Mod The Sims - If Only Two EPs Were Left... Which Survey Themes?

lewisb40

5th Aug 2012, 08:32 PM

I have wanted a higher learning pack for the longest of time, don't really have to be like University. With the open hood, the Uni set up could really work out fine, but want something that allows for part-time enrollment in courses, take a course and gain favors in the job, or seminars. Have the teaching positions be part-time work for elders, especially if they are retired at the top of their field. They can teach life experiences.

I really would enjoy farming, have a reason to make a larger residential lot for my active sims. I want to have a more simpler life playing my sims, I really am sick of playing the rich life. Have more ways to make and sell things produced by the sims hand, grown by their hard work. Have baking, sewing, OMG...knitting! Something a bit different than what is available now.

mickeymouse254

5th Aug 2012, 08:41 PM

I hope for a vacation and teme park one and a OFB and farming one

Howabominable

5th Aug 2012, 08:43 PM

I have pretty much everything I want with Supernatural and Seasons announced. I guess I'd go with university, and some kind of EP that allows home businesses (something like OFB). Other than that, there's really nothing else I can think of.

aeval99

5th Aug 2012, 08:53 PM

Farming would be my first choice. I would love to make use of the rural parts of the worlds and take advantage of the gardening, collecting and crafting aspects of the current game. It would also be a great opportunity to create a barter economy.

I can't say that any of the other options really appeal to me. I'd much prefer an OFB type pack. If they are my only choices, then I would take a vacation pack with a theme park included or some new WA worlds that were more for leisure than adventuring. I'd love to see India, a tropical destination like Bali
and a winter destination like Russia.

QueenJimmyIV

5th Aug 2012, 08:58 PM

I think Reality TV isn't a good choice. Wealth and Power has already been done. I mean, rich sims, fame, celebrity status, butlers, mansions, exclusive clubs, fancy furniture, etc. It's been done. I can't honestly think of anything that Wealth and Power could add to my game.

However, University, OFB, and Farming appeal to me, as does Vacation and Tropical Island. I think Vacation and Tropical Island could be combined, because Tropical Island could be a vacation spot and you could have the gameplay of being stranded in your vacation spot, leading to a Gilligan's Island kind of thing, if you wanted. In that same vein, UNI and OFB could be combined as well, especially for how jam-packed the latest EPs have been and that we already have a lot already opened up to us through Ambitions and somewhat through Generations, though both features were lacking the final touches that would completely satisfy me. Farming, though, might be able to stand on its own, especially if you want to give them a LOT of harvestables and gameplay involving raising farm animals.

So I think if I had to get down to it... a combination of UNI+OFB and then Farming.

frankie

5th Aug 2012, 09:09 PM

I think the closest thing to OFB would be the Island one because the survey mentioned businesses for that theme. The list that I provided in the original post would've been much shorter had EA released EP themes properly. LN + SHT + Realty TV could've all been one EP, GEN + UNI another, WA + Vacation + Island another, AMB + OFB + Wealth & Power another, and PETS + Farming another. With Seasons and Supernatural on their own, we would've reach seven EPs this year, which is actually the number we are about to have by September. And the Theme-Park one could be separate, since it's a new idea. That could've been the eighth EP. I'd much rather have fewer but solid EPs than more EPs with useless, half-assed themes thrown into the mix. So, imagine that! Eight, solid EPs that could have made EA a ton of money. They missed the boat far too many times.

olomaya

5th Aug 2012, 09:10 PM

I would want the Vacation one just because it seems to be the closest thing we'll get to OFB. And the University one ONLY to have TS2-style apartments back.

The reality TV idea sounded horrible, I think I would actually quit the Sims 3 altogether if that came out, I'm that repulsed by the idea. The billionaire one sounded boring. I'm "meh" on farming.

frankie

5th Aug 2012, 09:14 PM

Olomaya, the only reason why I would ever be interested in the Wealth & Power one is for the social classes, so that we can have a proper town with wealthy and not-so-wealthy areas that would actually function realistically. Otherwise, I, too, find it a bit on the snoozer side.

VampireSim

5th Aug 2012, 09:15 PM

I don't want more themes. I want more interactions (romantic and socializing).
More stuff to do for children and toddlers. Traits that really affects a sims life.

A kind of "Sims 3 - Extended"

frankie

5th Aug 2012, 09:16 PM

I don't want more themes. I want more interactions (romantic and socializing).
More stuff to do for children and toddlers. Traits that really affects a sims life.

Seasons should take care of that for you. It will include all those things you want. :)

efolger997

5th Aug 2012, 09:20 PM

#1 would be University.
#2 would be something OFB-like. Because I'd love to have open restaurants, clothing stores, and shops. You can have them with mods and custom objects, but it would be amazing if everything was integrated.

