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Anonymous's avatar
Anonymous
2 years ago

9/12 BTS Rene Reveal Discussion Thread



No new gameplay screenshots. We learned:

  • Many versions of Sims introduced: The Sims, Sims Online, Sims Castaways, Urbz etc...With Project Rene, looking to see what they should preserve in making a Sims game and what can they do that they couldn't before
  • With Project Rene, they want to do things at the start that the Sims hasn't done before and do familiar things in a new way
  • Some of these new things include things shown already, like the ability to play with friends and across devices + more gameplay to be shown later
  • Project Rene and the Sims 4 will continue to exist side by side (!!)
  • Plan to support both and more content planned for the Sims 4 in the foreseeable future
  • Want to make it super easy for friends to come and join you in Sims Rene; there is more to share with what multiplayer will look like "in the year ahead" (singular year!!)
  • Project Rene is free to download when it is ready with no subscription
  • Won't start with everything we have in the Sims 4, but they will add new content over time
  • Beyond regular updates to core game they will release packs. But the mix will be changed up. In Sims 4 only way to experience weather is with Sims 4 Seasons pack. But in Rene, they might introduce basic weather for free in the base game and a pack for purchase might focus on winter sports. This means that wind, rain, and clouds can be used for other pack themes as well given base game has the basic system
  • They aren't sure what the exact lines will look like between the core game and DLC, but their goal is to lower the barrier to play.




Official Sims Newsroom has a blog post on Project Rene:

An update on Project Rene

We are back with new updates on Project Rene! Over the years, you’ve seen us introduce many versions of Sims experiences from The Sims to The Sims Online, The Sims Castaway, The Sims Medieval, The Urbz to today’s The Sims FreePlay and The Sims 4. We are always looking for ways to bring The Sims to more players while keeping our charming characters and creations at the heart of what we make. When we think about any Sims game, it has to start with the core experience. What must we preserve for this to be a Sims game AND what can we do in this game that we couldn’t do before?

Project Rene will be a new way to play The Sims - it will feel “Simsy” as players will still manage what their Sims do throughout their day, while also presenting gameplay choices differently. With Project Rene, we want to do things from the start that The Sims hasn’t ever done or try to do familiar things in a new way! Here is an overview of the Project Rene news updates mentioned during Behind The Sims Episode 3.

Project Rene will Coexist With Other Sims Games

Project Rene and The Sims 4 will exist side by side. We will continue to support both at the same time and will plan to bring more exciting content to The Sims 4 community for the foreseeable future.

Project Rene Will Be Free to Download When It’s Ready

Project Rene will be Free to Download. This means that when Project Rene is ready and fully open to players, you will be able to join, play and explore it without a subscription, core game purchase or energy mechanics. We want playing to be super easy for you to invite or join friends and experience new features, stories and challenges.

Project Rene Will Grow Over Time

We want Project Rene to be strong and cohesive from the start. While it won’t begin with everything you have in The Sims 4, we plan to add new experiences and content to Project Rene over time.

Beyond regular updates to the core game, we will sell content and packs, but we plan to change this up a bit. For example, basic weather may be added to the core game for free, for everybody. And in the future, a pack for purchase may be focused on winter sports with activities like ice dancing or a snowman building competition. It’s important that with Project Rene we lower barriers to play and give all players the broadest shared systems because that feels like the strongest foundation for us to grow from.

A New Way of Development

We’re bringing everyone along with us every step of the way for Project Rene. We want to include Simmers throughout the various phases of development, which could include everything from closed invites to small public playtests or early access options.

We are still in the early stages of development for Project Rene, but we are excited to keep sharing the details of our progress with you!
project rene
  • Horrorgirl6's avatar
    Horrorgirl6
    Seasoned Hotshot
    2 years ago
    "simmerorigin;c-18309515" wrote:
    I really don't like the fact that Sims 4 is coexisting with Project Rene. The fact that it isn't considered a hard reset of the franchise is very concerning, combined with the Sims 4's lifespan and lack of stability being issues.


    This is not surprising to me in the slightest.It make sense from a business and customers standpoint.One biggest criticism I have seen.Is how when a new game comes the old one gets abandoned and how the new one dosent have everything.With this new system at the beginning your not cut off cold turkey.They instead want a transition to be more smoother.
  • EnkiSchmidt's avatar
    EnkiSchmidt
    Hero
    2 years ago
    "Horrorgirl6;c-18309492" wrote:
    What I do like there going basic weather for free.Which is smart and than selll dlc.


    Yes, that's a good move. They really harmstrung themselves when they locked the club system behind an EP. At least photography became basegame later. Maybe that's also the reason why they start with apartments in basegame this time (or at least at the moment it looks as if they will do that, nothing's confirmed yet).

    Can't say I like the constantly "growing" approach, when one player's "improvement" could be another players "they destroyed the game the way I liked it" (been there with Sims 4 several times). It also reminds me too much of the browsergames I used to play with their weekly updates and constant stream of FOMO events.
  • wex_hex0's avatar
    wex_hex0
    2 years ago
    This is very disappointing. From what it sounds like Rene will not be TS5 but a spinoff game that will coexist with the main game (TS4).
  • Bluegayle's avatar
    Bluegayle
    Hero
    2 years ago
    "Horrorgirl6;c-18309492" wrote:
    What I do like there going basic weather for free.Which is smart and than selll dlc.


