I unexpectedly found TS4 quite enjoyable - plenty of things I did not realize before I could do - and I decided to add at least Seasons, because a game without them just does not feel right. EA has Black Friday sale ATM, CDKeys (which I am not familiar with) has an even bigger discount and the Steam Christmas sale is just around the corner. Enough to make anybody confused, and there's probably more.

So where and when do you guys buy this stuff?

I have 99% left this site, but will answer this. I have gotten pretty much all I have in the sales when EA has them. Odds are I will get the latest EP later when on sale.

I finally bought it on Steam Black Friday sale (which they call Autumn Sale, for some reason - autumn is almost over) where it is an espresso more expensive than on CDKeys, but the procedure is much simpler. I flirted with University for a while; I like to play it in TS2 and it's OK in TS3, but this one seems to be just too bad.

It was interesting to have a look at all those ranking reviews. "Seasons" is pretty consistent, at the top or near it, but others are all over the place, except for some that are consistently at the bottom.

To daisylee: thanks for your answer, but - what is wrong?

I normally do not even look at the 4 section anymore as it is darn near all just a few people posting nonstop rants/negative posts, and someone on this site was very rude to me. So I cruise the 3 section a bit still and that is about it. But I have never had any issues with you so thought would answer as overall this site is so dead now. Enjoy playing what you have. Seasons is a must have IMO, both 3 and 4 and was good in 2 also. Have fun.

And you will notice that as you posted that you like the game and probably will get more, nobody else here has responded to you. Very sad on a Sims site.

It is quite a circle. After the game came out and some of us started criticizing it, we were almost thrown out of the site, our posts were often deleted and we ended up in a ghetto forum. It was just the base game at the time; no player had any idea what DLCs were going to become.

Not having played the game for so long gives me, I guess, a rather unique perspective: I knew only the base game back then and I don't know much more now. The base game has improved a lot; it became interesting and enjoyable and the Seasons pack gives it the flavor that was missing. From a neutral point of view it seems quite strange that the good part of the whole is free and others cost a ton of money.

Sims 4 has good and bad as have all the versions and I have owned and played all 4. 3 is still my fave but when am in it at times wish I could do things we can do in 4, such as resize things. move things more and so on. I enjoy the good things in each and generally do not want to spend/waste my time on reading or posting rants about the bad. IMO there are far better ways to spend our lives. I am glad you are getting some joy in playing, as that is the whole point.

This gives me a good chance to redeem myself with something positive!
I am primarily a builder so I pick up worlds during the EA sales mainly to rebuild all the lots with my collection of other packs items and fan made CC.
I bought Wedding Stories in a sale (hides face in shame ) because the Tartosa world is very pretty, but I don't do weddings.
Sulani, where my Sims live, is really gorgeous and I've had a lot of fun building Island style lots. Again, bought in a sale.
Last one I bought was the much maligned Outdoor retreat which I turned into a vacation paradise as the scenery is quite nice & foresty which makes a nice change for a break. It's a completely better location with some luxury lakeview villas and a good Bar!
Almost forgot....Mt Komorebi is also very atmospheric and I love the Japanese build mode items and karaoke bars. Ignore the poor skiing feature & pick up for the scenery!

So I LOVE the building side of TS4 even though there aren't generally a lot of lots... I would just prefer it if the game play worked as advertised.



P.s.

You mean the "good old days" of the "Receptacle"

I started playing TS4 in October and do find it interesting that the TS4 forum here does not get as much posting as the other forums, but it's fine. Still testing the waters with this game, anyway!

As to the original question, I have noticed EA rolls out their sale a few days before it comes to Steam, so I've been waiting for the sale on Steam. I've been checking the SteamDB site to view past history of a pack I'm interested in to see if I'm getting the best price and if not, do I still want to buy something knowing it may be a little less next time?

So like, 60% off for an expansion is the better price for the ones with that discount right now, whereas game packs were a little cheaper at the Christmas sale last year and Spring sale this year, so might be better to hold off on those.

In the end, though, it is a difference of a few dollars, so sometimes buying something when it's a sale price is still beneficial if wanting to play it right away, even if it's not the best sale price. (And kits never go on sale, so buy those whenever you feel like it.)

I know folks have gotten bigger discounts at other sites that sell Steam keys and such, but I just prefer to purchase right from the source.

Yes, we can laugh about it now.

I was wondering about the Japanese world. It looks nice and my writer is just the type to go there for meditation (her partner would probably like the sporty side, even if I will not), but I don't know if you can send TS4 Sims on vacation. I mean real vacation, not just moving there: is that possible?

I am a builder also as well as play some. The worlds are too small but overall this game is gorgeous in a somewhat Disney way compared to 3 where I have seen images and had to look twice to see if real? I go nuts with no CASt but still like to build. I also like the Sims. It has issues but I get enough entertainment that it is worth the sale prices I pay for things. I have gotten most EPs to get the worlds also. Then go from there.

Edit any residential lot by changing the lot type drop down menu, scroll down this in build mode, at top left to "Vacation Rental". You can then use your phone to book a vacation by selecting this lot and it will let you choose from family and friends to take with you, up to 8.

The game automatically places you and your guests on vacation from your career and will remind you before it is time to go home. You can go home early via the phone. Make sure you have enough beds!!! I have a Vacation Rental homes in most worlds and all have mixed (single & double beds) sleeping for 8. So you can go as a couple or you can take your friends and their kids.

This is different from Tomerang "Residential Rental" lot types so you don't require For Rent. This feature is base game compatible.

AND because we are talking sales...... Snowy Escape is currently 60% off. It has vending machines, hiking trails and karaoke bar lots. And you get to dance with Yamachan!!

I was building a lot when I first played TS4, but now I just dropped my Sims in a pre-made house. I try to find the best stuff they need and can afford, but that is all; and when they will (inevitably) get rich, they will just buy a bigger house. That goes for all the Sims games, not only for TS4.
Sometimes I still get the urge to build, but rarely, and it's mostly community lots. The last thing I built in TS4 was a community swimming pool (no diving board - ???) and I thought that "loose dressing code" (or something like that) would be a good idea. Now it is filled with naked old men who appeared out of nowhere, all of them very fat and all of them ogling my poor writer. Not such a good idea after all.

LGR and Satch answered my vacation question. (ETA: I haven't seen Flaygor's answer before I posted; thanks!) It also turns out I completely misunderstood the meditation part. I'd have to buy the Spa Day pack to get what I wanted, but then ...

I am slowly beginning to comprehend EA's TS4 strategy.

I have about half of the EPs and have liked them. I did not get Eco or Horse Ranch and some others. I play and build. I am in CAW the most in 3. I love that. I love seeing the different worlds in the various seasons.

I took the first look at kits. I really liked "Cozy Bistro" (it also has "positive" reviews - quite a rarity); I will start building a cafe (OK, a bistro) ASAP. - I also have a painter by now; she has an atelier but it's rather plain, so I will probably buy the artist kit as well: she still does not have a palette and she won't get one (another missed opportunity), but at least I will be able to place some pots of paint next to her and make her paint abstract expressionism only. - Others don't look all that interesting to me, at least ATM.

I have just a few kits but love the plant one and use those items a lot!

It looks nice but I am afraid my Sims (or is it me?) don't care as much for plants as they should; they don't often use even the ones they already have available.

My Sims get many plants as they do not have to take care of them as we do in real life. :D