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- +4 years after release...
Replies: 8 (Who?), Viewed: 1832 times.
#1
3rd Dec 2018 at 4:39 PM
Posts: 982
Thanks: 2401 in 16 Posts
+4 years after release...
Most Sims games have had a four year life cycle. TS1: 2000-2004. TS2: 2004-2008. TS3: 2009-2013 (August 2014 if TS3 Store sets are included). Although it seems TS4 is going to have a longer life cycle compared to previous games, I believe this is the perfect time to compare it to previous games and whether it's ultimately an improvement or not. With 6 Expansion Packs, 6 Game Packs, and 14 Stuff Packs (as well as many GBs of updates), do you:
- Consider it the best The Sims game to date?
- Consider it better than The Sims 2 and The Sims 3?
- Consider it an improvement compared to previous versions in the following aspects: CAS, world, Build/Buy, life stages, Sims' AI / behavior, life states (like supernaturals), complexity, depth, content packs, etc?
- Consider it a step in the right direction for the future of the series?
- Consider the exclusion of Create-A-Style, story progression and the open world a good decision?
- Consider content packs which were released in previous versions like apartments, seasons, fame, pets, restaurants, etc. an improvement compared to TS1/2/3 packs?
- Consider emotions a game-changing mechanic? Pros? Cons?
- Consider multi-tasking a game changing mechanic? Pros? Cons?
- Consider the overall quality assurance of TS4 to be better than in previous versions? Is TS4 less buggy than TS1/2/3?
- Consider TS4's graphical quality, aesthetics, sound design, music, UI, etc. an improvement compared to previous games?
- Want to add anything else to this analysis?
Most of you know I already made up my mind as regards most of these questions, but I want to hear YOUR opinion. As we approach the end of this era (maybe two more years, I don't think they'll extend this game's life cycle beyond 2020), I think it's a good thing to start analyzing and discussing what the most controversial Sims game has left as its legacy and what it means for the future of our beloved franchise.
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#2
3rd Dec 2018 at 5:46 PM
Posts: 511
2014 - "Game is shit."
2019 - "Game is shit and also now you can wear drag and talk to a toilet."
2019 - "Game is shit and also now you can wear drag and talk to a toilet."
#3
3rd Dec 2018 at 7:24 PM
Last edited by Naus Allien : 6th Dec 2018 at 6:03 AM.
Posts: 982
Thanks: 2401 in 16 Posts
@Chax Some random thoughts and comments regarding your responses:
More of a questionnaire (qualitative) than a survey (quantitative).
I agree. Even though my personal favorite is TS3, objectively speaking TS2 is the best game. Its overall quality, attention to detail and advanced AI make it a cut above the rest.
I agree, packs include more stuff (CAS, build/buy content) than ever. BUT I think content packs in TS4 have FEWER gameplay objects and gameplay features. For example Nightlife (TS2) included bowling alleys, poker tables, DJ booths, dance spheres, restaurants, vampires, nightclubs, a new aspiration, turn ons/offs, fury, drivable cars and garages, etc. How many packs do you have to buy to get the same amount of gameplay features? Some have been improved, like vampires, but you still have to pay $20 on top of the $40 an EP costs. Build mode has improved in some aspects (the ones you mention + all the new options like scaling up and down objects and moving them up and down), but the lack of Create-A-Style or even a swatch system like in TS2 (in which you could miss and match two different swatches to get a bed frame and a bedding independently, for example) really limit creativity. Constrainfloorelevation allowed for more complex builds that are not possible in TS4. At least we can both agree worlds are the terrible in TS4. Even TS1 worlds were better (larger).
I think it's important to clarify that the open world in itself wasn't the cause of TS3's lag. The way it was implemented was. Worlds were poorly designed and Sims got stuck constantly, stereos were left on, cars were given to townies and never removed, etc. There's no reason to disregard the open world completely just because it was not the best in 2009. Most games nowadays are open world and they don't have lag (provided your PC meets the requirements). I think a nice compromise would've been to make it so ALL lots in a neighborhood / district were open without loading screens (4 to 5 maximum). The way they made it, it's a HUGE step backwards. I don't want to incur a loading screen when visiting my next door neighbor. It's beyond ridiculous with today's tech.
