Why does everyone hate city living?

"luthienrising;15622498" wrote:

"MidnightAura;15622384" wrote:

"TheGoodOldGamer;15622291" wrote:

"Kurotard;15622256" wrote:
Because people asked for more family-oriented packs and we got another pack centered around adults and partying. Again.

Oh yes, of course! Every pack is always about partying. :| Let's all get down at the flea market, folks! :p

Most of the packs are centred around partying or it features very heavily. Exceptions being kid stuff and vampires from memory.
In San Myshuno there isn't a lot for children to do. There's another park (but we have several) there's basketball but that just feels like a let down comparing it to previous versions. The festivals mainly are tailored towards adults and young adults. Only exception being geek con.

The community lots consisted of a new park, a new gym and several new karaoke bars. All aimed for young adult and above with the exception of the park of course. It's one of my biggest disappointments with the EP. For a city it's lacking. Where are the shops? Why are all the lots all bars and stuff we have already in other worlds?

Look at the festivals in previous games - activities for children, teens and adults. But the festivals are so much better previously anyway I think and to compare them would be like comparing a Ferrari to a junk car.

Sometimes I wonder if I'm playing the same game as other people.

Starting with San Myshuno: It has no "shops" because you need to have Get to Work for Retail. If you have Get to Work, you can put shops anywhere you like. It does, however, have shopping at the festivals and especially the flea market. It ships with no bars and one lounge. The lounge, gym, art gallery (which ships with an area for children to make art), and both karaoke venues can be replaced with whatever venues you like, as can the other two penthouse lots. You could make every one of them a playground if you wanted to. Most of the apartments are large enough for families to live in ... unlike in the big city I live in, in which family-sized apartments are very scarce. The electric piano can be played by children, as could the large one, but can suit family play better as it goes with the idea that when your kids are smaller your free-to-spend cash often is too. Children can play basketball, which means they animated basketball twice over for family players. As a city dweller who raised three kids downtown (one is still at home), I'm having a really hard time thinking of a downtown-urban venue type that's especially family-oriented; the closest I can think of is ... ta-da! An art gallery, which is a new venue type in City Living. Most (obviously not all) art galleries work hard to attract children and teens to them. It works. Said kid-still-at-home has his own art gallery membership. Oh yes! Almost forgot: bubble-blowers and sparklers :) As for appropriateness of festivals, we took our young kids to stuff that feels like the Spice Festival all the time. Stuff doesn't have to be obviously designed for children to be appealing to families.

Okay, other packs' "party" content and child-friendly content.

Get to Work: No party stuff here, at all, though it is adult-focused. (Teen active career options in those three venues would have been a cool addition.)

Get Together: There's the dancing and DJs and something along the lines of raves, so there's your party content - more than most packs have, but only one part of what the pack is about. Children can use all the new games and the diving board; the llama game comes in a children's version. Clubs can be set to children-only and a range of children's activities are included in them. Lots of people use clubs for children's and family-focused play - they make extended family gatherings, kids' sleepovers, and all sorts of other things work great. One of my own favorites is the Scouts group I made, who go to parks to practice outdoor activities and try to be nice to each other even though some of them really want to be mean.

Vampires: Child vampires are adorable. That is all. Yeah, no powers till they're teens, but I've seen people say that there's lore to support that. And it makes for fuller adult vampires, which is good. Fleshed out supernaturals are more fun than half-done ones. Even if you play vampire families. No party content.

Dine Out: Children can order from the menu and even go to the ice cream shop you make for them just with their friends! They can color on placemats without needing a special trait for that. (Some adults being able to also is a nice touch.) You can have children's birthday parties there... "party" is not a synonym for "grown-up activity". Customization of restaurants makes it really easy to have family- and children-themed ones. You could put all your waitresses in fairy costumes (with the right SP).

Spa Day: No party content. Not much for children either. This is neither a family pack nor a party pack. But hey! There's other things in live than families and partying.

Outdoor Retreat: Lots for children to do in the very family-friendly camping vacations. Any partying in it is family-friendly.

Bowling Night Stuff: Not out yet, but if children can bowl, then this will end up a family-focused more than party-focused pack. Also bowling doesn't really scream "party".

Vintage Glamor: Includes child-specific gameplay around both gameplay objects. Not much "party" here unless you see globe bars - a classic Art Deco object - as party-specific. (Traditionally, not so much: they'd often be found in a study or bedroom suite.)

Backyard Stuff: Very family-focused, lots of fun for children! Useful for family and children's parties. No other party content, though you can serve lemonade as an alternative to bar drinks to make a party a bit more PG.

Kids Room Stuff: Some people complains non-children can't use the gameplay objects. No party content.

Romantic Garden: Children can play in the fountain. The wishing well has family-related wishes. No party content.

Movie Hangout: Includes children's movies. Makes for a great family activity, or fun at a childrens' party. Kids love popcorn :) (so do I! we're out right now and it's a crisis)

Spooky Stuff: Great options for family play and children's parties! You can make a great family restaurant with Dine Out with this content too. Not all parties are non-family/non-children content.

Cool Kitchen Stuff: Children like ice cream. No party content.

Perfect Patio Stuff: Children can use the hot tubs. No party content.

Luxury Party Stuff: Found your party pack!