Why do people want a University EP?

[ninedoors]

This is just a general question, not meant to be all 'University sucks!' or anything like that. Now that Supernatural has been announced, many simmers are dying for a seasons EP and a university one. I'm definitely in the seasons camp, considering it was one of my faves.

One of my least favourites, however, was university. Maybe it was because I had a crappy computer so I just remember everything taking such a long time. I did love the concept but felt the whole process daunting. It seemed to take forever to get through a year and I scarcely remember having any of my sims actually graduate.

So I'm generally curious: what am I missing about University? Uni-lovers, why do you want it back? And, just for fun, since some features of University have been added with various TS3 EPs, what are some new ideas/twists you'd like to have added to the EP if it ever comes back? Or what would you hate to have come back?

[frankie]

Because my Sims deserve to gradunate with higher edumacation.

[lisfyre]

~~wades in~~

Because when EA said they'd be doing Sims 3, EVERYONE in the community told them NOT TO rehash the old Sims 2 game, otherwise, it would be oh so pointless. Fast forward to 2009 - the community was like... oh shocker, no seasons, weathers?!?!?! NO PETS?!?!?! NO UNI?!?!? NO ALIENS?!?!?! NO VAMPIRES?!?!? NO WEREWOLVES?!?!? NO OFB?!?!?!?!

So.. EA brought out LN for vamps, then Pets, now they're going to bring out SuperNatural for werewolves, revamped vampires, fairies and whatever else.. Then EA is also going to launch Seasons/Weather for the weather wishers (I am one of them). So, now we have people wanting Uni and OFB ... sounds like a rehash of Sims 2 to me with just better graphics and CASt :)

Oh and don't forget - Sims 4 is in the works and the community doesn't want a rehash of Sims 2/SIms 3... blah, blah, blah... and here we go again.

ON TOPIC: As for University, I never had it in SIms 2 and if they do bring it back, I would seriously love to see graduates go directly into their jobs that they majored in from University. Higher pay if they went to Uni, if they didn't then they should be paid less for the same job. Have that sort of competitiveness in the game. I'd also like to see sims not get accepted into Uni because they didn't have good enough grades when they graduated high school. I'd love to see the Education career expanded because of this. Elementary/Middle/High school teachers go to their respective schools and University Professors go to work at the University. And please God, let it be a rabbit hole because I have no desire to micro manage each and every sim in each and every little thing they have to do. Non RH's are overrated and I don't get the charm of non RH's. It's very appropriate in certain professions but not school please.

That's my 2 simoleons on the subject :)

~~throws 2 simoleons on the ground~~~

[Anniversary]

I imagine the general reason would probably be that those people liked University.

[sierrakusterbeck]

I would love it if it was harder to get into Uni if they did it for Sims 3. In TS2 you got in even if you didn't go to a single day of school and were failing, which I thought was really unrealistic.
Sims could apply to colleges via the computer or maybe the Business Tower rabbit hole. They could wait a few sims days and get their letter saying they did or didn't get into the university they wanted to get into through the mail. If they got in they'd have a nice moodlet for about a week and vice versa.
I want them to have to buy text books from the store and pay rent for dorms (I think the dorms should work the way dorms worked in TS2; I hate the apartments that came with LN). I want them to get either a "Stressed" or "Prepared" moodlet before final exams. And I think it would be nice if Young Adults-Elders that didn't get the chance to go to college as a teen could take online courses or go to a community college for a chance at a better job.
To sum up the whole post, I want a more realistic version of college, opposed to TS2's "just read a few skill books, do 2 assignments a day, and show up to your final exam and you'll pass".

[DeathByBeingStoned]

And please God, let it be a rabbit hole because I have no desire to micro manage each and every sim in each and every little thing they have to do. Non RH's are overrated and I don't get the charm of non RH's. It's very appropriate in certain professions but not school please.

If I remember correctly in TS2 the sim would walk off to class, be gone a few hours, than come back. So I have no doubt that if they did give us universities that it wouldn't be much more than a modification of the current schooling system. Your YA/A Sim would probably go to a uni RH, pop out a few hours later with a homework assignment and be on their way.


To sum up the whole post, I want a more realistic version of college, opposed to TS2's "just read a few skill books, do 2 assignments a day, and show up to your final exam and you'll pass".

I dunno, sound like college to me. :lol:

[frankie]

In all seriousness, I really do want a University remake because of the new gameplay in Sims 3. With the loading screen, a college experience can be much more entertaining when going from the dorms to class to the library to the coffeehouse to the bar, etc. Plus, our adults and older can attend college, since young adult is no longer a college-exclusive life stage. Sims would also be able to choose to live in the dorms, their own apartment (a la Apartment Life), or at home. I had a lot of fun with The Sims 2 University, but I feel that the college experience in Sims 3 would be much better.

And if you are worried that college would take too long to finish, then by all means, sleep your way to a degree... no strings attached! ;)

[Shimrod101]

Uni was the most boring thing they ever made in the entire franchise history.

[Kestie Freehawk]

Many people feel that University settings make for the best parties and the best social pairing for their sims. University is pretty much all I play in Sims 2, I play the houses to grow up more children for University. After college they have 10+ plus freinds and can top their careers and party more as young married. I dont like bar scenes but home social events are fun and ganging up to raise the kids is easier. You put your pairs in a tight neighborhood setting and they always have company popping in and out.

[tiffyandthewall]

I don't necessarily want a whole EP devoted to university - I'd hoped they would have incorporated aspects of it into Generations - but what I liked about it was that it gave a difference between YA and adult. I liked that it was a sort of community within a community and the quirks that went with it, both of which I think could have translated well (and been improved!) into TS3

[lisfyre]

@sierrakusterbeck - agreed!! Also have the flexibility to either live at home and go to university/college or live in the dorm - depending on their financial status. And that's another thing I forgot to include - REAL APARTMENTS!! Please for the love of SimGoddess!! My sims need real apartments!!

