I would like to have a conversation about Project Rene and it's potential content distribution in the Base Game vs Packs. To start, staple pack themes (that have been repeated throughout the franchise), I believe NEEDS to be in the base game; Seasons, Pets/Animals, University, Active Careers/Business, Generation/Family, and Fame. All of these themes are staple parts of an average human life in some way shape or form, and would greatly contribute to a fleshed out life simulator with variety and range of the types of lives a sim could live in just the Base Game. Beyond the potential these themes would provide in the Base Game, I also believe it would expand the possibilities of the types of DLC the team could make. Having these features in the base game would mean the team wouldn't be limited with how they can use or expand these features in DLC that they develop, creating the potential for these themes to be continuously built upon and refined as more content is created. For example, even though Seasons would be in the Base Game, they could still create a seasons themed Expansion Pack that delivers more weather and climate types, new seasonal related gameplay and activities, more seasonal related consequences and effects that influence the environment and the sims within it, etc. Another example I can think of is Pets, having pets in the Base Game would mean they could create an expansion pack that expands the pets adding more pet interactions, pet related activities and objects, pet types, animations, and so on. As it is right now with themes like Seasons and Pets being in a Pack instead of the Base Game, the potential to further expand these themes just isn't very possible or realistic, and I consider that to be a limitation. I would also like to see the return of some gameplay systems and mechanics that have been introduced throughout various packs, in the base game of Project Rene; Retail/Business', Clubs, Lot Traits and Challenges, Customizable Holidays, Reputation, Character Value Traits, Self Sustainable gameplay, Eco Footprints and NAPs. I don't want an exact dupe of these features, but something that mimics a similar function. Again, having these features in the Base Game only expands the potential for DLC to use these mechanics in any way, shape or form without limitations. I truly believe having all these features and mechanics in the Base Game would be a win win for both the Base Game and any potential packs that may be created. It would also be something new for players to explore and experience instead of getting the same old pack time and time again. But this is just my hot take, I'm curious to know your thoughts.

Seasons and Pets/Animals are big sellers for EA.

The challenge will be to find a way that they can have a base game that is offering a good set of features while leaving room for future DLC. I think they should strive to offer a wide range of basic features and then future DLC can expand upon those features, like offering new ways to play and create with those features. This will give them more options when making DLC and new worlds.The game should offer better management features too like for example offer ways for the player to assign roles to sims and controlling them more easily so they could make future DLC like Restaurants and Hotels play better.

"LeGardePourpre;c-18202171" wrote:Smaller is the basegame, bigger will be the need of DLC.Not everybody like the same thing, if they remove the very popular features from the packs then less people will buy them.As we look at the last 12 months, about 90% of all revenue was from extra content, not the base game.I don’t like the weather system for TS4 so haven’t got Seasons. I wouldn’t like a base game which had weather that couldn’t be customised to what I would like. Even an off switch would be good for me. I see fame and occults as DLC as I wouldn’t want those system by default. @logion I like the sound of better management features. Options for individual Sims might be complex but if assigned roles at a workplace that might work.

I know they're the two big sellers but it's time to have basic weather and basic pets in the base game. Or at least, basic weather and make pets the first DLC. They can still expand on weather and holiday events, etc in seasons, but the game doesn't need to have just sunny days for the fist few years. If mobile-level games can have rain from the start, Sims can too.

So far they always offered, weather, pets, shops, and businesses, etc. as separate DLC, which maybe suited them development wise, but for us players was a bit underwhelming coming from a fully fledged game to a bare bones base game. So with this in mind, maybe for TS5 they could offer basic features in base game and then expand upon them in DLC. Weather in base game, we get full weather effects, with cold and hot weather outfits, umbrellas, snowball throwing, and then in DLC they add various seasonal activities and sports. Same with Pets, we get basic dog and cats in basegame from small pool of pets up for adoption, and in DLC we get Vet, pet training, pet shows, pet career, small pets, outfits, and choose our own breeds and what not. With business, we should have basic grocery and clothes shopping at least in base game, and then expand upon the business side in DLC with ownable shops and entertainment venues. Also would be nice to have at least bicycles in basegame, and a public transit system even if the neighbourhood is not fully open, like in TS4, and make it feel like an open neighbourhood by being able to fully interact with the environment. No more decor buildings in the middle of the neighbourhood with no function to them, especially if they are designed to look like shops and public venues.

Project Rene: Base Game Content vs Pack Content

26 Replies

simgirl1010
Hero
3 years ago
"honeywitch;c-18212865" wrote:
@JAL i get where you're coming from but the reasons a packed base game isn't that appealing for others = performance concerns, quality/depth concerns, and it's a more unrealistic expectation.

I agree that it's unrealistic to expect EA to release a packed base game. Their bread and butter is
DLC and that formula has worked through four iterations. I'm definitely keeping my expectations tempered.

I can understand performance concerns for those simmers who don't have access to a mid/high end computer. And Maxis knows they comprise a sizable percentage of the fan base.
gloomfemme
3 years ago
@JAL i do generally agree that it's a sad situation :lol: i'm assuming they'll mostly go with precedent in this case because it's profitable. i'm cool with that as long as they deliver quality. personally speaking i only buy what i really want and can afford, and if a pack i originally wanted gets poor reception due to major bugs and/or other unfortunate issues i don't buy it (example: my wedding stories). what i listed above in the thread as my primary desires for a base game are far from scraps imo but also don't include pets or full-on seasons or university.
rachaeliscool
3 years ago
Yes, ideally everything would have an on/off toggle. I fully admit that I'm unusual, and that I get overwhelmed by games that are too "big." I'm having trouble enjoying the new Pokemon games because they're open world. I dislike open world and prefer story progression to be more obvious and linear.

