#ea you suck

[murfeelee]

The Sims 4 Enchanted by Nature | Official Reveal Trailer

As usual, the Build/Buy content looks amazing AF, but I was hoping to see way more of the CAS stuff, the wings, the magic--you know, the FAIRIES?! 

Y’all made us sit blue-balled thru this dry boring trailer for...meh. 🙄😒

These are the only wings I like. PLEASE tell me EA is finally gonna let us HIDE the wings when the fae is around normies? 

Did her wings go away cuz that’s an actual ABILITY fae have, or was that just for the trailer cuz the girl was just dreaming? If yes, that’s AWESOME--same way I love how TS4′s vampires have a normie look AND a vamp look, the way werewolves do; it’s one of my fave thingf about TS4 occults; hiding in plain sight.

But why bother hiding, when the fashion is from the kiddie section at Halloween-R-Us?! The clothes are a hard NOPE for me--the dude looks the best of all, which is NEW for EA; I’m shook! 🫨  

Flower Beards--YAAS, KING! 😍 

But you’d think after seeing what an epic fail the TS4 Plantsims are that EA’d do all out on making Fae really look more plant/bug-like: cool skintones & makeup/tattoos & antennae & leaves & petals & roots everywhere--real High Fantasy Nature Couture Realness. 

This looks more like a Halloween costume. It’s just basic Prom dresses and a lazy AF top/skirt combo that pales in comparison to TS3′s counterparts--

--let alone the incredible CC the modding community’s been making for the past DECADE since this effing game came out. No, the best you get is this guy who looks like he fits better in ITF’s Utopia than in the land of the fae!

What in the High School Prom Night in Whoville are these shoes, EA? 🤦

Ok, lemme stop being mean--the CAS stuff doesn’t matter; the modders always do FAR better than EA ever has in that department; so why am I even surprised? 

On to the GAMEPLAY. 

EA kinda sorta listened to my call thru the ether way back in the Werewolf pack about making the occult lifestate & world flora/fauna work together to cure magical ailments & such (x x).  

Seems like gardening, potions & herbs will be a real focus--which is recycled content with another coat of paint, sure, but this is EA after all. So instead of SN EP’s Elixir Shop, TS4 will have a Potions Shop--that better not be a rabbithole EA! 👀

There’s so much Build/Buy goodies though, ngl. 😍 😍 

The Shire roofs~! 😍 😍 😍 

But I don’t really care about any of that--these gardening/foraging skills look like something any sim can do. What is unique to the FAIRIES? 

These pestering sprites look exactly like TS3′s LN EP Will-O-Wisps, which is cute for continuity, but lame compared to what the fae sprites look like in SN.

I’m seeing a lot of old interactions from the SN EP return, but what is new and INNOVATIVE here, to push the franchise FORWARD?

This animation is so stupid--she looks DEAD. 🤦 Once again, EA’s mistaken Nature-Buff with Homeless:

I would’ve at least had a magical patch of flowers/moss grow all around her as she slept, kinda like the trail of flowers that appear wherever TS3 Plantsims walk. And no MUSHROOM RING?! That’s rule 101 of the fae, duh, EA! 🤦

Not a single mushroom in sight. This is a Hedgewitch, EA. A cluttered greenhouse/treehouse does NOT a faery make! DO MORE. 

Speaking of trees--

I despise that the new Faery Treehouse has such a basic plain design, and has to sit on a table, instead of being it’s own plant-like growth. Even the giant burrow tree in Country Living looked more fit for fae than this crap. 

There’d better be more options & prettier treehouse choices, EA, istg. 😤This design sorely lacks imagination & creativity, esp. when TS3′s look so much better.

I hope this is a treehouse, though it's giving more SN EP Jellybean Bush--but as a harvestable plant for ingredients. I wonder if it’ll kill/affect normie sims.

Grandfather Willow, come through? I love that there’s a Jack-in-the-Green, but I hate that it’s a dead-looking tree stump, and not legit Grandmother Willow with an iconic huge foliage canopy. 

What would be REALLY cool is if there was an NPC Plantsim Jack / Old Man of the Woods who could help sims with stuff. Not whatever’s going on with the cooky gnome angle they’re leaning towards. 

Jesus.

What on earth--you know what? Nevermind, forget I asked.

And don’t you dare show any mermaid motifs, when TS4′s mersims were barely a step above TS4′s plantsims in the Lame Department. 

Yawn. I’d rather see the forest for the trees, cuz this is a FAERY pack--why TF would I care about some seaside portside fishing village? That was Island Living’s job, DUH.

And I said I’d stop being mean, LOL. 😅 But what ticking me off most about this whole expansion is that it’s giving TS3′s Hidden Springs--which had a MUCH stronger concept even years before we ever got SN. 

That’s what’s killing me. Cuz you could easily tell that there was the normie side of town, but the deeper you went off the beaten path, the more obvs it was that there were legit ELVES living in Hidden Springs, too, chugging whatever meth was in that magic fountain of theirs that turned their skin green & blue & whatever.

So like, is this glowing stone the entrance to a magical realm, like Realm of Magic’s portal gate that led to Diagon Alley? Or is this just a hidden corner of the nornie world, like Hidden Springs’ area where the Fountain of Youth was, Tuck Everlasting style? Ngl, it had better be a magical realm portal, EA; I hope there’s whole Hobbit Town Shire where fae live, separate from the muggles; the way I’d hoped RoM would be. 

I am SO SICK of EA being scared to go the distance and really do the occult lifestates justice, and really give them a High Fantasy expansion that takes place in a different time, the way the SN EP was obvs more Victorian/Vintage, and ITF was ofc scifi. Stop with the generic hipster millennial garbage, and take us to another world already! These are FAERIES, ffs! The one time y’all should’ve literally done a full-fledged Fairy World! And instead we get MAINE!? 🤦

TL;DR: Underwhelmed, but still curious. 