@DeathByBeingStoned - The reason I specifically said that is because you have a lot of people in the community that absolutely hate RabbitHoles. It's a double edged sword really. I love the NonRH for the PI, Interior Designer and Stylist jobs because it makes sense. I hate it for the others because if you have a house of 5 people and most or all of them want a nonRH job then you're micromanaging each and everyone of them which is real PITA. I want to enjoy my play time not get stressed by it.

@frankie - You mean you're not supposed to sleep thru college? Hmmmm......

I'm not one of the "we need Uni" wishers, but if EA released one, I'd get it. What I'd really like to see and been asking since Sims 2 is a farming style EP. Cows for milk, butter and meat. Chicken for eggs and chicken. Turkeys, sheep. Have the Farmer job/career instead of just Gardener. Skills like making butter, ice cream, cheese. Sell your eggs, cheese, butter, steaks, chicken, turkey to the grocery store. I hate that we "grow" hotdogs, cheese, eggs, steaks... that's only true if you're a vegetarian/vegan and they wouldn't be the real thing.

Another huge thing that EA REALLY needs to address - the ability to stay at a profession level and not getting higher if you don't want to. Good example is the medical career - if you just want to stay at Nurse, you should be able to and not need or have to get the next promotion to Doctor.. or whatever the next one is. THat would probably entail them to do the "split" like they do in the music career - Hit Movie Composer or Rock Star. They should have done that at the outset. Sigh. OK that's all the ideas I got for now... it could change in about a minute or two so I'll stop right here :)

[frankie]

I agree that it should have been a feature in Generations. But I'm still hopeful for a university remake. Actually, UNI and AL could easily be combined. We don't really need a whole pack of just apartments, since it's no longer a new feature to justify its own EP. And then Seasons and BV can be combined. That would leave us with one EP left (assuming that there will be ten) that could bring us the theme park idea from the survey. :)

EDIT: Lisfyre, I meant "sleep" your way through college, lol. This is where the abandoned "wanton" trait could come in handy. ;)

[matrix54]

I wouldn't say have an entire EP devoted to college, but have it readily available at some point sounds like a pretty reasonable argument, maybe via rabbit hole, or have a Sims leave the the town or something, IDK.

Online? XD

[lisfyre]

EDIT: Lisfyre, I meant "sleep" your way through college, lol. This is where the abandoned "wanton" trait could come in handy. ;)

I knew what you meant.. I was just being cheeky :)

[el_flel]

I liked University because it was great for socialising. College sims aren't as tied down as when they have jobs or school so they have more time to spend making friends/romancing. Plus living in dorms gives them access to loads of new people. There are perks to socialising at university too, such as greek houses and secret societies. Many of my sims meet their future spouses and lifelong friends at college.

I also think it would be cool in an open neighbourhood for the reasons that frankie posted. All the different community lots in TS2 University were neat but I'd like to see them implemented in an open world where it's easier to access them. You could send your sim to class and then afterwards they could hang out with friends in the student union before heading off to the library to study. All seamlessly.

[PunkyBreester]

I can see how it could be an interesting and worthwhile EP, if they did it right. I wasn't a big fan of TS2's Uni, it seemed to get REAL repetitive real fast. For TS3, I like all of sierrakusterbeck's ideas. I also like the idea of perhaps having a choice between community college (cheaper, live at home, general degree), a university (more expensive, more versatile and rewarding degree, option of dorms), or different trade schools (certificates that only go towards a certain career field). I think it'd be a good idea to have rabbitholes you could plop down in your home world if you wanted your sims to get degrees without much player involvement, or you can send them off to a sub-hood "campus" (like the WA worlds).

On the campus world, I envision several different RHs for different classes (ie, the art building, sciences, business, etc), the admin offices, several little "hangouts", the library... Sims could get a part-time job at the uni shop, cafe, perhaps librarian's assistant, etc. Your sim would attend different classes depending on the chosen degree plan / major. I'd like being sent off on little quests for "homework", or maybe for extra credit assignments (b/c I know not everyone would like that idea so much). I think it'd work similarly to the Ambition's careers' assignments (interview so-and-so, read and write a review on this book, study for this long at the library), and the WA adventure quests (collect samples of these rocks/gems and bring them back to the lab, bring these ingredients to cooking class tomorrow, take photos of these subjects, etc).

I love the idea of sims sitting around the library, or at the cafe getting espresso after espresso, with a stack of books cramming for finals / on their laptop writing that 50 page economics essay that's due tomorrow :giggler: I loved being able to raise your grades by making certain, ahem, "arrangements" with your professors. If and when they give us actual sports, it would be awesome to have your sims attend games and pep rallies. And of course, throwing out of control parties :beer:

[cameranutz2]

Uni was the most boring thing they ever made in the entire franchise history.

Totally agree.

All you're missing is watching them do homework or working on skills and stressing out that they have no free time for parties or friends.

The best mod ever made was the phonebook that allowed ya to cheat in Uni and get them the hell outta there.

The boarding school system from GEN allows them to get a "higher education" and still lets you play your actives while they are away "gaining skills". When they come back it's the same concept as Uni...get a "career" in which the "years" of schooling have trained you for when ya come home as a YA.

[frankie]

I think a University remake, along with Apartment Life and new skill-based sports could make up for an EP. Swimming could become a skill, like fishing. And our Sims could have a slew of other kinds of activities. This is also the perfect pack for adding a new "class" system that allows the game to differentiate among lower-, middle-, and upper-class Sims, as well as introducing a first-ever feature in EDIT TOWN where you can either drag areas to designate their social class or edit each lot to designate its social class.

