Why am i seeing/reading about the end of The Sims 3??

[symcrap]

A few weeks ago I read in a Spanish blog about the end of the sims 3, it said they make a specific number of expansions and stuff packs and then they no longer create more for the sims 3
I do not understand, how many expansions are created for the end of the sims 3?
i'm scared :duck:

[maybesomethingdunno]

I don't know how many Expansion Packs are left for TS3. But EA will most likely eventually stop making them. They have done this for the original Sims and TS2. The retirement of a program is the final step in life cycle of a software program. Often a new version is released though.


I know change can be scary, but try not to be afraid. How do you know you won't love TS4 better than TS3? Even if you don't love TS4 over TS3, you can continue to play TS3. Many people still prefer to play TS2 over TS3.

[cameranutz2]

I don't think anybody really knows how many EPs/SPs EA is planning for S3 except EA. So really, there is no way to know when "the end" is coming until they announce the release of S4.

[lazzybum]

I wonder what character they're gonna use to bring S4 computers to your new house in TS3 this time.

[nikkiforest99]

I doubt TS3 is gonna end for a LONG time. They don't seem to be slowing down any, and their money-making promotion with Katy Perry just started, so I expect they're going to try and suck more money out of that...

[Alliteration]

Sims 1 had seven expansions, Sims 2 had eight. There's no definite number of packs that each title will have, and anyone who says they can predict when Sims 3 will "end" is just thinking wishfully.
Going by history, there'll likely be one more Sims 3 expansion pack released after the announcement of TS4 and then Sims 3 will be "over" and Sims 4 will be released with X amount of Expansion packs released before Sims 5 is announced.
When they decide to announce/release TS4 depends, the two largest factors being when TS4 is ready to go into whatever development phase the game is announced during, and how long they can milk money out of TS3.

And then, in 20-whatever, when TS4 is released, we as a community will have to deal with "BAWW, BUT IT'S NOT SIMS(N-1) AND I CAN'T DEAL WITH CHANGE!" all over again.

[jje1000]

The only bad thing about TS4 is that the modding cycle will be reset. I personally hope that we get a few more expansions so we can see the modding scene mature first (new lighting systems and custom objects with animations, anyone?).

[zigersimmer]

I will not be an early adopter of TS4 (learned my lesson with TS3). I'll be playing TS3 for a while longer.

[sierrakusterbeck]

Same, I think I'll wait a year after TS4 comes out so I can read reviews, and plus there should at least be some decent CC and mods out there after a year or so. But I just started playing TS3 and I don't really plan on stopping so soon.

[~MadameButterfly~]

I will not be an early adopter of TS4 (learned my lesson with TS3). I'll be playing TS3 for a while longer.

Yep. Even though it was 3 years ago, or so, their buggy base game release of TS3 is still fresh in my mind. (Oh, and it also fried my fairly-newish computer I had at the time.) It will be a longgg while before I would even consider touching anything with a TS4 label.

[Denim]

I will not be an early adopter of TS4 (learned my lesson with TS3). I'll be playing TS3 for a while longer.

Same here... I remember getting the Sims 3 the day it came out... I didn't play it much until a couple of years later... so, I think I'll wait a year or two after Sims 4 comes out to get it... I learned my lesson with Sims 3.

[High Plains Gamer]

A number of us have learned our lesson with Sims 3. It is nearly three yeas since the Sims 3 was released, and we still do not have a lot of the functions of Sims 2. We are still missing things like swimming in the ocean, sun bathing, diving boards, university life, weather, many hobby items. I probably would not purchase the Sims 4 unless and until it has all the functionality of both the Sims 2 and the Sims 3. EA would really have to make the Sims 4 special to entice me. the Sims 3 is still a work in progress. I would be pissed if they moved on before finishing it.

Unfortunately, I believe that future games will be limited by computer power. As it is, even a powerful computer with an I7 processor and lots of memory will still struggle with the Sims 3. I would expect more of this if they try to push things with the Sims 4.

[DreadWizardDM]

I am guessing there will be a solid 10 EP's for TS3, possibly more.

[gege_sml]

It's kinda of sad that when we finally get most things we wanted for Sims 3 it will be eventually time to move on back to a base game that will probably lack tons of stuff again..

IDK, I thought they were trying to rush Sims 3 end, but seeing the latest surveys makes me think that they'll actually try to make out for people that are not pleased with Sims 3 so far before moving on..

Besides, if they were ready to release Sims 4 already , they would be announcing it everywhere, like they're doing with Sim City 1 year before its release.. I'd count with at least 1 more, maybe 2 years of Sims 3

[iheartcowcapoos]

The only bad thing about TS4 is that the modding cycle will be reset. I personally hope that we get a few more expansions so we can see the modding scene mature first (new lighting systems and custom objects with animations, anyone?).

i can't agree with this enough. i still sort of feel like TS3 modding hasn't caught up to what TS2 was at this point in TS2 series. i feel like i see so many cooler items for TS2 STILL than i do for TS3. don't get me wrong, TS3 modding has come a LOOOOONG way from when the base game was released, but i still always see things on this site for TS2 and think "man, why can't we do that for TS3!" i guess that's mostly because EA attempted to make it impossible for modders to create for the game..
i hope TS4 isn't coming out any time soon..