Those "feelings" are called MOODLETS and they were introduced in TS3. I agree, the way emotions were implemented was really strange. Sims are limited to ONLY one emotional state at any time, which makes some moodlets completely pointless. For example, even if your Sim is mourning the loss of a loved one, if you get him/her into a room with amazing decor they may switch to the happy emotion. The "sad" moodlet will be easily overridden by happier ones. Whims are nothing new either. TS2 has wants and TS3 wishes. I personally don't like the way they were implemented in TS4. They tend to repeat A LOT, they aren't prominently displayed, they don't really affect a Sim's mood in a significant way, and they change too fast as Sims change emotional states like you mention. I guess even developers know whims are pointless because they're disabled by default now.
I love multi-tasking when it works. I hate it when it doesn't work and Sims take ten hours to do an action, or they keep changing seats (musical chairs), or they make the game lag really bad (Sims standing there, doing nothing, while the clock keeps running at full speed). Like the open world in TS3, the idea is great but the implementation leaves a lot to be desired.
Quality assurance. I think QA in TS4 is really bad. They release patches that break 10 different things, and some are so massive it's surprising they didn't notice them before, like the one in the most recent patch that made Sims age while in CAS and all of Father Winter's children disappear. TS4 is smoother, except when it's not. After playing for some time you'll start noticing really long loading screens and a lot of LAAAAAAAAG. They make a good job HIDING it, by making the clock run at full speed at all times, while Sims stand there, bobbing their heads, doing nothing. And there are bugs that never got fixed, like for example when Sims choose a far away counter to cook (like one in a bathroom or a basement) instead of the perfectly usable counter next to them.
Meshes in TS4 are very low poly... compared to meshes from TS2, a game released ten years before. And let's not even compare TS4's graphics to other modern games released at that time. TS4's graphical fidelity is SUBPAR in almost every aspect. I do like the way lighting and shadows work, and some of the trees/vegetation. I love the 2D artwork (posters, paintings, rugs, decals, patterns). I believe it's the best of the franchise. But low frequency, blurry textures ruin most assets that would otherwise look nice with TS4's lighting technology, even with low poly meshes. Music is pretty forgettable, just like TS3's music, in my opinion. I do like the new UI for the most part, very minimalistic and modern.
Quote: Originally posted by Chax
Eheheh, a survey... |
More of a questionnaire (qualitative) than a survey (quantitative).
Quote: Originally posted by Chax
- Consider it the best The Sims game to date? No (that would be TS2). |
I agree. Even though my personal favorite is TS3, objectively speaking TS2 is the best game. Its overall quality, attention to detail and advanced AI make it a cut above the rest.
Quote: Originally posted by Chax
It's an improvement, I believe, in the amount of stuff you get per pack (I'm talking about CAS items and furniture). There's obviously an improvement in the building aspect (can move a room, a whole lot,... and now we have terrain tools). There's the complete opposite of an improvement (can't find the word at the moment) with the worlds and the way they work (can't position lots, background decor you can't get rid of, can't modify anything in the neighborhoods...). |
I agree, packs include more stuff (CAS, build/buy content) than ever. BUT I think content packs in TS4 have FEWER gameplay objects and gameplay features. For example Nightlife (TS2) included bowling alleys, poker tables, DJ booths, dance spheres, restaurants, vampires, nightclubs, a new aspiration, turn ons/offs, fury, drivable cars and garages, etc. How many packs do you have to buy to get the same amount of gameplay features? Some have been improved, like vampires, but you still have to pay $20 on top of the $40 an EP costs. Build mode has improved in some aspects (the ones you mention + all the new options like scaling up and down objects and moving them up and down), but the lack of Create-A-Style or even a swatch system like in TS2 (in which you could miss and match two different swatches to get a bed frame and a bedding independently, for example) really limit creativity. Constrainfloorelevation allowed for more complex builds that are not possible in TS4. At least we can both agree worlds are the terrible in TS4. Even TS1 worlds were better (larger).
