I figured I should share my most recent experience. It was a stream, technically, but podcast style where two people spoke about whatever they pleased but still tried to dance around one topic in particular. The subject of the Sims, the Sims 4 in particular came up.
One is surprised to learn just how large the Sims community is around Sims 4. This is in games media, so one at least had played the Sims 4 at launch and dismissed as a sequel with less content than the prequel (though the genres never really matched tastes, either, so always outside the community). Everything lined up with my first post: predatory, targeted, etc. One even adds that the only way to go is live service with the Sims.
It was really interesting to listen to, just from the perspective of how truly... Not special the Sims 4 was to them. It was never forgotten, just brushed aside as something not worth remembering. Something with a presumably darker future ahead, or at least that is how I interpreted it.
I get a similar sense at large. There definitely are people unaware of the Sims, but it pops up in all sorts of places I do not expect it. I loved Pet Raiser Sims growing up, but very few are made anymore. I was trying to find a list and do you know what was on the the top? C&D. I was somewhat offended, but it was a ramshackle list because of how few current ones there really are. It makes me wonder if the Sims was largely dismissed by anyone that has been close, but not converted into a community member.
