Why, after more than four years, do sims still lack distinctive personalities? (and other issues)
Unique personalities is one of the biggest selling points of this game, so why do sims feel like clones and not actual individuals? I am surprised that there has been no major update to sims personalities as it's very bland and shallow. It's literally the focal point of the game, make unique sims and then play with them in a sandbox world. I am not an avid player of TS4 because it really does lack the depth of character that we should be seeing from sims. I am not suggesting implementing some ridiculously complex "AI" that makes them indistinguishable from real humans. Just a few things that would really boost the game at its core.
More trait and trait slots
I find three trait slots to be pointlessly limiting, having more slots would allow us to flesh out our sims a little more when creating their stories. There are not nearly enough traits in the game. Why isn't there a socially awkward trait in a game that is so heavily focused around social interaction? (would be shocked if it didn't come in an education based pack :o )
Meaningful traits and likes/dislikes
Traits seem to add little to sims personalities and I think this is partly because there is very little distinction between what sims do and do not like, making their behaviour very similar. To illustrate, what is the difference between a sim with the bookworm trait and a sim just reading a book? Apart from a few interactions not much really. Another thing, every sim I create should not run straight to the computer to go and play BlicBlock, or pick up the nearest book. Not everybody plays video games or reads books, sims should be no different. Having the ability to control likes and dislikes would also give way to more meaningful social interactions. It feels so easy to build relationships in this game, there is just no challenge to it.
Interesting and challenging dating
Dating in the sims 4 is incredibly bland because any relationship is possible. Although I have never played TS2 the chemistry system sounds like so much fun. Maybe having turn ons/offs be purely physical and have traits and likes/dislikes dictate whether personalities are compatible would be good. To add some extra spice there could be an "opposites attract" type jig, were sims could work out their differences and get into a relationship or if they are already married, go to counselling and that could also be a new career. Ooooh they should call it the "compatibility system"! I saw something about fears too not sure from which iteration but the ideas of scared about first kisses or whatever it was I saw (I am sorry it was very brief what I saw) just sounds like it would add so much character to sims. So, you know, if their worst fear actually happens new interactions can open up for your sim to deal with them or affect them long term etc.
Emotions
I think it is fair that players keep asking for a scared emotion. It would add so much to the game if when sims see a ghost or a fire they get scared. Tense really doesn't cut it. Also constant happiness from some adequate furniture is just ridiculous at this point. Sims should be fine by default unless they have the gloomy or cheerful trait or something, but nice furniture seems to override everything, so hey lol.
I think all of the above (or something like this) would be enough to make sims feel unique, like what is advertised because at this moment it does not do what it says on the tin. I see many posts where players say they would like to see certain life stages be more fleshed out and I think that this would go a long way into helping that and allow for more powerful story telling.
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Careers/Jobs
My next issue is careers. I feel like the game is desperately lacking in variety when it comes to jobs. I think so many opportunities where missed for DLC's like Spa Day and Dine Out not adding in new active careers like Yoga Instructor, and working as a chef in your own restaurant. I understand that Game Packs are smaller but it still baffles me that some of these aren't included or at least something like them.
Job types
I would like to see sims in jobs that do not offer any substantial job progression like a barmaid at a dive bar. It would also be cool if you could work as a plumber or maid, so you would go to sims homes to clean or to fix burst pipes and so on. Then maybe that could lead to your sim gossiping around town about all the things your sim has seen whilst working at other sims homes.
There are more things but I can't think of them right now.
Edit
I keep seeing things from players saying they think it would be to difficult to implement. I say, how so? We already have a system that works similarly to what I suggest in Get Together with the club system. So you can choose what activities sims will and will not do in said club. And if I am not mistaken the chemistry system was added as an expansion to TS2 and was not part of the base game. So my point still stands, there is no evidence to suggest that these things cannot be implemented in some sense, other than the developers just not wanting it in the game.
More trait and trait slots
I find three trait slots to be pointlessly limiting, having more slots would allow us to flesh out our sims a little more when creating their stories. There are not nearly enough traits in the game. Why isn't there a socially awkward trait in a game that is so heavily focused around social interaction? (would be shocked if it didn't come in an education based pack :o )
Meaningful traits and likes/dislikes
Traits seem to add little to sims personalities and I think this is partly because there is very little distinction between what sims do and do not like, making their behaviour very similar. To illustrate, what is the difference between a sim with the bookworm trait and a sim just reading a book? Apart from a few interactions not much really. Another thing, every sim I create should not run straight to the computer to go and play BlicBlock, or pick up the nearest book. Not everybody plays video games or reads books, sims should be no different. Having the ability to control likes and dislikes would also give way to more meaningful social interactions. It feels so easy to build relationships in this game, there is just no challenge to it.
Interesting and challenging dating
Dating in the sims 4 is incredibly bland because any relationship is possible. Although I have never played TS2 the chemistry system sounds like so much fun. Maybe having turn ons/offs be purely physical and have traits and likes/dislikes dictate whether personalities are compatible would be good. To add some extra spice there could be an "opposites attract" type jig, were sims could work out their differences and get into a relationship or if they are already married, go to counselling and that could also be a new career. Ooooh they should call it the "compatibility system"! I saw something about fears too not sure from which iteration but the ideas of scared about first kisses or whatever it was I saw (I am sorry it was very brief what I saw) just sounds like it would add so much character to sims. So, you know, if their worst fear actually happens new interactions can open up for your sim to deal with them or affect them long term etc.
Emotions
I think it is fair that players keep asking for a scared emotion. It would add so much to the game if when sims see a ghost or a fire they get scared. Tense really doesn't cut it. Also constant happiness from some adequate furniture is just ridiculous at this point. Sims should be fine by default unless they have the gloomy or cheerful trait or something, but nice furniture seems to override everything, so hey lol.
I think all of the above (or something like this) would be enough to make sims feel unique, like what is advertised because at this moment it does not do what it says on the tin. I see many posts where players say they would like to see certain life stages be more fleshed out and I think that this would go a long way into helping that and allow for more powerful story telling.
---
Careers/Jobs
My next issue is careers. I feel like the game is desperately lacking in variety when it comes to jobs. I think so many opportunities where missed for DLC's like Spa Day and Dine Out not adding in new active careers like Yoga Instructor, and working as a chef in your own restaurant. I understand that Game Packs are smaller but it still baffles me that some of these aren't included or at least something like them.
Job types
I would like to see sims in jobs that do not offer any substantial job progression like a barmaid at a dive bar. It would also be cool if you could work as a plumber or maid, so you would go to sims homes to clean or to fix burst pipes and so on. Then maybe that could lead to your sim gossiping around town about all the things your sim has seen whilst working at other sims homes.
There are more things but I can't think of them right now.
Edit
I keep seeing things from players saying they think it would be to difficult to implement. I say, how so? We already have a system that works similarly to what I suggest in Get Together with the club system. So you can choose what activities sims will and will not do in said club. And if I am not mistaken the chemistry system was added as an expansion to TS2 and was not part of the base game. So my point still stands, there is no evidence to suggest that these things cannot be implemented in some sense, other than the developers just not wanting it in the game.
