The Sims 4 Discussion - Share your Opinion on TS4 and Gameplay Features

[symphonicanima]

Oh gosh, as the release of Sims 4 comes closer, the more mixed I feel about buying it! I've never cared particularly about toddlers or pools, but some things about the Sims 4 game still leave me feeling apprehensive towards the future. On the other hand, with all the new information from Creators' Camp and official information, I really want the game more and more! Now I definitely don't know what to do, although I'm sure my wallet will be paying for it either way!

[Caterina]

I will be pre-ordering eventually.  I have seen enough new gameplay that I am willing to buy the game to try it out.  It doesn't need to have everything for me to be interested in playing what it does have.  It will probably be some time before I invest in expansions or store items.  I still haven't played with ALL of the content I own for Sims 3.

[_Annika_]

I haven't been keeping up with too much of the Sims 4 stuff, as the lost of CASt was just inexcusable in my opinion, and takes away one of my favourite features of the game. But for some reason I keep finding myself drawn back. I think I just don't want to miss out when this awesome community we have here moves forward into a new era.

The most recent update to the official information thread has me once again comparing to Sims 2 - especially since I have been reliving my Sims 2 experience since the Ultimate collection was made available. Unlockable park-like lots sounds to me exactly like the hobby lots that were available in Sims 2. For those of you have never played, Sims 2 Freetime introduced the concept of hobbies. By doing activities related to a hobby, sims could build enthusiasm (or lose it if they didn't do their hobby) and at a certain level, unlock a related lot. While it may seem like a step backwards, if we are honest with ourselves, all throughout the Sims 3, the community was asking for more Sims 2 content to be included in the Sims 3, so it seems only natural that they would take this into consideration when creating Sims 4.

I do have a question though - when they say 'the loss of open world design' does that mean we are limited to our lot again, with loading screens in between? No more roaming about the world in between to find seeds and other collectibles?

[MarianT]

There will be public spaces around your lot, where you can find seeds and other collectibles (I've read this in a couple of places, but can't give you a link.) You won't need a loading screen to go there, but if you go to another lot, you do need a loading screen. Presumably once you go to that lot, you can explore the public space around it, too.

[Dellena]

My impressions from the folks at the Creator's Camp was that the load screens were faster than what we had in Sims 2.  I've also been re-exploring Sims 2 with the release of the ultimate collection (I have all the discs around here somewhere - was simpler to download it from Origin ).  I think they took a lot of inspiration from Sims 2. 

[Turoskel]

I just saw this linked over at Mod The Sims, it explains neighbourhoods quite well http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=124239401&postcount=1001

I agree locked lots are not exactly new but when you have so little space in each neighbourhood it seems a bit mean to hide some of it away, same with all the locked out build buy content, maybe I don't want to have to do the same tasks every game just to get certain items, but then again once modders get hold of the full game somebody might work around that, they managed to unlock the simport rewards after all.

I totally understand the 'finding yourself drawn back' part Annika, I guess I'm still waiting for the thing that might convince me this game is worth it, all the little things I think seem good are still failing to outweigh the ones I don't like, once the game is out though and we can get more gameplay info from other simmers and less weird stories it might start to sound better to me, at the moment I just feel rather let down by it all 

But I remember not liking Sims 3 when I first played it as well, too different to Sims 2 for me at the time, but I came back to it a few years later and have played ever since, maybe the same will happen with Sims 4 down the line especially if some of the major omissions have been added in such as Toddlers.

[RunAmokSims]

I know there are a lot of legacy players here. Have you read the story done at creator's camp?  Maybe it will give you more game play information.

http://www.simslegacychallenge.com/sims-4-creators-camp-creating-a-legacy/

[blc1977]

I am considering purchasing the Sims 4 however, I still have so much to do in The Sims 3, that I may wait awhile before getting it. Plus it's going to be uber expensive and although I am a Sims fanatic, I can't justify paying $60-70 for the base game just yet. Maybe down the road, and perhaps when/if they add expansions to it. But today, there were a few things that I wanted to share.

What I am excited about:

- I like the new CAS. I have probably created at least 5 Sims already and I think the way it was designed so that you could modify just about every part of the Sim's body was amazing! I could actually make a Sim that looked like me! 
- The new building feature: I love how you can build and decorate a home, and then if you don't like the position of a room, you can move the entire room, décor & all, to another area! That takes a lot of time out of building and I think it's great!
- The new town. I am always up for a new town to explore

What I am disappointed about:

- Just one - toddlers. I am surprised they didn't have that in the base game, which I was looking forward to. But that can be worked around, I suppose.

That's it from me! 

[sickwithsin]

I'm most excited about the new Build mode. There have been so many times in TS3 when I've bulldozed half-finished houses because they were off center - it was easier to throw them away than tear down and rebuild. Having the ability to pick up entire rooms is going to be amazing.

Am I the only Simmer who doesn't feel ready for The Sims 4? There's still so much in The Sims 3 that I want to experience, not to mention all of the Sims - created and premade - that I've grown attached to. Last month I was trying to decide if I should pre-order TS4, this month I'm now thinking of waiting until Christmas (or after) to buy it.