[ButchSims]

To me, the only thing worthwhile about Uni was the Young Adult stage. Since most Sims start at that age, It wouldn't add much, IMO. BUT, maybe if they made it a small town/campus all it's own, so you could still have the open world concept, it could be worthwhile to me. Lots could be specific to campus life, and could even re-use current types, like the gym, a hangout, a library etc. Parks could be represented with a Quad. Add a few unique lots, that sports option that was mentioned, and the ability to move your sims to a new town once they graduate, and it could add something to the game.

[Spiritbw]

I rather like the idea of having University if it was a sort of Uni/Al mix that also gave us better apartment buildings at the same time. A number of the other ideas around there are good too I think including it being online courses, RH colleges or even the sub-world a la WA. Make it flexale so people can play it thier way.

[ninedoors]

Your sim would attend different classes depending on the chosen degree plan / major. I'd like being sent off on little quests for "homework", or maybe for extra credit assignments (b/c I know not everyone would like that idea so much). I think it'd work similarly to the Ambition's careers' assignments (interview so-and-so, read and write a review on this book, study for this long at the library), and the WA adventure quests (collect samples of these rocks/gems and bring them back to the lab, bring these ingredients to cooking class tomorrow, take photos of these subjects, etc).


Ahhh, I love the idea of incorporating some Ambitions-style assignments and WA quests to make things seem a bit more active than clicking on an object and watching your Sim suffer through it. I also like introducing some versatility so you can control just how involved you (and your Sims) will be in your Sims' educations.

You guys have some wicked ideas for the EP and it's making me long for proper apartments rather than whatever the hell we got in LN. I'm not sure if EA will go for a sub-world with a university EP because of how they have set up the WA ones. But I kinda like the idea of it being part of the town, like a new neighbourhood that has a campus section. Major cities with universities tend to have a student section where the university/college dominates, so it would be neat to see that. Houses around there would be priced lower and, if they're ever to introduce fully functioning apartments/dorms, rent could be lower there, too. And of course you'd have a campus library, buildings, all that.

And omg, pep rallies. Go Llamas go!

I think you guys have discovered my discontented with the EP: horribly repetitive and mundane activities. I know that's a little ironic considering this is the Sims but having some more options outside of choosing from a solid amount of majors seems to be what's needed.

[QueenJimmyIV]

I wouldn't want an entire expansion pack dedicated to schooling per se, but I would want some of those gameplay options back. Maybe not as LONG of an experience (oh my gosh the semesters took foreverrrrr) but even the ability to attend school on a college lot or even several classes at a restaurant/science lab/etc rather than just one or an online university would be great. University also had some cool gameplay that would be fun. Pranksters with awesome pranks that aren't even in Sims 3, streakers, sprinklers, cool clothing, new careers, the reaper resurrection phone, small tech gadgets (mp3 players, handheld video games), etc.

However, half the content from University has been spread out among various EPs and even some items in the store (Cowplant) so it would need to be paired with something else in order to be worth it, in my opinion. Maybe pair it with OFB, opening up rabbitholes so that we can navigate our work day with this hard-earned degree, plus more party stuff? Maybe use it as an excuse to go back to the Sims 2 version of Apartments that people are begging for? I could see that happening. However, like I said, University has been stripped quite a bit from the Sims 2 gameplay AND objects that it just wouldn't be able to stand on its own.

[ani_]

I can't talk for the general public but the reason I want uni is because it would bring another level to Sims lives. Currently, I'm using these (http://newrochellesims.blogspot.fi/p/custom-careers-as-university-majors.html) uni careers in my game. I have slightly modified them, turned them into part time instead of full time jobs, and tweaked the required needed skills accordingly.

The downfall of this mod is that your Sim can't have two jobs, so they will either need to be self employed or have enough money to survive while in uni. Then I have my own rules about how long uni lasts, how much Sims need to pay the town to enroll and so on.

Yes I do want uni. But I do not want the TS2 uni EP. It was a good concept but as many have stated, it was too boring, too long, too repetitive. I barely had the energy to get my first Sim through uni when the EP came out. Also the whole living in a separate hood was such a bad idea. Uni didn't become fun for me until I found the mods that let you send sims to uni in your main hood.

Not having uni, well I obviously want it but if it never comes, I can live with that. I'd rather have EA work on opening the restaurant or re-doing OFB.

[Issie]

If they do implement university I hope they make it available to all life stages and not just young adults. Technically you can go back and study no matter how old you are.

[screechingvilnce45]

Because they have nothing better to do with their lives.

[chyrun]

I couldn't care less about university.

[Isalinnea]

Hello. =D

I'd like to say that Uni was probably my second favorit sims 2 expansion, only Pets beat it. Why? Because of the.. Well... Feeling. I loved sending my teenage sims to that desert-like university to get sort of a break from the ordinary sims lives that you always let your sims live. It was something that felt special to me. I loved how random npc:s like cheerleaders and mascots just came by your house or wherever you lived and interrupted whatever you were doing to sing you a school-song. ^.^ Ah, the good times of sims 2...

But I don't want it to be made for the sims 3. They could never, ever, recreate that feeling of freedom in the sims three. Unless they let the young adults travel away to another town and leave the rest of the family behind like they did in the sims 2, which I doubt they'll be able too now with their "open-worlds". Unless they did evrything exactly the same, it wouldn't be the same feeling anymore, if you get what I mean? And who would want an exact replica of something that was already made? I surely wouldn't. No, I think that masterpieces like that should not be touched. But yeah, that's just my opinion. ^.^

[IzzyBess]

I agree with Isalinnea, it wouldn't be possible to create something like that for TS3. Mostly I guess because of the story progression - you leave whole family behind and what's happening while you are away? Mom having 3 affairs, sister marrying some girl she met at school, dad changing his job to cinema clerk, 2 new siblings and 5 new pets? No way.
I used to like university in TS2, but only with mod that made it shorter, otherwise it took too much time to get through all "years". Loved the idea to persuade someone else to write your final work or however it was called lol.

