A thread to talk about all things related to lore and narrative elements in Project Rene.

Sims 4's "alternate timeline" is unpopular among the fanbase. My theory is that Sims team is now aware of the importance of lore and will provide greater care to this 20+ year old franchise.Sims Community has reported that the next-gen Sims game will likely have more narrative elements via job listings.ResponsibilitiesGuide the delivery of the following: Define and maintain the narrative vision of the project. Explore new ways to bring characters to life and create emotional experiences in a non-linear simulation experience. Work with multiple disciplines to direct and implement the characters, settings, goals, and conflicts from drafts in game. Work with the tools team to improve workflow and processes. Create design documentation to support prototyping efforts. Partner with Development Directors to track tasks, identify risk, and clarify changes in work. Partner with UX to design, research, and implement features, particularly for introducing narrative elements and decisions. Aid team leadership in gathering presentation materials. Playtest, attend UXR sessions, and participate in organizing feedback/insights. Document findings for future use in Sims development.Qualifications Significant Narrative Game Genre design experience, especially in the area of creating the production pipeline to integrate story with the gameplay. Significant experience writing fictional stories, ideally interactive experiences. Capability to lead cross-discipline prototyping and idea iteration, actively participating in the development of a feature from start to finish. Experience with young adult fiction, pop-culture stories, in particular romantic narratives. Hands-on implementation for an interactive experience or mod. Excited by and helping define new business and distribution models like live services through the lens of narrative elements. Knowledge of popular interactive story machinima or mod communities a plus (ex: The Sims, Episode, Grand Theft Auto Online). Excellent communication and presentation skills required.Personally, I don't think there is a need to rewrite fundamental characteristics, relationships, and timelines. Continue the history and build on the foundation.Sims 3 added a backstory to the events of Sims 1 and 2. Now for the future.Forum user @IVXXXVI wrote:I really wish they continue the lore and mysteries from Sims 2. I think it would be really interesting to see for example Bella and Mortimer's grandchildren or Lilith Pleasant with Dirk Dreamer have a family together in the new game.They could also mix it up meaning that they could also make descendants of returning families who were on TS3 or even TS4. :DI agree. The Narrative Designers working on Project Rene have a lot of source material documented on the Sims Wiki for their research.

I would love if they continued the timeline.

I would personally like for them to continue the timeline while merging in elements of TS4’s lore, that way it doesn’t brush TS4 off to the side and pretend it never happened. I’m not a fan of the “TS4 is a separate timeline“ so I look for any angle to connect it with the previous games, even if it contradicts a few things haha.

Game lore is the one feature that doesn't interest me at all. I've always deleted the majority of the game created characters while keeping a few just to have some sims in the background as friends/coworkers/schoolmates for my created sims.I've played one Maxis sim and that was Agnes Crumplebotton for a Sims 3 story challenge. The narrative features sound interesting but only as they pertain to my created sims.

I started with The Sims. Which reminds me I did play with Bob and Betty Newbie to learn how to play the game.I've played them all. Loved them all. Still have them all. Really want to find time one day to get back to Sims 2 and 3. I left so much undone.

Rene Speculation: Lore and Narrative Design

43 Replies

Anonymous
2 years ago
Brand new Plumbella video: the premade narratives really shine here!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wQluvY2VCk
i_love_frogs_11
Seasoned Ace
2 years ago
The Sims2 had the best sims lore, hands down. Miss townies having so much backstory and if you played as them you could actually see it in their interactions and relationships.
Anonymous
12 months ago
I have a feeling the Sims Team finally understands the importance of lore. I'm sure they will make Project Rene with this in mind, referencing the Sims Wiki for details on past versions of sims and families as the recreate them.

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Rene Speculation: Lore and Narrative Design

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