I always find it very interesting to hear perspectives about problems with the Sims franchise from sources that consider themselves outside the community and the players. Usually when I see discussions about the games, like here on the forums, it is people very close to the issues who are quite nuanced with the details. However, sometimes these same issues are brought up by larger audiences in games media and sometimes random people in general.From what I understand, the consensus seems to view the Sims as a very predatory game (due to its large quantities of DLC and their pricing) targeted at young women and casual players in particular. As well as a full fledged live service future being inevitable, something I find rather uncomfortable just because of how much I do not want it to happen.Obviously those closer to the pulse will know the issues the best, but sometimes we can be bogged down in the details which is why I like thinking about these broader opinions even if they make me somewhat uncomfortable. Some of them do not seem all that different than ones echoed here in the forums.So what are your experiences with such outside perspectives? What are they? Do you agree with them? Disagree with them? Find nothing to gain from them?Sometimes the Sims feels very isolated from other games that I play and sometimes it doesn't, so it makes me curious what others experience in this regard.

I'm getting that impression too. I play and watch other games on twitch and follow a fair bit of gaming news on twitter... the general impression I'm getting that people feel about the sims is no different from how people view EA in general. And that is that they are focused on making money. They are often referencing other games from EA and how expensive they are. It's not uncommon when sims is shown people write "cash grab" or "hundreds of DLC". They also like to reference the old sims games because they probably played them or watched people play them on Youtube.A lot people also wonder when the sims5 will be released and lot of gaming news accounts that I follow don't mention the sims, ever. It's old news.I like to tweet about games but I have a hard time tweeting about the sims because it feels like they are living in their own bubble, it doesn't feel like there are many other simmers that tweet and play other games, which I don't think it's true, they just don't tweet much about them.I think it would be easier if the sims twitter and other people from the community was not so much excited over everything but instead talked about the sims for what it is and don't say "this is the best pack ever" just because they see a bunny in a dress. Unfortunately there are no people like that left, except maybe Carl from the Carl's Sims Guides, and maybe also James Turner. LGR doesn't really do much sims anymore.

I just look at Sims 4 as I do my periodicals' subscriptions. They come out at intervals and probably the periodicals' subscriptions cost far more than Sims 4 expansions.

What I have noticed over the years is the fact The Sims (back in 2000) used to be mainstream. It was a joke on sitcoms if the character had gotten his/her face into the Sim game. It was often talked about on talk shows, laughing and dreading if they too would get their face in the Sims. Most young adults knew what The Sims was and what type of game. Maybe because there were TV ads, often. It was a big deal to get your face in The Sims.Today, The Sims games are considered a niche market for teenage girls to play dress up and do a few mean girl actions. (The ads a few years ago) In the last few years chatter among those not on Twitter and or Reddit etc, is it's the LBGTQ game. Almost exclusively. I really don't want that statement to offend anyone, but it is what people say when someone mentions The Sims 4. Among professionals like doctors and lawyers etc. not many people are going to tell them they play The Sims anymore. It's no longer considered a creative outlet or a healthy hobby in smaller circles of professionals. It's not something people put on their resume as a hobby. It is also considered very childish, unlike WOW or something where many professionals and older people play for the competition aspects in their spare time or other type hard hitting games full of teams and rivals. Those games though played by all ages are full of middle aged men and not ashamed of their gaming prowess. The Sims series has become very select in what type of vibe it gives and it's no longer as much mainstream as before because though it strives to be 'inclusive' and diverse it is very much considered a game for one community and not for all.ETA: If one googles character creation etc. or skins or whatever, they usually are directed to IMVU...something I see happening to The Sims series more and more. It's no longer a game about life but identity and perfect skin and features.That is what I hear.

I feel it’s not as well known. I don’t know why. ??♂️I bought Sims 2 in 2007, I used to tell people I played it and most people knew what I was talking about or I play that too.Sims 4 I have to explain and there’s few people who I know play it.

"ncisGibbs02;c-17932287" wrote:I feel it’s not as well known. I don’t know why. ??♂️I bought Sims 2 in 2007, I used to tell people I played it and most people knew what I was talking about or I play that too.Sims 4 I have to explain and there’s few people who I know play it. I think that's because you never see Sims games on game stores shelves anymore. I remember large posters and shelves full of Sims 1, 2 and 3 in my high street stores but the Base game for the latest was so dire that people read the reports and didn't even start playing it. I also think a great many people stopped buying after completing Sims 2. I've met many people who've done that.

Outside Perspectives on Problems with the Sims Games

logionX
Seasoned Vanguard
4 years ago
I'm getting that impression too.

I play and watch other games on twitch and follow a fair bit of gaming news on twitter... the general impression I'm getting that people feel about the sims is no different from how people view EA in general. And that is that they are focused on making money. They are often referencing other games from EA and how expensive they are. It's not uncommon when sims is shown people write "cash grab" or "hundreds of DLC". They also like to reference the old sims games because they probably played them or watched people play them on Youtube.

A lot people also wonder when the sims5 will be released and lot of gaming news accounts that I follow don't mention the sims, ever. It's old news.

I like to tweet about games but I have a hard time tweeting about the sims because it feels like they are living in their own bubble, it doesn't feel like there are many other simmers that tweet and play other games, which I don't think it's true, they just don't tweet much about them.

I think it would be easier if the sims twitter and other people from the community was not so much excited over everything but instead talked about the sims for what it is and don't say "this is the best pack ever" just because they see a bunny in a dress.

