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"Netzspannung;c-17146671" wrote:
I don't regret buying it, because I really wanted an Island pack and I do like the content. But it seems less like an expansion. I know everyone is saying it feels like a game pack, but I disagree. What it plays like to me is one of those worlds you can buy on The Sims 3 Store. So to me a price tag of USD 30-35 would have been more appropriate, but I am fine with it. The world (+ocean swimming), CAS, BB and the new style of builds it allows are all I wanted out of an Island pack.

Actually, I sort of agree that it feels larger than a GP but not entirely as large as an EP and that it is indeed highly reminiscent of a world pack. Now, I bought it for around 35 so I'm alright with that, and also, I honestly very much enjoy IL. I've been having a real blast with it and I don't regret buying it at all.

That being said, I do wish that packs wouldn't always have to be as divisive as they are. But, I guess I've come to terms with the fact that most big-name publishers (with the exception of Sony) don't seem to allow their studios to go above and beyond - even if they have the budgets to do so. So, as sad as that is, I guess I've simply come to expect a certain amount of mediocrity from most of the big players, and especially from EA and Ubisoft. Both of these publishers make games that are ... in one word? Weightless. They often lack the depth you can find in games like Horizon Zero Dawn, God of War, The Last of Us, Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice, What Remains of Edith Finch, etc. They also ironically often lack actual character weight (thinking of you here, Assassin's Creed).

It doesn't mean that I cannot genuinely enjoy some of their games, even spend 100s to 1000s of hours playing them, but my expectations are simply not what I have for other companies. And although I have fun, that is frustrating to the extent that I know they have the budgets and the people and the skill to do more. To beat much smaller indie companies at their own game - but they don't, because they don't care, and because people - like myself - can enjoy what they put out anyway. Which is where the whole divisiveness comes from in the first place.

And with TS4? It's one of those titles that make the issues these companies have with putting out creative, innovative, inventive quality content over just making a profit, extremely obvious. Cause what they eventually decide to give us often depends on factors that have nothing to do with the customer or the game, making it hard for devs to consistently put out what they'd probably like to if given the means/time. That is why there can be such huge differences in quality from one pack to another, and why packs like these that are on the medium to lower end of that scale - as fun as they are to play with if you like the game for what it is - create so much turmoil and dissatisfaction. So yeah, even though I like it, it's hard not to think: why, EA, can't you just use all the money you have to make something that isn't just fun to play, but actually amazing? Because if you wanted to, you have people that could.

(Edited for clarity - tired :))