[Riptide651]

Well, see all games run their course, and just a approximation, but if Sims 3 runs its course of about 4.5 years, like the sims 2, we can still expect a year or so, considering they have not yet released all of the expansions. But who knows, maybe they will chose to go long with the sims 3 and run it for quite a while, because even with all of the kinks and glitches it is still a pretty state-of-the-art game which rivals many simulations.

[Ive]

I guess I'm one of the few who will get TS4 at launch regardless.

I don't think they are at the end yet, but are planning on how they are going to get there, maybe late next year?
Hard to say as they have never had a set "always release in Q2" and so on... But I feel there are a lot more they can introduce. Can't imagine them wanting to miss out on that money! Especially as they probably already have most of it in progress.

[Alliteration]

I guess I'm one of the few who will get TS4 at launch regardless.

I'll be there along with you. I mean, someone has to report back to all the doubtfuls, right?

[rian90]

I'll be there along with you. I mean, someone has to report back to all the doubtfuls, right?

Ha!!

I will never read the Sims 4 Discussion forums! I will avoid them like a plague as long as Sims 3 runs on my computer and I enjoy it. Even then, the thought of starting with so little and having wait years to have a complete game will probably keep me from buying it. I will buy it when it is 4 years old...maybe I will be retired by then. ;)

[Alliteration]

Maybe it's the fact that I've followed the series since before the first TS1 expansion, but I really don't care about the featureless first installments. I had fun with Sims 2 for a while, despite lacking everything the fully expanded Sims had, and I had fun with Sims 3, and still do when I can get it to work properly.
Mostly I'd like to see if they fix a lot of the problems that both the Sims 2 and Sims 3 bases had.

[ElementMK]

Maybe it's the fact that I've followed the series since before the first TS1 expansion, but I really don't care about the featureless first installments. I had fun with Sims 2 for a while, despite lacking everything the fully expanded Sims had, and I had fun with Sims 3, and still do when I can get it to work properly.
Mostly I'd like to see if they fix a lot of the problems that both the Sims 2 and Sims 3 bases had.I used to be fine with this, but each game has smaller changes in each iteration. TS1 and TS2 are practically different games, whereas base TS3 is, in a lot of ways, TS2 with spruced-up graphics and an open world. I imagine the new features TS4 brings to the table will be not-quite-revolutionary, which means the lack of content will stand out.

I can't see myself buying TS4 anytime soon unless they make an effort to include EP elements to a greater degree and bring some big changes to the series.

[candesco]

It would be nice if EA stops to make a ridiculous amount of expansions and stuffpacks. I can't think of any other game who has that. Heck, some games don't have any expansions at all, like S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Shadow of Chernobyl or Risen or The Witcher or Planescape: Torment. I find also that the stuffpacks aren't worth their money, as they add not much to the game. And some expansions are quite a joke, like Showtime. Quality instead of quantity, that is what the sims needs.
If there comes a TS4 i will first see if it is worth it's money.

[zigersimmer]

I'll be there along with you. I mean, someone has to report back to all the doubtfuls, right?

I'm counting on you guys. Otherwise, how would I know when it is time to make the move?

[AnnaIME]

It would be nice if EA stops to make a ridiculous amount of expansions and stuffpacks. I can't think of any other game who has that. Heck, some games don't have any expansions at all, like S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Shadow of Chernobyl or Risen or The Witcher or Planescape: Torment. I find also that the stuffpacks aren't worth their money, as they add not much to the game. And some expansions are quite a joke, like Showtime. Quality instead of quantity, that is what the sims needs.
If there comes a TS4 i will first see if it is worth it's money.

The Witcher had an expansion if you define "expansion" as "improvements and more content". So did The Witcher 2.

[GnatGoSplat]

I would be happy to give up TS3 for TS4 if it will be a lot faster, more efficient, more stable, and much less bloatier. It's the only modern game I have where load and save times are measured in minutes instead of seconds.

Although somehow, I doubt TS4 will be faster, more efficient, more stable, or less bloaty.

[SommarBlomma]

I'm one of those that won't install TS4 right after it's released. I prefer to get to know about the game, watch videos, read reviews and comments, see screenshots before I install it on my computer. Besides, moving from a complete collcetion of EPs, epmty as they are in TS3, to just a base game, is not fun. I want a lot of functions and stuff to do in game. And, the last but not the least, TS4 will probably have much hgher requirements that TS3 with all its EPs. my old computer could handle TS2 with its EPs and SPs pretty well, but I couldn't even play TS3 base game on it, not saying about EPs, CC, and at least medium settings. If I won't need a new, more powerful computer for anything else but TS4, I'll rather wait.