I don't expect the Sims team to cater to my needs. I understand that, in the end, they will go with what's profitable. I'm just sharing my opinion like everyone else. I would feel like something was amiss if I didn't even try.
filipomel
Seasoned Ace
3 years ago
"JAL;c-18212967" wrote:
@honeywitch I think it is sad, and quite depressing, that we find a reasonable sized basegame to be unrealistic and that we are so used to poor performing games that large=bad quality and lack of depth. I have to say I haven't encountered that anywhere else than here with sims or pehaps EA (this is the only EA game I play). Most games I play are big, and get bigger with every new game, and if a game has poor performance, people do not buy it, but wait for the next one. It's incredibly depressing to see that so many of us are willing to accept that bugs, poor performance, lagging issues and lack of depth is a state of normal, and while we complain, we still buy everything they churn out. No wonder EA doesn't need to focus on quality and depth and a rich contet. We'll buy scraps apparently.

These are exactly my thoughts, it's so strange to see the sims community instinctively settling and expecting less.

Regardless, my main point that I was trying to make with this thread is the developers can make a fairly substantial base game, with things like seasons and pets, and STILL make dlc that's themed around seasons and pets. They can stick with their formula of reselling popular themes even with the themes already present in the base game.

And as others have mentioned, with optional toggles to turn certain features on or off would solve the whole "pick and choose" argument some are making in favour of buyable dlc. Just because the features are in the game doesn't mean you as a player have to use them. The point of having all these features to begin with is to give players options and variety to suit their gameplay style, whatever gameplay style that may be. I own a sizable amount of packs for Sims 4 but I pick and choose what content I want to use or ignore.
ncisGibbs_BOSS
Seasoned Ace
3 years ago
"filipomel;c-18214866" wrote:
"JAL;c-18212967" wrote:
@honeywitch I think it is sad, and quite depressing, that we find a reasonable sized basegame to be unrealistic and that we are so used to poor performing games that large=bad quality and lack of depth. I have to say I haven't encountered that anywhere else than here with sims or pehaps EA (this is the only EA game I play). Most games I play are big, and get bigger with every new game, and if a game has poor performance, people do not buy it, but wait for the next one. It's incredibly depressing to see that so many of us are willing to accept that bugs, poor performance, lagging issues and lack of depth is a state of normal, and while we complain, we still buy everything they churn out. No wonder EA doesn't need to focus on quality and depth and a rich contet. We'll buy scraps apparently.

These are exactly my thoughts, it's so strange to see the sims community instinctively settling and expecting less.

Regardless, my main point that I was trying to make with this thread is the developers can make a fairly substantial base game, with things like seasons and pets, and STILL make dlc that's themed around seasons and pets. They can stick with their formula of reselling popular themes even with the themes already present in the base game.

And as others have mentioned, with optional toggles to turn certain features on or off would solve the whole "pick and choose" argument some are making in favour of buyable dlc. Just because the features are in the game doesn't mean you as a player have to use them. The point of having all these features to begin with is to give players options and variety to suit their gameplay style, whatever gameplay style that may be. I own a sizable amount of packs for Sims 4 but I pick and choose what content I want to use or ignore.

I like the pick and choose options you suggest. Hopefully the next iteration will have the option to decline free stuff. I’ve got rows and rows of CAS and build items I will never use. ?

Although if Seasons and Pets were included in the base game I wouldn’t purchase any additional DLC for them. I would myself disable most weather, it’s nice to have sunshine.

I don’t own many packs but the ones I have purchased I’m happy with. One major issue is that to download things off the gallery and have them as is, you do need most packs. The pack filter option doesn’t work ?.
mellowgamerchick
New Ace
3 years ago
I think this is going to be a big undertaking. As much as I'd like for all the features of specific packs to roll into base game (like Seasons and Pets), those have always been expansion packs so I doubt they'll undo everything they've done in previous versions of the game for the Sims 5/Project Rene. The Base Game has always been a teaser; small changes to graphics or the UI, maybe different look for the Sims overall, but it isn't going to come fully loaded. As a player, it's up to us to choose what DLC we want to purchase and how we want to express our creativity in the Sims.

However, I'd like some base game features that they ended up patching into the Sims 4 to be a part of the base game in the Sims 5/Project Rene. I'd like the infants and toddler life stages, basic body hair, pronoun and romantic attraction (similar to the Sims 2 where they can like certain physical characteristics or job types), likes/dislikes (just based on color, music, food, and maybe skills), a calendar system to see birthdays, work days, holidays, and schedule events, bunk beds, a couple after school activities for teens and children, being able to lay in bed to read or watch TV, scooting across a double bed, random calls on the cell phone, etc.

I agree with the option to toggle features on/off should be a given for every new feature in the game as they don't always make sense for every save. I like that werewolves can be regulated to the world that came with the pack so I don't see werewolf sims in every town. They should also allow a toggle for fears/wants/whims, weather, celebrities, etc (if those are a part of Project Rene in base game or from DLC).

Of course, base game features should be considered and sometimes updated with each additional DLC; so far example, likes and dislikes could be updated to include weather preferences when Seasons is added to Project Rene or after school activities can add one more variety if there's a generations or school expansion pack. I want Project Rene to have more cross-pack compatibility and features to continue to grow as the game grows. Concepts/features shouldn't be a one and done, especially when certain theme continue to build across DLC. They really dropped the ball for TS4 HSY EP because it didn't work smoothly along with Parenthood; the discipline system should have had some overlap like grounding teens for missing school or dropping out but it didn't.

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Project Rene: Base Game Content vs Pack Content

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