*sigh*

I’m still lowkey excited, okay? I hope this pack works out, cuz  this is the 2nd TS4 lifestate I’ve BEEN waiting for after Witches. But EA really better make sure there’s WAY more to this EP than what they’ve showed, cuz they had 13 YEARS since TS3′s SN EP to get faeries right, and so far I’m just seeing an awful lotta hedgewitching and very little fae shenangians. 🤔

[celestialtrait]

i hate to say it but i truly love sims 4 but i really hope they focus on gameplay, relationships, stories, etc. in the future. literally if they fleshed this game out more in that way, this would be an almost perfect game for me. idk, i’m just really in love with the build and cas tools and how much better it runs than sims 3

[uglynavel]

So....the star wars pack

Ok look, im a huge fan of star wars but this honestly feels like it's just one big promotion for the galaxy edge park at disney (which isnt that good/fun if im being honest) this game looks like it's mostly inspired by the new trilogy which i was not a big fan of. (Fin and Kylo were the best parts FOR ME)

I dont wanna meet Rey and Kylo, i wanna meet Ashoka and Anakin and Obi-wan.

And the only selling point for me is the alien characters cause i hope that means we're getting new aliens added to occult sims but i have a feeling they're just gonna be costumes 😔

Also cars and babies are too complicated but they can make flying ships and lightsabers?!

I would have loved a sims 4 version of Into The Future. (Although it probably would be just as empty as all the other packs)

I have a feeling the flying ships was just for the trailer and wont actually be a thing in game.

At this point i think I'm done with the sims and I wont be purchasing any future packs unless it's werewolves which i think at this point is never gonna happen

[mojav]

origin launcher is so ugly and confused

[murfeelee]

Murf's Top 50 Mods - Part 3 (2020 - 2023 Edition)

I made a Top 50 list (Pt 1 and Pt2) back in 2016, talking about mods that I've used & love. But with all the goated content that the amazing TS3 community continues to churn out, I NEEDED to update my list! This one in no way diminishes or negates the other mods I've already listed--like, I shouldn't have to sit here and explain how NRAAS continues to carry TS3 on its freaking shoulders, ok. This is just MORE mods, the Top 50 most RECENT ones I've tried out since, like, quarantine.

I am a VERY niche simmer--I love fantasy gameplay, so my fave mods are the ones that not only offer general quality of life improvements, but also add new abilities and interactive objects inspired by different cultures, time periods, or genres. So y'all already KNOW which ones have earned my top spots. They're not based on which mods are "better," just which ones I personally have been using the most.

1: Smooth Patch, LazyDuchess

I've already gushed about this mod, but oh well. Like--I use an EFFTON of CC. My Live Mode gameplay itself doesn't tend to lag so much as my game's slow to LOAD, slow to save, CAS is a nightmare, I can do my taxes waiting for the Misc Decor section to open, etc etc. But the Smooth Patch loads everything so much quicker for me! 😭

One thing is that on the EA App version (curse you, EA) the Master Controller package didn't work on my end, so I took it out, but everything else has been great!

2: Search Mod, LazyDuchess

Speaking of the Misc Decor section -- HOW LONG did we ask EA for a Search function y'all? Only to be ignored. Then the second TS4 is released, it ain't got a effing thing in it, but it's got a Search function??? 🤔 ISTG it's like the simgurus were told to take all of the TS3 community's best suggestions, and poach them for TS4 (like vampire coffins--NO I'm not over it!). WHY do modders have to do your frikkin job for you, EA?! I call EA lazy all the time cuz EA you suck, so it's the most ironic thing ever that LazyDuchess is out here KILLING IT.

My ONLY "complaint" about the Search mod is the position of the icon. I use A LOT of Collection Files, and I noticed that the Search icon actually covers the Delete button when in the Collection viewer. So I can't delete items in collections with the Search icon in the way.

But this is a MINOR nitpick--I almost never delete items, it's just something I noticed is all.

3 - 8: OCCULT MODS: EVERYTHING by @puddingface1902

Y'all already know the Enhanced Witches mod is my favorite mod ever made. But PF1902 also made cool enhancements to the Fairies, Genies, Vampires, Werewolves, and Mermaids too! My sims are usually Nraas hybrids (e.g.: Sakura is a faery, witch & plantsim; Magnus Bane is a witch & genie; etc.), so it's FANTASTIC having so many new abilities for my magical occults. 😍

9 - 11: OCCULT MODS by xantak22

Even more occult mods at MTS are for enhanced Plantsims, Ghosts, and Mummies! I was dying for more Plantsim abilities, omg, they're my 3rd fave occult after Witches & Fae.

12: Sim Control Tools by Knight

Sooooo many quality of life mods have come out! ^0^

I've been ABUSING the Teleport To Me function, to quickly get sims off of lots & where I need them to be. It also lets sims unlock more Social/Romantic interactions. (Now all we need is a way to interact with sims from EA's useless thumbnails.)

13 - 18: @anitmb's mods

There are SOOOO many--most I've yet to even try. But so far newer ones I've been using are the Deck of Cards (FINALLY something other than EA's bulky AF poker table!), Farm Mod (look at all these CHICKENS!), and Hunting mod so my 8000 archer sims can actually hunt! (Ofc I've also used the Woodcutter and Anvil mods in my older gameplay posts, too.) And @mspoodle1's edit of the Cup of Tea mod is so pretty.