[gege_sml]

Right now it just seems like the Sims skip from the age of 16 to 25..I loved some features in Uni like choosing your major, joining sororities, becoming "friends" with the professors (haha).. true fact that I don't think I played with it that much in Sims 2 as I'd probably play right now...

[aGOLDENbox]

And please God, let it be a rabbit hole because I have no desire to micro manage each and every sim in each and every little thing they have to do. Non RH's are overrated and I don't get the charm of non RH's. It's very appropriate in certain professions but not school please.


I agree with your response, especially the bolded. I have read on this forum that some would like to have the school rabbit hole opened and see what their sims do during class but I don't get how sitting through a lecture would be interesting gameplay.

I liked TS2 University because it gave me a new life stage with a specific goal (of going to college to get that life stage) but it was very fluid and I didn't have to play a specific way to maintain it/I could tell my own story with how I decided my sim's college experience would be.

I think an University expansion pack would be great for TS3 because of the open world and the possibility for some Ambition-like activities where for an assignment students would have to walk up and get survey information from college sims, drop eggs off the top of buildings, .etc. I think the University world should maybe be its own world like the vacation lots, unless the TS3 team can pull off a way to do it a world that fits all the other rabbit holes. A community college rabbit hole would also be good for home worlds, so lower-income, older sims or sims that just want to take a class and improve their skill points without going to a bunch of different rabbit holes. I think the option to attend an University should be for young adult sims (or maybe a new life stage) because that would set the ages more apart and give it a bigger purpose.

I would also want that expansion pack to give back the private school option. Maybe you don't have to impress a headmaster, but you would have to pay tuition (unless you were a smchoozer that talked their way out of it, were a high enough celebrity parent that the school wouldn't charge because their child would bring a lot of attention and some prestige or a frugal sim would find coupons or something to bring the cost down a few simeoleans). If we get private school I would also want the ability to set my own uniform, like the ability to set your own job uniform in Showtime.

[wolfsbayne]

For me it would enhance the difference between young adult and adult - at the moment there doesn't seem to be any difference which makes it kind of pointless. It should have been part of generations and the fact that it wasn't suggests to me that they were already planning it as a later expansion pack.

There are so many aspects they could introduce that would make it interesting - dorm enemies, clubs/societies, social life as well as the academic side of things. Degree entry requirements needing a combination of skills and grades dependent on subject, etc. Actually give the school education system a purpose.

[LE102071]

And just think if they make a Uni version for TS3, where they have a sub-town - since we're getting wand-waving magic.. we could literally send our 'kids' to Hogwarts... :P

I had Uni, and sent all of my in-game kids there to graduate. So, while I'm much more interested in a Seasons.. I wouldn't be upset with a Uni too.

Peace

[BartholomewMaximillion]

I agree with Isalinnea, it wouldn't be possible to create something like that for TS3. Mostly I guess because of the story progression - you leave whole family behind and what's happening while you are away? Mom having 3 affairs, sister marrying some girl she met at school, dad changing his job to cinema clerk, 2 new siblings and 5 new pets? No way.
I used to like university in TS2, but only with mod that made it shorter, otherwise it took too much time to get through all "years". Loved the idea to persuade someone else to write your final work or however it was called lol.
They can do it WA-style. Main family stays frozen and untouchable until the college kid comes back (hopefully with some accomplishment).

[IzzyBess]

Even doing it WA-style would be pointless in my opinion. Vacation last for few days, not +15 like usual YA lifespan. A lot of things could happen during these days so other world being frozen for whole age stage is just makes no sense at all.
I guess that rabbitholes would be the best solution for this, but still it wouldn't be the same.

[Isalinnea]

Indeed, IzzyBess, that's what I'm talking about here. It wouldn't be the same if you didn't get to go to a whole different place with different rules, different peaple and a different playstyle. But with the system that EA has gone for with the sims three, where everything happens all the time and not just where you happen to be at the moment, that just wouldn't work. And without that, it would just not be the same feeling to it. It would just be like adding another age-category(Or maybe even just modyfing young adult a bit) and then I bet EA feels like they're done with it.

[olomaya]

I'd be happy with university features introduced to the game or a University EP but University isn't that high on my list of remakes (OFB!!!!!). Mostly I agree with gege_sml's comment about the abrupt jump in life stages from teen to YA. It would be nice if there was an opportunity for young Sims to have some adult fun without wants to get a job, get married, etc. yet. I also think the game desperately needs new careers. I really don't play Ambitions careers anymore because they require too much time on a single Sim and that doesn't fit my playing style.

I liked the survey University EP idea and would buy that. Real apartments, the ability (or the hint of the ability) for kids to go to college, these are things I'd be interested in seeing.

[gege_sml]

I think that if they make an University EP this would be the perfect time to introduce business again (if they ever plan to introduce it to Sims 3 again, which , unfortunately , I highly doubt, since we have Ambitions already :( ) ..they wouldn't necessarily have to create an EP that's focused ONLY in Unversity, they could expand the theme and add more stuff related to jobs and business

[BartholomewMaximillion]

Even doing it WA-style would be pointless in my opinion. Vacation last for few days, not +15 like usual YA lifespan. A lot of things could happen during these days so other world being frozen for whole age stage is just makes no sense at all.
Not necessarily. If you've maxed out your visa and acquired the reward that extends vacations, then you can easily stay there for weeks. Longest vacation I've had was 18 days in Shang Simla. That's long enough to graduate from a sim university, isn't it?