Quote: Originally posted by Chax
- Consider the exclusion of Create-A-Style, story progression and the open world a good decision? (Some people find this a good decision? :o) No. I've read some players say they're glad there's no story progression because they like to control everything... but I believe it should be available and removable through the options for those who don't like it. Open world was extremely laggy in TS3 and I guess that's why they decided not to go through with it for TS4. The loading screens are annoying BUT they kind of found a nice compromise with the little neighborhoods where your sims can freely walk. It's better than TS2 because you can walk around and depending on the little neighborhood you're at, you do get to fish, pick up things, meet people, grill food... and I'd rather have it this way than having TS3 lag. |
I think it's important to clarify that the open world in itself wasn't the cause of TS3's lag. The way it was implemented was. Worlds were poorly designed and Sims got stuck constantly, stereos were left on, cars were given to townies and never removed, etc. There's no reason to disregard the open world completely just because it was not the best in 2009. Most games nowadays are open world and they don't have lag (provided your PC meets the requirements). I think a nice compromise would've been to make it so ALL lots in a neighborhood / district were open without loading screens (4 to 5 maximum). The way they made it, it's a HUGE step backwards. I don't want to incur a loading screen when visiting my next door neighbor. It's beyond ridiculous with today's tech.
Quote: Originally posted by Chax
- Consider emotions a game-changing mechanic? Pros? Cons? I do like the "feelings" (or whatever they're called) because I sometimes find new ones and they're nice. BUT : the emotions are kind of weird because of the way those "feelings" work. You get too many at once and emotions sometimes jump from one another too fast because of it. I don't like having my sims "energized" - I find it weird. Thank god they added the option to get rid of that noise it'd make when emotions would change, it was driving me nuts. You're not mentioning whims but I want to say something about them. I do like whims because I want to do what my sim wants to - it's like he's a real person with wishes, right. Though, it is kind of "glitchy" sometimes : 1. the whims you get at the beginning are random and very repetitive and annoying ; 2. they make sims look pretty obsessive (start painting and all whims will be about painting). The thing I miss though are "wants" and "fears" from TS2. I'd like to have whims + wants/fears or at least whims + fears ! |
Those "feelings" are called MOODLETS and they were introduced in TS3. I agree, the way emotions were implemented was really strange. Sims are limited to ONLY one emotional state at any time, which makes some moodlets completely pointless. For example, even if your Sim is mourning the loss of a loved one, if you get him/her into a room with amazing decor they may switch to the happy emotion. The "sad" moodlet will be easily overridden by happier ones. Whims are nothing new either. TS2 has wants and TS3 wishes. I personally don't like the way they were implemented in TS4. They tend to repeat A LOT, they aren't prominently displayed, they don't really affect a Sim's mood in a significant way, and they change too fast as Sims change emotional states like you mention. I guess even developers know whims are pointless because they're disabled by default now.
Quote: Originally posted by Chax
- Consider multi-tasking a game changing mechanic? Pros? Cons? It does make the game easier and more realistic especially with those days going by so fast (and the lag not helping...). |
I love multi-tasking when it works. I hate it when it doesn't work and Sims take ten hours to do an action, or they keep changing seats (musical chairs), or they make the game lag really bad (Sims standing there, doing nothing, while the clock keeps running at full speed). Like the open world in TS3, the idea is great but the implementation leaves a lot to be desired.
Quote: Originally posted by Chax
- Consider the overall quality assurance of TS4 to be better than in previous versions? Is TS4 less buggy than TS1/2/3? I don't know what "quality assurance" means... If you're asking if TS4 is better than the other Sims... I think we can all agree that they're all good in different ways. TS4 has good things and bad things... just like the other games. From my experience, I'd say TS4 is way smoother. The lag comes after a little bit of play time and I guess it gets worse if you have a lot of Sims living in your game etc... but the build mode for example will always be smoother and that's a plus for builders. I do think TS4 is less buggy though. |
Quality assurance. I think QA in TS4 is really bad. They release patches that break 10 different things, and some are so massive it's surprising they didn't notice them before, like the one in the most recent patch that made Sims age while in CAS and all of Father Winter's children disappear. TS4 is smoother, except when it's not. After playing for some time you'll start noticing really long loading screens and a lot of LAAAAAAAAG. They make a good job HIDING it, by making the clock run at full speed at all times, while Sims stand there, bobbing their heads, doing nothing. And there are bugs that never got fixed, like for example when Sims choose a far away counter to cook (like one in a bathroom or a basement) instead of the perfectly usable counter next to them.