19: @mspoodle1's Poker table

Another excellent cards mod is this medieval style poker table I use a lot now, too.

20: @omedapixel's Wildflowers DR

I like EA's default wildflowers from SSNS, but Omeda's are just sooooo much nicer. (I haven't gotten around to trying out their Harvestable Plant DR yet.)

21: Swordfighting mod by CyrusBanefort

En garde! This mod is so freaking epic!

One thing I've noticed is that the game lags while it waits for the mod to boot up (a message has to first pop up saying it's running when you first launch your saves). But other than that this mod is excellent.

22 - 24: Yoga rugs

I've long been using the yoga rugs by Kitabalibar and the edited one from @mspoodle1. But now there's the newest one by @twinsimming, with brand new animations & features. The more the merrier I say, LOL. What's especially neat is the kids wobbling around as they try to do yoga! :3

25 - 30: TheSweetSimmer's mods--so cute! :3

Omg so frikkin many, I can't even catch up! The interactions are so freaking precious, like from the More Toddler Interactions (cuddle, look at, etc) & Biggest Little Mod (hug legs), I've never had so much fun playing with kids! <3 And I LOVE that they can Catch Butterflies and Pick Flowers--you'd think plantsim children would be able to do this by default, EA! Honestly, just grab everything by TSS, your kid sims will thank you!

31 - 33: @spheresims Medieval/Nature/Tribal mods

Y'all know I'm crazy about the Functional Fireplaces mod (the cauldrons, baby! 😈), but the One with Nature and Wildlife Hunting mods are great too, perfectly complimenting the off-the-grid realness.

34: @olomayasims/Cmomoney Smoking Mod Overhaul

The original smoking mod was on my first Top 50 list, so it's awesome seeing it get new upgrades, interactions & animations.

I've never smoked IRL, but sooooo many of my sims just puff-puff away; I'm such an enabler. U_U Now all we need is cigars and pipes!

35 - 38: Callia-Evergreen/Camkitty's CAS CC for animal hybrids at MTS

Not a "mod" per se, but whatever--my list my rules! I love ALL of their CC, but I get SO MUCH use out of animal-themed CC like the digitigrade sliders, wolf feet, lizard tails, and fae wings. Do check them out if you like to play with horror and monster-sims!

39: @greenplumbboblover's Sheep

EASILY one of the most incredible mods I've ever seen. Like....HOW? (Once @omedapixel's Goats are done I'm gonna start screaming someone do llamas pleeeeeaaaaase!!!)

40: Arsil's musical instruments mod

I used the sax most recently in my IWTV gameplay, and it was excellent, perfect for the NOLA vibes! However, although I use the flute A LOT more (for my Untamed gameplay--it's been such a GODSEND!), I really wish the hands were positioned better, preferably using the poses from Chisims' flute poseset. (But I don't eff with poses/animations, otherwise I'd do it myself. U_U) Ah well, it's still one of my fave mods though.

41 - 42: Flower Arranging mod by zoe22 + @mspoodle1's Florist Collection

Guys, I've been wanting this mod since FOREVER! ^0^ (I swear, the best thing about TS4 is all the 4t3 conversions, LMAO!) I just wish Teens could Dabble and use it, too--all they can do is stock the table.

43: Just Sit/Nap Anywhere by FloTheory

Sometimes you just want sims to fall asleep anywhere, DANG, EA!

44: @sweetdevil-sims' Toddler Food DR

Cuz EA's food is UUUUUUUUGLY~! I kept forgetting to install it, only to be rudely reminded every time I had to look at my toddler sims eating MUD.

45 - 46: @mspoodle1's mail pen quill DR and @omedapixel's pencil quill DR

I looooove quill pens IRL (ballpoint pens, not the fountain pens--I'm way too messy), so having mods that let my sims use them too is 👌

47: Fireflies Enhanced! by Canibal_MLO

I love anything that enhances the wildlife and collectibles/harvestables to be more dynamic and interactive. And I was JUST about to do a firefly catching scene for my IWTV insp. gameplay, so this came right on time! The falling leaves effect is delightful, but I kinda wish it was falling flower petals instead, cuz ofc I do. 🌸

48: Unicorn Aurora DR by Canibal_MLO

GORGEOUS. This mod replaces the unicorn mist with northern lights, like.... I love the genius ideas simmers have.

49: Custom Plumbbob Color tool by CrossTheMersey

What a neat idea! Although the default Maxis colors are ingrained in my psyche, with the iconic green plumbbob, as soon as I saw this mod I knew I wanted to at least try something different and play around with it.

50: @aa6x7's Teru Teru Bozu + other edits [Honorable Mention]

I rave about Cmomoney's Time/Weather Mod all the time, I use it constantly. AA6x7's Teru Teru Bozu (Japanese "Sunshine Monk" charms) is kinda like a simpler version of it, as it just resets bad weather back to Sunny. But it's such a cute idea and perfect for my gameplay. Plus, AA6x7 makes all kinds of neat edits/mods to EA's bulky AF meshes, so if you haven't checked them out already, DO!

And that's all the mods I've managed to try out recently!

I don't have anywhere near the kind of free time that I used to, so my simming has been put on the backburner and I've missed all kinds of cool and exciting releases. But trust: I am taking note, so that I know what to try once I have time.

All my deepest & sincerest gratitude & love to the entire sims community, for keeping The Sims 3 going--this year was the 14th anniversary! Here's to 14 more! 🥳 Happy Simming!

[murfeelee]

inZOI Beta Release - Thoughts/Rants (Pt1: Build/Buy Mode)

This post will be my positives & negatives about Build/Buy, with a quick bit about the Zoi Creator at the end. Pt2 will cover Live Mode.

