KRAFTON's inZOI Life Simulation Game vs. Sims 5 (Rene)
Yet another life simulation game in the works. Take a look. Krafton is a South Korean video game publisher behind popular games such as PUBG and Subnautica. They engaged with several Sims content creators to get exclusive access to their new game, inZOI, which has only been in development for 1 year (!!). What do you think? I was immediately struck by the realism of the graphics. Very different from the stylized Sims art. The world is gorgeous. FAQs When will the game come out? The development team is working towards a release date of 'late 2024' What engine was used to build the game? Unreal Engine 5 What platforms will the game be on? It will initially be released on PC and is later expected to be on consoles like the PS5 and Xbox How much will the game cost? Will there be expansion packs? The monetization model is currently undecided, including the plan for expansion packs and DLCs Will the game be multiplayer?* They are currently working on various multiplayer features, such as the ability to meet up with other online players or invite them over to your home *the game is still in development so all answers are subject to change! IGN Gameplay Video
Project Renee/Future of Sims
It was very disappointing to hear that there won’t be a Sims 5. I just don’t understand where this is all heading. Project Renee just looks like another sims game but not an UPGRADED one. I believe we need another Sims game but this time it needs to be better than all the other games. It needs to have something from all the games otherwise what’s the point? In my opinion The Sims 4 is so incredibly boring. It’s a cash grab and if anything the game is actually just a building simulator. Also, not making a newer, better game because of this reasoning- “we would hate to make players start over” is just pathetic and lazy. We have said for so long that we need something like The Sims 3, the Sims 2 and most definitely not another boring cash grab Sims 4 but me and many others see that our pleads and our suggestions aren’t being heard. For me if the new Sims game isn’t better than all of the other ones then I’m done. Im going to just play and devote my time to InZoi and Paralives. Those developers seem to actually want to listen to the player base. I’ve been a Sims fan ever since Sims 2 came out. I’ve played all of the Nintendo games, the PlayStation games and after I got a PC I started playing Sims 3 then the Sims 2. I saw and experienced how much better the other games were despite them being older. Im sorry for this being a negative post but, if it’s not then are you guys ever going to listen?Sims 5 Rene Open World Concept - Map Segments
Sims 5 Rene should have a new concept: a jigsaw puzzle of "world" components. In this model, each numbered component of the map is your world: e.g. Sims 2 Pleasantview, Sims 3 Sunset Valley, and Sims 4 Willow Creek. Each of these "puzzle piece" segmented worlds would be OPEN and all of the families are simulated, Sims 3 style. Like Sims 3, you can press a button and zoom out to see a full 3D rendering of this world map segment. But only this map segment. Other worlds are the other numbered pieces. They are not fully simulated at the same time if you're not in that world. Why? It's not scalable with additional added worlds in DLC. But all worlds in the global map have basic story progression including aging (if you want that). You can have long distance relationships with Sims across the worlds and invite them over. Having your Sims travel from one world puzzle piece to another happens by going to a train station rabbit hole and waiting through a loading screen - you don't instantly warp to another lot in a different world because that other world is not loaded yet like your current world. Other worlds, including those in DLC, are a new numbered "puzzle pieces" that expand your map. Advantages include: open world for your active household interconnected with ability to have long-distance relationships across worlds ability to travel to another open world via a loading screen immersive: you can't instantly warp from a coastal Brindleton Day to an isolated Strangetown Desert without boarding a train and traveling, just like real life scalable as you can add new worlds but still run well as only one world is simulated at a time added LORE and universe-building by displaying multiple worlds as a unified concept
The future of the Sims
Reading the blog post is says they were making new games or basically no more one linear game.Meaning I think we're going to have bunch of different sims games for all sorts of players. They might reboot mysims or make better A more complex basegame they might make something like the sims 3 in the future.Midsummer Studios’ Life Simulation Game vs. Sims 5 (Rene)?