[Aladhruin]

I KNOW at this point, that I will not even consider TS4 unless the greatest modders and creators out there (here) are actually asked by EA to take part in creating the game itself. i mean TS3 is ridiculously poor in itself, without the mods. Although, one of its appeals i guess must be the fact that you can add mods into it, but modding is not for everyone (I personally couldn't create one, haven't got it in me). also, i can't understand how EA (or whoever) can so blatantly ignore what we simmers want in the game (seasons? all our ideas for expansion packs?) Do they give diddly about simmers' opinion? dont think so.

[kennyinbmore]

I guess I'm one of the few who will get TS4 at launch regardless.



I'll be there along with you. I mean, someone has to report back to all the doubtfuls, right?

I gues sthat makes at least three of us. I guess I'm the only person that wasn't disappointed with the TS3 base game.

[sierrakusterbeck]

I KNOW at this point, that I will not even consider TS4 unless the greatest modders and creators out there (here) are actually asked by EA to take part in creating the game itself. i mean TS3 is ridiculously poor in itself, without the mods. Although, one of its appeals i guess must be the fact that you can add mods into it, but modding is not for everyone (I personally couldn't create one, haven't got it in me). also, i can't understand how EA (or whoever) can so blatantly ignore what we simmers want in the game (seasons? all our ideas for expansion packs?) Do they give diddly about simmers' opinion? dont think so.
I highly doubt they'd ask modders to help with creating the game. Modding and creating a whole new game itself are both really different things. Also, they'd have to pay them, teach them how to use their programs, etc.

[ani_]

I gues sthat makes at least three of us. I guess I'm the only person that wasn't disappointed with the TS3 base game.

I wasn't the least disappointed by the base game. For a base game it was amazing. Gardening and fishing from the start, CAST, open hood, books, ingredients, recipes, interactive careers, hobbies, bikes, portable stuff, real laptops and much more. There were so many great things about it that I had no idea we will get. I knew about gardening and fishing, open hood, cast and laptops. So many things came as a pleasant surprise, so while playing I had a lot of "OMG I can't believe I'm doing this!" moments.

All things do come to an end TS3 is no exception. I'm still hoping the rumour of 10 EP's is true. Magic most likely is the next one, and I do believe in weather being there too, that would leave us with 2 more surprise EPs. Honestly, if the series would end after magic and weather I would be happy as well.

Having the series come to and end is both good and bad. Bad in the way that it's fun to get new things, good in the way that finally the game will be static. No more updates for mods and CC will be needed.

What comes to jumping into the TS4 wagon. Well, I don't have any plans to switch. I play the game so slow I've not yet done even a fraction of all the things you can do in the game. I always regretted never having a witch in TS2 because I switched to TS3, so this time I want to experience the whole thing more deeply before switching. TS4 needs to be really amazing for me to switch. Who knows, maybe it is and I'll end up the first one abandoning TS3 even thou currently I just love the game to bits.

[kennyinbmore]

What comes to jumping into the TS4 wagon. Well, I don't have any plans to switch. I play the game so slow I've not yet done even a fraction of all the things you can do in the game. I always regretted never having a witch in TS2 because I switched to TS3, so this time I want to experience the whole thing more deeply before switching. TS4 needs to be really amazing for me to switch. Who knows, maybe it is and I'll end up the first one abandoning TS3 even thou currently I just love the game to bits.

Just one man's opinion but you didn't miss anything with the TS2 witches, but I get what you're saying. There were a lot of things in TS2 that I never did as well, but once story progression and the open world were announced for TS3, I knew I was switching regardless of what hadn't gotten done. I'm like you in that with my having a full time job and an 8 yr old to care for, I haven't even come close to doing everything that's possible in the game. I'm hoping by the time TS4 comes out, I've done some of those things because I'm pretty sure on launch day I'll be switching to TS4

[iheartcowcapoos]

I'm still hoping the rumour of 10 EP's is true. Magic most likely is the next one, and I do believe in weather being there too, that would leave us with 2 more surprise EPs.

or two more crap EPs.

[jay_envy]

I'm still hoping the rumour of 10 EP's is true. Magic most likely is the next one, and I do believe in weather being there too, that would leave us with 2 more surprise EPs.

Some of the possible EPs that were described in those surveys sounded quite intriguing, like the University reboot or that vacation island idea, so could two more be that awful? That is unless they decide to follow through with that moronic reality show EP idea, considering we really don't need another fucking way for our sims to become famous, do we?

Instead of having TS4, I would thoroughly enjoy a reboot of the original The Sims! Not an exact copy but just something that has a similar tone to the TS1 but updated and new. They could use this intro as well http://youtu.be/fwFsmQu71BE :up:

[ani_]

Some of the possible EPs that were described in those surveys sounded quite intriguing, like the University reboot or that vacation island idea, so could two more be that awful? That is unless they decide to follow through with that moronic reality show EP idea, considering we really don't need another fucking way for our sims to become famous, do we?

Oh God no we don't.
But uni and vacation island could be cool.