Buy/Build Creator

Ok, so I admit that I didn't watch the tutorial video, and I really should've. Cuz the controls drove me effing crazy. I wish there was a keybinding option, so we can change the WASD controls and just let the game feel less clunky to control. I feel like there's way too many button clicks to do things EA managed far easier in TS3 and ESPECIALLY in TS4.

After playing around in BB for 2 days straight I think I've gotten used to the controls & category layout. All in all I've had a great time building my first inZOI lot! ❤️

BUT! I deducted 3 points, cuz of what I effing HATE the most:

VERY limited Copy/Pasting materials/textures/patterns

VERY limited MoveObjects On (the ALT button ain't enough, Krafton!)

Not enough unique options in different BB categories

1: Materials/Textures/Patterns

It's hard AF to use their super-limited Eye-Dropper/Copy-Paste ability. We can't use the same pattern on whatever we want. Instead, it's only for "identical pieces of furniture" [read: the EXACT SAME furniture], which is THE dumbest thing I've ever seen in my life, esp. when there's variables like Gloss/Specular/Vertical/Scale/etc that I really hate having to do over & over & over & over. Whatchu mean I can't copy the texture from a right curtain to a left curtain!? Whatchu mean the rugs can't match the drapes!?

I like that there's a slider and manual text box, but I would also like a +/- button that I could click, for when I want to change the values with a click. Esp, since I'm playing in Windows Mode, and it's hard to finagle the slider with the huge cursor in the way.

It's just REALLY annoying having to manually line up all of these wallpapers so they have the same tiling & vertical values & gloss/specular values & colors; it's driving me up a literal wall.

It's easier when the walls are all connected, cuz then you can use the Paint Room feature so all the connected walls in a room are edited together. But that only works on individual floors, and is MUCH harder to finagle cuz of the way the wall meshes are split into portions based on if there's an interconnecting wall attached to it. It turns 1 wall mesh into 2+ separate meshes if there's an intersecting wall or not.

It's hard to explain, but like--I was only able to make that blue Feature-Wall segment on the wall by literally building two walls on either side of the section I wanted to be blue, and then sledgehammering the intersecting walls when I was done. You can't just color wall tiles individually--let alone copy/paste from one wall to another in a totally different room--which was a problem for me cuz my lot has several Feature-Walls.

Yes, you can select a wall or fence or something, and click the Copy button to copy that wall wholesale, but I really just want an eyedropper/save/click-drag-drop ability to just duplicate a favorite texture on a wall to use on a rug or a car or a shirt, etc. I don't want to have to demolish a whole wall mesh, just to Copy/Paste a wall's texture.

What's amazing is that it really will copy/paste EVERYTHING that's on that wall--including the decor, doors, windows, etc; AND how long the wall mesh is.

It's really cool, but jfc, I just wanna copy/paste the wallpapers. 😭

I also really really LOVE the ability to add Gloss/Specular and import our own textures to everything, it might be my fave Build/Buy feature (that and the search box ofc); but I almost feel like it's somewhere between TS2/TS4's retexture mods and TSRW's Pattern tool, just much smoother & more innovative cuz it's in-game. I've been abusing it like crazy, but Sims 3 CASt is still FAR superior.

Having the ability to at least manually add sims pizazz to the textures is delicious; the Import ability really is the best alternative to TS3's Create a Style feature. Krafton occasionally includes some nice premade pattern/texture variations, but nowhere near enough. Esp. when you have situations like THIS:

That is the ONLY workbench in the game, and not only is it non-recolorable, but it also only had ONE (1) color variation. 🤦DO NOT effing do this, Krafton. Decor's one thing, but functional items should have as much variation as possible, so we can use it more!

(Also, PLEASE more Maximalist/Bohemian/cultural content--I need Persian rugs & runners and lace doilies & tablecloths & faux fur like NOW. 🙏)

2: MoveObjectsOn

And Krafton, whatchu mean there's no Move Objects On cheat, just some [ALT] button that doesn't even work half the time?!

Doors & stairs are OBVS the worst offenders, but there's plenty of other instances I noticed, too. This game is WAY too finicky--ALT sometimes works fine, but I've been holding my breath in suspense the whole time, not knowing when it'll work or not.

BTW, spiral stairs and elevators need to happen ASAP. This is an ultra-modern world; ain't no way we shouldn't have elevators, when they're in the freaking trailer.

It KILLS me that we can't put curtains over a door; not even the shimmery Silver Part Curtain. You're killing my hippie-beaded + sheer curtain dreams, Krafton, istg.

And why can't we put chairs on either side of a dining table? (Why are there no long 3-tile dining tables?) And why can't I rotate cushions on my sofas?

Why can't I put a 3x3 rug on top of a 3x3 wood panel deck?

Scratch that--you can't put ANY rugs on the panel decks.

Why do I have to FIGHT this game to place everything?! 😩

I also dislike how the push/pull effect on walls actually DUPLICATES an extra wall, rather than just MOVING the wall to the new location. Making you have to sledgehammer the old wall, which again, just makes us have to use extra clicks for no reason.

It's also hard to see WHERE the new wall will be, with the light blue hologram/x-ray-like wall effect they use. I liked how EA had the bright neon green, cuz it just stands out better, rather than blending into the already light-blueish surroundings.

Ofc I'll get used to it the more I use it, but I just don't like it; it feels like guesswork/trial & error; and it wastes time I REALLY don't have.

I LOVE this push/pull effect though:

Apparently it only works for stairs though--it's not available for doors/arches, platforms, chairs, tables, etc, which sucks, cuz Paralives can do it on darn near everything, and I'm so jealous.