Quote: Originally posted by Chax
- Consider TS4's graphical quality, aesthetics, sound design, music, UI, etc. an improvement compared to previous games? Definitely. The one problem with TS4 graphics is the number of... poly... ? I don't remember what it's called. What I'm trying to say is that the general graphics are nicer (smoother) BUT if you look closely for example on a bird, DAMN they're absolutely horrible and shameful... The music is alright but if I start listening to TS2 music... :lovestruc I guess it's just the nostalgia (I remember when I was playing TS2 - the music was driving me nuts lol). |
Meshes in TS4 are very low poly... compared to meshes from TS2, a game released ten years before. And let's not even compare TS4's graphics to other modern games released at that time. TS4's graphical fidelity is SUBPAR in almost every aspect. I do like the way lighting and shadows work, and some of the trees/vegetation. I love the 2D artwork (posters, paintings, rugs, decals, patterns). I believe it's the best of the franchise. But low frequency, blurry textures ruin most assets that would otherwise look nice with TS4's lighting technology, even with low poly meshes. Music is pretty forgettable, just like TS3's music, in my opinion. I do like the new UI for the most part, very minimalistic and modern.
#4
3rd Dec 2018 at 8:55 PM
Posts: 3,351
Thanks: 296 in 4 Posts
Quote: Originally posted by Naus Allien
- Consider it the best The Sims game to date? |
No. While the game has its good parts, it doesn't feel like The Sims I grew to love.
Quote: Originally posted by Naus Allien
- Consider it better than The Sims 2 and The Sims 3? |
Better than 3, worse than 1 and 2.
Quote: Originally posted by Naus Allien
- Consider it an improvement compared to previous versions in the following aspects: CAS, world, Build/Buy, life stages, Sims' AI / behavior, life states (like supernaturals), complexity, depth, content packs, etc? |
Some aspects are better. AI has improvements. Create-a-Sim is more intuitive to use than in previous games.
Quote: Originally posted by Naus Allien
- Consider it a step in the right direction for the future of the series? |
Nah.
Quote: Originally posted by Naus Allien
- Consider the exclusion of Create-A-Style, story progression and the open world a good decision? |
I hate story progression, and both CASt and Open World caused too much performance issues in The Sims 3. So yes I do.
Quote: Originally posted by Naus Allien
- Consider content packs which were released in previous versions like apartments, seasons, fame, pets, restaurants, etc. an improvement compared to TS1/2/3 packs? |
Not really.
Quote: Originally posted by Naus Allien
- Consider emotions a game-changing mechanic? Pros? Cons? |
Emotions are very unbalanced in this game. So much so that they actually disrupt the experience instead of improve it.
Quote: Originally posted by Naus Allien
- Consider multi-tasking a game changing mechanic? Pros? Cons? |
Yes. Arguably the best thing about TS4.
Quote: Originally posted by Naus Allien
- Consider the overall quality assurance of TS4 to be better than in previous versions? Is TS4 less buggy than TS1/2/3? |
I think TS4 is actually the most stable PC release next to TS1. TS2 and TS3 are notorious for bugs to the point where the player has to be anxious so they don't lose their game progress to corruption issues. I've yet to have such issues with TS4.
Quote: Originally posted by Naus Allien
- Consider TS4's graphical quality, aesthetics, sound design, music, UI, etc. an improvement compared to previous games? |
Yes. I actually quite like the cartoon aesthetic. It took a while to adjust but it feels more relaxing to play than the dreary TS3. Sound design has definitely improved. There is reverb and better modulation. The sound has more depth, where as previous games sounded quite static. Lighting? Definitely. I quite like the post processing effects and shader techniques. The window shadows are a lovely additional piece of eye candy. Only thing that annoys me is how dark the interiors are. It seems TS2 is the only game of the series that got indoor lighting correct.
Quote: Originally posted by Naus Allien
- Want to add anything else to this analysis? |
No.
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#5
3rd Dec 2018 at 9:23 PM
Last edited by Naus Allien : 3rd Dec 2018 at 10:07 PM.
Posts: 982
Thanks: 2401 in 16 Posts
Quote: Originally posted by HarVee
I hate story progression, and both CASt and Open World caused too much performance issues in The Sims 3. So yes I do. |
I find it interesting that the question was "Do you consider the exclusion of Create-A-Style, story progression and the open world a good decision?" and you answer started with "I hate..."
You're free to answer however you deem fit, but I wonder where the mentality "I don't like X feature. Therefore I'm happy this feature doesn't exist anymore" comes from. In TS3 you could disable story progression through the options menu or by adding "-disablestoryprogression" to TS3's shortcut. It was not forced upon you. So I'm trying to understand why you're happy this feature is gone for those who did enjoy it. I think a good game should give players the choice to enable/disable certain features to make the game fit their personal tastes. Just because I don't like one feature, I don't necessarily want it removed altogether.