I'm "meh" on farming, too. I don't really like gardening at all, and I prefer having "traditional" work. Theme park would be a lot of fun. I feel like vacation has already been covered with WA (if badly, imo). If Wealth & Power or Reality TV came out, I'd never consider buying them!

rian90

5th Aug 2012, 09:30 PM

Farming and something that allows us to run businesses, whichever fits into that theme. By farming, I mean animals, producing food products (cheese, butter, etc.) and the ability to sell your produce at farmers markets or your own person food stand...I do not mean more gardening unless it is harvesting big crops.

medieval_simmer

5th Aug 2012, 09:37 PM

Farming and University would be my choices, since OFB isn't on the list.

PunkyBreester

5th Aug 2012, 09:45 PM

I care about none of those, and to be honest the only one I might actually buy would be Uni, if they included enough new gameplay and features.

The only thing I'm really sorely missing for TS3 is OFB. Please EA, hear my cries for open restaurants and home businesses! D:

aeval99

5th Aug 2012, 09:49 PM

The reality TV idea sounded horrible, I think I would actually quit the Sims 3 altogether if that came out, I'm that repulsed by the idea.
You and me both. That's the most horrifying thing I've ever heard in regard to the Sims. :blink:

DuskTrooper

5th Aug 2012, 09:52 PM

Farming and University would be my choices, since OFB isn't on the list.

This post sums it up for me.

LotrFanboy

5th Aug 2012, 09:58 PM

The only thing I'm really sorely missing for TS3 is OFB. Please EA, hear my cries for open restaurants and home businesses! D:

Agree 100%. Now that we know we're getting Seasons, the only thing that Sims 3 is really missing are OFB businesses. Even though I like the sound of farming, vacations, theme-parks, and university, if EA concludes Sims 3 without giving us the ability to run our own shops, I'll feel like the game is incomplete.

frankie

5th Aug 2012, 10:12 PM

Wow, it seems as if OFB could end up being the next most requested theme just from this thread alone. University and Farming are up there, too. Well, EA! Looks like you need to give it up and grant us OFB.

I remember when OFB was first announced in the leaflet that came with NL. Many comments were not at all in favor of it until we had the game in our hands. Now, it seems to be a favorite. :)

CeJaye

5th Aug 2012, 10:32 PM

University for sure. Be nice if it included stuff geared towards low income sims.

I can't decide between Farming and Wealth & Power. On the one hand, farming would be awesome, but I would also like it to include farm animals like chickens that could be used for eggs and meat so if it didn't include that (or at least nonkillable chickens that could lay eggs and/or just be a pet) I'd be pretty disapointed.

On the other hand, a Wealth & Power EP would be nice; right now the only thing seperating my poor and rich sims is the amount of money. After buying up property, expensive furniture, a huge house, the most expensive car, and hiring a butler, there isn't much for them to do with all that money except pay bills

As for the other items on the list:
Reality TV: Boo, no.Just no.
Theme-Park: I wouldn't mind this as a stuff pack, actually, but I can't see it working as a full on EP.
Tropical Island: Meh. With Seasons coming out soon, and an island custom world, this would be pretty useless as an EP. Maybe a stuff pack with tropical island themed items or something.
Vacation: We already have World Adventures, which is okay enough. Give it up EA, you dropped the ball on that one, move on.

Of course, I'd love a proper Open For Business type EP, but that wasn't on the list. ;) Combining it into a Farming EP would make a lot of sense, and give the people a reason to buy it, who wouldn't buy it otherwise because they don't care for Farming.

MiniMimi

5th Aug 2012, 11:04 PM

1/ OFB-like. I think it's the vacation resort survey that talked about running a business. So "vacations".
Hesitating a bit about the 2 and 3. It depends how they're done, how evolved they would be.
2/ Farming expanded
3/ University

Periandre

5th Aug 2012, 11:38 PM

I don't understand why the island concept isn't seen as the Sims 3 version of OFB...
Make your own jewelry and crafts
Run shops and stands
Start up and manage your own hotel from small beach huts to huge, full-service hotels
...lots of opportunities to make money...

Anyhow, that's my first pick, wealth would be the second.

buxcosim

5th Aug 2012, 11:56 PM

1 - A Tropical Island Vacation (not quest/adventure!) destination with built-in Theme Park items and OFB-style vacation shops (as mentioned in Island survey theme). (All of these really belong in a single EP!)

2 - Farming with additional OFB-style shops that would be more suited to homeworlds.

A pox upon EA's marketing weasels for even suggestion Reality TV (gack!) or Wealth & Power (don't we have enough of that between LN and SHT?). University would be nice, but since YA is already a lifestage, I don't think we need an EP for it. I'd rather them simply use existing features better (classes, apartments as dorms, etc.) as others have already mentioned.

lemonheadian

6th Aug 2012, 12:02 AM

I'm not terribly interested in any of these packs, and to be perfectly honest, if these were the options, I'd probably install the next two packs and skip the rest of the expansions. I understand the desire for some of these EPs, but none of them would dramatically change my gameplay experience. After the whole Showtime expansion, where I realized I'm getting next to nothing for my day to day play, I've become increasingly okay with the idea of skipping EPs.