GOD I can't wait for Paralives. I still think it'll be the improvement to TS4's Build/Buy mode that I really want. This ain't it, chief. I was far too frustrated tryna make the home I wanted--which is a big no-no for me as a builder.

3: Object Variety/Variations

Krafton. Why in the HELL is there a JAIL CELL door? 🤨

There are ONLY 4 double doors available ffs (and only ONE 1-tile arch what is going on), and in your infinite wisdom, your devs were like aaahhhhh yes, in this really cutesy game full of kitty cats and glitter-butterflies, the one thing they'll need is CARCERAL architecture~! Genius. 🤦

I have no idea why they put trees in Outdoors (Buy Mode) and not in Exterior (Build Mode). I assumed we just didn't have trees yet. Thank god for the Search box, cuz this was Where's Waldo for sure. And we have GROWING Plants that grow over time too!?

Trust and believe I immediately selected the Bonsai plant, LOL.

But there are nowhere near enough tall potted plants--I hate that the tallest plant barely reaches door-height, and it's sparse AF, when I just want lush bursts of greenery in those lonely corners:

And FAR more potted plants for surfaces--why can't I put these tiny AF plants on a table surface? Why would I ever want a bouquet of roses on the floor? 🤨 Again, MOO > ALT every time.

Also, we DEFINITELY need a Collection file ability, or a Favorites ability, or something to tag items we want to save and remember to use. And the Household Items storage feature TS3 has, where we can store away objects we own, but don't want to place on our lot. Right now I'm just cramming the extra objects on an empty floor. (Speaking of--basements & attics: we need that ASAP.)

I am NOT a fan of the modern minimalist style of the Build/Buy objects. Esp. esp. when there's so few options.

And then Krafton SWIFTLY told me to STFU & hold their beer.

The Craft/Create Custom Furniture tool is cool! It's pretty limited though--I really wanted wall lights but it seems you can only make floor/table ones; and they REALLY need more options for the beds cuz there really isn't anything there. But I made a handful of pretty custom objects that look amazing, this feature is just wow, modular furniture taken to a whole new level, EA could never.

Functional vacuums & brooms & mops in the basegame without wasting money on broken Bust the Dust Kits, EA would NEVER!

There's also other cute things, like rail guards on windows.

You can actually draw curtains open & closed, which is incredible...but I'd like to be able to SEE the curtains, and color them and stuff, not just see the frikkin curtain rod.

4: Random AF Extra Bits

I like that we can actually toggle the Night/Day setting for Build/Buy, to see exactly what our lots will look like at different times of the day.

I also love that with lighting/lamps, changing the lightbulb color is what changes the color of the light itself; which is much easier than in TS3's pie menu. The only issue is that it's harder to tell that the lightbulb does anything unless you toggle the Night setting, to see the colors better; I gasped out loud when I changed the time and realized that lightbulb colors actually MATTER at night.

Apparently there's no terrain tools in the Beta--no ponds, pools, etc--but we DO see the icons for them, so obvs it must be a feature coming eventually.

I wish it was possible to change the Setting Options in Build Mode. I didn't realize that the "Background Noise" sound setting was actually the in-game music, like wtf? So I was stuck playing the game with inZOI's music looping in my ear for HOURS before I just Googled how to shut it off. Annoying, but small enough to be super irritating.

TL;DR: Build Buy 7/10

So yeah, this is just all of my initial impressions just mucking around in Build/Buy Mode; I haven't even PLAYED the frikkin game yet or tested anything in Live Mode. 🤦That'll be Part 2.

But so far I'm...satisfied. 7/10!

I managed to recreate Magnus Bane's Penthouse pretty darn close to how I got it in TS3 (with all the EPs & Store Content, and an effton of 3rd Party CC & mods). So inZOI's base game Beta being able to get me most of the way there all on its own is actually REALLY commendable, they definitely impressed me. 👏👍

But there's just far too much Krafton really skimmed on, that irritates the absolute mess out of me.

But I also have a gut feeling that Live Mode is gonna be CRAZY--I can't wait to play with the functional items.

Zoi Creator

The Zoi creator is pretty much the same from the Demo (x x), which is actually frustrating. Where are the improvements? 🤔 There are obvs more options, and I like the clothes categories (School, Party, etc), but I already said that I wasn't a fan of the super modern aesthetic for the clothes, and it just feels like more of the same. The shoes are still my least favorite, hella boring. And we still can't layer accessories & makeup, or have tattoos (the limited face/neck options are hidden away why?). Why can zois only wear 1 ring on 1 hand? This is 2025, and you're still making the same mistakes TS3 made 16 years ago, when TS4 at least lets you wear accs on both hands. I want my zois BLINGED UP. 😩

(Yes, my graphics settings are all on Low; I can't afford anther new pc if inZOI makes this one internally combust, stfu.)

[murfeelee]

Things INZOI did better than SIMS 4 - TheRedPlumbob

I played inZOI all weekend (my Live Mode thoughts coming... eventually; IRL’s way too hectic atm), and I can confirm that every bit of this video is very accurate (except the decor animals bit, kinda sorta). But ofc we been knew TS4′s a effing joke, even being 10+ years old now.

I agree with TRP that inZOI’s biggest pro is that it’s wide open for possibilities, esp. since it launched with more basegame features than TS4 (AND TS3, lest we forget).

But my biggest worry for Krafton is that they’ll RUSH tryna catch up to The Sims (a franchise with a 20-year head start), and give us more features, sure--but with even less replayability, variety, and DEPTH than EA managed. Yeah, you can do A LOT in inZOI (plenty of things The Sims NEVER let us do, esp. not  at launch). And yes, these features are better than TS4. But TS4′s dog trash, too long in the tooth and having by far exceeded its welcome. 

