There's probably already a topic similar to this and I apologize if there is, but it's been bugging me for a while.

I loved TS4 when it first came out, more than I thought I was going to, but I grew bored of it very quickly and I haven't played it properly in months. One thing that bothers me is that I'm a huge collector when it comes to Sims games as I've played this series since I was about 6-years-old. Now that I have my own money, I've become very cautious when it comes to buying games. So far, I only own the base game, Get to Work and Outdoor Retreat, but are the stuff packs really worth it? £8 isn't a lot for a stuff pack but IMO, it's a lot for a couple of objects, only one of which having new features. I have no interest in the Luxury Party stuff, but the Perfect Patio stuff is tempting because of the hot tubs and the fact I love making nice gardens for parties etc.

My question for the collectors is, is it really worth spending £8 for a couple of new objects? I rarely play TS4 anymore as it just feels to empty to me, but each time a new EP, SP or GP comes out, I feel like I NEED to buy it just so I have more games in my collection, but I really cannot afford to do that. I usually buy my games from a uh'.. Cheaper site, (I'm not sure whether that's classed as illegal or whatever, they're legit games, just cheaper) but unfortunately, none of these "cheaper sites" have the stuff packs for sale. It really bothers me that EA has started to bring out multiple different packs (rather than just sticking to EPs and SPs) with only a few objects and clothing items, but hey, that's EA.

No. In my opinion:
-The Stuff Packs aren't worth it.
-I have no experience with Game Packs.
-The Expansion Packs are usually worth it (except Pets, since I dislike pets in-game and in reality).

Imma assume any dislikes on this are about the pets thing...

I dont think that the stuff packs are any more expensive than the sims 3 premium store items were, if you compare how much you would need to pay for the simpoints in order to buy the content. Of course it all depends on whether or not you are likely to use the stuff as to whether you buy it. I haven't bought either as i could never get into sim parties or sims in the garden.

I see it as the new Stuff Packs as similar to the TS3 Store items, and so it's cheaper than they were - though some months they had several items with new interactions, and other months it was just stuff (clothing, hair, furniture). I always bought those in the monthly bundles. I like that the SPs are only $10US as compared to the SPs for TS3 which were $20 and I bought them but never used anything from them. EVER. I am being a bit more choosy with the SPs this time around (I didn't get Luxury Party but picked up Perfect Patio).

The game packs are awesome, though...I really like this idea...it's extra content and interactions for $20. AWESOME! And expansion packs, I will always buy, because there is almost always something in them that I will play.

This shouldn't even be a question. You know exactly what you're getting with stuff packs (by looking at the list of items using the "My Packs" feature while in game.) If you like the items, then buy it. Otherwise don't buy it.

Imho buy it if you want it. It's your own money and none of use can tell you how to spend it. If you want to collect every piece then yes buy but maybe wait and see if they go on sale or have a bundle sale but if you feel like you can't wait then don't. Do what you think is best and makes you feel good

I often find LGR's reviews of various add on items very helpful when trying to make a decison about which ones to get.

Here's a couple of them: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFpKVbsI8BY - Get To Work Expansion Pack
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7zhfM1H3Eg - Outdoor Retreat - Game Pack
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzaBAyXwshk - Luxury Party Pack - Stuff Pack
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MK9j7CBrOrQ - Patio Pack - Stuff Pack

I think if you generally enjoy the game then yeah, it would probably be worth it, but if you don't play and feel the game is hollow or whatever then adding a few more flashy objects and CAS assets isn't going to turn the whole thing around. I personally have not felt the stuff packs are worth it and most likely also will not be buying the upcoming spa gp. I play ts4 from time to time and sometimes find some sort of an angle that really gets me into it for a bit, but overall I feel I can't justify dropping cash every time they come out with something new as the game is generally flat and hollow in a way that a hot tub or a spa isn't going to fix. But, I also only ever bought a handful of things from the ts3 store and I loved that game from day 1. With the way they are pushing out content with 4 I see it more like I saw the store for 3 in that I'll really want to look and be choosy about what I buy and don't buy. Only you can decide though. If something like hot tubs really fits in with the way you like to play then it'll probably be worth it for you.

These stuff packs bring a little more than recolors and new chairs (I love when LGR goes on about chairs ), the new objects bring some different actions. I guess the fountain in the sparkly stuff pack had some actions associated with it and the hot tub has some actions associated with it (and not just the social or romantic ones either, there are options of upgrading the object with mechanical skill). A lot of the "stuff" in the stuff packs and game packs and expansion start to work together to create a layered world. I'm finding more to do in game and am enjoying it more and more, so the added "stuff" has definitely helped me to spend more time in game appreciating things such as the Sims' personalities and facial expressions.

