Wow, one day with a couple videos and everything explodes.
Yesterday a new game play trailer for the Eco Lifestyle expansion dropped. Personally, I think it looks pretty fun. I'm happy with any new game play for The Sims. Probably won't buy it when it's released, just wait for a sale.
But the comments and some reaction videos. I should know better than to watch and read but I do. Even with seeing a little bit, everyone is an expert.
"It's all recycled from other packs!"
"It's not enough for a whole expansion!"
"NOBODY WANTED THIS!!"
Well, Eco stuff has been voted for addition by the community. I think I voted for it, too. I do the surveys and forget what they were for. There's been some Eco play added in a few other packs and updates. The argument that things are split up over different packs is a pretty valid point. It's kinda frustrating to buy a few packs to feel that something is complete. It's been a common theme in Sims 4 but I can't see it changing at this point. I'm sure opinions will change yet again after the live stream tomorrow.
This community...
Which brings me to the other big video yesterday. The first look of the Parafolk from Paralives.
First the comments (paraphrased by me)...
"HEIGHT SLIDER!!!1111"
"THE HAIR MOVES!!!!!"
"THE CLOTHES MOVE!!!!!"
"COLOR WHEEL!!!"
"EA IS SO SCARED NOW!!!"
I can appreciate the work put in on this game. It looks pretty good for just the work a few people. I'm keeping an open mind but I need to see more. I wish them well with the project though.
The fact that people think this is going to KILL the Sims franchise is wrong. Yeah, I said it. The Sims has 20 years worth of background. Consistent releases has kept it alive. There's probably more that can be said overall of the franchise but that's the basics.
Let's look at Sim City for how to kill a franchise. Cities Skylines didn't have 100% to do with it, they did it to themselves. It was screwed up right from the very start and that's why there may never be a Sim City game ever again.
Sims 4 is winding down and Paralives may fill the void until Sims 5 is released and if the base game isn't good, to say the least, Paralives may come in and succeed where The Sims failed. If it get's some traction it may get backing from a large developer and it will go from there. Only time will tell what happens.
Now for the shadow looming in the corner...Sims 5. Rumor has it that it's going to be announced at EA Play in June. And that feels right to me. There was some staff shuffling a few years ago and the timing seemed right to start up a new game.
After some in depth research I've come up with this timeline...
Sims 4 announced on May 6, 2013.
Sims 3 Into the Future was released on October 22, 2013.
Sims 4 was released on September 14, 2014.
Over the next 6 months there's going to be an expansion , Eco Lifestyle, a stuff pack, Nifty Knitting Stuff, probably and a game pack to be determined. So that takes us to the end of the year.
The was a recent survey so anything from that is at least a year away. The results of that will take us into 2021 and I think that will wrap up this series. It will probably finish on an expansion, not sure what will come maybe yet another stuff pack and game pack. There's no shortage of stuff they can add.
So my uneducated best guesstimate is early 2022 for Sims 5 release. And that is already too much to wrap my brain around. And a perfect place to end.
Given everything going on in the world right now, I'm glad to have The Sims in my live as a distraction. That's really the most important thing.
Bonus Musing...Animal Crossing New Horizons is one thing I'm sorry to be missing out on. But a Switch just isn't in the budget, if I could even get one. And getting it for one game just doesn't make sense to me. But I do play Pocket Camp and even if the stepchild of the Animal Crossing community, I still love it.
Go 4th and Sim!
Simmer 4 Life!