TS4 should NEVER be the barometer of a genuinely GOOD game.

This all boils down to style vs substance: how much there is for different sims/zois TO DO, and for how long before things get too repetitive/boring.

So I also agree that inZOI’s biggest con is that there’s a *charm* to The Sims that’s very hard to beat. 

And I think that’s cuz The Sims franchise was never meant to take itself too seriously--a lot of it was supposed to spoof IRL, not be a 1:1 carbon copy (which is precisely why I always get mad when people complain about Occults like ghosts & aliens & vampires being in the game, like stfu, TS1 was a frikkin cartoon--the unhinged cartoons they made back in the day that were never meant for kids. 👀 TS4 is hella cartoonish--looking more & more goofy every dang day as it tries to appeal to younger & younger demographics--which was a mistake, as it’s been censoring itself & softening what made The Sims EDGY). 

Conversely, inZOI feels made for adults, not kids--but boring AF conservative millennials who wouldn’t know edgy if it hit them with a bus IMHO. inZOI is playing it WAY too safe, to the point that it feels GENERIC. It needs a personality, stat. But I can already tell from its conservative-leaning limitations that Krafton’s scared to go in directions The Sims did that made the game truly interesting & dynamic.

I have a whole rant about inZOI my spirit’s sitting on, cuz it really pissed me off, but IRL has delayed me finishing my post. This is me actually holding back, cuz I legit don’t have time. But I hope that Krafton takes the MOUNTAIN of complaints & feedback it’s been getting to open the game up more, flesh out the world(s), and get the stick out of its arse ASAP (no pun intended). This beta’s great, and inZOI definitely has good bones to work with, which ofc is more than TS4 could say at launch--which we’ve all been paying for ever since (10+ years and no cars, ffs). But eff these surface-level features, if deeper gameplay like careers, hobbies, romance, family interactions, and cultural variety aren’t up to the standards set by TS1, TS2, and TS3. Time will tell. But I’m cautiously optimistic.

[murfeelee]

TS3 vs TS4 Features - Supernatural

I saw @moonbiscuitsims' comment here about how EA added "way more features" in their TS4 occult packs, and I wanted to talk about it in depth, cuz that's a misleading statement. Y'all know TS4's my trigger.

Cuz yes, on paper, EA offers a LOT of stuff in TS4 packs. But the saying goes: as broad as an ocean and as deep as a puddle. 😬 QUALITY, versus QUANTITY, which is crucial for replayability, customization, variability, and ultimate longevity. And another thing is the TIMEFRAME that that content was released. Sure, if it takes you 10 years to develop/dripfeed your frikkin game, ofc you can add more content over more packs; than if you'd just stuck to ONE dedicated pack, developed it in 1-2 years, and given people arguably BETTER, if not MORE content.

My gut reaction's to say EA had BETTER be offering more content! 😤 Not even to justify the ridiculous pricetag or anything, but for the simple fact that TS4's supposed to be NEXT GEN. It's SUPPOSED to be bigger & better than everything that came before it. Why are we sitting here for 10 years with TS4 if it ain't gonna increase ANYTHING but my rising blood pressure & trust issues?!

So Imma just examine TS3 SN in comparison with TS4's packs, and give my take on what's been going on, from 2012 (SN EP) to now.

Missing Features: TS4 Fairies

A fairy was the very first sim I ever made in TS3 back in 2009 (my avatar sim, Sakura). Watching the SN announcement trailer for the first time dang near made me cry. TS4 could never; moving on.

Missing Features: TS4 Zombies & Toadsims

TS4 Tragic Clowns are a W for the apple juggling & costume. I think EA was lazy by slacking on the clown just cuz he's already dead in Sunset Valley; and I guess they don't expect players to resurrect his ghost. SN EP did nothing to actually improve/expand him, just creating the alchemy Clown Potion; I guess to better integrate fishing the Clownfish into the lore.

TS4 Vampires GP (2017)

This is an easy one. I've said since TS3 Late Night EP (2010) that TS3's vampires are utter dogtrash, and the SN EP did eff all to patch/improve them, and I will die on that hill (until someone figures out how to give convert TS4's functional coffins & vampire fights & special FX). Compared to every other occult, I have more mods installed just to try to fix how effing busted & stupid vamps are; and these sparkling Twilight dumb AF bloodsuckers STILL get on my dang nerves.

IMO, TS4 Vampires is hands down the best pack EA ever made for TS4. 10/10, the attention they put in that pack outclasses darn near everything else they did until TS4 Seasons. Undisputed W, yes. 👏

TS4 Realm of Magic GP (2019)

Disputed W. I gave it an 8/10 at BEST, cuz magic/fantasy's a win, but I am disappointed. If this had been a home run for EA, I'd've shut my dang mouth, ISTG. But alas. I went on a long AF tirade against RoM when I realized that a lot of its so-called "new" features were things we could already do in TS4, with a flashy coat of paint--let alone things TS3 & the SN EP did, and better. Some things I didn't mention though:

Muggles who ask spellcasters how to do magic are sent on a fetch quest for Magic Motes, which is EXACTLY what the ITF EP Time Traveler occult Emit Revelart makes normies do to, finding Power Cells to learn how to use the Time Portal.

The Witch's perks/ranks system works just like the Vampires one, so kudos to EA for not fixing something that ain't broke I guess.

The Spells: At MTS I actually broke down what each of TS4's spellcasters do that's largely nothing sims couldn't do in TS3, even before SN came out (via SHT Genies or SSNS Aliens, or the Store).