[birdyfly]

For the University expansion pack, I feel it will need some added features to give it extra oomph. A University expansion is quite possible, but it seems EA is doing their best to avoid making sub neighborhoods (aside from the worlds in WA). This might be due to lag issues, loading screens, or they just don't want to make any more sub worlds.

For a University expansion pack for the Sims 3, I could see it a little like this.
The colleges would be IN the world as rabbit holes, like the school is. There, you can find majors and going to college will advance you in your career as an adult either faster, or say, once you start the job, you will be at a level 2 instead of level 1 due to having a college major in that field.
Another, but harder option would to have an application process where you could be denied a job due to not meeting the requirements. This would add a fun challenge, but it would require EA to redo the careers again AND could make some simmers angry and frustrated due to having their sims rejected on a job. Personally, I think the first option would be a bit nicer and easier to add to the game.

There could be specialized colleges, or there could just be one general college rabbit hole.

Instead of apartments (since EA already added it and they are probably not going to change them), maybe have dorms. The dorms could be similar to the Sims 2 apartments and the Sims 2 dorms combined. These would be much cheaper to live in than an apartment, and would be a perfect time to add the Murphy Bed and maybe a pull out couch. There could also be the addition of walk-in closets.

Another thing added could be the greek houses and the secret societies, but make them have an increased impact when you become an adult.


I think if we do not alienate the Young Adult college students from the rest of the neighborhood, a Sims 3 University pack would be a lot of fun. It would be lacking on it's own, but maybe add some features of Apartment Life that was missed out on. Or even, they could add some Freetime elements into the university pack to add to it.

[IzzyBess]

Not necessarily. If you've maxed out your visa and acquired the reward that extends vacations, then you can easily stay there for weeks. Longest vacation I've had was 18 days in Shang Simla. That's long enough to graduate from a sim university, isn't it?

Yea, but you don't play always like that, and you have to max visa etc first. I usually spend just few days on vacation even when I can stay longer. Depends on playing style. Anyway, it's just mine opinion that WA-styled university is not the best solution :) :beer:

[HarVee]

I don't care about University, but I do want that awesome 'college rock' radio station back!

[ninedoors]

Yeeeees! 'College rock' was fantastic. I really should look into making custom radio stations. Get some '90s rock angst going and have it blasting from my teens' bedrooms hehe.

[Mera Benzema]

I don't want a EP just for a remake of Uni. Cause there has been done some things about it in Gen. I would love to see the interactions and features in Uni back to TS3.

[lulume]

The boarding school system from GEN allows them to get a "higher education" and still lets you play your actives while they are away "gaining skills". When they come back it's the same concept as Uni...get a "career" in which the "years" of schooling have trained you for when ya come home as a YA.

I think this is the direction any University content would take. It wouldn't be very fun.

But I agree with some of the other comments, that is would be nice to have the school system matter more - like when your sim graduates, they should get some work-related opportunity based on school performance. My sims keep graduating as valedictorian and the only benefit of that is the insane moodlet the whole family gets. It would be nice if they got like a job offer from one of the RHs, with a hiring bonus or higher-start level. Along these lines, I think it would be interesting if sims had to be "qualified" for a job, either through skill, schooling, or relationship with the boss.

[ninedoors]

Along these lines, I think it would be interesting if sims had to be "qualified" for a job, either through skill, schooling, or relationship with the boss.

But don't Sims already have to be qualified for a job? I don't believe that starter-level jobs should have any set of qualifications because for those who don't use cheats, getting a RH job can be extremely important for income. Promotions, however, always require a certain skill level, sometimes relationships with co-workers or your boss/partner, etc., which all count as qualifications.

I know schooling doesn't affect that but in a way, I kind of agree with that. I mean, sometimes it's about the level of degree you have and how well you are qualified for the job. But otherwise, it's who you know. And, as the old saying goes, you don't graduate with a grade on your diploma, so I can't say I'm too bothered with EA not introducing a job reward based on schooling.

[Sgloomi]

Almost everything I'm saying at the moment leads back to NRaas, but what the hell ...

It strikes me that Sims 2 University could be almost perfectly recreated by the Modding Community with the use of the NRaas Traveler. (http://nraas.wikispaces.com/Traveler)

All it would require us a number of small Custom Worlds built to replicate University Campus Towns, with basic rabbitholes like the Grocery and Book stores - plus of course lots and lots of bars.

All it would then require, then, would be a Modder-built Lecture Hall rabbithole, the visiting of which would advance skills. (Or multiple variations on it, each to advance different skills.) And possibly a custom University Student career, the completion of which would set the variable that means you start jobs at a higher level. Then you could just send Teens or Young Adults there with Traveler and set the parameters not to treat it as a vacation for the duration of your stay.

I hasten to add that almost all of this is way beyond by own expertise - but I imagine it would be perfectly possible and easy to to by those who know what they're doing. :)

[PunkyBreester]

Sgloomi - After this thread had me thinking about it, I toyed with the idea of making a "campus" world to use with Traveler, but I think it would be incomplete without the sort of mods you mentioned. That's why I don't think Uni features should have an entire EP devoted to them. Even with some of the more complicated ideas in this thread, we can almost make our own in-depth University gameplay without needing a whole new EP to do it.

Though if EA decided to include Uni aspects into another EP, say, an OFB remake, I'm all for that :)

[anifromid2]

The only thing I really miss from Uni is "hanging out". I really liked how folks would just sit around and chat.

[~MadameButterfly~]

It strikes me that Sims 2 University could be almost perfectly recreated by the Modding Community with the use of the NRaas Traveler. (http://nraas.wikispaces.com/Traveler)

I think the new computer skilling mod, found on this site, would really work well in this type of environment.

http://www.modthesims.info/download.php?t=478271

[Sgloomi]

The only thing I really miss from Uni is "hanging out". I really liked how folks would just sit around and chat.

