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

[bubbles]

I'm also really looking forward to The Sims 4. This is basically going to be a repeat of what everyone else has said, with a bit of my own opinion.

Create-A-Sim looks amazing, by far the best part of the game so far in my opinion. I can see why they are showing it off more than anything else. Build and Buy mode looks good as well, but until I actually use it myself I won't know if I really like it. The emotions system looks cool but I am a bit put off by the dying of laughter and other extreme emotions. I can't decide whether I'm just a bit scared by that or if I am sort of looking forward to testing these emotions.

I am pretty grumpy at the removal of toddlers but I can see why they have been a problem. They don't even share many interactions with adults so they need a complete set just for them. The gurus seem to be hinting that toddlers will be coming soon, like in a patch or expansion, so I am looking forward to that. I am also slightly disappointed by the removal of Creta-A-Style, but not nearly as much as I am with toddlers. If anything, it will save me loads of time that I currently use recolouring things and giving them patterns. Of all the omissions, I am least disappointed by the pools. I liked using them but they weren't a big part of my day-to-day gameplay and I only really used them when I wasn't sure what to do with my sims. I do hope pools come at somepoint, but it's not the end of the world to me if they don't.

I will be buying The Sims 4, possibly preordering. However, I will still be playing The Sims 3 as well for a while until toddlers return and I've wrapped up my immortal dynasty. Sorry for he essay but I do like to talk! 

[hazelnut]

I'm completely on the fence about Sims 4 at the moment.

Like almost everyone else, I like the look of build mode.  Since quite a few items from recent store sets have appeared in the Sims 4 trailers (violins and cupcakes spring to mind), I wonder whether recolourable chimneys will be included in the base game?

I've heard that clothes and colours do not affect moods, probably because it would be incredibly difficult. I think it was more of a cost issue that saw the omission of CASt.

I think CASt may also have been responsible for some of the slowness and bugginess of Sims 3.  Despite that, it's one of my favourite features of the game and I'll be sad to lose it.

I don't like the cartoonish look of the Sims either, although one of my real-life friends who has been playing since the original Sims game says that that's been her reaction to every new version ad she's always ended up buying and liking them after a while .  Certainly the appearance of things like hair and water has improved in Sims 3 over the time I've been playing it.

I suspect I won't be buying 4 on release - I'll wait and see what it looks like in actual gameplay rather than trailers - and there are still things I've not done with 3 (unplayed challenges and LTWs, thoroughly exploring Sunlit Tides, getting the most out of the very cheap store stuff I've picked up recently...)

[Dellena]

The new visual style took some getting used to for me but now I really like it.  Every render they've provided I've been looking at all the clothes carefully and I like what I see so far and there appears to be a huge variety.  Also, for maybe the first time with the franchise, I DON'T hate the EA hair!  Which is usually one of the first things I start adding as CC.  I think this new style allows for a better look without having to go to extremes with poly counts to get the more realistic looking hair for Sims 3 with the CC artists.  There also seems to be a big variety of hair styles as well. 

CASt was great, I admit.  However, as another poster said, I could spend ages looking for just the right pattern and then another age getting the colours just so.  I think the new system will speed up the Create-A-Sim process for me by quite a lot.

I was surprised at the exclusion of toddlers so far.  But then babies have changed and we haven't seen all we can do with them yet.  No more bundle in a blanket.  I've wondered if they rolled a bit of the toddler into the baby stage.  Will find out when I play it.

What I'm looking forward to the most is the public areas and how/what I can do with them.  I love the idea of making interactions with sims in my neighbourhood more natural.

As a builder, I'm SUPER excited about all I'm seeing so far and can't wait to have a close look at what EA has built and then doing some of my own.  I'll also, likely, play CC free for a while although likely not mod free but I'll be limiting that as well and go modless at the start.

I really like the idea that you can not only travel freely in other neighbourhoods, but you can travel freely to other worlds (when released).  That's very intriguing.

All in all, I can't wait until I get my copy on, or just after, September 5th (UK Release date).

[Mahmeya]

Is there any info about aging setting yet? Because it was awful in base sims 3, 190 days too short and 960 too long for me (playing on between 300 and 500 since the aging sliders were implemented).

[Turoskel]

I'm still sat firmly on the fence about this game, at present the things removed are outweighing the new additions for me, I feel frustrated by the overall marketing of this game, I understand social media is a big thing now but I'm not a twitter user and most other articles around the internet are all the same thing CAS and Build mode.

So I have been keeping up with news via SimsVIP, Mod the Sims and the official forums, it's all rather depressing to be honest but I think some of that is the tone especially at the official forum, I'm very grateful for a safe haven to post my thoughts so thank you Carl.