TS3 Witches (let alone other lifestates) can do most of this either through alchemy or inherited features from older TS3 packs. This was a huge RoM dealbreaker for me, as I'd been hoping for WAY more innovative features in TS4's spells--the whole point of Spellcasters--than just an elaborate set of cheats. TS3's Witch's main features are fewer, but far more cohesive, IMO. (Granted, NONE of the packs holds a single candle to the GOAT that is TS1's Makin Magic, which had WAY more features than TS2, TS3 & TS4; and was CHEAPER. But I digress.)

There's no unique features with TS3/TS4 wands; they act the same way; the effects are just different, and TBH I'm not a fan of either--I wish wand/magic FXs could be modded in different colors at least (like BLACK 😈). But I DO like that in TS4 they can duel for rewards.

TS4 brooms do EFF ALL in a closed world; EA made them exactly they way they were in TS2, with zero innovation. (IIRC kids can't even use them--EA's hatred for kids & elders ALMOST matches MY hatred of EA.)

IMO beekeeping doesn't count, cuz TS3 included it as a small feature for alchemy ingredients in the SN EP, while TS4 integrated it far better in SSNS to work with gardening, which is genius.

Speaking of SSNS, there's the Weather Stone that only appears if you have both SN & SSNS, so occults can conjure magical weather effects over the whole world. (I'll talk about the best perk under Crystals SP.)

Familiars are the certified W for me with RoM. They're the best & most unique & most well-thought out & feature of the GP, IMO. ❤️

Extra TS4 features I think are supremely cool are spellcasters' books floating whenever they read anything. And their cauldrons have much cooler animations, and I'm so jealous that y'all can cook food in them; EA should've added that to the Store Cauldron, although I guess I understand why they didn't in the SN EP Alchemy Cauldron.

A lot of RoM's features are wrapped around Glimmerbrook. Access to Glimmerbrook comes with the Glimmer Stone key--and I WOULD use that as a segue into the Crystals SP, but I'll hold off. I already vented about Glimmerbrook in my Werewolves GP rant--but I'll get to that in a minute, too. The bigger issue is what even constitutes a TS4 "world"--those non-customizeable tiny AF clusters of tiny AF lots and huge swaths of decorative set dressing--let alone the Diagon Alley ripoff EA loves promoting like I was born yesterday and never saw Harry Potter. GORGEOUS realm, of course, like many EA worlds are. But they're largely just set-dressing, which irritates me to no end.

TS4 Paranormal SP (2021)

I've ranted & raved about Paranormal before: 7/10 at best.

TS4 Seances with the crystal ball work very differently from TS3's Soothsayer's Crystal Ball, which wasn't about banishing ghosts, but improving progression for SN's Witches & Fortune Telling (career). Fortune Telling's NOT a ghostly job, although the boho aesthetic carried over to TS4 Paranormal. (On top of the fact that they promised this whole NOLA Voodoo vibe, but delivered ZERO cultural accurate features reflecting ANYTHING from Haitian Voodoo, wtf? It's all hippie boho New Age BS--why TF does the tutorial ghost look more like Johnny Depp and less like Dr. Facilier, I ask you, EA.) Granted, some of the interactive objects are nice, like the calming dollbaby & magic candles to purify lots--kinda like TS3 incense. But again: 1-trick ponies. Yes, the animations look great, but crystal balls are typically for divination, asking spirits about the past/present/future, not removing haunting poltergeists, so I don't really get it. Stylish & gorgeous! But GENERIC AF substance-wise.

IMO, TS4's Ghosts are an L across the board; all the way from the base game--that bafflingly launched in 2014 WITHOUT ghosts until they were patched in a whole month later after everyone rose a stink (IIRC TS4 kids can't be ghosts!?)--to present. EA's been over/course-correcting from that gaffe ever since, with like double the amount of Death types than TS3. I DO NOT like how TS4 ghosts colors are tied to Eeemotionnsss~! (more like they're a sentient Plumbbob). TBF, kudos to TS4's smoky cloudy effect when ghosts appear. But the lack of unique deaths & ghost types in RoM (aside from Spellcaster Overload & the Night Wraith) made me roll my eyes, as SN EP's ghost types are some of my faves (ITF & SHT are also my top 3).

IIRC it was the SN patch that unlocked all types in (basegame?) CAS to make playable Ghosts. SN's Philosopher's Stone allows sims to summon new playable Ghosts (and ofc allows for transmutating cheap objects into gold ingots--more on that later), or it can just kill you and make YOU the new ghost, LOL.

But as for features, sure, TS4 ghosts have more interactions--though they're all pretty, rather than scary (vs TS2 ghosts, which were SCARY). TS4 ghosts lost the HORROR to just be silly/goofy or just CUTESY--especially the little spectres from Paranormal.

Speaking of horror, I can't talk about ghosts w/out bringing up TS3's AMB EP, cuz the Ghost Hunter (profession) is the real parallel with TS4's Paranormal Investigator (freelancer). In TS3, they actually stuck to their promised main premise (Ghostbusters). Overall, TS4 Seances are nowhere near as fluid as TS3 ghostbusting. In TS3 you can run all over the world using gidgets-gadgets to detect/fight ghosts & sprites, not just inside haunted houses, but anywhere they happen to spawn (ofc inc. graveyards). You're not just locked to a lot/house the player already knows is haunted (cuz you just toggle Haunted Lot to trigger the feature--SN's Ghost Gnome object isn't exactly the same, but it does spawn hauntings on the lots you put them in). ANY TS3 indoor/outdoor residential/community lot can randomly get haunted during a Ghost Hunter's shift; and you never know which one it'll be, or what kind of shenanigans will happen--EVIL ghost or just some sprites--which skyrockets replayability & keeps things fresh & interesting.

