I'm surprised...

[suzetter]

...that with all the big talent out there in the Sims modding community (the utility creators, animators, meshers, code wizards, etc..) that no one has yet come out with an alternative to EA's Sims. I'm not a modder/animator/creator, I'm just a game player but I have noticed that the things that I like best about my Sim games (not just objects) over the years has been mainly supplied by 3rd party creators and not EA.

So why has no gaming company swooped up all this talent and cut themselves a piece of the EA Sim Pie? EA may own rights to the Sims Title but they don't have a blanket ownership of simulation games. There's a tremendous market out there and much dissatisfaction with EA practices on the part of the consumer. I really can't understand why none of EA's competitors have taken advantage of what is undoubtedly a potentially profitable situation.

I just saying... I'm surpised the opportunity has not been seized.

[Claeric]

Well, for one, there's probably a patent on a dollhouse simulator.

For two, they'd fail. They would outright fail and lose and die out.

Because The Sims is The Sims and nothing will ever, ever replace that.

[suzetter]

Well, for one, there's probably a patent on a dollhouse simulator.

That's not possible.

[Srikandi]

There are actually quite a few other "sims-like" games out there. Like this one, and the others in its series: http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/singles/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=gssummary&tag=summary;read-review Problem is, from what I can tell, all of them suck ;) The main thing they get wrong, from what I can tell, is that none are really fully open-ended the way the Sims is... the gameplay is all way more goal-oriented.

[Claeric]

How is it not possible?

[suzetter]

There are actually quite a few other "sims-like" games out there. Like this one, and the others in its series: http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/singles/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=gssummary&tag=summary;read-review Problem is, from what I can tell, all of them suck ;) The main thing they get wrong, from what I can tell, is that none are really fully open-ended the way the Sims is... the gameplay is all way more goal-oriented.

Thanks, I'll take a look at that.

Funny, the thing I'm not digging about Sims 3 is that I find it too goal-oriented. I'm tired of most of the game being oriented around woohoo or career. For me, the Sims have lost some of their sparkle and fun. WA is fun and, since they are adventures, there is a finality to the goals which makes it less tedious.

[interpolarity]

Thanks, I'll take a look at that.

Funny, the thing I'm not digging about Sims 3 is that I find it too goal-oriented. I'm tired of most of the game being oriented around woohoo or career. For me, the Sims have lost some of their sparkle and fun. WA is fun and, since they are adventures, there is a finality to the goals which makes it less tedious.
well now, the fun of sims is making your own goals and knowing that you don't have to start over just because you reached that end (unless you want to)

[chann]

My theory is that MMORPGs are spoiling the market for copycats at the moment. Game companies are too focused on replicating WoW's goldmine to see where they could really be making money. ;)

[simbalena]

Because The Sims is The Sims and nothing will ever, ever replace that.

I agree for TS1 and TS2, but TS3 doesn't feel very unique. In fact it actually makes me want to replace it with different life simulation games!