But honestly, EA has bowled me over with SN & SEA, and I will likely be getting both. None of these topics seem to be in the realm of what EA has been announcing. If after two (theoretically) amazing EPs, they release another substandard Vacation pack, I think the community will riot. Because if the next two are everything they're cracked to be, we'll be expecting more & knowing that EA can provide.

QueenJimmyIV

6th Aug 2012, 12:31 AM

For those of you not interested in any of the options, what kind of EP would you be interested in? Like I posted before, I'd be content with the UNI+OFB combo (since we have some of the gameplay involved already through GEN and AMB so a combo EP wouldn't be so bad) plus Farming (as EP included raising farm animals... if not, it would need to be combined with crafts like knitting, sewing or otherwise), though I do like what someone said about expanding the interactions more. I'm interested in what other people have to say about what they would want in a Sims game.

Spiritbw

6th Aug 2012, 12:40 AM

University would be nice and my wife would be nuts for a Farming one.

crocobaura

6th Aug 2012, 12:59 AM

I choose theme park and tropical island because they are both bound to include vacations and OFB elements. That and I really miss the tiki furniture.

charmedqueen

6th Aug 2012, 01:16 AM

My two are actually tied, since I can't choose what I'd like more.

University, since I miss it from Sims 2, and having higher education would be fun. It'd still work in the open neighbourhood, since it'd have a campus anyway.
Farming... Mostly cause I'm from a small town surrounded by farms, so I want that for my sims. And I want a cow. They're so cute.

fraavio

6th Aug 2012, 04:00 AM

Well, I think that a university EP would be nice. Farming wouldn't be bad either. Or maybe, and this might be in the wrong thread, I think there should be an EP that could give us the option to make a world more homogenous in regards to style. Like having "collections" inside CAS and we could have the option to select which "collection" reflects the overall style of the world. And we could also set the clothes that in a determinate style so we could incorporate CC to those "collections". So we could avoid the townie horror that sometimes happens. I never had opinated on my ideas for EP so, this is a new for me, lol.

purexevil666

6th Aug 2012, 04:33 AM

University is my top choice. I still can't decide on my second choice, but it's definitely leaning closer to the Theme-Park one. Personally, I think that Vacation and the Island one should just be together in one EP. They are very similar to each other.
I could pay for that. and a Kim Kardashian store set.
And feeling the pleasure of killing these 2 in my game <3

frankie

6th Aug 2012, 05:30 AM

I could pay for that. and a Kim Kardashian store set.
And feeling the pleasure of killing these 2 in my game <3

Such a set would be... interesting. It would compliment the commonly, unwanted EP theme.

Tempscire

6th Aug 2012, 05:31 AM

Hmm. Of those, I guess farming and university sound the most interesting to me, but I'm not especially in love with either. Supernatural and Seasons are really hitting on a lot of my desires at this point; the only specific sort of thing I really want at this point would be a return (and expansion of) carnival stuff...roller coasters (I'd even be happy with clones of the basic MM ones), midway game booths, a carousel, maybe a small Ferris wheel... Not a fan of theme parks, though, and I get my fill of tropical beach stuff in TS2.

I like some of the combinations people have suggested. Farming could easily tie into a freestyle retail system, and I can think of things like canning and baking in addition to straightforward crops that Sims could sell (I did so love that canning station in TS1... the gnome- and gargoyle-carving stations, too, for that matter). University + wealth/power could also be interesting, especially if they framed it in a narrative of poor-but-talented little Johnny working his way up in life (i.e. equal or greater emphasis on the have-nots than the haves, who have monopolized most of the game so far).

A university in an open world could be kind of neat, but I also kinda like the idea of an isolated campus. I went out-of-town for my undergrad and out-of-state for my graduate degree; most of my friends did the same. It's nice to try out a new place on a relatively commitment-free basis for a few short years. To even have their college education just down the road from their birthplace makes their world(s) feel rather small to me.

Ultimately, though, I'm all aglow with SPN and SEA, and mostly I just don't have particular hopes for what comes after. :giggler:

I think there should be an EP that could give us the option to make a world more homogenous in regards to style. Like having "collections" inside CAS and we could have the option to select which "collection" reflects the overall style of the world.
That would be really useful, especially for more theme-y worlds.

ellacharmed

6th Aug 2012, 06:52 AM

Another speculation thread? You guys know there's a sticky on this already, right? :)

pirate_wolf_12

6th Aug 2012, 07:52 AM

Though it's not on the list, an Open For Business pack would be welcome, especially if it was to open some of the rabbitholes (proper restaurants, namely). That, and it did give us many jobs (from baker to car salesman to a club owner to running a mall depending on how creative you could go).

But off that list? I'm not sure.

Farming - Seems like something that would have fit in more with Pets or Seasons. Could work though. Maybe mix it with an Open For Business one?

Reality TV - WTF? How would that even work with this game? I mean, other than cramming eight sims into a locked up house - which we can already do - what else is there? Your sim is on TV? We already have fame covered, don't we?

