Strange Tomato (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
strangetomato) wrote2009-08-03 04:16 pm
strangetomato) wrote2009-08-03 04:16 pm
Sims 3: EP announcement and some reflection
You know what? I honestly wouldn't have predicted that EA'd come out with an EP that I simply have no interest in, but they've managed it.
I'm not sure I can completely articulate why this repels me so much, but it has something to do with the exactness of the replicas of these world locations, and how they actually refer to them as China or France instead of some sim world analogue, like Twikkii Island. It's just not very Simlish, is it? Compare that to Veronaville, which was an obvious reference to certain European countries, but it had its own twist. It had charm. I'm not seeing the charm. Maybe things will improve from this first look, but right now it's just... lacking.
A while back I was putting together my own little review of Sims 3 (which was never posted), and I'm reminded again of my main criticism of the third installment in our beloved series: it's a departure. That's what's wrong. It's veering off into different genres, most notably point-and-click adventure, and they're falling down on the promise of the simulation side of things. This is a mistake, because that's the reason we're here. Their task should have been to build a better dollhouse, and only that. In trying to appeal to a wider audience, they're losing track of the whole point of the game. The Sims franchise was always about domesticity, and that was enough.
They did some things right, no doubt, like the increased level of customization, but they didn't go far enough, and they're changing the overall feel of the game. They haven't even improved the way the genetics work. If they did nothing else, it should have been that.
So those are my thoughts. What do you think?
I'm not sure I can completely articulate why this repels me so much, but it has something to do with the exactness of the replicas of these world locations, and how they actually refer to them as China or France instead of some sim world analogue, like Twikkii Island. It's just not very Simlish, is it? Compare that to Veronaville, which was an obvious reference to certain European countries, but it had its own twist. It had charm. I'm not seeing the charm. Maybe things will improve from this first look, but right now it's just... lacking.
A while back I was putting together my own little review of Sims 3 (which was never posted), and I'm reminded again of my main criticism of the third installment in our beloved series: it's a departure. That's what's wrong. It's veering off into different genres, most notably point-and-click adventure, and they're falling down on the promise of the simulation side of things. This is a mistake, because that's the reason we're here. Their task should have been to build a better dollhouse, and only that. In trying to appeal to a wider audience, they're losing track of the whole point of the game. The Sims franchise was always about domesticity, and that was enough.
They did some things right, no doubt, like the increased level of customization, but they didn't go far enough, and they're changing the overall feel of the game. They haven't even improved the way the genetics work. If they did nothing else, it should have been that.
So those are my thoughts. What do you think?
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Well there is one Problem of yours gone! :)
Personally, I'm just going to wait until I get it - some EPs we didn't like the idea of originally, and then they turned into the best ones - OHAI Aparment Life - so I'm looking hopeful and due to TS3 being more rooted into TS1's style, somewhat, it might be just like Good Old S1's Vacation :D
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Well, not really. Those places are still in China, France (I typed "Frances" - LOL!), and Egypt.
Do you really find Sims 3 to be like Sims 1? I really don't. It's more and more about getting those poor sims "out of the house" and I never had a problem with the house in the first place.
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...which was an obvious reference to certain European countries, but it had its own twist...
You see, They even added the word "Sim" to their names, and not left it as like "Sim Paris" or "SimDesert" or "Sim East". We don't have the game yet, so who knows what might happen - but I doubt that they will have the Simeffel Tower, but Maybe the Plumbbob Tower instead! :D
All in all, We don't really know what its going to be like, will we? I mean, if at the start of TS2 we found out that we would be having a neighbourhood called Veronaville that was basically a TS2 twist on Romio&Juliette with hints to every play Shakespere ever wrote, it doesn't sound as charm-y and as inviting as it does now. :)
I actually do. Of the little I have played, I have found that it is a Sequal to TS1 and not to TS2. Amazing as it might sound, I found that TS1 was more about getting out and about in the town; Think of all the extra things they added - Old town [Community Lots, and Pet shops]; Downtown [Resteraunts]; Vacation Island [Hotels and Tourist Spots]; Sim!Holliwood [Studio lots, Grand Openings and everything to do with becomming a Star]; Magic Town [Carnival Items, Magical Shops]; And not to mention the Craftables - you had to Collect things in there too, Ingrediants, Souveniers, everything!
I didn't have a Problem with the houce, but I got bored of simply "Playing" TS2..?
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I actually have enjoyed playing with Sims 3, however I'm finding that Sims 2 has more versatility and charm. Really, the only thing Sims 3 has over Sims 2 for me is the lack of time spent loading whenever I want to do anything not in the house.
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The prequel factor is another reason I'm left slightly cold by Sims 3. I would have been a lot more interested in premades if they'd gone with a sequel instead, set a couple of generations into the future. I think I'd be happier with a whole new cast, even. I'm not fond of prequels, as a rule. It's a hard sell for me.
If I was giving a full review, I'd also mention the story progression and the open neighbourhood as things I enjoy about Sims 3, and they did improve the interactions and how easy it is to customize everything, but like I said, it's really starting to feel like a different game.
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Shang Simla, China, discovering rich culture and famous landmarks on a romantic getaway to Champs Les Sims, France or exploring the depths of ancient tombs in Al Simhara, Egypt.
A fictive town in France is still a town in France. ;)
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