The Sims 4 - E3 Gameplay Overview

Glad you got some use out of it then :)

LGR

A control freak like me loves the Sims, from Sims 1 to Sims 3. But I don't know about leaving some of these customization options out. I could get past it for the sims themselves because we have always had a fantastic modding community to fill in the gaps where clothing and hairstyles become limited, but I think not being able to customize furniture is what's going to put me off. It's like they're taking it back to Sims 2 and streamlining it which is fine, I had the most fun with the Sims 2 out of all the games, but yeah it looks like there are things we had in Sims 3 that are going to be huge gaping holes in Sims 4. The emotions I don't really care about it comes off in all this promotional crap as sort of gimmicky, something that will actually make it less interesting to play with after a month (also, the walks? Why?). I do like the new create-a-sim and the way you can keep the layout of a room when you move it around instead of rearranging every-damn-thing. Think I might actually wait quite a while after this one comes out before I consider getting it. A few obvious things left out seem to indicate there will be even more desperate money-grabbing going on (is it even possible?). Maybe it's a growing trend but for me it's a massive turn-off.

Stitched Space

I have no interest in play this game. However, I do enjoy your reviews. They just confirm to me that this type of game is not for me.

To be honest, the way EA likes to eat money makes this seem the truth.

Aidan Rayner

Who knows... they may leave out pools like they did diving boards. Then decide they may want an expansion pack to sell called "Sims 4 Swimming Pool Expansion Pack!"

ReeseRiverson

<a href="http://hodgmaniac.blogspot.com/2011/01/judge-john-hodgman-podcast.html" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">http://hodgmaniac.blogspot.com/2011/01/judge-john-hodgman-podcast.html</a>

Michael Hogan

I'm still hoping to have my mind blown by these additions in the actual game but... yeah, at this point, it's a whee bit lacking on real details :)

LGR

Ah. In that case, yeah, not quite as impressive then. :P

Kris Asick

I meant the actions going on were scripted, as were the camera angles since that's not the perspective the game normally has at all. The devs even said so themselves, which is why these videos came with warnings of "not representative of actual gameplay". They give a good idea of the types of interactions that can go on though, and it's actually not very different from what we have in The Sims 3 already which is why a lot of fans are disappointed in these "emotions" so far.

LGR

OK... here's a potential thought which might blow your mind if you stop and consider it for a moment... You said in the video that it looked as though much of the "gameplay" being shown was heavily scripted... what if it wasn't and that's actually how the sims now behave based on what you tell them to do, the circumstances around them and the emotions they're feeling? I mean, I have no idea if that's the case but for everything lost from The Sims 3, would that kind of sim-on-sim interaction make up for it? (As a base game, since we know EA is gonna release about a zillion and fifty-three expansions and packs.)

Kris Asick

Why not make another game entirely. Because branding and name-recognition!

LGR

No idea what you mean by "buzz marketing", but no, this is simply a series I've enjoyed hugely ever since its inception, I enjoy making videos about them, and the vast majority of my views come from them.

LGR

During my unfortunate youth, I grew up playing several of the Sim* games you've reviewed previously. However, I've never understood the Sims franchise at all. I just don't get it at all. With that in mind, and given the sheer volume of Sims "reviews", is this buzz marketing for the games? Will you be buzz marketing for the Canadian House of Pizza and Garbage, too? Answer the question, don't wait for the translation!!!

Michael Hogan

[speaking as a non-Sims player] The Sims games make Maxis/EA come across as money hungry (well, make EA look MORE money hungry) and I feel like the developers talent is wasted. If they're going to change such a large portion of the game, why not make a different game entirely? It might sound contradictory, as I'll be the first to say "Oh, another Call of Duty game that is indistinguishable from the last handful, what will they think of next" but when you're removing features that have been established by multiple games in the series, why not just make a new series. I know the Sims Medieval did not do well, but I imagine a lot of that is because people thought they were buying a Sims game, as indicated by Sims in the title of Sims Medieval. I guess I just see the Sims games lately as a tech demo, but the tech isn't being used elsewhere. And it makes me sad. p.s. I played Spore, and really enjoyed. ...and then DarkSpore...EEAAAAA!!!!

Aaron Alcorn

Thanks man!

LGR

Awesome review!

Cole Palmer

"I like what they're adding, but am absolutely loathing what they're removing to add it." &lt;-- sums my thoughts up as well. Some of the changes and things removed are simply bizarre.

LGR

Yup, so many unknowns remain and so many things seem to be changing in ways I don't necessarily agree with. Will be an interesting September.

LGR

You seem a little worried about the outcome of The Sims 4. Kind of don't blame you... I'm a bit afraid myself. We'll see what happens in September and beyond...

Lindsay Michelle

More uncertainty! I know that when a new iteration of the series comes out, we have to trade off "mature product with lots of options" for "revised product with new features and fewer options to start", so I'm not worried about the lack of options to start. What I AM worried about is the lack of creative freedom the core engine seems to be giving us and the core concepts (pools!) and functionality this game is taking. I mean, I like the idea that clothes are now have in-game consequences so it's harder to give us the ability to create our own full-blown styles, but why not allow us to create our own patterns and color combinations? How does it matter if a full-length dress is green with tiger stripes or blue and red plaid with orange polka dots aside from destroying the eyes of any who lay eyes on it a la Indiana Jones Lost Ark? I know that one of the reasons I and my girlfriend enjoy Sims 3 is because we can customize minute details like that to our liking, so this is kind of disappointing. Not to mention how the Sim content creation community (SCCC) is going to create their stuff now, since a lot of what I see requires the right colors to look good (how would the Duke feel about only being able to choose a green or brown t-shirt? That's so wrong it's almost criminal!). I don't know, I like what they're adding, but am absolutely loathing what they're removing to add it.

This looks somewhat promising. I hope we can be more creative than we could be in 3, even with the restrictions we have now.

Zem Hysong

Kim Jong Un was in there too, and they apparently had Chuck Norris in the behind-closed-doors demo at E3. Seems they're trying to drive home the versatility of the sim creation!

LGR

I see Sims that look like Obama and a buff Jonathan Coulton, so that's neat.

Zem Hysong