As regards CASt and open world, there's a lot of misunderstanding regarding these features and lag. Like I mentioned before, these features are fine for the most part, but its implementation left room for improvement. In both cases a 64-bit executable and the game taking advantage of more RAM instead of caching to a (much slower) hard drive would've done wonders to improve open world and CASt. Since I bought an SSD I haven't had much lag (if any), so you can see how a faster drive improves the experience a lot. I can only imagine how much better TS3 would run if a 64 bit executable was made to take advantage of additional RAM. Open world also suffered from buggy world maps (ellacharmed world fixes can be downloaded here), stuck Sims, routing issues, etc. Most of these problems are fixed with NRaas' Overwatch, but I wish we didn't have to rely on modders to fix what EA won't.
I think CASt and open world (along with story progression) are the best features to ever be added to the Sims franchise in the last decade. And I'm really sad some people didn't have a good experience with them (or heard bad things about them) and now want them gone. Considering that most games are open world games nowadays, there's no reason not to want the same for a life simulator like The Sims. We've seen what it was possible with 2009 technology. I can only imagine what would be possible with our current tech.
#6
3rd Dec 2018 at 9:48 PM
Last edited by veronica55 : 3rd Dec 2018 at 11:03 PM.
Posts: 257
- Consider it the best The Sims game to date?
If best sims game means, the one which I had the most fun with, then my answer is no.
- Consider it better than The Sims 2 and The Sims 3?
In some features yes, in some features no.
- Consider it an improvement compared to previous versions in the following aspects: CAS, world, Build/Buy, life stages, Sims' AI / behavior, life states (like supernaturals), complexity, depth, content packs, etc?
Overall I would consider it a huge step back let alone improvement. But if we evaluate features individually, Create-a-sim can be considered as an improvement, on the other hand, lack of Create-a-style is a step back. Life stages are just same with TS3, Build/Buy is definitely a huge improvement compared to previous games in terms of practicality but yet, not enough. We still have too many unnecessary restrictions. I'm a sims builder and I hate the fact that we still don't have curved walls, split floors, modular and spiral stairs, different room heights on same level and such stuff. I can't believe I still have to worry about 1 tile window, 2 tiles door while trying to create something that looks good. I should be able to place any window, any door centered whereever I want. Those are all stupid. I see no improvement from that perspective and even worsening as in previous games we could at least use constrainfloorelevation cheat and do creative things with it. Now we don't even have that. About complexity, depth and content it's definitely noticebly worse than all previous sims games. Everything is much more shallow, few, boring in TS4.
- Consider it a step in the right direction for the future of the series?
No. Not at all.
- Consider the exclusion of Create-A-Style, story progression and the open world a good decision?
Again no. I understand that they wanted to create a game technically less demanding on pc, and it worked, the game is smoother than the previous ones but in these years the game industry is all about open world games and there are ways to make it work nicely. I play a lot of games with huge maps, all open world and their performance is good enough.
- Consider content packs which were released in previous versions like apartments, seasons, fame, pets, restaurants, etc. an improvement compared to TS1/2/3 packs?
Nope. They are all more limited compared to TS3 versions.
- Consider emotions a game-changing mechanic? Pros? Cons?
Well, I've always found this funny since the very beginning, like they advertised it as if it was a huge thing, for me it adds absolutely nothing to my gameplay. Sim AI id horrible anyways. It's even worse than the previous games. Sims keep dropping actions all the time, take forever to do something etc. There are tons of problems about that. I.e. I like to pause and plan my sims actions, so I create an action queue use the toilet, take a shower, have breakfast, check on the kid, take the dog for a walk and the sim can never complete the list because always something happens and all the actions drop for no reason. Sims were a lot more obedient in previous games. Now they are pure stupid.
- Consider multi-tasking a game changing mechanic? Pros? Cons?
Not necessarily "game changing" but it's better to see my sims can eat while watching tv and talk to another sim at the same time. It looks natural and nice. I like that.
- Consider the overall quality assurance of TS4 to be better than in previous versions? Is TS4 less buggy than TS1/2/3?
Less buggy for sure, but not more fun.
- Consider TS4's graphical quality, aesthetics, sound design, music, UI, etc. an improvement compared to previous games?
Graphical quality is just horrible imo. In previous games, yes the technology was older for sure but still game looked better. In ts4 everything looks like plastic inflated objects. Too cartoony, mostly too large, weird.