Again, this is beyond my own expertise - but it strikes me that the Showtime 'watch the stars' interaction could be cloned and made non-Romantic or time-dependent to a very similar effect.

Of course, to do it properly one would have to cut the smoochy animations and somehow make it available to more than two Sims at a time - but as a sorta kludged-together imperfect stop-gap it might work at a stretch.

[zigersimmer]

I agree with your response, especially the bolded. I have read on this forum that some would like to have the school rabbit hole opened and see what their sims do during class but I don't get how sitting through a lecture would be interesting gameplay.

There seems to be two basic camps when it comes to this matter. There are simmers who want to play with focus on an entire family and their interactions with and amongst each other and their friends, frequently in small to medium to (relatively) large group settings. Then there are players who want to focus on playing a single sim RPG-style and don't give a hang about playing an entire family. It is the latter group that wants content that is quest/grind/micromanage every tiny little detail.

They can do it WA-style. Main family stays frozen and untouchable until the college kid comes back (hopefully with some accomplishment).

No, the segregated neighborhood was the worst thing about University. If they do a University EP for TS3 then they should base it on a hybrid rabbithole career like Medical and Film. And they should bring back renting a residence instead of buying it. It should be something fully playable with the rest of the town. A college student could be a live at home student and we continue to play our family; or the student could be living independently or in a roommie situation with other students and we play the roommie situation; or they could add dormitory housing and we play a dormitory lot. I would go for any of those, but I won't go for a segregated neighborhood.

[MrsNervousSubject]

Oh man, now I wish we could choose to rent a home instead of buying it.
And yeah I know, I can subtract money and *pretend* but it's not the same.
Pouty face.

Hah you guys and your socializing talks. All my sims did in University was study and find a partner, and if they didn't? Well there were many lonely nights is all I can say.
I think that reflects badly on me - all work and no fun, even in a game! :P

[frankie]

Oh man, now I wish we could choose to rent a home instead of buying it.
And yeah I know, I can subtract money and *pretend* but it's not the same.
Pouty face.

Hah you guys and your socializing talks. All my sims did in University was study and find a partner, and if they didn't? Well there were many lonely nights is all I can say.
I think that reflects badly on me - all work and no fun, even in a game! :P

There's nothing wrong with making your Sims competitive. I played similarly with Uni. I think I only had one college Sim fail, and it was just to see what would happen. He came back home as an adult with a red X over the YA life stage. Poor Sim. Poor would-be educated Sim. :(

[kiatyn]

This topic makes me want Uni for TS3 -- It, and OFB, were my 2 favorite expansions for TS2. I would hope they could do something similiar with ts2's version. I liked the whole sorority/fraternity and studying aspects, finals, and having to write the massive term paper. :) But then, I liked it IRL, too :)

[frankie]

I do hope that if we get Uni for Sims 3, and we get dorms, the dormmates won't stink all the time. There's nothing more unpleasant than a building full of greenness wafting about.

[J. M. Pescado]

It's like Rule 36, only different: If it exists, someone wants an expansion pack of it.

[FangzV]

I think University would work better in Sims 3's seamless neighborhoods than it does in Sims 2. I was pretty excited for the Uni EP for Sims 2, but Universities became very not-worth-it for me because of how I had to wait and load between lots.
Sims 3's open world system would work great with college life. It'd also be a second chance to improve Uni.

Plus, it has a lot of possibilities for new careers and skills and maybe more whacky traits.

Uni isn't exactly an EP I necessarily want, but if we're given it I won't argue.

[QueenJimmyIV]

I don't want to see the sims in the classroom. That would be the most boring and frustrating part of a college expansion ever. Waiting four sim hours for the three classmates your sim has to sit down and quit gabbing on about Nessie while your sim recycles animations for a while and then gets up to go to another class but can't route past his three classmates and is now late.

Give me a partial rabbithole situation where I can see the building, see them enter it, but only have the classes last a couple hours at a time so that my sim can go to their part-time job or mingle in the courtyard or food court until their next class. This way, they go to class and have the option of learning rather than the option of making friends with Betty The-Rabbithole-Can't-Detect-My-Traits-That-COMPLETELY-Conflict-With-Your-Sims who, from that point forward, come over to aggravate you and then be upset with your sim if the friendship stinks like expensive cheese.

[High Plains Gamer]

So I'm generally curious: what am I missing about University?

Streakers!

Uni-lovers, why do you want it back?

Streakers!

Seriously, the first time I saw a streaker, or had a sim streak, I thought it was the most hilarious thing I had ever seen in a computer game. I laughed and laughed and laughed.

Also, the whole dorm environment added so much for social interaction. Each dorm was its own little community, with each sim having a single room, but getting to interact with so many other sims. (The same thing with apartment buildings, but not as much.) The sims could go out into a common area and study with, play games with, or woohoo with, or do so much other stuff with a group of sims their own age.

It is different than a family because families typically have sims of different ages and interests. In the dormitory, most sims are in the same place emotionally and otherwise.

In the sims 3, I would like to see it be less structured. I would like sims to be able to spend more time engaging in all the silly stuff people do in college in real life. I would like to see sims engage in five and six year plans rather than the typical four years of school then graduate. That is, the sims would collect credit hours, and when they had enough credit hours they could graduate.

[virgalibabe]

There seems to be two basic camps when it comes to this matter. There are simmers who want to play with focus on an entire family and their interactions with and amongst each other and their friends, frequently in small to medium to (relatively) large group settings. Then there are players who want to focus on playing a single sim RPG-style and don't give a hang about playing an entire family. It is the latter group that wants content that is quest/grind/micromanage every tiny little detail.



