"Oldeseadogge;c-18076491" wrote:
In terms of a formula that works EA/Maxis need look no further than TS1 & TS2. They worked spectacularly. The foundation is laid, build on it with the same passion and spirit.
Fully agree with both @Simmerorigin and @Stormkeep.
I agree that Sims 1 and Sims 2 have been the best. I don't dislike the Sims 3 or the Sims 4 but whenever playing them, I was always thinking back to the Sims 1 & 2 and how it was done better then.
The Sims 1 was not that easy to play in the beginning. I found it particularly hard to make friendships in the Sims 1 due to the interests. If you didn't chat about the same interests as the other Sim the relationship would be getting minus points. This was the very first time I installed a mod to help with that because it did impact my game quite a lot and was very annoying. Of course, like all the Sims games once new EP's came along everything became easier and better. I enjoyed the challenges with Sims 1 as most thing conspired to make your Sims life a little harder LOL.
I used to enjoy the cut videos in the Sims 2, like getting a first kiss, woohoo in the hot tub and getting a degree at the end of university to mention a few. I liked how we had the burglar coming along and trying to fight him/her or if a burglar alarm was installed the police would turn up. I like how sending a newly made Sim to University and being able to take them on vacation while at Uni, either for the experience or just to acquire more skills. Finding out about the Secret Society and being taken under the cover of night LOL. University has never been the same in the Sims 3 and Sims 4. In fact, I find it quite boring and rarely send my Sims there in the Sims 4. And when our Sims hit rock bottom how the Social Bunny would come along and pick them up and dust them off LOL. Being able to play instruments as a band was also great fun and very funny when people had no skills. There was so much to make the game as I wanted.
And of course, my favourite pack in the Sims 2 was Open for Business. We could almost sell anything. I had a great deal of fun with that pack and making all kinds of businesses. How customers would throw down their bags when impatient because the person working at the till was inexperienced. To me all these little things added to the fun of playing.
I loved how we could customize things in the Sims 3 like furniture and clothing. The cars and other transport were fantastic. I did feel the open world a little too overwhelming and I wouldn't be able to play if that was ever re-introduced. Gardening and Fishing was also great in the Sims 3 as was the World Adventures Pack. I loved how we could forage and go and pick crops from other Sim's gardens.
I feel I go through the motions when playing the Sims 4 these days. I want to find out all the game has to offer but most of the time my Sims are happy people and even when getting moodlets that are not good they are often offset by all the good ones so has no real impact. I feel that the special places to explore (ie grottos) in the Sims 4 were a let-down, as are the bugs that constantly appear in the game and never seem to get fixed or get fixed then become broken with a new pack introduced. It means I have to go and find a mod to fix it so I can play that aspect of the game. I feel the Sims 4 has lost its fun aspect and spontaneity in terms of not seeing things that previously would happen in the games before, especially with the non playing Sims on community lots.
I do wonder about those making the content how much they have previously played Sims 1, 2, 3 and 4 to compare. Do they understand how long-term Simmers like myself are passionate about the game. I understand how they may not want to replicate the same things over and over and try out new things, but there are some things that are classic, like some interactions, true NPC's or townies and certain gameplay. Why it is decided they should not be put into a new game beggars belief to me. If it isn't broke don't fix it unless of course it's a major bug!
