What's next for The Sims?

[chadgar24]

I really enjoy this gameplay.  I hope they come out with expansion packs for TSM.  But I also hope they design a whole new game set in a different era.
What era would you like to see? 
I think a Wild West could be pretty cool.   You got the Sherif, Cowboys, Prospector, Blacksmith (again), Outlaws...
Any other ideas?

[StripyWitch]

I like the game, but I don't think I could happily fork out for EPs for both TS3 and TSM. D:
It will happen though. I just hope there'll be more patches adding stuff. ^o^

[TheChronicR]

Expansions will be, for sure. I would like to see a futuristic view on the Sims sometime in the future.

[Joria]

I just want more medieval.  Where is my garde robe?  Where is the huge castle kitchen and scullery?  The outbuildings?  Why can't I have serfs who actually do stuff?  I want to have more for the already existing buildings.  How about hermits?  Crusades?  I'm willing to fork out for more medieval.

[Figwit]

I am with Joria.  I want more of the same but more of it.  I am finding the Medieval theme fascinating.  I would like more quests and countries and maybe a way for the heir to grow up and take control of the next kingdom.  I would also like the peasants to be able to grow and sell vegetables.

[Katluvr]

I'm not as interested in different eras as actually creating a more robust medieval experience.  There is so much opportunity to introduce new quests and ambitions, new territories, new items and clothing, new building and heroes - maybe even some more Sims-like aspects such as building your own castles, although that's probably not on the agenda.  I would definitely pay for EPs for TSM.  Hopefully EA will stagger game releases so that we don't have to decide whether to get TS3 or TSM.

[WebbyMom]

Well, in the game files, there is a folder for "Installed Worlds", so I'm betting on getting more worlds to work with eventually, instead of using the same one over and over again. That would be nice.

With those other worlds, even if we have the same kinds of heroes, I hope we get different looking buildings to place. But adding a few new heroes here and there might be nice, too.

Also, new quests and Ambitions would add more fun.

[Slingsby]

I doubt we'll ever get the opportunity to build in the TS3 sense.  The whole TSM game construct is based on the 'doll's house' with the open frontage and those hidden back stairs that allow pathing within the building.  If we start building our own stuff, the entire pathing part of of the game would have to be re-written, and EA isn't going to do that!

The efficiency of TSM, as shown by the speed of saving and [to a certain extant] loading is that the vast amount of game activity is devolved to sub-routines within the overall game. 
"Go to Village" is a simple pathing instruction taking the Hero from Point A to Point B.
"Discuss with Royal Advisor" again just routes the Hero from A to wherever B [and the yellow icon] is located.
Responsibilities and Quest Tasks are again going to be sitting in a sub-routine somewhere, with a simple "Yes/No" in the logic diagram for completion.

Are you still with me? 

[StripyWitch]

 
"Go to Village" is a simple pathing instruction taking the Hero from Point A to Point B.
"Discuss with Royal Advisor" again just routes the Hero from A to wherever B [and the yellow icon] is located.
Responsibilities and Quest Tasks are again going to be sitting in a sub-routine somewhere, with a simple "Yes/No" in the logic diagram for completion.

I don't get how these are different. The yellow icons are in TS3 too, and so are responsibilities in the form of wishes.

[WebbyMom]

I getcha, Slingsby. Simpler programming needs means simpler execution, faster loading and saving times, etc.

If you're sim is in the Town square and you click to go home, they really only have one path to follow. Other than the assumably built-in "miss other sims in my way", there ain't a lot of programming needed to get him there.

In TS3, that sim is in a house that has been built by who-knows-who and the game has to keep all possible routing paths up front and center so that when we click a "simple" spot in an upstairs bedroom, not only does that sim have to miss other sims, but the game has to decide which route to take: through living room, or the dining room? Front stairway or back stairway? How many objects are in the way that the sim needs to miss???

So yeah. I think TS3 must be much simpler that way. The game really only has to miss objects in certain spots (buildings we decorate) and other than that, stairs and backhall passages are a given. Makes sense.

[Ondaderthad]

As WebbyMom mentioned there is an Installed Worlds folder so they might have an Expansion featuring new kingdoms with a new set of neighbors to annex and a new Map.

Other possibilities would be based around the areas currently invisible. I think in TS3 they are called "rabbit hole" ?

The Cave/Cemetery could lead to a Dungeon & Monsters set of Adventures.

The Village could be also expanded with a full set of shops and buildings.

The Docks could lead to a set of Sea Adventures and Islands explorations.

The current small buildings like the Lighthouse, Water Mill, etc.. could be further developed and open for furnishing and new interactions or quests.
 
And of course new sets of quests and ambitions. It all depends on the success of the Franchise. After all EA is a company in the business of making money and they will produce new stuff as long as it is profitable for them.

[Pam]

This is a great thread.  I've read that the current game is the first of a series, but it didn't specify whether it would be expansions of Medieval or if it would be a totally different time period.  After playing the game, though, I'm leaning toward Medieval expansions.  Especially with what I've read here...  so thanks for all the information! 

[WebbyMom]

Ondaderthad, those are really exciting ideas for expansions you have there! I love them! Let's hope some of them, at the very least, come true.

And Pam, I agree. I don't think they would have named the base game "Medieval" if they didn't intend to go forward with that specific theme. I think adding any other time period would be too taxing on resources - they need to build on what they have, programming-wise. Not to mention it might be a tad confusing to the players.

When you think of it, there has been HUGE interest in the Simming community for medieval-type stuff. [Removed name of modding site.  -Pam] project for Sims 2 comes to mind, and there have been so many other sites that have shown interest. I think EA took careful note of that and decided to give it to us - with an RPG twist. I'm SO not complaining. LOL

They've brought in the fantasy element already with the Effenmont/elven world and the wizards and such. They may expand on that kind of thing in future EP's, rather like each EP of the regular Sims franchise has some sort of "other-wordly" being, like robots or vampires, etc.  But I'm thinking the kinds of beings for Medieval would more along the mythical lines, like fauns and centaurs and dragons and such.  Maybe even a crab king.  Or a llama queen?  

[Pam]

@WebbyMom:

I removed the name of the modding site because our Forum Rules don't allow them to be mentioned specifically by name.  I also removed most of your smilies, also from the Forum Rules.  Please take a moment to read through them.  A link can be found in my profile below.