Don’t even try to deny it – I don’t care how “hardcore” you are as a gamer, you have probably been addicted to The Sims at some point. The latest version of the game boasts a bunch of improvements, but it’s the emotions that might get you fired up.
The Sims 4 features three main changes: new, more believable sims; faster more intuitive tools; and an integrated gallery.
During character creation, the sliders and horrible sub-sub-sub menus are gone. Players can highlight any part of the body to adjust and then simply drag as desired to customise. Even the walk styles can be customised, adding personality and flair to the way your Sim moves around the world.
Speaking of that world, players can explore their environments, go fishing or even cut plants from local parks and plant them in their own gardens. The world is much more dynamic and full.
Thanks to the new gallery system, it’s quick and easy for budding architects and interior decorators to customise their homes. Download a new house complete with furnishings with just a few clicks. Or, pick up a room and move it around with the furnishings. You can add or remove walls quickly and easily, as well as adjust foundation and wall heights.
However, it’s the social and emotional elements that seem the most intriguing. Thanks to some seriously enhanced facial expressions and body language, emotional states are apparent. In fact, in a screen called “emotion state” you can see exactly which emotions your Sims are feeling, and why. It’s not just about being happy or unhappy – they can be angry or energised, too. Emotions can impact activities as well. Angry characters can engaged in “peeved push-ups” or “sit-ups of fury” – these help Sims to channel their emotions and use them for good. In fact, exercising while angry means that the skill levels up faster and helps the Sim feel better. This means anger isn’t always a bad thing, and perhaps is meant to impart a life lesson in players.
Social relationships can also impact skills. During the demo I saw, the angry player went to the gym to carry on blowing off steam (the peeved push-ups just didn’t help). There, he encountered Chuck Norris, who was able to mentor him while training at the gym. When Chuck Norris combined with the Sim’s fury, it was only a short while before the skill levelled up, and a new friendship (or bromance) was formed.
The Sims 4 may just be the latest iteration in the franchise, but it certainly seems to have taken the game to a new level. It’s nice to see such intuitive design – I will never fight with TV placement in the room again – and I like that the Sims get new activities based on their emotions. It’s a lot more realistic, and adds more nuance to the social interactions in the game.
Last Updated: June 11, 2014
Rinceinantici
June 11, 2014 at 14:10
I want an E3 event to be in a Sims game. Then I’ll play it. I’ll leave Darryn in a room with a Batmobile behind thick glass and see how long it takes him to perish from thirst. I’ll also have SONY and MS present to coke addicts and see how long it takes them to fall asleep. I’ll also have Nintendo repeat the same stuff but in different colours and see how long it takes people to notice. I would be a GOD!
Alien Emperor Trevor
June 11, 2014 at 14:14
They already have a convention where they leave Darryn in a room with the Batmobile. It’s called Sexpo.
Rinceinantici
June 11, 2014 at 14:16
0-O
Sith JJ
June 11, 2014 at 14:38
I always wondered where micromachines came from.
Alien Emperor Trevor
June 11, 2014 at 14:41
lollllllllllllllllll
Alien Emperor Trevor
June 11, 2014 at 14:42
I take that laughter back. It just occurred to me that means Darryn’s petrol is leaded.
Admiral Chief Cyber Commando
June 11, 2014 at 14:59
UGH
CypherGate
June 11, 2014 at 14:13
nice
Kensei Seraph
June 11, 2014 at 14:14
EA are the people behind Sims right?
EA is also behind FIFA correct?
And both the new Sims and FIFA are getting emotions added… Could this mean that both Sims and football players have the same emotions?
Viking Of Science
June 11, 2014 at 14:15
Sorry no, Never bought, borrowed, pirated or played any of the sims games…. So, yes, I’m THAT “Hardcore” 😛
Alien Emperor Trevor
June 11, 2014 at 14:19
I’ve never been addicted to The Sims because I’m not a fake girl gamer ;P
Rinceinantici
June 11, 2014 at 14:19
Allow me to open that door for you? ^^
Alien Emperor Trevor
June 11, 2014 at 14:21
hehe to the safe room?
Dutch Matrix
June 11, 2014 at 14:27
So you are a real girl gamer then? Right. Makes a shitload of sense that!
Alien Emperor Trevor
June 11, 2014 at 14:36
Don’t judge me for being in touch with my feminine side 🙁
Admiral Chief Cyber Commando
June 11, 2014 at 14:59
Hey, we don’t judge where you get feminine action…
Sith JJ
June 11, 2014 at 15:12
From his powder box?
Hammersteyn
June 11, 2014 at 14:22
So if you don’t buy the DLC do the Sims get too emotional?
Alien Emperor Trevor
June 11, 2014 at 14:26
lol. Tears are micro-transactions.