Theme-Park - So...theme park style lots, I guess? I liked how we had it in Makin' Magic, more as a bonus side thing, not as the actual focus. Merge it in with something else (Ha! With Open For Business too?).

Tropical Island - Seems more like store content to me (wasn't there a world taht was a tropical island?). What does it mean? A new world that's a tropical island with tropical decorations and buildings? If so, more stuff pack than expansion.

University - Not sure if it could work with the open world. If EA can come up with a way, sure. In all honesty, in the Sims 2 I kept it installed for the furniture. But again, it could work depending on how they'd do it.

Vacation - Could work, I suppose.

Wealth & Power - Like Tropical Island, it sounds to me like a stuff pack. I just don't know where they could go with this, unless it was also in an Open For Business kind of thing (Imagine if Wealth, Farming and OFB were all rolled into one pack! Could be a good send off for the series). Also, wealth is pretty easily obtainable in the Sims 3. I don't want it to be now that ALL of my sims are super mega rich, how dull.

Alma70

6th Aug 2012, 09:56 AM

What I actually want the most is a new OfB EP but since that is not likely to happen I'll have to go with UNI and Theme Park.

kiwi_tea

6th Aug 2012, 10:40 AM

Farming
Reality TV
Theme-Park
Tropical Island
University
Vacation
Wealth & Power

I can cut out two immediately: "Wealth & Power" and "Reality TV". The Sims 3 already shoves thousands upon thousands of units of currency into a household's hands by the second generation. Reality TV is just a weak theme. Both these themes are sort of out-of-touch with everyday life. Almost nobody is rich. Almost nobody is on reality TV.

1. Vacation to a Tropical Island - They could fix travelling, add one new sub-hood, and get a good "hotel" system operating. Back in the home world, Sims could own and operate a hotel community lot where tourists from WA and this pack would stay. Tropical island subhood would add much of what was listed in the "tropical island" pack concept.

2. Farming - Exactly what the concept in the survey suggested.

3. Proper OFB Pack - I do NOT care that OFB gameplay could be a bit dull or repetitive. Having a family who did and could own a tea-shop was FUN just in itself. Being able to basically decide what my Sims sold and how they worked was very sandbox-y and empowering.

4. University - I want this. It'd be nice if you couldn't advance past a certain point in some careers without attending university.

olomaya

6th Aug 2012, 11:45 AM

What I actually want the most is a new OfB EP but since that is not likely to happen I'll have to go with UNI and Theme Park.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/simsvip/6981168726/in/photostream/

Rereading the description, the Island idea is really not a "Vacation" EP at all in the sense that your Sims are on holiday. It's more like a Tourist Industry EP. You live on the island and it's the non-controllable Sims that are the ones on vacation. You run your own shops, create your own items to sell and build and run your own hotels (which we never got to do in OFB or Bon Voyage and would be awesome!) all to make money off the NPC tourists and whoever else lives on the island.

Also considering how many gems there are in the game, we should have had jewelry making in the base game or at least in AMB which was a glaringly missed opportunity. And the concept of "island time" sounds to me like the developers taking a page out of Twallan's book and slowing down Sim time so it takes less time to do basic things.

Since many of the beach-y themes are moot now with Seasons coming out, I'd be more interested in somewhere like Chile where you can go skiing and surfing on the same day given the vastly different topography. It has deserts, tropical beaches and snow capped mountains/volcanoes and glaciers all within a tiny strip of a country! There are endless possibilities of what you could do in a place like that: scuba diving/snorkeling, mountain biking, snowbiking, hiking, birdwatching, etc. And then of course, Santiago is one of the most developed economies in South America so plenty of business opportunities there.

catnipeverdeen

6th Aug 2012, 12:01 PM

University or OFB + Farming. And I know there's Sims Medieval, but I wouldn't mind an EP that allowed you to travel with the time machine instead of just getting pop-ups about what happened. If it worked like traveling to another place a la Bon Voyage or World Adventures, that would be kind of cool. I know people hate quests, but they could put stuff like that in, too.

pico22

6th Aug 2012, 12:21 PM

Farming: I'm quite content with farming as it is now. With Seasons we'll need some new things like greenhouses, etc., but that should be solved by a SP or store, not an EP. We do need new trees and bushes, of course - a coconut tree, anybody?

Reality TV: a horrible idea in RL, a horrible idea in a Sim game. I would buy it only if public hanging of producers was included.

Theme Park: only if EA can make a better one than the old Bullfrog Theme Park game did. To say nothing about The Roller Coaster Tycoon. Otherwise, it would also make a nice SP.

Tropical Island: yes, if it would bring a lot of business opportunities, usable in "everyday" worlds as well (open restaurants and, finally, clothing stores - which are never going to happen in TS3, however).

University: yes. I like and play it a lot in TS2; with the right combination of students you can have some real fun. I would not mind a separate campus world at all.

Vacation: I see no point in it. With a little help from Twallan my Sims can already travel anywhere they want. The only things I really miss is ocean swimming and a winter world but with Seasons ...

