Random Sim Musings 8-3-2020 Icongate!

Let's start with this picture.  It's summer and what's better than a beach?  

Actually, I like that picture better than the one making the rounds of the Sims Universe now.

Quite the "controversy".  This was "leaked" "accidentally" while EA was showing how to share submissions for the Sims reality game show.  Yeah, that's probably worth a whole post on it's own.  But let's stick to today's controversy.  I think they knew this icon was there before sending out the information.  It sticks out.  I just can't see this being overlooked before sending it out to the public.

There's a lot of details about the look of it.  But the big speculation is that it's....a Star Wars themed game pack.

Let me make my point very clear...NO.  Not just in English, but in every language ever known to man in the entire history of communication.  The costumes are fine.  Baby Yoda , um The Child?  No problem.  Those are free updates to the game and you never have to use them.  But to ask people to fork over $20 for something that is so narrowly specific?  FUCK NO!

It doesn't fit with The Sims at all.  Whew, enough anger.  There's enough garbage going on in the world and I don't want that to come into my Sims happy place.  Another thing I don't want is Star Wars.

Keep it long, long ago in a galaxy far, far away.

The more likely speculation is a future themed pack,   Ehh.  It's been done with Sims 3.  I didn't play it much in that game and just not that interested.

Now honestly if it was a space themed pack, that would be more interesting.  Even though the astronaut career has been there since Day 1 and aliens with their own planet have been around for awhile, too.  I wouldn't mind seeing that expanded.  Make it like a cross between the Magic Realm and the vacation worlds?  With a touch of Strangerville and maybe Get to Work?

Ya got your town, let's call it Luna Bay.  Home of a private aeronautics company.  New career, private astronaut?  I don't know how that will work, doesn't matter.  Then there's a lot, like the lab in Strangerville where you can go for outer space travel.  You take a vacation to the new planet...Llamaria.  Introduce a new alien race spoiler alert...they look like LLAMAS!  🤯  You can learn the Llamarian culture.  Negotiate business deals with the locals.  Do a nice little refresh of some base game careers.

Anyway, it's all speculation until something is announced.  

One last thought...if it's not space I'd be okay with a winter/mountain theme.  Even though there's already Granite Falls.  The three circles on the icon could be snowballs, the pointy thing on the right is a mountain and the building on the left is a lodge.  What the hell, no crazier than STAR WARS!!!!!

That's enough for today.  Until the next controversy.

Go 4th and Sim!

Simmer 4 Life!

Random Sim Musings 5-20-20 Sims 4 VS Paralives VS Sims 5 + Bonus Musing

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!

Twenty years ago...

We all have days in our life that stand out for various reasons.  Good, bad, momentous, whatever.  They all stand out.  The first time I played The Sims is one of those days for me.  Which coincidentally was the release day, February 4, 2000.

I don't remember much of my playing that day but I do remember installing it, reading the manual (RIP Mergatroid Fishlips you never got the recognition you deserve) and then meeting Bob and Betty.  They were new to the neighborhood, as was I.  I helped Betty get a job.  I helped Bob get a chair (oh that orange recliner!) then they danced the night away listening to the Latin station.

Listening to that Base Game sound track still brings me back to that time.  Yeah, it's probably stupid to feel that way about a video game but it seems there's an emotional attachment to this franchise that isn't there for many others.

So yeah, it started 20 years ago today.  Four main versions in, console versions, side games (Castaway for PS2, Urbz and The Sims Medieval especially) and looks like Sims 5 is on the horizon.  Amazing!  I could probably go on and on but I at least wanted to acknowledge today on this crappy little blog.

I think I'm going to end this year and go revisit Bob and Betty (Sims 4 version) and we'll dance the night away to the Latin station just like old times.

Go 4th and Sim!
Simmer 4 Life!

Random Sims Musing 10-22-18: Dear Whiners

Perhaps I'm starting this off a bit harsh.  Maybe I'm just at an age where my crankiness skill is nearly maxed out.  Or maybe I'm just tired of people whining.

The embargo has been lifted from the latest Sims Camp and my YouTube and Twitter feeds are flooded with the new game footage.  I've watched a bit, just to get some different perspectives and see what's coming.  I'm liking what I see and I think this can be a very fun pack to play with.  Especially to let your imagination run wild with storytelling possibilities.

Then I make the mistake of reading comments and responses.  I know that's Internet 101 NEVER READ COMMENTS!!  And most of them are whiny.

"The world is too small."
"They're teasing us with cars!"
"Why didn't they put that one thing in that I want that I know everyone else wants???!!?!?!?!?!?!?"