No, the segregated neighborhood was the worst thing about University. If they do a University EP for TS3 then they should base it on a hybrid rabbithole career like Medical and Film. And they should bring back renting a residence instead of buying it. It should be something fully playable with the rest of the town. A college student could be a live at home student and we continue to play our family; or the student could be living independently or in a roommie situation with other students and we play the roommie situation; or they could add dormitory housing and we play a dormitory lot. I would go for any of those, but I won't go for a segregated neighborhood.

You couldn't be more wrong. Micro-manage does not equal grind quests. Just as because something isn't a rabbit hole that doesn't mean you must micro-manage it.

I do admit that the biggest appeal of the Sims games for me is the level of control I have. I would not only like to manage one sim or one household, I'd like to manage the entire neighborhood.

I'm god and the sims are my subjects to be puppeteered by me however I want. Do we even need to play the game anymore? I bet I could just start it up and watch it play itself.

They could give us easy tools to be able to manage a lot without it turning it into micromanagement. Just take a look at Twallan's mods and JM's Awesomemod.

The reason I want uni back is for the overal experience. I do admit that the TS2 EP felt like a drag but there are reasons for this.

A) The YA were confined to their uni subworld. This limited the game-play severely.
B) Semesters were too long. The game was so easy you could have everything maxed in a two three days and then you had to wait to advance to the next semester. I think they took the semesters thing too seriously and tried to do it too realistic.

There were plenty of things they got right though. The dorms for example were a lot of fun. There were several ways to advance through uni. You could either spend your time studying, slack through the whole thing or get romantically involved with your professors.

They got the shenanigans right. Streaking, the mascot rivalry, the pranks, the secret society, the sororities and such. They also made sure you had plenty of options to pay your way through college. Working as a barista or in the cafeteria, joining a band etc.

I think we could have all of that without banning the sims to a subhood. I mean just take a look at the ambitions lots. When I first played the firefighter career I would go home just to pay the bills. Sims wouldn't have to move to a subhood to go to uni. They could stay at home or move into various dorms.

I mean TS2 style dorms. Unlike the shitty excuse we got for apartments with LN. It would be a great way to bring the TS2 style apartments back as well.

I think sims that went to college should have lots of perks. Starting at level 7 of the career that fits their major and at level 4 of any other career. If they decide to start their own business they could receive a start-up grant if they went to university.

What I really enjoyed about the uni graduates in TS2 is that they had some unique interactions they brought back to their "home town". If done well a university-type EP could be a lot of fun.

[zigersimmer]

You couldn't be more wrong. Micro-manage does not equal grind quests. Just as because something isn't a rabbit hole that doesn't mean you must micro-manage it.
You are clearly in the second camp. You may be in complete and total denial of that obvious fact, but an obvious fact it is.

[LilaLipstick]

Currently, I'm using these (http://newrochellesims.blogspot.fi/p/custom-careers-as-university-majors.html) uni careers in my game.

This blog is closed now but you can find these careers here (http://simsetboulevard.com/viewtopic.php?p=58#p58).

[High Plains Gamer]

No, the segregated neighborhood was the worst thing about University. If they do a University EP for TS3 then they should base it on a hybrid rabbithole career like Medical and Film.

After thinking about it, I think the separate college community is the way to go.

College can really break down into two different experiences. First, there are the community colleges, where (generally older) students live and work in the same community where they get their education. We already have that in the game with the various classes one can take. True, you have to go to specific rabbitholes to take these classes, rather than a community college. Functionally, however, it is the same thing. (Perhaps the classes should be moved to a community college rabbithole?)

But the real college experience entails moving away from home and starting school in a new community. I always found that one of the sweetest moments in the Sims 2 was when a Sim graduated from high school and went to college. The sim's family would stand outside wave goodbye. It was one of those moments which really caused me to love the game. Perhaps it was a little to saccharine for some, though.

Also, college towns are a very different beast than your ordinary community. I grew up in a college town (Boulder, CO) and am very aware of the differences. A separate community could really capture life in a college town.

The game engine already has a mechanism for doing this. It is just a variation on the World Adventures model, where the sim leaves town for a set period of time, while time stands still in the base community. This would allow for a semester/year to be played out on a different time scale than the rest of the game. One could have a six day year with two three day semesters. (or longer or shorter). The sim would pay for this much like a vacation. When he got back, his home town would be pretty much the same, without much time passing.

There would be several advantages to doing it this way. First, college is not necessarily something one does right out of high school (although this is the best time to do it.) Older sims could go to college, but may feel a little out of place being surrounded by young adults.

I always found the Sims 2 version to be a little heavy handed with respect to grades and expulsion. If a sim does not get good grades, they should simply end the semester/year with no credits towards graduation, and probably losing any scholarship they have (meaning that they have to pay tuition for the next semester on their own.)

But they should not get some sort of scarlet letter. They should be allowed to go back for another semester/year, but on their own nickle. This leaves the sim to decide whether they want to spend their simoleons on college (which should be quite expensive) or on a nice vacation -- or a new car. Much as in real life.

Quite frankly, the studying aspect of college is probably the most overrated aspect of the experience in both real life and in the game. (Take it from someone with a doctorate.) The real value of college is in the social aspect: the relationships one develops.

[rian90]

I use Twallan's traveler mod and the uni careers listed above to make a college town for my sims. I have only recently started playing with it, but it works pretty well.

[zigersimmer]

After thinking about it, I think the separate college community is the way to go.

College can really break down into two different experiences. First, there are the community colleges, where (generally older) students live and work in the same community where they get their education.
Wow, it's as though you know nothing of college. Community colleges are packed to over flowing with students of the traditional college age. Then again, I don't know how the community colleges in backwater states work. I guess you are familiar with that kind.