Wealth and Power: again, there's no point. I would immediately buy a Poverty and Revolution EP, though.

claudiasharon

6th Aug 2012, 12:38 PM

University, I've been dying for that one and Seasons ever since WA.
OFB. Gotta go with the classics.

Sunshine021

6th Aug 2012, 02:32 PM

1) University. Uni was one of my favorite EPs for TS2, I don't care what anyone says. We already have the young adult stage, and people have said that a Uni pack would be all but useless since that life stage is already available, but come on. Not every young adult gets a job, buys a house and starts a family the very second they grow up. Most don't. I know that you don't necessarily have to play the game that way, but my Sims can only go club hopping for so long before it gets monotonous. I would like to have an alternative option for my young adults, be it they go to an actual university or just go to community college. The benefits of course would be better ways to raise your skills, start higher on the career ladder for already available jobs, and maybe even have jobs exclusive to college graduation like in TS2. Maybe even throw in an extra option, and have Sim teens with the genius trait start college early (completely optional of course). A seamless college town would pretty much complete the entire game, for me, especially once Seasons is finally out. Maybe, too, expand some sub-culture clothing options for young adults and teens, such as hippie and goth/punk.

2) Vacations. World Adventures is already out there, but you don't so much vacation in that pack as much as you RPG. Hopefully there would be other locations available, and not just a rehashing of China, Egypt and France, especially since those worlds look like they were specifically made for adventuring and not vacationing. Since they had already based said worlds off of real locations, and used the names of the real places, maybe the vacation destinations could be based off of island countries, like the Bahamas or Puerto Rico (or if you wanted to be creative, maybe combine the idea of vacations and theme parks, and make one big super vacation world based off of Disney World).

I swear to god, though, if EA seriously wastes their resources to make an entire EP based off of reality-TV, I'm going on an eye popping spree with a hot fork. :|

crocobaura

6th Aug 2012, 02:39 PM

I swear to god, though, if EA seriously wastes their resources to make an entire EP based off of reality-TV, I'm going on an eye popping spree with a hot fork. :|

I'm not even sure what they would put in a reality TV EP. It would be a bit like Showtime but instead of a concert you'd have a show?

frankie

6th Aug 2012, 04:03 PM

Another speculation thread? You guys know there's a sticky on this already, right? :)

I do apologize for having started such a thread. I only started this one because it was specific to the list of all the survey themes in conjunction with the ten-limit-EP rumor. I figured the speculation thread was a bit more general and involved just any idea/theme. :)

Sunshine021

6th Aug 2012, 04:06 PM

I'm not even sure what they would put in a reality TV EP. It would be a bit like Showtime but instead of a concert you'd have a show?

That's just it, how would something like that be implemented?? I reckon any and all Sims would be chased around by paparazzi AND a camera crew, or something equally dumb as that. :faceslap:

frankie

6th Aug 2012, 04:16 PM

That's just it, how would something like that be implemented?? I reckon any and all Sims would be chased around by paparazzi AND a camera crew, or something equally dumb as that. :faceslap:

Which is why it should have just been included in SHT or not exist at all. It would become the third EP to reintroduce fame. That's just overkill. But the sad thing about it is that it existed on the survey for a reason. I'm sure there are Simmers out there requesting such a theme.

Periandre

6th Aug 2012, 04:38 PM

As I'm having an optimistic day, I'll throw this in... The possibility exists that they intend to make all of the surveyed EPs. That the surveys were designed, not to weed out which concepts to do or not do, but instead to tweak the concepts and/or gauge what to work on next.

Through statements made on Twitter the indication/implication is that things were learned in the creation of Seasons that will be used on future packs, and also, not sure where I heard this, that Seasons was rushed to be in place because future EPs are dependent on it (sounds very promising for farming).

And while I don't want a reality TV concept, I tend to look at these ideas in terms of what game play dynamics they'll add to my simming experience, and the idea of real-time tv in the Sims - vs. endless reruns of the cooking/fishing/romance channel is not repellent to me.

zigersimmer

6th Aug 2012, 05:21 PM

1 - Farming
2 - Hobbies (something like Freetime, only better)

I don't understand why the island concept isn't seen as the Sims 3 version of OFB...
Make your own jewelry and crafts
Run shops and stands
Start up and manage your own hotel from small beach huts to huge, full-service hotels
...lots of opportunities to make money...

Anyhow, that's my first pick, wealth would be the second.
I would love to run a hotel in my Sim Vegas version of Lucky Palms. I've picked up plenty of furniture packs so I could decorate each room with a different theme. And what hotel casino would be complete without shopping and restaurants?

3. Proper OFB Pack - I do NOT care that OFB gameplay could be a bit dull or repetitive. Having a family who did and could own a tea-shop was FUN just in itself. Being able to basically decide what my Sims sold and how they worked was very sandbox-y and empowering.
In TS2 OFB I ran a quaint little bakery/cafe. I downloaded a lot from MTS that had a two bedroom apartment upstairs from the cafe. I moved in a single dad with his two teenage sons. While dad did the baking, one son stocked the shelves and sold to customers while another struggled with the cash register. I had more fun with that lot than any other lot I played in TS2. If the devs had not already announced that Ambitions was their OFB for TS3, I'd be lobbying for another OFB.