[KimK972]

I'm with you, sickwithsin - There's still so much I still want to do with TS3 that I haven't gotten around to yet. I know I'm going to get TS4, but it won't be for a while. I'll live vicariously through everyone else's posts and YouTube videos!

[Bri]

I already posted this, but I'm copying it here for those who may be interested:

For those who didn't have the opportunity earlier, the Sims 4 Create-A-Sim Demo is now available for all.

You will have to log into Origin to claim it.

Here is the Origin page for the US with the current free demo (as well as a few others)
The Sims 4 Create-A-Sim Demo

[Tigerskin]

Bear with me, this will be a long post...

I was excited as soon as Sims 4 was announced, there was never any question of me getting it. However I started to get a bit despondent the more I found out about it like no CASt, no toddlers, loading screens/no open world. But my attitude has changed as I've thought of the reasons why they weren't included.

*CASt: Yes I will definitely miss this, I loved matching clothes/furnishings. It annoys me when trying to match two red items and they have a slightly different shade. Call it my perfectionist trait 
But, if it cuts down lag and leads to lower specs, then I completely understand.
*Toddlers - personally I'm not too bothered about, but I do think it's going to be a bit weird without the life stage between the nooboos and the children.
*Pools, I barely used them anyway so I don't really mind.
*Loading screens/no open world: Well I'm not estatic about it, but I'm open to the changes as part of the new Sims. The new neighbourhoods seems a little small but until I play the game I'm trying to reserve judgement.

What made me change my mind was partly what Pam said, we need to think of it as a new game. Plus also the more videos and information coming out has got me excited again.

The new CAS, what can I say? I love it! It seems much more exciting and easier to make truely unique sims. I tended to keep the same basic sim in Sims 3, I think because I'm picky, so I stuck with what I liked. I have already made lots of different sims already in the demo and can't wait to play them. The new hair styles are so much better and finally a colour of blonde that looks blonde and not a garish yellow. Plus the cartoony look of the sims is much better in my opinion.

The play with DNA feature is great and I know I'll experiment more with it.

I'm looking forward to seeing how the emotions of the sims make a difference to the game. I think it will be harder, but in a good way. I WILL definitely stop just skilling my sims all the time and explore the new range of emotions and any interactions with new sims. The new options in the skilling options like read to kid for three hours etc will make it easier not to just focus on skilling I think. Plus multi-skilling, yey.

I like that in the new career paths you get more reward objects, it will make it easier to reflect your sims job & personality.

Oh and build mode seems so much more intuitive (once practiced maybe!), as a 'box builder' generally, I think the easier ways to change the rooms etc will make me actually experiment more.

Lastly, over all I agree with others who have said it seems to be a better foundation for the base game and I cannot wait to play it *rubs hands together with glee*

Hope the post isn't too long but the sims is something I always have loads to say on 

[Dellena]

I WILL definitely stop just skilling my sims all the time and explore the new range of emotions and any interactions with new sims.

You hit a nail right on the head there.  I've been guilty of this as well.  But when I did go out into the neighbourhood to community lots, there was hardly anyone around unless it was a Season holiday.  So there was less motivation, for me, to take my sim out and interact with a lot of other sims.  I'm looking forward to the possibility of a much more active and vibrant neighbourhood which will make my sims WANT to get out of the house and meet and make friends with the neighbours.  This is what's going to be new to me.  I have a hard time imagining a lot with 20 sims on it and all the interactions.  Heck, I was happy just to get 4-5 sims to visit my bakery! LOL  It's a whole new world, I think.

[Tigerskin]

Yeah I definitely got into a rut with Sims 3, I think it will be harder to do with the emotions involved. I assume hours of skilling will make them 'bored' so will encourage me to get them to do something else.

That is my new sims resolution 

[bubbles]

I've been having fun with the CAS demo this evening. So far I've created 3 sims - a single sim which is pretty much my simself, with the exception of a couple of details, the age and the name (Obviously) and two friends (One male, one female) who are just friends for now but there is a chance that they might fall for each other. Tomorrow I'm going to try and make some Harry Potter characters.

I love how you just click on the sim to make any changes that you want. It took a few minutes to get used to simply because my laptop wasn't sure about the whole push and pull thing at first. I also love how you can edit the body so much, rather than just weight, muscle size and muscle tone. If I did anything well on my simself, it was the body shape. It's so close to what I actually look like, it's creepy.

As for the actual game, everyone at SimsCamp seemed very positive about the game. I love watching their videos and viewing their screenshots. I'm really looking forward to the emotions now, although I was a bit apprehensive at the beginning. It also sounds like the children have a much better selection of outfits and hair. They look so cute in screenshots, and they actually look like kids rather than... Whatever they looked like in The Sims 3.

Overall, I could definitely live with the base game CAS content. I wouldn't dream of doing it with The Sims 3, especially since I'm such a family player! I really can't wait for the game to be released now. Not long to go!