Functionally, Paranormal had no right to be that dang good for a Stuff Pack. That was a Game Pack; IDKY EA insists otherwise; esp. when it offered more & better things than some actual GPs. I'm confused. However, a serious problem TS4 has is that it gameifies everything to the point that TS4's numerous features lose their spontaneity, and just become rote--BORING. The ectoplasm everywhere just becomes another mess in your (haunted) house you have to clean--CHORES. On top of me not liking TS4 ghosts' look & vibe (and I HATE TS4's Bonehilda). Quality over quantity, EA!

TS4 Werewolves GP (2022)

Speaking of ghosts, waaaay back in 2020 I told the spirits precisely what I wanted from a potential Werewolf dedicated TS4 pack. Did they listen? HAYUL NAW. So in 2022 I said everything I had to say about the Werewolves GP, and accepted the fact that EA's INEPT.

Do TS4's wolves have MORE features than TS3? YES ofc (even in 2012 everyone complained that Witches & Faeries got the lion's share & Werewolves got shafted--they're basically glorified Familiars for Witches/Alchemist to find collectibles--more on that below). But was most of it GOOD features though? Debatable! I LOATHE the 2 wolf packs, which was what I'd most looked forward to; plus the whole world's aesthetic was ugly homeless-grunge, without a single bit of creativity or originality--only EA could make monsters as terrifying as werewolves effing cartoony hipster squatters. 🤦 7/10 at best.

TS4 Crystals SP (2024)

These crystals are ugly, EA. Which is weird, cuz the basegame TS4 gems & esp. space rocks are GORGEOUS. I have no idea which vision-impaired dev at EAxis thought these nasty looking opaque poorly-painted rocks were pretty.

Features-wise, granted, having TS4's bonafide Gemology skill from the Crystals SP's nice, instead of TS3's basegame hidden Collector skill. But the functioanlity's largely the same: cut more, unlock more (which I prefer to cheat my way through--TS3 thinks I have time for all this gameplay, LOL). (Not to mention all the extra features TS3's Aliens, Simbots & Plumbbots have when interacting with gems, space rocks, or metals.) TS4 only got 10 gem cuts for 27 crystals (=270), (+25 metals); compared to TS3's 16 gem cuts for 28 gems (=448), (+16 metals with their own separate ingots). Of TS4's 10 cuts, the Skull Cut is the ONLY one I think looks better (ignoring the atrociously flat textures ofc) than TS3's (which TS4 copy/pasted--no agates, no crystal ball, wtf).

The Garden Gnome cut isn't unique to TS4, as TS3 has several craftable (glass-only) Garden Gnome cut from the Glassblowing Machine (more on that soon).

The only TS3 gem that genuinely affects sims is radioactive Tiberium from the WA EP, so more features is definitely a plus. The best addition is TS4's Charging Grid feature--I LOVE that TS4 crystals can be imbued with magic energy--it's like TS3's Store Crystal Tree, ITF EP's magic crystal plants & the SN EP Mood Lamp all rolled into one. @greenplumbboblover's WIP Interests & Hobbies mod brainstormed integrating that functionality that back in 2020.

The functionality of the TS3 SN EP Gem Cutter & the TS4 Crystal Tree are similar, though ofc the tree's wallet & eco-friendly; and it's a plant, not a hunk of machinery, so it naturally has that going for it.

There's also the SN-SSNS Weather Stone, which gives werewolves the ability to summon a Hunter's Storm, raining a hail of gems, rocks & metals over the whole world for easy loot farming. (The best perk, though my fave is the Faeries' Reviving Sprinkle for gardening.)

Aside from SN, TS3's real equivalent is actually the Prism Art Studio Venue's Artisan skill. Cuz the REAL seller's the jewellery-making. There's ~100 CAS items in Crystals SP (plus 30+ regular Build/Buy mode objects). At $10, the Crystals SP is a steal, at least when compared to the BONKERS $20 tag on TS3's Prism Art Studio at the Store (2014). IIRC the Glassblowing Machine newly added 16 craftable CAS items & 13 craftable glass objects (as SN already gave us the Gem-Cutting Machine & AMB already gave us the Widgets work station); and 8 Build/Buy objects (inc. the goated L-shaped "spiral" stairs). It also added 5 craftable Perfumes for sims to use.

So while the Crystals SP added NICE features, I wouldn't say they added MORE features. Rather, they added more content: Quantity. But as for Quality, I think TS3 beats it out--the Prism Studio's a effing ripoff, but AFAIK it added features TS4 still doesn't have yet (craftable glassblowing & perfumes, spiral stairs); and the objects it did add are pretty nifty.

Timeframe-wise, we got the 2014 Prism Art Studio's Glassblower 2 years after the SN EP's Gem-Cutter; 5 years after the 2009 basegame. Compared to TS4's wait for the Crystals SP 2 years after Werewolves, 3 after Paranormal, 5 after RoM; and a whopping DECADE after the basegame launched in 2014. Wtf, EA?

Still, I'd say the Crystal SP's a 7/10 (there's not enough gem cuts, the gems textures are ugly, and most of the features were lifted from things TS3 had innovated 10+ years earlier).

TL;DR

Quantity =/= Quality.

EA's been taking way too long releasing packs to have the nerve to present debatable content--it should be goated releases EVERY time; esp. since everyone agrees TS4 is easier to create content for, so much smaller in scale/scope, and with an infinitely larger budget & fanbase than The Sims franchise ever had. There's zero excuse for EAxis' mediocrity, when TS3 was churning out EPs like it's life depended on it: SHT, SN, and SSNS all came out the SAME EFFING YEAR. 2012 was LIT.

EA, you suck.