getting this pop up like everyone else or what is shown in this video. Not that I'm complaining... just curious why I'm patched up to date and it's not doing it for me? A setting or country code maybe?
logionX
Legend
6 years ago
I'm not okay with this at all. I have always believed that if you pay a company to use their product then you should not get any advertising, because otherwise you are paying them to get advertising.

Seriously EA, .
Lyoufln
6 years ago
"Camkat;c-17462693" wrote:
I've played my game as recently as this morning and I'm not getting these pop ups? I've got the banner ad, and the usual icons on the bottom but I'm not getting this pop up like everyone else or what is shown in this video. Not that I'm complaining... just curious why I'm patched up to date and it's not doing it for me? A setting or country code maybe?

That's a good point. I know when I was in the US visiting, Tumblr had posts on the dash that were actually ads. I never saw those when I was in Canada. Maybe depending on your IP address, there's a chance you'll see these pop-ups when you open the game.
timurjr96
6 years ago
Not surprised at all
23NietscheMan26
6 years ago
It's a fake pressure and a very unhonest way to convince people to buy it...

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The Sims 4 Marketing has gone too far

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