THREAD CLOSED

I think we need to be realistic. This pack doesn't have enough to justify the 40€ price. I regret buying it full price. The features it comes with are nice, but they lack depth, the pack re-uses previous EP animations for most of it's main features and there's way too many rabbit holes which loading screens were suppose to extinguish. The world is gorgeous, congrats to the world team and whoever animated swimming, but there's barely any new gameplay.

I like it, but it's not enough for an EP. If they'd sold it as a GP I'd be happier.

I love it. The details are fantastic and it adds a lot to my gameplay. The location and related objects are unique looking and fit, the Islanders are not interchangable with other regions' Sims. The new waterfront lots keep me occupied but most of the lots are challenging to build on.

The off the grid play is buggy but interesting and occupying, it makes me rediscover my Sim's daily grind and provides a challenge.

I haven't played mermaids or sought them out, but that's just me and my playstyle, I was never much into fantasy lifestyles. But there is still so much else to explore.

So yes, one week of lots of play and I'm nowhere near through!

On the negative side: the bugs are legion and more are creeping up. I would be over the moon and totally satisfied if they get rid of the glitches.

Having a lot of fun with it still and have put in way too many hours simming this week. It's boosted my engagement with the full game overall. It's like another piece to the puzzle and something different to engage with at the same time.
I fell in love with the premade/locals and after playing them I've had to backtrack and play many other premades in other worlds that I never actively played, so that's given me a further appreciation for the game. When I play in other worlds the played families always end up with the Island Spirits trait as a lot trait... I'm really enjoying the boost it gives me starting off a family and since I'm circling premade families it's needed. When not in Sulani I'm sending most other families there to a general lot I set up for "vacationing". I really like that it's more laid back and they can come and go as they please for a day, or weekend, or of course just a household member or two can go, leaving the rest behind.
I also use the bar there often and my sims rarely go to bars. I'm really enjoying the pop up events also.. I like that they are not drop down or in your face like the festivals or invite phone calls, you just have to know to keep your eyes open for them. I haven't seen them all so looking forward to running into them. I still haven't played out the careers or anything like that very far, but those are always on the backburner gameplay wise unless they are active. I haven't played a lot of the things in the pack yet actually that I know or have heard is there. I mostly focused on water activities, and beach activities so far.
I'm also liking what they did with fishing in the game I think it's an over all patched in thing, but having fun with that and figuring out what areas can be waded into.
I also had a mermaid take up residence in the city.. it's an interesting twist, be sure to get them a bathtub. Makes me want to play out the Splash movie but think I'll stick to or try to stick to one save for awhile.
Still a lot to see and explore. I'm just enjoying the additions to the game the pack has brought.

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.

I bought IL in a bundle so it was definitely worth the cost of that alone. The world is beautiful and I love the mermaid gameplay but there are glitches/simulation lag/routing issues and minor annoyances. I was trying to drown another sim (for story purposes) with my mermaid and was disappointed that she couldn't kill him. The pack would be better if the issues with routing and bugs/glitches, etc were fixed. And actually allow the mermaids to USE their powers to their full extent instead of glitching/canceling out.

"Jordan061102;c-17146683" wrote:

"MorriSan;c-17146656" wrote:
I love it. The details are fantastic and it adds a lot to my gameplay. The location and related objects are unique looking and fit, the Islanders are not interchangable with other regions' Sims. The new waterfront lots keep me occupied but most of the lots are challenging to build on.

The off the grid play is buggy but interesting and occupying, it makes me rediscover my Sim's daily grind and provides a challenge.

I haven't played mermaids or sought them out, but that's just me and my playstyle, I was never much into fantasy lifestyles. But there is still so much else to explore.

So yes, one week of lots of play and I'm nowhere near through!

On the negative side: the bugs are legion and more are creeping up. I would be over the moon and totally satisfied if they get rid of the glitches.

I don't think off the grid even comes with this ''EP'' *cough* I meant GP at an EPs price.

It's a BG lot trait, it's not from the EP.

"Jordan061102;c-17146683" wrote:

"MorriSan;c-17146656" wrote:
I love it. The details are fantastic and it adds a lot to my gameplay. The location and related objects are unique looking and fit, the Islanders are not interchangable with other regions' Sims. The new waterfront lots keep me occupied but most of the lots are challenging to build on.

