I read your recent interview with VentureBeat where you discussed the future of The Sims. As a long-time player of the series, I have concerns.
Firstly, there is no reason to ignore the elephant in the room. The Sims 4 was originally built to be multi-player, but with the flop of SimCity 2013 (a multi-player simulation game) TS4 got a quick makeover. While I could go on about the flaws of TS4 from its core to the stacks of micro-transaction packs built on a broken foundation, I will put aside those particular criticisms for a larger discussion.
The Sims is a life simulation game. While you state that “Play with Life” is The Sims’s brand, I remember when it was about creating. Create worlds. Create families. Create chaos. Create stories. Create life.
The Sims 4 has taken the franchise down a much different path. While we can still create our sims, we cannot create the worlds they live in or even place lots. We must purchase new packs for more locations. We find linear action/adventure storylines implemented into packs like Strangerville or Star Wars: Journey to Batuu. While I am a fan of sims lore, I find these particular packs irksome as they shift The Sims from life simulation to RPG.
It became a theme with almost every TS4 pack, especially those like Island Living and Eco Lifestyle–though less RPG–but more goal oriented to “saving the world” or in Snowy Escape “climb the mountain.” A pattern like this is something I do not want repeated in the next generation of The Sims.
While I have seen many SimGurus argue that The Sims have a variety of players (which is true) and they want to appease players who want point-and-click adventures, it takes away resources and opportunities to expand the sandbox, which is the foundation of every life simulation game.
There are endless action/adventure RPG games, many made by EA. There are few life simulation games and only one highly successful, The Sims.
While I know your interview addressed the future of The Sims and not TS4, I wanted to begin the conversation with those points as I now move to the future of the franchise.
The Sims has always been rated T for Teen, but lately a great many players have noticed the focus drifting ever closer to E for Everyone, which means including children as a base customer. I understand EA sees an opportunity for sales, but making a life simulation game appropriate for children will limit TS5 in game play and intricacy as every aspect of the game will have to be easy enough for a five-year-old to understand.
As an adult, this would be a major turn-off and opens to a more pressing problem I have seen questioned across the community here on Tumblr, forums, and Twitter. The idea of making the next game compatible across all platforms, including mobile. While I agree Xbox and PlayStation’s consoles are completely able to run a game such as The Sims, I would not want the game dumbed down for mobile. It would mean a simple, depthless game–an issue that already disappoints customers of TS4.
Again, I understand EA wants to reach as many consumers as possible. You are a company that wants to make a profit and sees an opportunity to make more sales. Making the game for children and mobile, may reach new customers, but it will ultimately lose a vast majority of players who desire a sequel that brings back that excitement like when we watched the trailer for Sims 2.
And you think the way to do that is to re-introduce multi-player, like The Sims Online? You stated you believe the “social connection” is what is missing in the franchise. I can tell you that is untrue. Simmers are probably the most vocal gamers I know. We have already made the “social connection” through the mediums we have chosen.
While I know there are already people reading this–you may be included–that think, “just make online optional,” I must insist on the single player experience.
If you create Sims 5 to be like Roblox or Second Life, it will extremely limit the core of the game. It will transition the game from life simulation to MMORPG. While I cannot say “no one wants that,” I can confirm as a long-time player and one that knows thousands of other players, we do not want that.
We do not want The Sims turned into IMVU and Second Life, which are glorified chat-rooms with an avatar and a marketplace to buy virtual, pixelated CAS items. It is already an issue–of paid content–faced daily in our community. I suggest EA not fan those flames.
We do not want the game to be centered around socializing as it is in TS4. We want depth. Memories. Chaos. Consequences. And maybe an alien abduction every now and then?
I want to reaffirm that The Sims is a life simulation game. A sandbox game where you play God and build worlds, houses, and manipulate lives of simulated people. I do not see why you would feel the need to compete with Roblox or Second Life or Fortnite. None of those games give the player the same experience as The Sims.
Stop limiting the sandbox. Embrace it. Expand it for a better generation.
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