Look Sims 4 isn't the game I would make if I could.  But neither was Sims 3, Sims 2 or The Sims that started it all.  There's been things I loved, things I liked and things I hated in each one.  Each pack brings something new to the game that it's in.  I use these things and if they're good I keep using it and if not I don't.  I'm looking at you, Vlad!  Stop creeping around my neighborhoods!

Anyway...

But Maxis has been listening.  Toddlers and Terrain Tools anyone?  There's been much more community involvement from the Gurus answering questions from everyone they can.  Even when they can't provide an answer.  They're just a group of people who are trying to do a job for an audience that isn't always grateful.  And yes, I'll include myself in that at times.

This game is what it is.  Shut up and play.  Or don't.

Here's Bella Goth giving the old stink eye.

Go 4th and Sim!
Simmer 4 Life!

Disabilities in Sims 4?

There seems to be some discussions lately on Twitter about adding in different options for disabilities in Sims 4.  Even a few speculation videos on YouTube.  Overall the response has been positive and Sim Guru Grant is saying they are looking into it.

Well...um.

Let me put it this way...I think it's great that the Sims 4 team want to be able to include all sorts of possibilities into this game.  It's important for some people to have "someone just like me" to play.  It's great for telling a story.  If that's your thing.

See, I don't play very realistically.  My sims never age or die.  They all live quite comfortably.  My sims have stories but I don't share much.  I've tried to play realistic type scenarios and honestly it was pretty depressing.  I love the Sims world as it was created.  I love the lightheartedness of it.  I have enough worries in my own life and I don't want to bring that into my gaming.

If by some chance it's added, it's not something I will ever use.  It doesn't fit my play style.  Honestly, I don't think it will ever be added.  I'm not sure there's a big enough audience for it and let's face it they have to make stuff to please the majority of players.  I really don't feel I can make this sound as if it's not heartless.  That's not where I'm coming from.   We all play The Sims for our own reasons.  I like it as an escape.

I'd rather see things like University or a vacation expansion added because I'd get more use out of that.  I gotta say leave this area to the modders because they could probably do it better than anyone else.

Go 4th and Sim!
Simmer 4 Life!

Random Sim Musings-The future of The Sims

There's been a whole lot of talk lately about the future of this beloved game.  There's been layoffs! Crappy packs released!  No information at all!  Too, too quiet!  WTF is going on!?!?!?!?

I have no answers.  If I did I'd probably be getting free stuff and the Sim Gurus would know me.  But I digress.

Yes, things have been quiet.  There has been some house cleaning so to speak.  And that last pack...well, the less said the better.  But right now they don't have a community manager to relay information and they did just put up a bunch of job listings for The Sims 4 and other projects so this franchise is not dead yet.  I still have hopes things will be released in a timely manner.  There is still quite a bit to go with this version.  Like Seasons and University, which I'm sure will come.

Now about Sims 5...I don't think there will be one anytime soon.  I think many long time simmers (like me) are slightly burnt out on the series and who knows about new players.  But ya know I have no information about any of this and it's just my random musings.

What I would like to see is a stand alone Sims title on PC.  Sims 2 had the Stories games and Sims 3 had Medieval.  It probably wouldn't be well received by the public but personally I like having a title that doesn't fit the typical Sims playing mold.  Some of my favorite titles were on the PS2, The Urbz and Sims Castaway.  And I did like Medieval.  They were nice distractions that were familiar but just different enough to be new.

I think what I would really like to see is a full on World Adventures/Jungle Adventure type game.  Which I suppose would be like Castaway.  Something more mission based but you can ignore it if you want.  I love what they added with the jobs the objectives.  I tend to sometimes just watch my game and direct them if they need something.  But I do find myself paying more attention when they have stuff to do.

But my big wish is to see a relaunch of Sim Copter.  There is definitely a hole in the simming market for one.  I just keep throwing it out into the universe and hopefully it get heard.

"Sim Copter 1, reporting heavy traffic!"

I mean there's already a helicopter in Sims 4.  I'd love to be able to fly around all those parts of the worlds we can't actually play.  Traffic jams!  Protesters!  People falling into the water!  Fun, fun, fun!  All that with the graphics of Sims 4.  Winner, winner chicken dinner!

And with that I sign off.  Always keep on dreaming!

Go 4th and Sim!

Simmer4Life

That time of year

It's about that time of year where I make vague promises of grand plans and then ignore everything until I do it all over again!

Woo hoo.

Go 4th and Sim!
Simmer 4 Life!