The off the grid play is buggy but interesting and occupying, it makes me rediscover my Sim's daily grind and provides a challenge.

I haven't played mermaids or sought them out, but that's just me and my playstyle, I was never much into fantasy lifestyles. But there is still so much else to explore.

So yes, one week of lots of play and I'm nowhere near through!

On the negative side: the bugs are legion and more are creeping up. I would be over the moon and totally satisfied if they get rid of the glitches.

I don't think off the grid even comes with this ''EP'' *cough* I meant GP at an EPs price.

That's your opinion, I don't share it. I'm busy playing with all the new stuff. It fits my playstyle wonderfully and I think it is worth the price. Would I be happier of it was cheaper? Yes, of course who would complain about getting something for less money.

And the OTG feature is perfect for Sulani and was introduced ingame with a Sulani plot - a natural spot for it to lack electricity and running water. If not on a ravaged plot of land high up near a volcanoe, then where? I can picture it in the desert as well or as a feature of a modern paganism or a life choice or a poor sim but that does not cheapen the Sulani connection FOR ME. It was part of a free patch, yes, like the lounge chairs as a lot trait. So what? It still adds to my enjoyment.

"CelSims;c-17146929" wrote:

"MorriSan;c-17146705" wrote:

"Jordan061102;c-17146683" wrote:

"MorriSan;c-17146656" wrote:
I love it. The details are fantastic and it adds a lot to my gameplay. The location and related objects are unique looking and fit, the Islanders are not interchangable with other regions' Sims. The new waterfront lots keep me occupied but most of the lots are challenging to build on.

The off the grid play is buggy but interesting and occupying, it makes me rediscover my Sim's daily grind and provides a challenge.

I haven't played mermaids or sought them out, but that's just me and my playstyle, I was never much into fantasy lifestyles. But there is still so much else to explore.

So yes, one week of lots of play and I'm nowhere near through!

On the negative side: the bugs are legion and more are creeping up. I would be over the moon and totally satisfied if they get rid of the glitches.

I don't think off the grid even comes with this ''EP'' *cough* I meant GP at an EPs price.

That's your opinion, I don't share it. I'm busy playing with all the new stuff. It fits my playstyle wonderfully and I think it is worth the price. Would I be happier of it was cheaper? Yes, of course who would complain about getting something for less money.

And the OTG feature is perfect for Sulani and was introduced ingame with a Sulani plot - a natural spot for it to lack electricity and running water. If not on a ravaged plot of land high up near a volcanoe, then where? I can picture it in the desert as well or as a feature of a modern paganism or a life choice or a poor sim but that does not cheapen the Sulani connection FOR ME. It was part of a free patch, yes, like the lounge chairs as a lot trait. So what? It still adds to my enjoyment.

Enjoyment that you would still have even if you did not own IL, as it is not a feature you paid for with IL. It's not an opinion that it isn't included with IL, it's simply fact. You don't have to own IL to have those features.

A lot of features are limited to Island Living

Dolphins

Swimming in the ocean though I think that's coming to other pack worlds very soon

The interactive waterfall

Kiss in Water Interaction

Mermaids

Shell Collecting

Frogs in water which you can spawn at the waterfall

Boats

Fishing from boats

Many new Tropical Fish and Sea Turtles.

Sharks and shark attack deaths.

I think the OTG lot trait was definitely intended to go well with Sulani and the fact that it came with a free patch is just an added bonus.

Before the pack dropped, I played an OTG family in Windenburg in the middle of winter. They were cold, tense all the time, with constantly dropping fun levels. When the pack dropped they moved to Sulani, and I could see immediately how well the trait dovetailed with this location.

The family was much happier, amusing themselves by playing together on the beach or building sand sculptures; it is a trait that is very conducive to family play, by the way, and to beach life. They are now rarely tense, they fish and forage for food and they enjoy themselves doing all these things.

On top of that the fact that the trait was free means that the developers can build on it if they want, with more suitable objects and maybe even a free eco-friendly lifestyle to go with it. They could gives us true environmental living that includes solar panels, wind mills, rainwater capture, wells and geothermal heat since OTG is now a base game feature.