Sul Sul! Hooba Noobie?
If best sims game means, the one which I had the most fun with, then my answer is no.
- Consider it better than The Sims 2 and The Sims 3?
In some features yes, in some features no.
- Consider it an improvement compared to previous versions in the following aspects: CAS, world, Build/Buy, life stages, Sims' AI / behavior, life states (like supernaturals), complexity, depth, content packs, etc?
Overall I would consider it a huge step back let alone improvement. But if we evaluate features individually, Create-a-sim can be considered as an improvement, on the other hand, lack of Create-a-style is a step back. Life stages are just same with TS3, Build/Buy is definitely a huge improvement compared to previous games in terms of practicality but yet, not enough. We still have too many unnecessary restrictions. I'm a sims builder and I hate the fact that we still don't have curved walls, split floors, modular and spiral stairs, different room heights on same level and such stuff. I can't believe I still have to worry about 1 tile window, 2 tiles door while trying to create something that looks good. I should be able to place any window, any door centered whereever I want. Those are all stupid. I see no improvement from that perspective and even worsening as in previous games we could at least use constrainfloorelevation cheat and do creative things with it. Now we don't even have that. About complexity, depth and content it's definitely noticebly worse than all previous sims games. Everything is much more shallow, few, boring in TS4.
- Consider it a step in the right direction for the future of the series?
No. Not at all.
- Consider the exclusion of Create-A-Style, story progression and the open world a good decision?
Again no. I understand that they wanted to create a game technically less demanding on pc, and it worked, the game is smoother than the previous ones but in these years the game industry is all about open world games and there are ways to make it work nicely. I play a lot of games with huge maps, all open world and their performance is good enough.
- Consider content packs which were released in previous versions like apartments, seasons, fame, pets, restaurants, etc. an improvement compared to TS1/2/3 packs?
Nope. They are all more limited compared to TS3 versions.
- Consider emotions a game-changing mechanic? Pros? Cons?
Well, I've always found this funny since the very beginning, like they advertised it as if it was a huge thing, for me it adds absolutely nothing to my gameplay. Sim AI id horrible anyways. It's even worse than the previous games. Sims keep dropping actions all the time, take forever to do something etc. There are tons of problems about that. I.e. I like to pause and plan my sims actions, so I create an action queue use the toilet, take a shower, have breakfast, check on the kid, take the dog for a walk and the sim can never complete the list because always something happens and all the actions drop for no reason. Sims were a lot more obedient in previous games. Now they are pure stupid.
- Consider multi-tasking a game changing mechanic? Pros? Cons?
Not necessarily "game changing" but it's better to see my sims can eat while watching tv and talk to another sim at the same time. It looks natural and nice. I like that.
- Consider the overall quality assurance of TS4 to be better than in previous versions? Is TS4 less buggy than TS1/2/3?
Less buggy for sure, but not more fun.
- Consider TS4's graphical quality, aesthetics, sound design, music, UI, etc. an improvement compared to previous games?
Graphical quality is just horrible imo. In previous games, yes the technology was older for sure but still game looked better. In ts4 everything looks like plastic inflated objects. Too cartoony, mostly too large, weird.
Sul Sul! Hooba Noobie?
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#7
3rd Dec 2018 at 11:12 PM
Posts: 1,260
- Consider it the best The Sims game to date?
No.
- Consider it better than The Sims 2 and The Sims 3?
No.
- Consider it an improvement compared to previous versions in the following aspects: CAS, world, Build/Buy, life stages, Sims' AI / behavior, life states (like supernaturals), complexity, depth, content packs, etc?
There are some good bits, but overall I would say no.
CAS is more userfriendly I think. Build has some nice new details (copy a room, move a room around on lot etc). Life stages is a step back with teens looking the same as adults and a release without toddlers (and the communication about this was even worse). Sims AI and behaviour is no improvement. Most annoying to me is that the emotions system makes sims behave the same. Has the maid been fixed? Do you ever see the neighbours leave/enter their house? Has the dancing chairs been fixed? Expansion packs are way less bang for the buck then before with TS3.
- Consider it a step in the right direction for the future of the series?
No. Apart from some improved details, most of it plays like a shell of a sims game. I never got bored so fast with the sims base game as with TS4.
- Consider the exclusion of Create-A-Style, story progression and the open world a good decision?