Jake Solomon is a gaming industry veteran responsible for Marvel's Midnight Suns and the modern XCOM franchise. In March 2023, it was reported that he left 2K's Firaxis studio in February after 23 years. (XCOM’s Jake Solomon is forming a new studio and ‘likely won’t make a turn-based game’) He stated: XCOM director said he would likely make a simulation title, rather than another turn-based strategy game. “My intention, if anybody gives me the funding for it, is to open my own studio locally and make a new kind of game,” he said. “I can’t move too far away from what my experience is. I’m a creative director, but the truth is I’m actually a very in-the-weeds system designer. “I make games as a creative director but I actually end up designing a lot of the systems for the games. Even on Midnight Suns, I had some amazing designers but I ended up designing individual heroes, enemies and their abilities… “System design is important to me, so I want to make a systems-based game. I think it won’t be turn-based strategy… I want to make something that’s more of a life simulator or a simulation-style game. That’s the plan.” In December 2023, Rock Paper Shotgun reported a new interview with Jake Solomon ("Jake Solomon uncut: here's our post-Firaxis GDC interview in full") Some excerpts: You mentioned that you were quite excited by the idea of a life sim game. What life sims have you played over the years? What is it about them that you enjoy? There's a number of things that appeal. Without talking specifically about what it is I want to do, I think that the appeal of life sims is kind of manifold, but I think that, one, it's just life in miniature, right? From model train sets to doll houses to army men, there's something about life in miniature that I think is just naturally appealing. And I think the power of having the life that you want? You think like, 'Oh my gosh, simulating life, like, I already have a life and that feels like enough work!' But being able to have a different life and a life you want, I think it's really, really appealing. Is it those stories that emerge from within the simulation that get you fired up? Yeah, I think that everything feels original, there's a lot of procedural-ness to it, right? And then everything feels original to you because it's procedural. And when it feels original, it feels authentic. And it feels shareable. Even if it's just turning to your partner and saying, 'You're never going to believe what just happened!' Whether it's Dwarf Fortress, or whether it's The Sims or whatever it is, simulation can create some really fun experiences. Now that you're looking more towards the live sim genre, has there been a lot of iteration in it in from your point of view, or is there still room to do something new? Well, Paradox and Ron Humble just did a really neat . I mean, I thought that that take on that straight up life sim was unique. It's interesting to look at. There's a lot of village simulations, right? So I don't know if it's pejorative yet but cosy games, right? There's a sim-ish nature to that even down to Stardew and things like that. And then to see something like Dwarf Fortress go from ASCII to actual graphics and then seeing how popular that is, I think that there's been iteration. But definitely to me, I see an opportunity. As a designer, I see a lot of ways that I'd love to jump in and have my own take on this. SimmerErin recently published a video on the news: What do you think? Have you played any of his games? Personally, I find his background intriguing. I like that he stated that he's been focused on systems-building; this can lend itself to the life simulation genre. In the Sims series, I've always enjoyed in-depth gameplay systems. [UPDATE] Grant Rodiek (formerly SimGuruGrant is joining game) The Sims-like boom is real, and even an ex-XCOM dev is going all in Details about funding and how it will be different from The Sims as well as use of AI agents for NPCs 'Civilization,' 'XCOM' and 'The Sims' Vets Launch Game Developer Midsummer Studios With Funding From Trevor Noah's Day Zero Productions8 months ago, a Promise of Project Rene Transparency. When?
Lyndsay Pearson, VP of Franchise Creative at the Sims Summit, 8 months ago: Over the next couple of years, we'll continue sharing updates with all of you on Project Rene. We'll share in-progress work, explorations, sneak peeks, and behind-the-scenes content as well as start to open up early access to Project Rene software to small groups over time...we're so excited to take you on this journey with us. This statement has not materialized yet. I'm sure it will closer to the release date. However, as it's been 8 months since the announcement with only small group playtests, I wonder about the next update. No expectations for LBY's or Paralives's level of transparency. I wonder if this is going to be an annual update.
