Why have likes and dislikes?

Okay, so why do we have likes and dislikes? I'm trying to figure out exactly what likes and dislikes really add to the gameplay.

So far in the games I'm playing, I haven't noticed any particularly special behavior by my Sims. For example, one of my Sims likes cooking and he meets another Sim who also likes cooking. He asks about hobbies and the other Sim tells him that they like cooking. The fact that the other Sim likes cooking now shows up in their profile but that is about it. It looks to me like EA just reused a couple of animations in that scenario and they build a tiny bit of "friendship." But that's it. (At least in my game) Do you remember in Sims 3 how Sims would get really excited when they would meet another sim with the same trait? I loved that. With the likes and dislikes the whole thing is just kind of "meh." 10 seconds after my Sim finds out that this new Sim they met also likes cooking, either my Sim or the Sim he's talking to is walking away right in the middle of the conversation. (Like Sims in Sims 4 do) So it's like "yeah, you like cooking too...bye."

I can only speak for myself, but in real life if you were at some venue and you were really into gourmet cooking, and met another person who also was really into gourmet cooking, wouldn't you get a little excited? Isn't it at least somewhat likely that you and that person might get into a really great conversation? Maybe become friends? I know that for me it would be like that.

I think the problem is something that I have mentioned in the forum before and I'm not going to grind on it. I think the Sims 4 base game is inherently flawed. Whether it's EA or modders, simply adding more and more likes and dislikes to attach to your Sims is not going to really change the gameplay. Maybe I expect a little more but right now likes and dislikes as far as I can see, are not really adding "personality" to my Sims. My Sim is still just basically getting to know another Sim and building friendship. Same thing as before. EA added nothing to likes and dislikes to make it special. To make it a feature that adds to the "gameplay." Not just giving the players a short list of things to attach to their Sim.

And hey, if someone has suggestions or what not to make it better, please clue me in. I will appreciate it. :)

feedback

EgonVM
Seasoned Ace
4 years ago
Hmm...

One thing is for sure for me. Set singing as something sim likes and you'll see them randomly practising singing.
Additionally, it does make the game easier as doing things sims like raises fun need faster. So no need to buy an expensive gaming machine to get that fun need up.
mightyspritesims
Seasoned Hotshot
4 years ago
Interesting how some people have noticed changes in autonomy due to likes/dislikes and others haven't.

Likes singing -> autonomously practices singing - @EgonVM
Dislikes video games -> does not autonomously play cell phone games (I forget who noticed this one)
Sims do not autonomously gravitate toward things they like and do not autonomously avoid things they dislike - @SheriSim57

@RavenSpit That's already in the game! It took me a couple months of playing to find it though. If a sim enthuses about a specific interest that the other sim also likes or has a certain amount of skill in, like Enthuse About Cooking or Enthuse About Favorite Author, the result is as you describe, an especially happy interaction and relationship gain. If they enthuse about something the other sim dislikes or has no skill in, the relationship will decline and there's a chance the other sim will become Bored.
MstyBL95
4 years ago
"Lustianicia;c-17960895" wrote:
How much do you want them to impact gameplay? Other than moodlets, what purpose would they have otherwise?

For starters...how about having them actually influence behavior. I get it, some people micromanage and play with autonomy off. But that player segment isn't the only segment. So maybe make the feature robust for all players.
SevenNM
4 years ago
Likes and Dislikes give additional social options. Sims can and do discuss these things autonomously. I've seen them ask about a favorite color or a hobby, and discuss their favorite music. When two Sims liked the same thing, they got green plus signs which boosted their relationship. When one didn't like what the other one did then I saw them get red negative signs and their friendship took a slight hit.