[PunkyBreester]

I'm sure most of you have seen this, but I'm just gonna leave this here:

Evening classes (http://nene.modthesims.info/d/480804) for YA+, you can register for regular classes that happen on certain days of the week... Sounds like a good start to what most of this thread has been asking for!

Unfortunately, I have to wait to play with it, I'm still on 1.29 :(

[Jayson422]

I think they need a University expansion because it gives a new task to Young Adults. Mainly young adults always do the same things, but with university you can do new things with your sims. IT should also add new lots such as dorms, fraternities/sororities houses, lodges, and new items to have fun around campus. Make this instead of Seasons, because they should be able to add seasons in a game update.

[BloodyScholastic]

University for the realism. How come life consists school, graduated from school, skip to getting a job. Something is missing between school and job. In TS2 sims are able to get higher education also gain some skills. Closer to realism + simulation aspect + fun. Then university feature got cut off in TS3. If EA said they didn't want to make the "remake" expansion pack, then make University from the beginning in the base game. To make Young Adult can be differentiated from Adult, rather than just having jobs like Adult ones, EA should give Young Adult higher education. It should be optional, they can attend university to gain skills and meet requirement for getting higher salary for future jobs or just skip the uni life to live like Adult. Campus building can be rabbit-holed. It should be possible from the beginning. Come on EA, how come you made TS3 took step backward to TS2?

[matrix54]

Evening classes (http://nene.modthesims.info/d/480804) for YA+, you can register for regular classes that happen on certain days of the week... Sounds like a good start to what most of this thread has been asking for!

I've been saying that for ages, and people just got upset. :rofl:

[Saturnfly]

This is just a general question, not meant to be all 'University sucks!' or anything like that. Now that Supernatural has been announced, many simmers are dying for a seasons EP and a university one. I'm definitely in the seasons camp, considering it was one of my faves.

One of my least favourites, however, was university. Maybe it was because I had a crappy computer so I just remember everything taking such a long time. I did love the concept but felt the whole process daunting. It seemed to take forever to get through a year and I scarcely remember having any of my sims actually graduate.

So I'm generally curious: what am I missing about University? Uni-lovers, why do you want it back? And, just for fun, since some features of University have been added with various TS3 EPs, what are some new ideas/twists you'd like to have added to the EP if it ever comes back? Or what would you hate to have come back?

Clearly you never used Uni as a time for YA's to have fun! But seriously, just because you didn't like it, doesn't mean nobody should like it. You just need to know how to make use of the time.

[emino]

I dont think we need an entire expansion dedicated to university, just a college/uni rabbithole with a few tailored jobs as majors. So when they reached the top of the 'major' they can immediately jumps to higher level jobs. I honestly think its doable by even modders.

[efolger997]

Wow, it's as though you know nothing of college. Community colleges are packed to over flowing with students of the traditional college age.

I'd have to agree with this. I'm going to community college right out of high school, because it's so much cheaper. Not everyone either gets a $20,000 scholarship or has the money to spend on a traditional university. Also, *most* of the students at my high school who are going to college opted to go to the community college - some 60%, I believe. And about 80 or 90 percent of those people planned to transfer to a 4-year school.

Anyway, back on topic. I kind of always thought university was boring too, but I never really got involved with the social stuff in TS2; for me it was just study study study and talk to another Sim for 5 minutes a day. :lol: But with some of the suggestions on this thread, I think it could be really great. I'm not even sure whether I'd prefer a separate 'hood or buildings in the normal 'hood. They both have their benefits. Separate town: get the 'college feel', faster loading times, can fit all the buildings in the town. Integrated: Sims don't miss out on the normal stuff in a town, there are more options for where to live & there is more stuff to do. Right now I'm thinking integrated would be best; the only major downside would be if you had a lot of college buildings (bookstore, administration office, etc.) where would you put them, exactly? Every town would have to be bigger, and already built towns might not have any place to put the new buildings.

[AzaraGore]

I was hoping with the base game Seasons or weather in general would be added as well as other basics such as pets, but I guess it's easier to make a n empty game and throw expansions at your customer base then make a newer game with better graphics and a changed number only to start the cycle again.

[frankie]

the only major downside would be if you had a lot of college buildings (bookstore, administration office, etc.) where would you put them, exactly? Every town would have to be bigger, and already built towns might not have any place to put the new buildings.

In all fairness, EA can just have us use the regular bookstore with additional college textbooks. That would probably be more convenient. However, that still leaves many other college-exclusive buildings for a typical university. At least, a community college rabbit hole can consist of one, large building with multiple entrances/exits and everything included.

[Attercap]

In Sims 2, my favorite expansion was University. I loved the dorms and how they worked--something we kind of see in WA, but at least with Uni, one could "claim" their room. And, I really liked building a Greek house legacy in the world that wasn't attached to a particular sim. University really was it's own game that just happened to be packaged within Sims 2.

Because of the Sims 3 shared storyline/living universe, many of my favorite aspects of University likely wouldn't translate well to current game. If Sims Medieval hadn't flopped so badly, I could envision seeing another spin-off game in University. As it is, I wouldn't mind seeing some form of higher education in Sims 3, but it wouldn't be an expansion that I'd run out and get on its own. Thanks to Mid-Life Crisis Generations helped give a little more divide between Young Adult and Adult, but the characters really don't feel different between the two. Maybe if YA wanted to go out to the bars more than the adults or something... :)

[iheartcowcapoos]

reading about stuff like this makes me want to install TS2 on my new computer and buy all the EPs i never had. i never had OFB or university, but after reading so much about them it makes me wish i had gotten them. seeing as they may never do a release for TS3, i feel like i'm missing out!

[Spiritbw]

Can't help thinking one thing they could do if they did do a Uni EP. Include a slider like they have for setting your sims lifespan that controls the length of the terms in the school year.