I'd rather be simming..

I read your recent interview with VentureBeat where you discussed the future of The Sims.  As a long-time player of the series, I have concerns.

Firstly, there is no reason to ignore the elephant in the room.  The Sims 4 was originally built to be multi-player, but with the flop of SimCity 2013 (a multi-player simulation game) TS4 got a quick makeover.  While I could go on about the flaws of TS4 from its core to the stacks of micro-transaction packs built on a broken foundation, I will put aside those particular criticisms for a larger discussion.

The Sims is a life simulation game.  While you state that “Play with Life” is The Sims’s brand, I remember when it was about creating.  Create worlds. Create families.  Create chaos.  Create stories.  Create life. 

The Sims 4 has taken the franchise down a much different path.  While we can still create our sims, we cannot create the worlds they live in or even place lots.  We must purchase new packs for more locations.  We find linear action/adventure storylines implemented into packs like Strangerville or Star Wars: Journey to Batuu.  While I am a fan of sims lore, I find these particular packs irksome as they shift The Sims from life simulation to RPG.

It became a theme with almost every TS4 pack, especially those like Island Living and Eco Lifestyle–though less RPG–but more goal oriented to “saving the world” or in Snowy Escape “climb the mountain.”  A pattern like this is something I do not want repeated in the next generation of The Sims.

While I have seen many SimGurus argue that The Sims have a variety of players (which is true) and they want to appease players who want point-and-click adventures, it takes away resources and opportunities to expand the sandbox, which is the foundation of every life simulation game.

There are endless action/adventure RPG games, many made by EA.  There are few life simulation games and only one highly successful, The Sims.

While I know your interview addressed the future of The Sims and not TS4, I wanted to begin the conversation with those points as I now move to the future of the franchise.

The Sims has always been rated T for Teen, but lately a great many players have noticed the focus drifting ever closer to E for Everyone, which means including children as a base customer.  I understand EA sees an opportunity for sales, but making a life simulation game appropriate for children will limit TS5 in game play and intricacy as every aspect of the game will have to be easy enough for a five-year-old to understand.  

As an adult, this would be a major turn-off and opens to a more pressing problem I have seen questioned across the community here on Tumblr, forums, and Twitter.  The idea of making the next game compatible across all platforms, including mobile.  While I agree Xbox and PlayStation’s consoles are completely able to run a game such as The Sims, I would not want the game dumbed down for mobile.  It would mean a simple, depthless game–an issue that already disappoints customers of TS4.

Again, I understand EA wants to reach as many consumers as possible. You are a company that wants to make a profit and sees an opportunity to make more sales.  Making the game for children and mobile, may reach new customers, but it will ultimately lose a vast majority of players who desire a sequel that brings back that excitement like when we watched the trailer for Sims 2.

And you think the way to do that is to re-introduce multi-player, like The Sims Online?  You stated you believe the “social connection” is what is missing in the franchise.  I can tell you that is untrue.  Simmers are probably the most vocal gamers I know.  We have already made the “social connection” through the mediums we have chosen.  

While I know there are already people reading this–you may be included–that think, “just make online optional,” I must insist on the single player experience.

If you create Sims 5 to be like Roblox or Second Life, it will extremely limit the core of the game.  It will transition the game from life simulation to MMORPG.  While I cannot say “no one wants that,” I can confirm as a long-time player and one that knows thousands of other players, we do not want that.  

We do not want The Sims turned into IMVU and Second Life, which are glorified chat-rooms with an avatar and a marketplace to buy virtual, pixelated CAS items.  It is already an issue–of paid content–faced daily in our community.  I suggest EA not fan those flames.

We do not want the game to be centered around socializing as it is in TS4.  We want depth.  Memories.  Chaos.  Consequences.  And maybe an alien abduction every now and then?

I want to reaffirm that The Sims is a life simulation game.  A sandbox game where you play God and build worlds, houses, and manipulate lives of simulated people.  I do not see why you would feel the need to compete with Roblox or Second Life or Fortnite.  None of those games give the player the same experience as The Sims.  