With the Sims series since the third one, my motto is always "Wait until a sale."

IMO these packs are only really worth their value at 1/2 off.

That's fair. People value things differently and everyone considers their opportunity costs. For some, the price is fair for what they're getting, for some it's too high and they will only buy if the price is lowered (you fall in this camp), and for others, it isn't worth their time no matter what the price.

Part of the decision is also based on one's financial situation. Those who have a nice amount of spare change on a regular basis might not see it as a big deal, but for someone who struggles to get a little bit of cash, they will weigh these decisions very carefully.

So I currently have up to Luxury Party Pack. Honestly, I barely use the items from Get to Work or Luxury Party Pack. I think I may have used one of the dresses, and a pair of shoes a couple of times. I never use the make up. I don't run any businesses. And I have only put 2 sims in the doctor career, and I have over 100 sims that I play with their own style in different save games.

So I would go with a resounding, no.

However, it's your money. There's a ton of reviews regarding each pack. If you loved, let's say, Open for business in The Sims 2, Get to Work might be essential to you. If you like having more items to doll your sims up with, then Luxury Party Pack might be the way for you to go. Only you know this though. If you're tight on finances, at the end of the day this is just a game, and just like in the game, if you don't pay your bills your lights will be turned off, and then how are you going to play TS4 anyways?

[QUOTE=jje1000my motto is always "Wait until a sale."[/QUOTE]

That would be a sound logic if we were knee deep in TS4 EPs, SPs and what ever else. The convenience of choice in the face of plenty, it's always a wise decision to stand back awhile. Like many simmers, I've thrown my lot in with TS4. I recently tried to go back to TS3 to give TS4 more room to grow, but very quickly discovered why I stopped playing TS3. That particular gripe is a whole other story, hell, even I'd forgotten about it until the other week. TS3, Ahhh!!!

So, currently, with TS4, anything that comes down the pike is yes, yes, yes. Simply because we need to bulk the game up into something substantially playable.

But are these tidbits worth it? I'm the first one to ride EA and Maxis for the slightest provocation, even if they are innocent. (EA? Innocent? Now I know you've lost your tiny mind.) But I'm going to have to say, the stuff they are releasing (at a sprinting pace now that they've started releasing) is actually... more than okay. The prices I find are fair. (For nothing more than downloaded digital data they bloody well better be.) And the content is acceptable. Acceptable and, yeah, okay, if that makes any sense. Good, even. When young Oliver Twist held up that bowl, and said, "please sir, can I have some more." If only they gave him another ladle-full of gruel, what a different story it would be. Maxis are giving us ladle-fulls after ladle-fulls of gruel with patches and SP after SP, and I'm a somewhat happy Oliver. For now. Don't be cruel with the gruel. But next we want the pies, so don't deny.

I think they are worth it so far. They do bring sorely needed gameplay for those of us who have thrown our lot in with TS4. The price is right for gruel. But now I want pie!!! (For the same price as gruel.)

So I am thinking on buying a stuff pack or game pack, but I have no idea on which one I want to get. So I would like some help on what you though was the most worth while and worth the money. Plus I am keeping in mind the one coming out at the end of July.

Perfect Patio Stuff, because hot tubs!

What about the expansion, Get To Work? I'm loving that one.

Well, OP asked for game packs/stuff packs not expansion packs. I thought GTW was great at first, but the fun of the active careers really wore off after the first few times I played them.

Merging with existing thread.

I like the expansion packs, so far. Now, granted, I haven't really played that much with the Outdoor pack. But I love Get to Work like crazy.
I do like the Luxury stuff pack. Omg, not the clothing. But I enjoy the new lighted curtains it has, and the buffet tables -- then again, I don't always make households where the sims cook, so I find these features useful for that.
I am going to purchase the Spa pack, because I like what I've read about the new features, but I haven't yet decided about the Pool pack. I'd love hot-tubs, but do I really want to spend 10$ and tax (US) for hot-tubs? So, I'm debating that one still.

Hope this helped.

I'm happy that they're only $10 this time around. They seem to have just about the same amount/lack of content as the TS3 stuff packs and aren't $20, which feels a lot more fair. Whether you actually want the stuff pack probably is probably just up to personal taste.