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?
no subject
From the first time playing sims 3, it felt like an adventure game, more than a sims game (and I've played a LOT of those games), and now I only needed to see two of those shots to think WTF!!?? are these guys consulting with "The adventure Company" or "Viva Media" to get ideas for the Eps now?? O_0
NOO!!! Wrong way!!! I love adventure games still, but sims is not one!! It doesn't supposes to be one, it shouldn't be one either!!
And also the part of real name/references/locations annoys me a lot, but tbh, with all the excessive realism the game already has, I'm not surprised they did that.
Short words, I'm pretty curious about the ep, yes, but mainly because I do enjoy world-adventure kind of games. As a sim game, I'm very disappointed, I was hoping for more options at customization, better genetics, and/or new creatures or pets, at least. But unfortunately, this only gives a hint on how future Eps will be too.