I was shocked by the removal of toddlers, pools I can sort of understand as I guess it's feasible they take some working out with the new foundation tool, I don't doubt we will get those some day but I'm a little wary of toddlers, I'd like them and if they came in a fully fleshed EP (I highly doubt they could patch them in without it being massive) with lots of objects and interactions that would be great but I just hope that Sims 4 expansions are less standalone and more integrated with each other than the Sims 3 ones were. It would be a shame to get them back only for them to be neglected in all future expansions just because somebody might not have the toddler one.

I remember when I played Sims 2 I would use the cheat to turn aging off (there was no option) and keep my babies and toddlers around for ages, they had really fun interactions and were so adorable, I loved bathing them, especially the babies in the kitchen sink. I would hope if we just have babies some of those interactions are back, the inclusion of breast feeding was a surprise but then they had it in medieval so it's been done before.

I have very mixed feelings about the lack of story progression, it drove me mad at times in Sims 3 but I liked the idea of it and Twallan showed how it could work wonderfully, I even got used to the randomness of EA's version thanks to playing dynasty games. But now it seems the other sims are little more than space fillers who will grow old and die then be replaced, I find that sad 

Source: Guru tweets

I'm still looking forward to the game releasing and finally getting to find out what it's about, but I think that will be through reading other players opinions and Carl's new guide, then I guess I shall fall off that fence one way or the other.

Is there any info about aging setting yet? Because it was awful in base sims 3, 190 days too short and 960 too long for me (playing on between 300 and 500 since the aging sliders were implemented).

So far I don't think they have mentioned specific age ranges, all I know is it can be turned on/off as mentioned in one of the tweets I linked above.

[James903]

I quite like the look of Sims 4. The new 'emotions' are very cool. A few things I'd like to see are more choices for clothing and hair in the base game (especially for kids), better furniture and also larger towns. Not that there was anything wrong with The Sims 3 towns but it would be very fun to have big open worlds like GTA or Far Cry.

[Gogowars329]

Overall, I am very excited for Sims 4 but have over the last few weeks been very disappointed with EA's recent announcements. I wasn't a big fan of toddlers (found them annoying to play) but they are an important part of life and I feel that after introducing a stage between baby and child, they shouldn't be taking it away from us. And pools, so disappointed I can't take away the ladder anymore!

Build mode is looking really good and I love all the new introduced features. Being able to move windows up and down is a dream, adding fountains mid way during a build is fantastic and moving rooms is wonderful! I do feel that when creating houses, it will be harder to make something truly different and creative to other creations after being introduced and accustomed to Create-a-Style but what's done is done.

I DON'T hate the EA hair! 

I feel the exact same way, I don't think there is a single hairstyle I have looked at and hated and I love how you can have any hairstyle with any hat (but they could've cut that since it was mentioned ages ago and I haven't heard much since) and CAS in general excites me. I love how intuitive it all looks and despite no CASt, I feel like I will still be able to make truly unique and creative sims.

I have very mixed feelings about the lack of story progression.

When it worked, I feel like story progression made each family have a place in the world and not just there to fill space and then die and be replaced. I'm certainly sad it's gone.

EDIT:One thing I'm on the fence about is the lack of rabbit holes. Whilst many disliked rabbit holes, I liked them and think they added to the total feel of each world. Now that sims route off lot to go to school or work (much like in Sims 2) rabbit holes are gone.

[notjustabook]

I think the lack of StoryProgression really does it for me - I'm going to wait quite a while to buy TS4. Basegame EA Progression isn't particularly good, but at least it was there, and it provided a base for modders to improve it. It's not like I won't play the game and I won't say that it's bad because it lacks StoryProgression. After all, I haven't played yet, and it might turn out very enjoyable. But StoryProgression is one of my favourite things. I'll wait until the game has a couple of expansions and some good mods at least. And until it's cheaper. I am a poor student, after all.

EDIT: I'll just add in some positives because I seem really sour: I DO love the new look of the Sims. The cartoony look serves the feel of the game better than the more realistic one of 3. The traveling between worlds is amazing, too. That'll at least add some depth. There I do hate being so negative (I just had to vent some of my disappointment).

[Jessywoo]

I haven't really been keeping up to date with Sims 4 announcements but I have seen some of the trailers and things. I like the look of CAS and Build Mode (I am so bad at building, anything to make it easier is a bonus). Until reading through this thread I hadn't realised that they'd cut toddlers and Story Progression. They're two of my favourite things about Sims 3 so I think that does it for me, at least initially until there are some expansions or updates. I am hoping that the baby stage is integrated with some toddler stuff to make up for it. Pools I'm not too bothered about really, but it seems kind of random to take it out.