LotrFanboy

6th Aug 2012, 05:41 PM

If the devs had not already announced that Ambitions was their OFB for TS3, I'd be lobbying for another OFB.

That doesn't necessarily mean they won't make another OFB. I seem to remember some EA source telling us at one point that werewolves weren't coming to Sims 3, and yet now we've got a whole EP devoted to supernaturals, werewolves included. I think EA would be smart to remake OFB for Sims 3, given the demand for it. Next to maybe farming and university, it's the most requesting EP out there, from what I've seen.

And Periandre, I really hope you're right. Another five or so EPs would be awesome. As I've said before, I'm not even close to being ready to start all the way over with Sims 4 - not now after we're (finally) getting Seasons. As far as I'm concerned, Sims 3 is just starting to really take off! Why end it now?

Ranissa

6th Aug 2012, 05:45 PM

Farming and hobbies, please and thank you. While I wouldn't utilize the ability to run my own business off lot if we got OFB-style gameplay, I would love the ability to:

1) propose at a fancy restaurant

2) to sell my nectar and honey and vegetables and crafts at a home-based nectary/farmstand

3) to create jewelry, soap, flower arrangements, gnomes, butter, cheese, candles, fancy desserts, can vegetables, etc

4) the ability to raise chickens, cows, llamas (for their fur!), pigs, etc

5) an RH for YA that functions like University and where attending actually affects Sims' ability to get certain jobs or certain levels of jobs (you can't be a doctor without a few classes, last I heard ;o)

In other words, I'd like even more Harvest Moon features than we are getting with Seasons combined with a few things from OFB and University.

My concern about the Island Vacation pack is it sounds like it would have to be a separate world. I don't need another world - I'm on the fourth generation of my original, unwieldy Sunset Valley and Riverview. I'd like to keep those family trees going with the new features. And Reality TV? UGH. Snooki, the Kardashians, Survivor - those people are famous for being...famous. WTH?! I really don't understand it. That and Real Housewives makes my head spin.

VegaBlack

6th Aug 2012, 06:02 PM

After re-reading the survey descriptions here (http://simsvip.com/?p=10282), I'm definitely going to go with the exotic tropical island, because it really is the most OFB-like. Although they really didn't mention restaurants, running shops, stands and hotels seems awesome. Plus zip-lines and diving.

For the last one, it would be a toss up between the farming and university ones. As far as the cruise or theme park ideas, it doesn't feel like it would fit in with the sims, at least not their every day lives. And the reality tv and wealth, well, we already have enough of that kind of stuff in the game.

Periandre

6th Aug 2012, 06:04 PM

My concern about the Island Vacation pack is it sounds like it would have to be a separate world. I don't need another world...

Aside from Sunset Valley, I never play the world that ships with the EP. Sure, I drop in muddle around for maybe 2 sim days, but then I return to the custom world game I'm playing at that time, inserting the new EP's assets into that world. I think that's why, to me, Island Life is the closest translation to OFB I've seen since it adds the game play functionality.

Because there's no guarantee that a player will use the included world, the new game play included would have to be useable in any world. So, jewelry and crafting, hotel building, and shop/stand ownership would all be useable in whichever world you're playing.

Least that's how it's worked for me so far... :P ymmv.

Editted to Add:
After re-reading the survey descriptions here (http://simsvip.com/?p=10282), I'm definitely going to go with the exotic tropical island, because it really is the most OFB-like. Although they really didn't mention restaurants, running shops, stands and hotels seems awesome. Plus zip-lines and diving.

I wonder about the restaurants... Because the exact phrasing was huge, full-service hotels

Eeria

6th Aug 2012, 09:33 PM

vacation and university

yeabil

6th Aug 2012, 09:43 PM

From my observations at the Sims 3 BBS

2)Farming-Seen this brought up from time to time.
Reality TV-never seen it mentioned
4)Theme-Park-Once in a while
Tropical Island-never seen it mentioned
1)University-Seems to have the highest demand.
3)Vacation-A thread here and there
Wealth & Power-never seen it mentioned

MinghamSmith

6th Aug 2012, 10:58 PM

For people wanting an Open For Business-style EP, I actually think the Wealth and Power one could fill that role if modified a bit. From the proposal in the survey, it would involve new professions, the ability to start businesses, philanthropy, etc. If the emphasis was placed on starting and directly running businesses and philanthropic institutions, they could probably create some kind of rough equivalent to the shops and other venues in the previous game, which would add a fair amount of interesting new ways to play and enable the player to create types of character that haven't been attempted much before.

Of course, there are some noticeable potential flaws in the proposal as it stands. If they were to emphasise the luxurious millionaire lifestyle side of it over the actual business aspects, for instance, the idea could quickly become redundant and unnecessary given that we already have Late Night and Showtime for that. I could get behind this idea, but only if done correctly.