No. Less customization is never a good idea for a game like the sims. And going back from open world to loading screen tiny neighbourhoods feels very restrictive. If you look at how much mods improved performance and fixed bugs for TS3, then it just shows that EA is very bad at optimizing and bugfixing. So it does not mean that it was necessary to get rid of CASt and open world. And what makes it worse, the colour swatches for objects in TS4 have almost no matching base colours. They either put no thought in this, or they did it on purpose as incentive to buy content packs. But this makes the lack of customization even worse.
- Consider content packs which were released in previous versions like apartments, seasons, fame, pets, restaurants, etc. an improvement compared to TS1/2/3 packs?
No. Less content per pack compared to TS3. And just as disconnected as in TS3. Then there is still no decent follow up to TS2's Open For Business.
- Consider emotions a game-changing mechanic? Pros? Cons?
I wanted to be able to turn it off. It overrides traits too much and makes them have the same. For skill training and work it is just annoying that you have to get the right emotion first. Then there is the thing that only one emotion can be dominant and give its bonus. For example: your sim wants to train charisma. Because he is athletic he suddenly becomes energized. Overriding the confident emotion.So you are now forced to get another confident emotion to get confidence on top again and have a bonus for training charisma Why can't someone be both energized and confident and have both bonusses? It is such a weird design and makes it more a hassle then worth it imo.
- Consider multi-tasking a game changing mechanic? Pros? Cons?
This is one of the gameplay improvements in TS4 imo. But it could be better tuned and needs AI fixes. So that you wont get the chair dancing while eating and chatting and so that sims don't take 4 hours to eat, because they do everything except eating.
- Consider the overall quality assurance of TS4 to be better than in previous versions? Is TS4 less buggy than TS1/2/3?
No. I think it is the same as in TS3. They still leave bugs in.
- Consider TS4's graphical quality, aesthetics, sound design, music, UI, etc. an improvement compared to previous games?
I like how the sims can look in TS4. I prefer that over TS3. But the objects and world lack detail compared to TS3. I am neutral towards UI in both TS3 and TS4.
- Want to add anything else to this analysis?
TS4 is a missed chance to improve upon TS3 and the devs' communication towards the fans is very bad and dismissive. This makes me worry about TS5.
No.
- Consider it better than The Sims 2 and The Sims 3?
No.
- Consider it an improvement compared to previous versions in the following aspects: CAS, world, Build/Buy, life stages, Sims' AI / behavior, life states (like supernaturals), complexity, depth, content packs, etc?
There are some good bits, but overall I would say no.
CAS is more userfriendly I think. Build has some nice new details (copy a room, move a room around on lot etc). Life stages is a step back with teens looking the same as adults and a release without toddlers (and the communication about this was even worse). Sims AI and behaviour is no improvement. Most annoying to me is that the emotions system makes sims behave the same. Has the maid been fixed? Do you ever see the neighbours leave/enter their house? Has the dancing chairs been fixed? Expansion packs are way less bang for the buck then before with TS3.
- Consider it a step in the right direction for the future of the series?
No. Apart from some improved details, most of it plays like a shell of a sims game. I never got bored so fast with the sims base game as with TS4.
- Consider the exclusion of Create-A-Style, story progression and the open world a good decision?
No. Less customization is never a good idea for a game like the sims. And going back from open world to loading screen tiny neighbourhoods feels very restrictive. If you look at how much mods improved performance and fixed bugs for TS3, then it just shows that EA is very bad at optimizing and bugfixing. So it does not mean that it was necessary to get rid of CASt and open world. And what makes it worse, the colour swatches for objects in TS4 have almost no matching base colours. They either put no thought in this, or they did it on purpose as incentive to buy content packs. But this makes the lack of customization even worse.
- Consider content packs which were released in previous versions like apartments, seasons, fame, pets, restaurants, etc. an improvement compared to TS1/2/3 packs?
No. Less content per pack compared to TS3. And just as disconnected as in TS3. Then there is still no decent follow up to TS2's Open For Business.
- Consider emotions a game-changing mechanic? Pros? Cons?
I wanted to be able to turn it off. It overrides traits too much and makes them have the same. For skill training and work it is just annoying that you have to get the right emotion first. Then there is the thing that only one emotion can be dominant and give its bonus. For example: your sim wants to train charisma. Because he is athletic he suddenly becomes energized. Overriding the confident emotion.So you are now forced to get another confident emotion to get confidence on top again and have a bonus for training charisma Why can't someone be both energized and confident and have both bonusses? It is such a weird design and makes it more a hassle then worth it imo.