Unfortunately there are no people like that left, except maybe Carl from the Carl's Sims Guides, and maybe also James Turner. LGR doesn't really do much sims anymore.
Simburian
Rising Rookie
4 years ago
I just look at Sims 4 as I do my periodicals' subscriptions. They come out at intervals and probably the periodicals' subscriptions cost far more than Sims 4 expansions.
Cinebar
4 years ago
What I have noticed over the years is the fact The Sims (back in 2000) used to be mainstream. It was a joke on sitcoms if the character had gotten his/her face into the Sim game. It was often talked about on talk shows, laughing and dreading if they too would get their face in the Sims. Most young adults knew what The Sims was and what type of game. Maybe because there were TV ads, often. It was a big deal to get your face in The Sims.

Today, The Sims games are considered a niche market for teenage girls to play dress up and do a few mean girl actions. (The ads a few years ago)

In the last few years chatter among those not on Twitter and or Reddit etc, is it's the LBGTQ game. Almost exclusively. I really don't want that statement to offend anyone, but it is what people say when someone mentions The Sims 4.

Among professionals like doctors and lawyers etc. not many people are going to tell them they play The Sims anymore. It's no longer considered a creative outlet or a healthy hobby in smaller circles of professionals. It's not something people put on their resume as a hobby.

It is also considered very childish, unlike WOW or something where many professionals and older people play for the competition aspects in their spare time or other type hard hitting games full of teams and rivals. Those games though played by all ages are full of middle aged men and not ashamed of their gaming prowess.

The Sims series has become very select in what type of vibe it gives and it's no longer as much mainstream as before because though it strives to be 'inclusive' and diverse it is very much considered a game for one community and not for all.

ETA: If one googles character creation etc. or skins or whatever, they usually are directed to IMVU...something I see happening to The Sims series more and more. It's no longer a game about life but identity and perfect skin and features.
That is what I hear.
ncisGibbs_BOSS
4 years ago
I feel it’s not as well known. I don’t know why. ??‍♂️

I bought Sims 2 in 2007, I used to tell people I played it and most people knew what I was talking about or I play that too.

Sims 4 I have to explain and there’s few people who I know play it.
Simburian
Rising Rookie
4 years ago
"ncisGibbs02;c-17932287" wrote:
I feel it’s not as well known. I don’t know why. ??‍♂️

I bought Sims 2 in 2007, I used to tell people I played it and most people knew what I was talking about or I play that too.

Sims 4 I have to explain and there’s few people who I know play it.

I think that's because you never see Sims games on game stores shelves anymore. I remember large posters and shelves full of Sims 1, 2 and 3 in my high street stores but the Base game for the latest was so dire that people read the reports and didn't even start playing it. I also think a great many people stopped buying after completing Sims 2. I've met many people who've done that.
Balddrummer
4 years ago
I can only imagine how many more people would play if they fixed the glitches. I love the Sims but it seriously makes me want to break stuff, sometimes. Unfortunately, I've found that to be true about quite a few games lately. I remember EA not giving a hoot whether or not their games worked 25 years ago, let alone today where money traps are disguised as games.

I think we need to bring back Spin the Bottle, it's cheaper. :P
SEREFRAS
Seasoned Hotshot
4 years ago
I never heard of the original SimCity back in 1989 or Sims 1 & 2 back in the early 2000s. However, I've heard & played Sims 3 back in 2011 when my daughter discovered it in EB GameStop store. I remember that Sims 3 didn't cater to certain particular lifestyle choice organizations. There wasn't any one organization or lifestyle only in Sims 3.
Sims 4 caters to only free love, LBGTQ, green peace & animal zealots. While leaving out cultural faiths/beliefs, one-couple only love & celebates. I call that prejudice. We as a human race are all different with different lifestyles, beliefs, non-beliefs & so forth. It should never be dictated to a particular types only. Whatever happened to free-will & human rights? It's very sad that in this day & age there's still prejudice. :'(
ncisGibbs_BOSS
4 years ago
"Simburian;c-17932326" wrote:
"ncisGibbs02;c-17932287" wrote:
I feel it’s not as well known. I don’t know why. ??‍♂️

I bought Sims 2 in 2007, I used to tell people I played it and most people knew what I was talking about or I play that too.

Sims 4 I have to explain and there’s few people who I know play it.

I think that's because you never see Sims games on game stores shelves anymore. I remember large posters and shelves full of Sims 1, 2 and 3 in my high street stores but the Base game for the latest was so dire that people read the reports and didn't even start playing it. I also think a great many people stopped buying after completing Sims 2. I've met many people who've done that.

Yes I really miss going into stores to look at Sims packs ?. I would always try and leave work early when new packs I wanted came out. I’d rush home to play them.

Buying online doesn’t give the same buzz.
ChampandGirlie
New Spectator
4 years ago
I think these criticisms that compare it to most of the other games are a bit unfair. How many versions of Call Of Duty are there out there? How many racing games or shooter games or different versions of the same game? Do people judge? Maybe some but the players ignore them.

I would like to not stigmatize it as "just a dollhouse game". People play what they want to play and have fun. If anything on here and in experience I've learned that it's not all about stereotypes. I get the comments about all of the expansions but they're all choices and there are various sales. Additionally, there are a lot of games out there that are very much about "pay to play".

Comments to improve the game or fit different playstyles are cool but criticizing the game concept as a whole is silly. I could do that about a lot of games out there but I won't.
kaiwryplays
4 years ago
Honestly how it's set up now with a lot of packs and dlc makes sense because it's a life sim and other games there is not much need for dlc and etc. But for a life simulator, there's many aspects of life and many themes and features that they can put in dlc and I don't mind buying all of them. They are expensive added up but it's just another form of entertainment and I spend a lot of time playing and don't pay for any other type of entertainment. I think compared to other games it looks like a lot of dlc but of course a fps or non simulation game would look different. And even a game like cities skylines don't have as much dlc because it's not as focused as sims is. So sims has so much more potential for dlc and in depth gameplay.