Second report on first impressions:
My biggest gripe is that we didn't get this pack sooner, like right after toddlers. I love everything about the infants. Yes, they're demanding, but manageable if you have a stay-at-home parent. Having seen only 4 infants, I haven't experienced every quirk yet, but they do give the infants more personality. And the quirks for toddlers are good, too.
So far, all the things contributing to social compatibility are in the background for me. At some point I will start giving my Sims the new likes and dislikes -- maybe 2 of each -- to make their socializing more interesting. Just knowing that Sims' interactions can consist of something more than a non-music lover Sim feeling bored when a music lover tries to talk about bands is worthwhile.
Bike riding, the treehouse, and jigsaw puzzles are great additions for children, and I'm sure I'll enjoy the loose tooth scenarios when the bug is fixed.
The changes for adults are probably the biggest surprise. Burn-out when my music lover spends hours writing a song? Oh dear. And the mid-life crisis is a big improvement on the one from TS3. So far, no rivals at work.
Is the pack perfect? No. Trying to throw a baby shower at the recreation center was disappointing. I would recommend a baby shower at home, and sending only 1 or 2 Sims to the rec center. It's a popular place. There are a couple of glitches that can show up with infants -- stretching and getting stuck to a parent's foot. Both either reset quickly or disappear when I exit and start up again. If you want an adult to teach a child how to ride a bike, they need to be in a fairly clear space. And even then there might be some clipping.
It doesn't bother me that an infant's food preferences can change; they do in real life, too.
My biggest concern was that I wouldn't be able to play rotationally. Some people reported that one infant's milestones would disappear when they switched households. I haven't had that problem. Infants in non-played households do act like infants from the patch, though -- able to crawl and sit up from the beginning -- so that might be what they're experiencing. I would say rather that I don't have to play rotationally in order to keep from getting bored. Two parents and an infant can provide plenty of entertainment now.
Hello everyone! Just wanted to share my take on the new Sims pack and growing Sim kids. Gotta say, it's been a rollercoaster, but my experience has been completely opposite to what you mentioned.
Firstly, about those infants - they're way more demanding than I expected. Even with a stay-at-home parent, it's been a struggle to keep up with their needs. Not speaking about personality quirks...
The whole social compatibility thing didn't do much for me. I tried giving my Sims likes and dislikes, but it didn't spice up their interactions like I hoped. Same old conversations(( So I don't know what to do anymore, but after checking this
website about ethics essays, I understood a few social principles and needs. So I know better now how a community cell, that is the family, should be to grow together a descendant. On the source, I read a few analysis of books that are about social and community ethics, that was interesting.
Now, the changes for adults? Meh. No burn-out or mid-life crises for my Sims. And no rivalries at work either, which I was kinda looking forward to. It's been a bit dull in their adult lives, to be honest.
Here's the thing, though. I haven't had the same rotational gameplay issues as others. The milestones have been consistent across households for me. Non-played infants act just like regular ones. Ok, fortunately and at least, no major problems there.