I think that, overall, I'm very much on the fence, probably erring towards not buying it initially because of the lack of toddlers and Story Progression. Maybe I'll change my mind later 

[Pam]

You guys are the most amazing community!  When we were talking about putting up a real discussion thread for everyone to express their opinions, there was no question that you would all be courteous and polite, even when expressing a disappointment.  We really do appreciate all of you here. 

For me, there was no question that I would purchase Sims 4, even before it was announced last year.  Carl and I have been plotting to partner again almost since we first started with Sims 3.  Carl wrote the entire base game Guide by himself, then Metro and I came along and helped with LTW articles and then with the expansions.  This time, all three of us will be working hard on the base game Guide and it's going to be so exciting to apply everything we've learned from Sims 3 to make a great Sims 4 Guide and Forum.

Now that the time is almost here, I'm getting more and more excited.  It really doesn't bother me much that some things won't make it to Sims 4 because it's a whole new game with a whole new feel to it.  I never played Sims 1 or 2, but I remember how reluctant people were to come over to Sims 3 because it was so different.  It turned out that difference was a wonderful thing and I'm confident we'll have a similar experience with Sims 4.

I love how each version of Sims look so different from each other.  The look of Sims 3 was quite a bit different from Sims 2, and now Sims 4 is different again.  I don't think they look at all like Sims 2.  It will be fun to see if Sims 3 will show up on television.  I'm really just looking forward to the experience of transitioning to this new generation of Sims!

[KhaineGB]

I just find it odd that I won't be buying a Sims game on release.

Sims 1 I got WAY after it was released. A local shop was doing the base game + all expansions for about £50... and I'd just been paid... would have been rude not to buy it really.

Sims 2 was pre-ordered. I got the bonus disc with CAS on it so I could make my Sims ready for the game. Sims 3 wasn't pre-ordered as I wasn't sure I could afford it, but purchased on release day.

Sims 4? I think I'll give it 6 months and let them patch it first.

[Twinmum]

ha KhaineGB, Sims 4 will be the only Sims base game that I will have on release. I came to Sims 1 after it had been out for a little while. Sims 2 I'm pretty sure I got it in the first week, but not the relese day. Sims 3 I wasn't going to buy because I told myself EA was just getting greedy, but I think that was just to cover the fact that my computer couldn't handle it lol. As soon as I got a new computer, I got Sims 3. So I've never had a base game from day 1, EP's and Stuff Packs yes, but not the base. I'm really excited to have this one pre-ordered (and currently about 1/2 paid for) and to be getting it on release day.  Now if EB would do what they do for some new release titles and open at midnight for pre-orders, I'd be one happy gamer.

[ladybug53]

I have pre-ordered Sims 4 . My very first experience with the Sims was Sims 3 . I'm quite looking forward to receiving my copy . I've read most things for the Sims 4 and I know some things will be different but I'm sure it will all be as good as Sims 3 was or even much better . I'm also looking forward to our new Sims 4 community and guides . Thank you Carl , Pam and all the moderators making this forum such a great experience .

[notjustabook]

Sims 3 I wasn't going to buy because I told myself EA was just getting greedy, but I think that was just to cover the fact that my computer couldn't handle it lol.

Ha! I told myself that I didn't like the Sims 3... and that was also to cover for the fact that my PC at the time couldn't handle it. As soon as I got my new PC I rushed out to buy TS3

[Turoskel]

Now that the time is almost here, I'm getting more and more excited.  It really doesn't bother me much that some things won't make it to Sims 4 because it's a whole new game with a whole new feel to it.  I never played Sims 1 or 2, but I remember how reluctant people were to come over to Sims 3 because it was so different.  It turned out that difference was a wonderful thing and I'm confident we'll have a similar experience with Sims 4.

I never had Sims 1 but I got sims 2 shortly after release because I'd heard good things from people who had got it, I think I finally went to bed at about 3 am the day after I started playing, it was just so addictive 

I never felt that with Sims 3 at first, I got that one on release, I think I was too busy noticing what was gone to notice what was there and I fear the same will happen with Sims 4 for me. I eventually reinstalled Sims 3 late 2010 and haven't stopped playing since, I think I just needed to get past that stage of missing things and once my memories of Sims 2 got a bit more vague it became easier.

I do understand what you are saying Pam, it is a different game so we should look at it that way but it's hard not to compare it to the previous version, I love Sims 3 and there is still tons of stuff I haven't even tried yet so I'm in no rush, and eventually I might love Sims 4 as well but it might take a while.

I do look forward to the new guide though, I think that more than anything will sway my decision to get Sims 4.

EDIT: I just wanted to add how pleased I am to finally be able to get some of my thoughts off my chest, I'm sure my boyfriend has been sick of my going on about all the Sims 4 news recently and I'll admit it was making me a bit despondent but everybody here is so nice and I already feel better for just having said a couple of things that were bothering me, so thank you Carl and Pam for letting us finally talk about it.