6 years ago

Winterfest Presents

https://i.imgur.com/57F8zUi.png

I've just been playing a three-day Winterfest in my BACC game. The household I'm playing has three toddlers (I must be mad) and the two adults, so it got quite busy. I ended up with about three presents each for the children (plus one each I had their mum buy on the computer) and it got me thinking about what you all do with the Winterfest presents?

For example, my family's son, Caiden, is the youngest of the three children and won't ge up for quite a while yet. None of his presents were toddler-friendly; he got a Voidcritter Card from Father Winter, a violin and a doctor playset. While he can't do anything with any of those yet, it's given me ideas for a possible career path and hobby for his future. Since he got the violin, I'm thinking that music could end up being his passion and as such, I'll defeinitely have him learning to play it a lot when he grows up. With the doctor playset, who knows? He might go to Uni one day (trust me, it'll be well and truly out by the time this guy ages to Yound Adult!) and become a doctor because of the interest as a child. I'm also going to have him being mad about the Voidcritters, since that interest has started early.

Another example is the father, William, got a book about learning to play the piano. He's actually a fitness guy and goes for a run every day, does yoga etc so the piano book was a surprise. However, I'm going to take it that he is expressing an interest in learning to play and as such, his wife bought him the book for Winterfest. Now that's going to be fun later on, when Caiden grows up and starts playing the violin. Father-son jam sessions, anyone?

I also discovered this feature:
https://i.imgur.com/QAqE0K3.jpg
(I renamed Winterfest to Christmas Day for my game, obviously.)
I had no idea this was even a thing! Both parents got presents (admittedly from the children but what can you do?) through the post. Funnily enough, William's was a Jazz Cats picture and it 'came' from Caiden. So I think I really will do those jam sessions. It feels like the game is telling me to! :D

So how much do the random presents from Winterfest affect your sims? Do you use them to develop hobbies? Or do you disregard them completely? https://www.allsmileys.com/files/kolobok/vishenk/55.gif

stories

LindsaySeddon1
6 years ago
I always always keep my presents and put them somewhere in the house, even if they make no sense or end up in a cupboard, because it feels realistic, and I'm already too quick to sell whatever I find in my sims' inventories. I try to keep each person's gifts in their rooms if I have a large household and like you, I start to build their personality around those odd items.
PlumbobXing
6 years ago
This gives me a whole new outlook on this. Thank you!
GalacticGal
Seasoned Ace
6 years ago
The doctor play set it quite an asset as it also teaches Empathy! I keep the gifts my Sims receive. Some are quite handy, and some, as you have experienced aren't in the proper age-bracket. Some are joke gifts. I find it hilarious when one of my teen Sims opens a gift and it's a pile of poo, and wonders, "now who would give this as a gift?" or words to that effect. LOL Don't look at your older brother, he would never do such a thing. :/
Frn0731
Seasoned Scout
6 years ago
I always thought toddlers could use the doctor set ,hmm it's been a while since I've had that in my game. One of my kids kept getting a lump of coal , 3x so I finally got the parents to buy a real gift for the little guy.
I'm going to start paying more attention to gifts, I like your game style and will do this from now on.
simmyfroggy
6 years ago
Oooh, thank you for this. I never quite paid attention to the gifts (there were several laser shows one year lol) but you've given me a new outlook on them. I'll be more attentive next time.
thunderbat87
6 years ago
Sometimes I keep and uses the items in my stories. But I love your way of using them. I will keep that in my mind next time it’s time for gifts!
LolaLuvsSims
Rising Rookie
6 years ago
Like others have said you have changed my outlook on what to do with the gifts. My main family is on pause until I find out more about University but Winterfest should be coming up in the save that I'm playing now I can't wait to see what gifts my Sims get.
Fluteline24
New Spectator
6 years ago
I had no idea they could check the mailbox for gifts! That's so cute!
MinxACB
New Spectator
6 years ago
For the first time ever I actually decorated and had a party for my sims on winterfest day. I usually ignore the holidays but for this brand new legacy I started, I decided that we were going to celebrate. I'm loving this family since I've taken the time to give them all personalities in my head lol. (I even verbally play out interactions and their thoughts and stuff. Thankful, I live alone.)

We had 3 children and 3 adults. The adults joined in opening the big box presents and I let the kids alone have the ones under the tree and all the ones from father winter.

I took all the presents and sat them in the living room, took a picture and tried to use as much of the stuff as I could and then sold what I couldn't. The gifts did impact my sims, but the gifts already lined up with their personalities. Or instance,Jaoni got his very own potion set so he doesn't have to share with his sisters. They also got one of those big gaming rigs, which I usually would sell, but 5 of the 6 are big geeks or mental focused, so we kept it. I never would have purchased this on my own.

I love celebrated the holidays now, and I really like the gifts.
MissyHissy
6 years ago
@LindsaySeddon1 lovely to know Im not the only one! I love it when the game throws these things in and gives me something to base personalities around!
@GalacticGal thanks for that, I've not worked with the doctor playset before. I've had a two year involuntary hiatus from the game so quite a lot of stuff from the older packs is still really new to me. Great to know it boosts empathy. Very useful for a future doctor, I think! (Even better if we get a medicine-related degree in the Uni pack. Looks like we could have a Dr Stanton in the town one day!)
@Minx I'm pleased you've celebrated the holiday this time. I love the calendar feature from Seasons and making a fuss over the holidays is something I've always enjoyed doing.

Also, glad I've helped some of you guys. I don't like planning every single detail in advance and the gifts have definitely proven to be a good way of randomising hobbies and interests B)