- Consider multi-tasking a game changing mechanic? Pros? Cons?
This is one of the gameplay improvements in TS4 imo. But it could be better tuned and needs AI fixes. So that you wont get the chair dancing while eating and chatting and so that sims don't take 4 hours to eat, because they do everything except eating.
- Consider the overall quality assurance of TS4 to be better than in previous versions? Is TS4 less buggy than TS1/2/3?
No. I think it is the same as in TS3. They still leave bugs in.
- Consider TS4's graphical quality, aesthetics, sound design, music, UI, etc. an improvement compared to previous games?
I like how the sims can look in TS4. I prefer that over TS3. But the objects and world lack detail compared to TS3. I am neutral towards UI in both TS3 and TS4.
- Want to add anything else to this analysis?
TS4 is a missed chance to improve upon TS3 and the devs' communication towards the fans is very bad and dismissive. This makes me worry about TS5.
#8
3rd Dec 2018 at 11:40 PM
Posts: 3,351
Thanks: 296 in 4 Posts
Quote: Originally posted by Naus Allien
I find it interesting that the question was "Do you consider the exclusion of Create-A-Style, story progression and the open world a good decision?" and you answer started with "I hate..." You're free to answer however you deem fit, but I wonder where the mentality "I don't like X feature. Therefore I'm happy this feature doesn't exist anymore" comes from. In TS3 you could disable story progression through the options menu or by adding "-disablestoryprogression" to TS3's shortcut. It was not forced upon you. So I'm trying to understand why you're happy this feature is gone for those who did enjoy it. I think a good game should give players the choice to enable/disable certain features to make the game fit their personal tastes. Just because I don't like one feature, I don't necessarily want it removed altogether. |
Just because a feature is not forced upon someone doesn't mean they're not allowed to hate said feature. Anyway, you're free to exhaust energy over-thinking my choice of words.
Quote: Originally posted by Naus Allien
Since I bought an SSD I haven't had much lag (if any), so you can see how a faster drive improves the experience a lot. |
You do mean impersonal "you"? Because otherwise, no, I cannot.
Quote: Originally posted by Naus Allien
I think CASt and open world (along with story progression) are the best features to ever be added to the Sims franchise in the last decade. And I'm really sad some people didn't have a good experience with them (or heard bad things about them) and now want them gone. Considering that most games are open world games nowadays, there's no reason not to want the same for a life simulator like The Sims. We've seen what it was possible with 2009 technology. I can only imagine what would be possible with our current tech. |
From my experience with CASt, CASt causes memory leaks.
Because the earth is standing still, and the truth becomes a lie
A choice profound is bittersweet, no one hears Cassandra Goth cry
A choice profound is bittersweet, no one hears Cassandra Goth cry
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#9
4th Dec 2018 at 5:15 PM
Posts: 982
Thanks: 2401 in 16 Posts
Quote: Originally posted by HarVee
Just because a feature is not forced upon someone doesn't mean they're not allowed to hate said feature. Anyway, you're free to exhaust energy over-thinking my choice of words. |
You can hate it all you want. I hate the inclusion of Store ads everywhere in TS3 (catalog, notifications tab). But since I can easily disable this feature in the options menu, I don't waste time complaining about it.
Quote: Originally posted by HarVee
You do mean impersonal "you"? Because otherwise, no, I cannot. |
Yes. It should be read as a less formal version of "one can see how an SSD improves performance." I thought it was obvious I didn't mean YOU you.
Quote: Originally posted by HarVee
From my experience with CASt, CASt causes memory leaks. |
Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. I know there are some memory leaks, but unless you have access to the source code, you can say X or Y feature causes it. Furthermore, memory leaks are a very complex thing and they require extensive debug to locate and fix. Considering Sims 3 was written in C# (scripts) and C++ (engine), it is prone to memory leaks due to the lack of a built-in automatic GC. Had the whole program been written in C# this wouldn't be such a huge problem. Like I said, we know memory leaks exist in TS3 but I doubt anyone knows EXACTLY what causes them. I've no reason to think CASt causes any memory leaks, otherwise things like a wrong diffuse texture being applied to an object and such would happen. I've never seen that happen. EVEN IF CASt does cause memory leaks, that doesn't make the IDEA/CONCEPT of CASt a bad one.
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