    I just wish they hadn't said "might" but I definitely agree it would be a smart move for them to include basic.
  • crocobaura's avatar
    crocobaura
    Seasoned Ace
    2 years ago
    "Sarah26Cat;c-18309516" wrote:
    Well, they said it won't "replace" the Sims 4, but I can almost put money on it that when this gets released all updates and bug fixes for TS4 will stop. Unless, as others have suggested, this is a spin-off instead of an actual game.

    I also think their host was painful today. Usually she's nice to listen to, but today... Something's off. Someone take away her caffeine!

    And the way she said they'd do free weather, but charge for a seasonal sports pack. It sounded suspicious. I will almost guarantee it that seasonal holidays will be in a separate pack then, or four separate packs. And other things for this game will be blocked into separate tiny packs so you'll have to pay more than a thousand dollars to get the full experience. I'm not liking the way this looks.


    I think this will be lovely. We get basic weather system and then they can expand on it whenever they want, even in EPs that aren't necessarily related to weather. There will be more freedom and room for expansion without people complaining that they made pack feature into basegame and it will also give the opportunity for different kind of packs instead of the same seasons, university, etc.
  • Llandros2012's avatar
    Llandros2012
    Seasoned Rookie
    2 years ago
    "simmerorigin;c-18309515" wrote:
    I really don't like the fact that Sims 4 is coexisting with Project Rene. The fact that it isn't considered a hard reset of the franchise is very concerning, combined with the Sims 4's lifespan and lack of stability being issues.


    If the game is free, then there is no revenue stream so they have to keep Sims 4 stringing along for a while. Once the first DLC starts rolling out for the new game, then you can say goodbye to Sims 4.

    The Sims 3 stopped when 4 was announced but the store was and is still selling content (not producing) even after 4 launched. Sims 4 Base Game was very expensive upon release and within 6 months, Outdoor Retreat came out and the money train kept rolling along. So until it starts bringing in money, expect kits and money grabs with Sims 4 in the beginning.

    What I am most concerned with is whether or not we will yet again be left with a bug filled, glitchy game that gets zero support as everything shifts to the new game.
  • Llandros2012's avatar
    Llandros2012
    Seasoned Rookie
    2 years ago
    "Horrorgirl6;c-18309492" wrote:
    What I do like there going basic weather for free.Which is smart and than selll dlc.


    They have already tested this recently. Infants were given as a base game update and they had little to nothing to add unless you also purchased the Growing Together EP. Without that pack, you have no milestones, no playmats, no changing stations, etc.

    So yeah, it's just a way to take a $40 pack like Seasons and break it up to make 4 or more $30-40 packs to sell rather than just one. Not too good for the player who needs to purchase them for a better game experience but great strategy for a company to make some money from their captive audience.
  • Anonymous's avatar
    Anonymous
    2 years ago
    "Llandros2012;c-18309725" wrote:
    "simmerorigin;c-18309515" wrote:
    I really don't like the fact that Sims 4 is coexisting with Project Rene. The fact that it isn't considered a hard reset of the franchise is very concerning, combined with the Sims 4's lifespan and lack of stability being issues.


    If the game is free, then there is no revenue stream so they have to keep Sims 4 stringing along for a while. Once the first DLC starts rolling out for the new game, then you can say goodbye to Sims 4.

    The Sims 3 stopped when 4 was announced but the store was and is still selling content (not producing) even after 4 launched. Sims 4 Base Game was very expensive upon release and within 6 months, Outdoor Retreat came out and the money train kept rolling along. So until it starts bringing in money, expect kits and money grabs with Sims 4 in the beginning.

    What I am most concerned with is whether or not we will yet again be left with a bug filled, glitchy game that gets zero support as everything shifts to the new game.


    I like this interpretation better...that they're easing into Rene to be the ultimate successor with an overlap period. Though I personally look forward to the day that support for TS4 ceases.
  • charlottekn's avatar
    charlottekn
    New Rookie
    2 years ago
    I posted my reaction to the trailer elsewhere - it's not for me, I'll leave it at that. My question is, in the context of seeing players comment on family friendly-ness, with this multiplayer thing, and the younger market being the obvious focus - how will that work? Will it be like Stardew or Minecraft, invite only games/servers? What about mods which could be adult? A game aimed at 12 year olds with random multiplayer is a bit sketch seeming and I hope they're just not phrasing it really well. I have quite a few years experience in MMOs/multiplayer games - there's a lot of weirdos out there, even sometimes when those weirdos are your friends. I wonder how this will go over with parents (let's face it, aiming a game a children is aiming it at parents and their wallets).
  • 11a4d9d88dcc7bea's avatar
    11a4d9d88dcc7bea
    Seasoned Newcomer
    2 years ago
    "Charlottekn;c-18309748" wrote:
    I posted my reaction to the trailer elsewhere - it's not for me, I'll leave it at that. My question is, in the context of seeing players comment on family friendly-ness, with this multiplayer thing, and the younger market being the obvious focus - how will that work? Will it be like Stardew or Minecraft, invite only games/servers? What about mods which could be adult? A game aimed at 12 year olds with random multiplayer is a bit sketch seeming and I hope they're just not phrasing it really well. I have quite a few years experience in MMOs/multiplayer games - there's a lot of weirdos out there, even sometimes when those weirdos are your friends. I wonder how this will go over with parents (let's face it, aiming a game a children is aiming it at parents and their wallets).


    I agree with this. Let's face it, no matter how positive your outlook is, there are going to be friendships that break down, arguments that happen, and people with less than ethical intentions. When this happens, Sims and builds will be in the mix. Imagine two players arguing over who built a building, or who gets to keep a sim. EA and their Guru's will be the only ones to resolve this. I don't think they have it in them, honest.

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