OK, let me begin with this: I quit purchasing TS4 after the release of Horse Ranch. I was going to buy For Rent, but after the "game saving fiasco" of the update for that pack, I said NO MORE! I had (have) plenty of mods and CC, so I figured I could continue playing my game without missing much from the newer packs, and was pleased enough with that way of playing (other than the constant updates we get for the new stuff, whether we want the packs or not). But my game is now too bloated with all the mods and CC I've downloaded, and therefore have decided to drastically cut back on downloading anything and even try to preen some of the content I already have.

That said, I recently downloaded a really nice house from TSR. The creator said 'no CC' so I didn't think much about what I was doing. However, when I added it to my game, I found the build was incomplete. This was not the creator's fault. I had completely forgot that 'no CC' does not mean there's nothing extra to download. Any items that comes with packs that you do not have which is added to the build is not CC, and therefore will not show up in the game, and I had completely forgot about that.

So now I am totally aware that I cannot download any new builds -- whether they have CC or not -- if they have been created recently, because most builders have all the packs that I do not have and do not desire to purchase. The future looks bleak for me adding new builds, unless I do them myself. And I'm not that good at doing that.

So, I have a relationship that requires that I update whether I want to or not, which means I must constantly stay informed about updates to mods (which, though I'm not a modder, am sure is a humongous pain in the ass for the modders, which is probably why some don't even bother to update). If I see a new build I want, I chance what I may find missing since I don't have the packs beyond Horse Ranch, as well as many of the Kits, to include it all (though not having the Kits was never much of a problem to me).

And TS4 just keeps plodding along with half-assed additions to it. It seems like anymore, every time I turn around there's something new.

I want to end this relationship. It's stressful, annoying, and often boring among other things. But I like playing it !!! (And don't tell me about going to TS3 or TS2. I have those, too. And though they don't have the irritating continuous updates of game and mods anymore, they still have their issues -- which was why I gave them up in the first place.

I now need to give up TS4, too. It's become too toxic. But it's just so hard to say goodbye. And neither one of us wants to be the first to say it.

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I debated whether to respond to this or not.

I'm not suggesting game addiction here, nor am I a doctor of / for anything. I am not diagnosing anybody with anything.

There is a Youtube channel called HealthyGamerGG that is owned by a licensed, practicing psychiatrist. People refer to him as Dr.K. Dr.K comes from a place of once having a gaming addiction and he helps people understand what game addiction is, why it exists and how to kick it. Dr.K also works with companies like EA. He doesn't get into the dirty details about that, but he does yap in their ears about stuff.

There is tons of content on his channel regarding this issue, but since the question was asked how to end this relationship, if I were in this situation, here is where I would start.

Stop Letting Video Game Addiction Hijack Your Life

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BT4gsZBpL0E

Thanks @simsample. I tried that. Like an addict I came back two months later.
You're right @Gargoyle Cat. I need a doctor. I plan to see one next week. Right after I purchase Adventure Awaits today and play a few rounds of that. I hear it's a lot of fun.


Edited addition: In all seriousness, I agree with you @Gargoyle Cat. If a person does have a game addiction, it is best to seek help. And no, I do not love The Sims so much I can't leave it. This post was all in good fun.

Enjoy that relationship with EA. I hear it is a real problem for some people...

Hey, I can handle it.
But wait a minute. It may be worse for me than I think. I implied that I can give up the Sims at any time. But if you think about it, isn't that basically what most if not all addicts say when talking about an addiction?

If you feel like something is wrong, then there is a high posibility that something is wrong. I recommend that you ask for professional help (like from a psychologist or maybe even from a psychiatrist).

There are all sorts of addictions out there and gaming addiction surely exists. Ask for help if the only thing that you think about is The Sims. An addiction severly decreases the quality of life (it is not a joke).

Relax. Enjoy your gaming.

You can either replace it with another new activity/hobby (like, helll - try consindering jumping into cc creation so people aren’t inclined to to buy packs) or a new game (ever since I stopped using PC, I haven’t completely said goodbye to the sims by getting a PS3 to play The Sims 3 on Console). That, or do find something else to preoccupy your time (a completely different hobby or a change of lifestyle).