Future Sim Improvement Ideas

[samoht04]

I think we should bring back the closed neighborhood, and drop story progression. I think it seemed like a good idea at the time, but it's too glitched and bugged, even for gaming computers, and the game is too casual, to have to have such intense graphics, and hefty coding and system requirements. I love Sims 3, but there's so many bugs in the game, and a casual game should never require much to begin with.

If they went back I would stop playing. The best thing about Sims 3 is the open neighbourhoods. The issue I think is not with the Game but with EA not putting enough effort onto fixing these glitches. If you ask me though to go back to the closed neighbourhoods is basically playing The Sims 2 but with better graphics. 

[jeanamariex3]

Well, it's not that I don't like the open neighborhood, I like it a lot, I just don't feel like they put as much effort into it, as there should have been. If they put effort, by testing it, making sure there aren't any bugs, before releasing, then I'd be a bit happier with it.

[fortheloveofcake]

I personally love the open neighbourhood. That was my single biggest frustration with sims 2, you had to sit through a loading screen to go anywhere, non-rabbit hole careers weren't possible, etc.
I feel that while the bugs are annoying, EA is doing a good job releasing regular patches to fix them. Testing a massive complex game like the sims to the point that it is bug free prior to release is unrealistic. There are millions of things that can happen in the Sims 3, with all the traits, customization options, different available social interactions, interactions with objects, careers, addition of pets, the list is literally endless. EA would have to pay even more people than they already are to sit there and play the game, trying to uncover the glitches. By releasing the games and expansions to millions of players, they keep their consumers happy because they get their beloved game quicker, and they expose the game to thousands and thousands of people who all play in different ways, allowing the bugs that do exist to be uncovered in a much faster and more efficient manner, then they fix them as they arise.

[jeanamariex3]

Don't get me wrong, I love Sims 3! I wouldn't be here and learn how to improve my gameplay, if I didn't! I just like to travel around, instead of focusing on one household, and of course that causes too much bloat. I just wish there was a less complex way of doing the open neighborhood, so we can still have the ability of actually interacting going out to eat and what not.

And I never moved on from TS2 by the way!

[xFezIsAFreakx]

The open neighborhood is what attracted me to TS3 in the first place! Yes it's glitchy.. Like a fantastic number of other things in the game. They aren't overly bad, and if anyone's really that bothered by it then install ErrorTrap and Overwatch (which I'm pretty sure you have, Jeana? I remember you saying you use Twallan..) and then most, if not, all glitches will be gone.

Also, yea it is a casual game but that doesn't mean it should remain in the past with zero story progression and a closed neighborhood! Technology is moving fast, and "casual" games are beginning to get more requirements and coding. It will only get faster, and Sims 4 will definitely be even more graphics intense and maybe even more buggy (hopefully not) but one thing they won't be silly enough to do is close off the neighborhood. Like Tom said, I'd totally stop playing if they did that.

Fair enough if you never moved on from TS2 but that's not to say that TS3 and future games should rewind and go back to their roots. They should keep on developing, and remove the stuff that maybe wasn't popular or didn't work right.. (Memories..) But the open neighborhood works alright and it certainly is extremely popular.

It was an improvement - Why remove an improvement?

[Kaye]

The reason I got bored with The Sims 2 is because of the closed neighborhood. Plus, there's an option to turn story progression off.

I agree there are bugs and glitches, but at the same time, what game doesn't have those? Nothing's perfect. And my game seems to get a new patch about once a month or so to fix a glitch, so can't say they aren't trying.

[fansidoodle]

I wish sims could swim in the ponds and at the beach. Maybe even throw in a tire swing and surfing (maybe this could be a skill)

[TheTripWasInfraGreen]

An overhaul of the traits system currently in place. Either:

1. Bring back the point-system in TS1 and TS2. Their personality has to be balanced, and being really good at one thing comes at the expense of being really bad in another.

2. Keep the current system, but certain traits are flagged as "good" or "bad." After a few good traits, you need to pick a flaw.

Either of these would make for more interesting characters. Yeah, it would probably have to come into fruition for TS4, but the ability to create perfect sims needs to be crushed mightily once TS3 runs its course.

[Pam]

2. Keep the current system, but certain traits are flagged as "good" or "bad." After a few good traits, you need to pick a flaw.

They did this in Sims Medieval.  Every Sim had a Fatal Flaw.

[thesimslover828]

An overhaul of the traits system currently in place. Either:

1. Bring back the point-system in TS1 and TS2. Their personality has to be balanced, and being really good at one thing comes at the expense of being really bad in another.

2. Keep the current system, but certain traits are flagged as "good" or "bad." After a few good traits, you need to pick a flaw.

Either of these would make for more interesting characters. Yeah, it would probably have to come into fruition for TS4, but the ability to create perfect sims needs to be crushed mightily once TS3 runs its course.

The point system in TS1 and TS2 where not as good as traits, I like them better. Although I would love the ''flaw traits'' in The Sims 3. There are good and bad traits, I don't think after inventing a trait system EA would go back to the point system. I like being able to make ''perfect'' Sims.
Edit: Also what is bad or good to you may not be bad or good to someone else. I like the Evil trait but some people don't. So saying it's ''bad'' isn't a good idea because some people may like it.

[xFezIsAFreakx]

I think Trip doesn't necessarily mean it's "bad" to play, but rather just creates a "bad" personality. Evil is certainly a bad personality trait, though it can be fun to play.

[samoht04]

Sometimes I just want to play to get to the top of a career for the first time so I would find that system irritating. I like that it's the players choice, besides in the town the traits tend to be fairly well mixed anyway.

[xFezIsAFreakx]

I agree, I think the flaw thing might get a bit annoying.. When writing stories, I try to give every character at least one particular flaw anyway because it just keeps things interesting and a bit more realistic. But it isn't actually one of their traits (usually) - Sometimes I just want to make a good sim with other nice traits and then the flaw kind of writes itself, in that they might be too forgiving or something.

[Kaye]

Personally, I like the traits much more than the points system. That was one of the major things that spiced Sims up for me.

[Sunnysabjes]

I wish sims could swim in the ponds and at the beach. Maybe even throw in a tire swing and surfing (maybe this could be a skill)

I would love for sims to be able to swim in the ocean and surf. I also wouldn't mind some more beach related activities like a sand castle building contest for kids or maybe even diving. I hope something like that will be included in the game. Hopefully if they bring out a season EP they'll put it in there.

Also I think they should keep working on bugs and glitches, that could really use some improvement. Also because every new patch brings new bugs and glitches as well.