What online/multiplayer options would you find acceptable in a Sims game?
The starting point for this poll is: we already have some online features in The Sims: as of now, it's only the gallery and the ability to comment on others' creations, download and favorite them, run challenges by uploading shells and letting others edit them. The core of the game is single-player and I personally don't think that part is going away anytime soon in a future installment. That said, adding more online and multiplayer features has clearly been on EA's and the devs' minds for a long time.
So I figured it would be interesting to know what level of multiplayer/online would people here be okay with.
Umbrella assumption #1:
Any online features would not be accessible to Simmers with a child account (as they are now). Only Teen+ accounts would be allowed to take advantage of them.
Umbrella assumption #2:
Any multiplayer feature is in addition to the typical single-player functionality (with the exception of option 6) and not a requirement to participate in (to make the game still fully functional for players under the specific ages excluded from online features by law).
Question: What kind of multiplayer options would you find acceptable in an upcoming Sims game?
1) Gallery only
Just the gallery sharing as it is at the moment: uploading lots, rooms, and households, favoriting and downloading other Simmers' creations.
2) Gallery + Friend sharing
Being able to share creations with friends only (as well as public sharing of lots, rooms, households for the whole community). Being able to send creations directly to someone you're friends with either on the gallery or on Origin.
3) Community neighborhood
Ability to bring your Sim to an online neighborhood accessible to other Simmers, uneditable lots/areas that maybe have a cafe where your Sim can order food and drink or item and food stalls with unique items that can't be purchased with a DLC. Areas designed for skill-building where Sims could mentor others if their skill is high enough. If your Sim is the one mentoring, they can earn Simoleons for their effort.
4) Socializing community areas
An online area that works as a giant chatroom where you can bring your Sim and talk to others directly.
5) Semi-online experience
Two sections of the game: a typical single player that's closed off to anyone else and a multiplayer open section where anyone can join in and interact with what you create. If you build in the communal area, your creation can be modified by others, items removed or added, etc. Something like, for example, certain Roblox games where you can join a server and it's open to anyone. Possibly an ability to create areas with access limited to friends only.
6) Fully online MMO
Everything is online and open to the public. You can purchase a lot and build on it, set access to public or friends only (like setting up a social media account), run a business where other Simmers can send their Sims to eat or participate in activities. Story progression created by other Simmers around the world.
7) Sims Freeplay model
Ability to visit worlds of people you've friended, special in-game currency obtainable by visiting friends' lots or neighborhoods, community challenges and events (working towards a common goal), DLC packs and currency purchasable via an in-game store (micro-transactions or direct purchases).
8) Single-player only.
No online features. Creations are only shareable by directly sending someone a file or via an exchange site.
9) Other
There are tons of other possibilities: Simmer profiles being expanded so you could share more than just lots, rooms, and households. A "dashboard" kind of feature where you could share screenshots or text posts about and from your game. A way to cooperate on a build in real-time (there is a mod for it at the moment but it's not 100% flawless since the core mechanic isn't in the game). Build challenges included directly in the game itself. Rewards for maintaining a streak in playing daily.
If you have ideas that you think would work for a Sims game that are online and/or multiplayer, sound off in the comments.
If you think anything at all multiplayer/online is a bad idea, just click option 8 ;)
So I figured it would be interesting to know what level of multiplayer/online would people here be okay with.
Umbrella assumption #1:
Any online features would not be accessible to Simmers with a child account (as they are now). Only Teen+ accounts would be allowed to take advantage of them.
Umbrella assumption #2:
Any multiplayer feature is in addition to the typical single-player functionality (with the exception of option 6) and not a requirement to participate in (to make the game still fully functional for players under the specific ages excluded from online features by law).
Question: What kind of multiplayer options would you find acceptable in an upcoming Sims game?
1) Gallery only
Just the gallery sharing as it is at the moment: uploading lots, rooms, and households, favoriting and downloading other Simmers' creations.
2) Gallery + Friend sharing
Being able to share creations with friends only (as well as public sharing of lots, rooms, households for the whole community). Being able to send creations directly to someone you're friends with either on the gallery or on Origin.
3) Community neighborhood
Ability to bring your Sim to an online neighborhood accessible to other Simmers, uneditable lots/areas that maybe have a cafe where your Sim can order food and drink or item and food stalls with unique items that can't be purchased with a DLC. Areas designed for skill-building where Sims could mentor others if their skill is high enough. If your Sim is the one mentoring, they can earn Simoleons for their effort.
4) Socializing community areas
An online area that works as a giant chatroom where you can bring your Sim and talk to others directly.
5) Semi-online experience
Two sections of the game: a typical single player that's closed off to anyone else and a multiplayer open section where anyone can join in and interact with what you create. If you build in the communal area, your creation can be modified by others, items removed or added, etc. Something like, for example, certain Roblox games where you can join a server and it's open to anyone. Possibly an ability to create areas with access limited to friends only.
6) Fully online MMO
Everything is online and open to the public. You can purchase a lot and build on it, set access to public or friends only (like setting up a social media account), run a business where other Simmers can send their Sims to eat or participate in activities. Story progression created by other Simmers around the world.
7) Sims Freeplay model
Ability to visit worlds of people you've friended, special in-game currency obtainable by visiting friends' lots or neighborhoods, community challenges and events (working towards a common goal), DLC packs and currency purchasable via an in-game store (micro-transactions or direct purchases).
8) Single-player only.
No online features. Creations are only shareable by directly sending someone a file or via an exchange site.
9) Other
There are tons of other possibilities: Simmer profiles being expanded so you could share more than just lots, rooms, and households. A "dashboard" kind of feature where you could share screenshots or text posts about and from your game. A way to cooperate on a build in real-time (there is a mod for it at the moment but it's not 100% flawless since the core mechanic isn't in the game). Build challenges included directly in the game itself. Rewards for maintaining a streak in playing daily.
If you have ideas that you think would work for a Sims game that are online and/or multiplayer, sound off in the comments.
If you think anything at all multiplayer/online is a bad idea, just click option 8 ;)