Outside of that, either the farming EP or the University remake could be fun. Farming, as well as functioning as a business in its own right, would involve plenty of entirely new items and interactions, and might make for a good excuse to bring back Plantsims for all the people who liked them in TS2.* And the University idea as outlined in the survey actually sort of implies that it'd be incorporating apartments as well as dorm lots, which could be an opportunity to add in some overlooked features from Apartment Life.

Two of the survey outlines, however, are a definite no. Neither the reality TV idea nor the fairground expansion are wide enough in scope to make a substantial difference to day-to-day sim life, and in the case of the fairground idea we're already seeing plenty of possibilities for that sort of thing in the Seasons trailer. Eventually, there will be sim fairgrounds without any need for an expansion for it.

* I envision Plantsims being able to help a great deal when trying to ensure a good harvest on a farm, if you're growing crops rather than producing wool or dairy products.

purexevil666

6th Aug 2012, 11:23 PM

My needs and hopings:
University:
Experiencing the fun and the "love/woohoo" relationships in college (American Pie reference) and they could make playing all students like the profession system. but of course, each student and major is different, and and bring TS2U features back.
Theme Park:
I wanna build and design a whole theme park and build a roller coaster. Just like Thrillville if you recognize that game, you rock. :P it use to be one of my favorites :D.
Vacation/tropical island:
Camping, new destinations, and EA better not forget bigfoot, and how awesome would it be if they include Plantsims and mermaids in that pack? :D
Power/ Wealth:
Just bring back OFB theme back in it. because i'm sick and tired of all those rabbit holes -_____-.
Farming:
Why do i have this feeling like this should have been included with Pets since we got horses and punch of other animals .-. it's kinda nice but EA would be just trolling us :/
Reality TV?
No.... Just no...

High Plains Gamer

7th Aug 2012, 01:38 AM

They HAVE confirmed there will be a Sims 3 Seasons. As for University, that wouldn't work considering the open neighborhood style of Sims 3. I'd like a proper vacation pack and maybe a Reality TV pack ;)

You don't need the open world format for University. We already have vacation worlds from World Adventures, and that would be the approach to take.

In real life. most kids who attend college leave home. It's really a rite of passage. (Rich kids go to college; poor kids go into the military.)

A vacation type world is well suited towards this type of thing because college is more like an extended vacation. Also, like a vacation world, you need to pay college tuition before leaving.

So you simmies toddle off to college and time in their home world basically stands still. When they get back, they find their homes have not changed, but they have.

Plus, this allows for the sims to have a real college experience and do all of the dumb things kids do in college.

If they are really lucky, they might actually learn something as well.

Spiritbw

7th Aug 2012, 03:27 AM

After re-reading the survey descriptions here (http://simsvip.com/?p=10282),

Looking at those surveys and reading the description then the points about each idea that would be included, University is definatly my top pick. After that, it get's a bit hazy.

Farming is still the next best IMHO. The island seems very much more vacation than OFB as some people seem to think. Reality TV, yeah no. There has been a active challenge for that, I don't think we need an EP for it though however those that make movies might find it full of tools. Carnival/theme park...maybe if they combined it with thier ilsand ideas.

The Wealth and power EP though....if we can have the option to build a crimefighting secret base a la Batman/Ironman I'd be sold. :lol:

J. M. Pescado

7th Aug 2012, 03:44 AM

The last EP should fit the theme of being the last EP: The Sims 3: Nuclear Apocalypse. Because if the world's going to end, dammit, it should END.

Issie

7th Aug 2012, 04:48 AM

My vote would go to OFB/University/Vacation in that order.

So I'm wondering what they could actually put into a Reality TV EP? Somehow I can't seem to think of a single thing that could be implemented into the Sims with an expansion pack like that but since it was in the survey I'm wondering what it would actually include?

QueenJimmyIV

7th Aug 2012, 07:47 AM

According to what I've seen in the Ideas and Feedback on the official forums, the top demanded items are:

-Vacations with hotels and relaxing stuff rather than adventures with more locations
-Open for business with an extreme demand for catering, baking, etc and open restaurants, shops, diners, and other rabbitholes that are otherwise closed
-Hobbies with things like flower arranging, gem cutting, jewelry making, candy making, knitting, sewing and other hobbies that produce craft items
-Sports and Extreme Sports with multiple sim team sports, including basketball, baseball, and others as well as extreme sports, such as motorcycling through a hoop of fire and other stunts and making the pro athlete career and Daredevil trait worthwhile
-Farming with the desire for farm animals, more harvestables, the ability to own large lots with, and more recipes
-University with an in-world college that your sims can attend, complete with sororities, more careers, and other college perks

I'm sure some of these can be combined, like Sports+Hobbies or Hobbies+OFB, to create a full EP.

pirate_wolf_12

7th Aug 2012, 12:30 PM

The last EP should fit the theme of being the last EP: The Sims 3: Nuclear Apocalypse. Because if the world's going to end, dammit, it should END.
EA announces The Sims 3 Nuclear Apocalypse Expansion Pack! Enter the new radiated wasteland town of Old New Simcity! Keep your sims happy, well socialised and free from cataracts and cancers due to a severely damaged ozone layer! Enjoy new wasteland activities such as scavenging for antibiotics, luring unsuspecting food sims into custom made traps or building a cool new shelter to stop from getting forced into a harem! Party with a range of new characters and old favourites, including fallout-exposed Bella Goth, heavily mutated Katy Perry and Salad Fingers!