So far, the Likes and Dislikes developed by the Sims that I play have been pretty much on target with their personalities. Unfortunately, the same can't be said about the game assigning Likes and Dislikes to unplayed Sims. For example, in a game that I'm playing right now, Duane Talla who's always at the gym, reacted negatively when my Sim enthused about Fitness. It turned out that the game assigned Duane with Dislikes Fitness. Since I don't play Duane I don't know if he was tense the whole time he was at the gym. He seems to be programmed to be at every gym in the game just like the mermaids. My Sims generally like Fitness and will go to a gym once or twice a week. I guess Duane is doomed to be tense in this game because I don't play pre-made Sims.

I think that Likes and Dislikes are a decent start for something that I hope gets expanded. They provide Sims with more options when socializing besides the same old topics. I have Sims unlock the Grilled Cheese aspiration and Herbalism skill just so they have extra things to chat about. I have two Sims that like Fruitcake. I've seen them chat about Fruitcake with other Sims. Sims with the Foodie trait usually react positively to this topic while other Sims are either neutral or positive.
ra7orrat
4 years ago
"mightysprite;c-17960965" wrote:

@RavenSpit That's already in the game! It took me a couple months of playing to find it though. If a sim enthuses about a specific interest that the other sim also likes or has a certain amount of skill in, like Enthuse About Cooking or Enthuse About Favorite Author, the result is as you describe, an especially happy interaction and relationship gain. If they enthuse about something the other sim dislikes or has no skill in, the relationship will decline and there's a chance the other sim will become Bored.

Yeah, it's there for traits/skills but not for likes/dislikes, which is odd.
I never knew that enthusing about a trait/skill can cause the other sim to become bored and decrease the relationship tho, I only ever tried it with sims that shared the trait/skill, so thats good to know, thanx.
SheriSim
Seasoned Hotshot
4 years ago
"mightysprite;c-17960965" wrote:
Interesting how some people have noticed changes in autonomy due to likes/dislikes and others haven't.

Likes singing -> autonomously practices singing - @EgonVM
Dislikes video games -> does not autonomously play cell phone games (I forget who noticed this one)
Sims do not autonomously gravitate toward things they like and do not autonomously avoid things they dislike - @SheriSim57

@RavenSpit That's already in the game! It took me a couple months of playing to find it though. If a sim enthuses about a specific interest that the other sim also likes or has a certain amount of skill in, like Enthuse About Cooking or Enthuse About Favorite Author, the result is as you describe, an especially happy interaction and relationship gain. If they enthuse about something the other sim dislikes or has no skill in, the relationship will decline and there's a chance the other sim will become Bored.

I have seen others say that their sims will start listening to and dancing to music stations they don’t like ( autonomously). It doesn’t makes sense for sims to do this.
Babykittyjade
Rising Observer
4 years ago
"SlmStafRon;c-17961108" wrote:
> @wylmite1986 said:
> The only likes and dislikes I don't like are the ones for furniture. I like having that setting, it's just annoying when they interrupt what they are doing or wake up in the middle of the night to go admire something.

Please refrain from posting high-res photos on the forum. It takes valuable server resources and can result in a permaban, This time is a warning.

Wait... you can get banned for hires photos??
ra7orrat
4 years ago
@Babykittyjade nah, he's a troll.
le_TARDISgrade
Seasoned Newcomer
4 years ago
One effect I've noticed is that my Sims are reluctant to engage in activities listed among their dislikes: if I make them do those activities (autonomy is off) they get bored or abandon them.

On the other hand, they gain more positive moodlets if they engage in activities they enjoy.
Lazzial
New Spectator
4 years ago
"inmyeye;d-993116" wrote:
Okay, so why do we have likes and dislikes? I'm trying to figure out exactly what likes and dislikes really add to the gameplay.

So far in the games I'm playing, I haven't noticed any particularly special behavior by my Sims... *snip*

And hey, if someone has suggestions or what not to make it better, please clue me in. I will appreciate it. :)

The game asks "Does your sim like video gaming" I select NO, still plays video games constantly.

Edit: I went back and just selected the likes and dislikes in CAS. It only works then. So the issue is the likes and dislikes are not being selected when you get the pop-up in game.