Post by Amy (In America - Busy atm) on Jun 27, 2011 11:18:15 GMT
I personally have no ideas other than a height slider. My main rant can be found below...
But that aside, what would you like to see in TS4 if and when it comes to it?
I've been thinking about this for a while now, as I couldn't wait to get my hands on TS3 and was greatly disappointed.
What hits home for me, is that without Will Wright EA don't really understand the concept of the Sims or simulation games. The original two games revolve around player creativity and input, allowing for the creation of outside-game content, and distribution of in-game creations. However, though Sims 3 was broadly marketed as being all about customization, they neglected to mention that that was limited to patterns and objects which came with the game, until creators got over the multiple barriers they put in place to prevent real custom content.
They also seem to be blinded by the way in which other games work, with the developers setting the goals and creating the story, whilst players simply follow. The Sims franchise is as popular as it is because it is the player that sets all of those things, and essentially develops and creates a whole world. Sims 3 has none of that. And there is no option to remove the generic 'every game' play, other than to ignore those pesky tasks which demolish everything the Sims was ever about.
In my opinion EA need to go back to square one, understand the appeal of the game and the fundamentals, then take the best bits from each generation of the game, before adding new ideas. Irritating as it may be for developers, they should also ignore all goals and tasks until the last minute, remembering that aspirations were the height of their input in TS2 - which still remains to be a huge success, and if implemented allow for them to be turned on and off, because this is one game where the control shouldn't be with the developers.
I think the Sims need to be TS2 Sims but further developed with more options, and CAS needs to resemble something in-between TS2 bodyshop and TS3 CAS, with the addition of a height slider, and altered animations for the change in height, so that a kiss would still result in the Sims kissing, rather than burying the ones face in the others shoulder.
Outside-game customization needs to be made easier to implement, or EA should employ some of the CC makers outside of their company to create the default clothes, objects and hair.
Sims need to be the focal object. In TS2 and TS1 the quality of the Sims was the same as everything else or better. In TS3 ,which even had a delay to sort out the graphics, the Sims are not a particularly good quality once outside of CAS because someone didn't seem to understand the concept of the game. I mean, its all well and good that the furniture and houses and water all look very nice, but sadly, the player isn't following them. The player is following a sub-standard job in TS3.
I could go on. I just think EA need to be reminded that TS3 wouldn't be doing as well as it is (even though it seems to be some sort of disappointment to them), without the success of its predecessors, and they should address why it is they were so popular. If TS3 was the first in the franchise then it would not be doing this well, because by trying to incorporate typical game-play where the creator follows the companies story, they have just made it rather dull. And where in some places there are huge and brilliant leaps forward, its overshadowed by the fact that the game is not bearable for long durations.
They should definitely consider consulting with Will Wright on the making of it, or having a very heavy fan in-put during development, because if it turns out to be another TS3, then I'm done with the game all together. No more getting myself excited if its never going to be worth it.
What hits home for me, is that without Will Wright EA don't really understand the concept of the Sims or simulation games. The original two games revolve around player creativity and input, allowing for the creation of outside-game content, and distribution of in-game creations. However, though Sims 3 was broadly marketed as being all about customization, they neglected to mention that that was limited to patterns and objects which came with the game, until creators got over the multiple barriers they put in place to prevent real custom content.
They also seem to be blinded by the way in which other games work, with the developers setting the goals and creating the story, whilst players simply follow. The Sims franchise is as popular as it is because it is the player that sets all of those things, and essentially develops and creates a whole world. Sims 3 has none of that. And there is no option to remove the generic 'every game' play, other than to ignore those pesky tasks which demolish everything the Sims was ever about.
In my opinion EA need to go back to square one, understand the appeal of the game and the fundamentals, then take the best bits from each generation of the game, before adding new ideas. Irritating as it may be for developers, they should also ignore all goals and tasks until the last minute, remembering that aspirations were the height of their input in TS2 - which still remains to be a huge success, and if implemented allow for them to be turned on and off, because this is one game where the control shouldn't be with the developers.
I think the Sims need to be TS2 Sims but further developed with more options, and CAS needs to resemble something in-between TS2 bodyshop and TS3 CAS, with the addition of a height slider, and altered animations for the change in height, so that a kiss would still result in the Sims kissing, rather than burying the ones face in the others shoulder.
Outside-game customization needs to be made easier to implement, or EA should employ some of the CC makers outside of their company to create the default clothes, objects and hair.
Sims need to be the focal object. In TS2 and TS1 the quality of the Sims was the same as everything else or better. In TS3 ,which even had a delay to sort out the graphics, the Sims are not a particularly good quality once outside of CAS because someone didn't seem to understand the concept of the game. I mean, its all well and good that the furniture and houses and water all look very nice, but sadly, the player isn't following them. The player is following a sub-standard job in TS3.
I could go on. I just think EA need to be reminded that TS3 wouldn't be doing as well as it is (even though it seems to be some sort of disappointment to them), without the success of its predecessors, and they should address why it is they were so popular. If TS3 was the first in the franchise then it would not be doing this well, because by trying to incorporate typical game-play where the creator follows the companies story, they have just made it rather dull. And where in some places there are huge and brilliant leaps forward, its overshadowed by the fact that the game is not bearable for long durations.
They should definitely consider consulting with Will Wright on the making of it, or having a very heavy fan in-put during development, because if it turns out to be another TS3, then I'm done with the game all together. No more getting myself excited if its never going to be worth it.
But that aside, what would you like to see in TS4 if and when it comes to it?