Features:
- Cool new furniture and themes, including 'salvaged wreckage' and 'sterile vault'.
- Farm mutated cattle and keep them safe from acid rain, starved survivors and gigantic mutant insects.
- Cool new cribs, including penthouses in burned out skeletons of skyscrapers, bomb shelters, remote scrap metal shacks or dark and lonely subway tunnels.
- New creature: Irradiated sims who have lost all humanity!

Ranissa

7th Aug 2012, 04:08 PM

... then I return to the custom world game I'm playing at that time, inserting the new EP's assets into that world.

I'm out of space in Sunset Valley and Riverview. I mean, I can insert some lots if necessary but I'm heading into routing issues territory. And overcrowding is a huge problem. Seasons's festival lot is going to be pushing it for me as it is. Also, I've never been a fan of tiki. ;o)

Nemiga

7th Aug 2012, 04:28 PM

Mostly I want University EP.Second choise probably will be Vacation EP or something related with OFB

lisfyre

7th Aug 2012, 05:26 PM

I've been asking for a farming EP since Sims 2 because unless you're vegetarian - hotdogs, steaks, turkeys, eggs and cheese DO NOT grow on bushes. I want my farmers to be able to open a roadside stand/kiosk by their driveway and sell fresh produce, poultry, eggs, meat and some fresh bread, jellies, jams and other homemade stuff. Which will really work with the festivals they're giving us in Seasons. Go to the Country Faire and buy home made crafts and foods. While we're at it, throw in some hobbies and crafts like stamp collecting, scrapbooking, sewing, quilting, canning, baking, etc., ad infinitum. This could also include OFB since it would enable your sims to open that roadside stand outside of their farms... and we honestly need one so I can have my bakery and clothing shop again.

I would also love a University EP. Have your sims major in a certain field and graduate and have the companies offer them jobs out of Uni. The higher the grades, the better the job offers. If you don't go to Uni then you start at the bottom of the job pool and work your way up by going to school part time. We need new careers and professions anyway. Oceanography, geology, real University professors going to University to teach, real high school, middle school and elementary school teachers going the proper venues instead of just one school building.

bl00raspbery

7th Aug 2012, 09:25 PM

I think I would like University the most. After that, maybe ofb. It sounds maybe like the wealth & power one could be combined with that one. But I also like the theme park one. I just hope that none of the future EP's are dull and repetitive. Seasons looks promising though.

itsamariokart

8th Aug 2012, 12:15 AM

University would be amazing. I loved it for The Sims 2. A farming one would be nice too :)

SpookyOkyBatGirl

8th Aug 2012, 01:52 AM

Open for Business and University. I'm really kind of annoyed that my Sims can just waltz into the hospital and come out a doctor two weeks later with just a high school diploma. I normally end up making them max out logic and writing before I let them enter to feel like they entered college.

I'd only want Farming because I'm a country person at heart. I grew up on a farm, and it would be great to have my old farm-like again through the Sims game. I miss my goats, my chickens, my horses (I know they're in pets), my pigs and all the dogs (again, I know they're in pets). But I don't miss the damn cows.

kiwi_tea

8th Aug 2012, 04:08 AM

I've been asking for a farming EP since Sims 2 because unless you're vegetarian - hotdogs, steaks, turkeys, eggs and cheese DO NOT grow on bushes.

Yes. If you're vegetarian these all grow on bushes. ;)

Nekochild

8th Aug 2012, 08:49 AM

Farming is something that I would be interested in IF they opened up gardening for children. I don't know why they left it out for them in the first place. There's a ton of records present and past of children helping out on the farms and in the field (I myself had my own personal tomato garden as a kid), so why EA decided to leave them dry is beyond me.

Reality TV: No

Theme-Park: Not very interested in this one personally.

Tropical Island: I don't see them doing anything that we can't already get in CC. Swimming in Oceans is already going to be implemented in Seasons.

Vacations: The only Vacations that I wish they would implement that's not in WA are Summer Vacation and Winter Vacations from school.

Wealth & Power: Not sure what to think about this one just yet. What would it consist of?

EDIT: Forgot universities. If this (http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7193/7127231865_cb9c2ede65.jpg) is any indication of what it will entail, then I will pre-order it even before they announce it somehow. Being able to send a child prodigy (Which one of my characters is) to college is a feature I would definitely look forward to.

lewisb40

8th Aug 2012, 10:08 AM