Stop limiting the sandbox.  Embrace it.  Expand it for a better generation.  

So, I rotate between 3 households. This young family lives in a modest container in Evergreen Harbor. I really like industrial, grungy hoods and gameplay. One of my favorite custom worlds in Sims 3 was Jericho by Simsample. But this here is Isidor and his little boy Bodie. Isidor’s dream is to start a local beer brewery..

Hey everybody ! So.. new Simblr, first post? Maybe, maybe not. This is a sideblog of my main blog a TS3 simblr. I stopped playing sims 3 because of RL changes (and a bit of a burn out because of drama in the TS3 community). I did however buy a MacBook Air. For other purposes though, but felt a simming itch.. I installed TS4 on it and it runs remarkably well. It’s HEAVILY modded to spice up gameplay (TS4 needs it and there are some great mods out there) I have all the packs 😬😜💸 accept the StarWars thing (that would do way better in sims 3 🤔) but I use little cc because imo TS4 comes with very decent CAS items.

I miss the atmosphere and connection with the open worlds in sims 3 <3. Also the sandbox type of gameplay but as of now, I don’t want to go back to hours behind a top notch gaming rig to get TS3 working and thanks to the modding community I’m actually having fun with 4. I also think back with a smile of all the great people I got to know here while being active on Tumblr. (Where on earth did everybody go?!)

2. I was so bored I called Jake from State Farm just to talk to someone. He asked me what I was wearing.

3. 2019: Stay away from negative people. 2020: Stay away from positive people.

4. The world has turned upside down. Old folks are sneaking out of the house, and their kids are yelling at them to stay indoors!

5. This morning I saw a neighbor talking to her dog. It was obvious she thought her dog understood her. I came into my house and told my cat. We laughed a lot.

6. Every few days try your jeans on just to make sure they fit. Pajamas will have you believe all is well in the kingdom.

7. Does anyone know if we can take showers yet or should we just keep washing our hands?

8. This virus has done what no woman has been able to do. Cancel sports, shut down all bars, and keep men at home!

9. I never thought the comment, “I wouldn’t touch him or her with a 6-foot pole” would become a national policy, but here we are!

10. I need to practice physical-distancing from the refrigerator

11. I hope the weather is good tomorrow for my trip to the Backyard. I’m getting tired of the Living Room.

Since I’ve seen people talking shit about the black & white picture challenge, I thought maybe you should all know about it’s origin and what’s going on in my country currently.

We are waking up to news of another woman being murdered in a gruesome way EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. While the government does absolutely nothing to protect us from these predators walking freely among us, they also don’t do shit when we’re dead. INFACT THEY ARE TRYING TO QUIT THE VERY THING THAT IS LITERALLY MADE TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING.

“The Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, better known as the Istanbul Convention, is a human rights treaty of the Council of Europe against violence against women and domestic violence which was opened for signature on 11 May 2011, in Istanbul, Turkey. The convention aims at prevention of violence, victim protection and “to end with the impunity of perpetrators”.

The meaning behind the black & white challenge is to stand in solidarity with and for women of Turkey and for the women we have lost. Women are sharing black & white pictures of themselves as a reminder that it could be any of us with our black & white pictures on the news. These post also include the hastags #IstanbulYasasıYaşatır #KadınaŞiddeteHayır meaning #IstanbulConventionSavesLives #NotoViolenceAgainstWomen

While I know any international people participating in this challenge w/o knowing it’s origin, doesn’t have any ill will but PLEASE KNOW WHY WE’RE POSTING THESE PICTURES AND HASHTAGS THEN YOU CAN BE A PART OF OUR CAUSE AND HELP US MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD FROM ALL AROUND THE WORLD.

You can find the original post here it is made by the instagram account @/auturkishculturalclub and the account has a lot more information about what is happening and how you can help.

here is a post you can share to let more people know about the origin of this challenge.

here is the petitition you can sign to protect our Istanbul Convention.

And here are some donation links for the cause:

https://en.morcati.org.tr/donate/