Dutch Matrix
June 11, 2014 at 14:26
Hey, that’s a shaved, buff Geoff Tim in the header right and no… It can’t be him then…
Sith JJ
June 11, 2014 at 14:38
Buuuut…still only on Origin.
Not thanks EA. Suck it.
Djeranotjuh
June 11, 2014 at 21:38
EA confirmed that The Sims 4 won’t need Origin all the time (It’s an Offline Game and you’ll probably get a serial code which you can redeem on Origin so you can install it from there if you want to.) And don’t forget you can buy The Sims 4 elsewhere… You don’t have to pre-order it through Origin if you don’t want to.
Sith JJ
June 12, 2014 at 07:12
But not on Steam, which bugs the hell out of me. I hate having all my games in different clients. I’m fine with The Sims running with its own launcher like StarCraft II does though.
Sith JJ
June 12, 2014 at 07:12
But not on Steam, which bugs the hell out of me. I hate having all my games in different clients. I’m fine with The Sims running with its own launcher like StarCraft II does though.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
June 11, 2014 at 15:05
Folks who hate Sims, hate real RPGs! I will get Sims 4, and there’s nothing you noobs can do to change my mind.
Sith JJ
June 11, 2014 at 15:11
I have no hangups with The Sims. Just don’t want to support EA. Will probably get it one day when it costs R10
Rags
June 11, 2014 at 15:12
I’ll wait for the price to come down. Got Sims 3 on humble and just downloaded some dlc with the current specials so still got a bit of playing to do out of these guys. IMO its pretty damn good games, simple yet complex. And holy balls it eats away the hours.
Sith JJ
June 11, 2014 at 15:13
Sims 3 took many many days from my life.
Rags
June 11, 2014 at 15:16
Yeah was planning to have get a good night rest last night, but wanted to see the new towns I got. Then looked up from my monitor and it was 02:30am. Fueled on BP coffee today. :<
Sith JJ
June 11, 2014 at 15:17
Nice. I remember those days. Want to get back into it for a bit, knowing I won’t get Sims 4 any time soon.
Kensei Seraph
June 12, 2014 at 07:21
I shall challenge your mind!
ALBERT EINSTEIN’S RIDDLE
1. In a street there are five houses, painted five different colours.
2. In each house lives a person of different nationality
3. These five homeowners each drink a different kind of beverage, smoke different brand of cigar and keep a different pet.
The question: who owns the fish?
Hints:
1. The Brit lives in a red house.
2. The Swede keeps dogs as pets.
3. The Dane drinks tea.
4. The Green house is next to, and on the left of the White house.
5. The owner of the Green house drinks coffee.
6. The person who smokes Pall Mall rears birds.
7. The owner of the Yellow house smokes Dunhill.
8. The man living in the centre house drinks milk.
9. The Norwegian lives in the first house.
10. The man who smokes Blends lives next to the one who keeps cats.
11. The man who keeps horses lives next to the man who smokes Dunhill.
12. The man who smokes Blue Master drinks beer.
13. The German smokes Prince.
14. The Norwegian lives next to the blue house.
15. The man who smokes Blends has a neighbour who drinks water.
Alcatraz5953
June 12, 2014 at 09:10
the german
ToshZA
June 11, 2014 at 15:46
For the first time since Sims 1, I think I actually want this game. Hahaha.
Parrot
June 11, 2014 at 22:46
All expansion packs for the Sims 3 plus game is around $500. I ain’t buying it till I see game play clips of people who have. If EA hasn’t (which I doubt) pulled it apart just to sell content that was meant to come with the original game then I’ll avoid like the plague.
If this doesn’t convince you to avoid or at-least be cautious of anything that EA is apart of, then you only have yourself to blame.
I’d like to believe it, like it would be good, but we’re talking EA. I don’t trust em.
My questions also.
Is it DRM free? Can you play Single player without always having to be online?
Doctor Nebula
June 12, 2014 at 00:07
Guess what, you don’t have to buy them all. Plus, they go on sale often.
Charlie the Uniform
June 12, 2014 at 05:28
You sound like one of those people in the video who are the Gullible consumer.
Doctor Nebula
June 12, 2014 at 07:14
I’m pretty okay with spending money on the games though. The expansions are spaced out evenly enough that it’s really not much to spend.
Charl van der Merwe
June 12, 2014 at 11:14
Lol at that video, don’t buy it then, but I guess you have to try convince everyone else not to buy EA games before you will stop buying EA games ?
wmstudio
June 12, 2014 at 18:44
Big Cube is a new game.Good or bad,never be a copycat!NOT SPAM! App store: http://goo.gl/jDT90Y https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrLFQ8NESJY