I agree 100%

Don't forget some form of Story Progression as well, preferably one that works. Just like open-world, the critiques I see always revolve around the implementation and not the actual concept.

It amazes how many still trust EA and expect a great TS5. TS4 has only been successful by force, this is today and this is what you get, already even if their is a single play option, just the multi-play option is just turning me off it...

It literally says in my original post players will be able to play solo. So why would a feature you don't have to use turn you off of it?

From experience, once publishers force developers to shoe-horn in multiplayer, everyone suffers. They focus so much of their attention on the MP that any kind of solo experience is neglected and left to rot. In the meantime, the MP that gets attention ends up being riddled with problems they can't fix because they're trying to add it to a game that was never really built for it in the first place. It's just a mess.

Now this isn't always true: there's exceptions to the rule. Mass Effect built its multiplayer very carefully and to tremendous force - they treat it separately from the main game and it worked. But for example, look at SimCity, Dead Island, Fallout 76, Dead Space 2, and Red Dead Redemption 2. Heck, RDR2's MP doesn't even get updates anymore. Now, you could level that at least some of the single player modes in these games still stand up. True. But here's the thing, The Sims always releases expansions and 'kits' and what-not. Having that contend with multiplayer support?

Might as well take a dump in the cake mix right now.

It's a red flag. This is how Sims 4 started too.

Leading up to Sims 4's release, we didn't get much preview of actual gameplay in a way that wasn't heavily scripted and controlled. Instead they focused heavily on new Build Mode tools.

As I recall, Sims 2's previews were mostly showing off things like how clocks now accurately tracked time, chess games showed actual piece movements, and the various life stages and aspirations. It was a good mix of everything.

Sims 3? The open world took centerstage for all previews.

Sims 4? Build mode, probably because the actual gameplay was garbage.

Sims 5? Whelp, here we are again. It just begs the question what gameplay looks like, or if they've even begun with it.

Hmm:


https://gamerant.com/sims-5-pirated/

Oh geez, multiplayer build-buy?

See, I quite like the sound of that. There have been lots of times when I've been building Sims 3 worlds with other players, or working with someone on a Sims 2 neighbourhood where I would have found this very useful. I can imagine more uses for multiplayer build/ create rather than multiplayer live mode, anyway!

Why do I get the feeling EA is trying to emulate the success of Minecraft? Never mind Paralives, Minecraft is the ultimate social simulation game right now. If making TS5 a cross-platform online/multiplayer experience isn't emulating Minecraft's business model, then I don't know what is. Seeing how Mojang continues to grow and maintain a steady player base without a single sequel is incredible. It's a good model for the live service game EA desperately wants to turn the Sims franchise into. I wouldn't be surprised if EA decided to bring back the Sims Store or combine it with their new modding platform. Imagine the Sims Marketplace. The only place to buy bundles of player-created content for 1500 sim points.

I don’t think anything they showed looked bad, I actually think the real time collaboration thing is a little neat. It’s up in the air if that type of together play extends outside of build/buy, but if it does it looks like it will be invite only where one player is required to be the host and it’s not a truly shared space. That’s a plus imo.

I think it’s too early to base a solid opinion on the game as a whole. They showed off the connectivity features, not even really build mode. They look pretty developed. In terms of art style the game didn’t appear to have a finalized look, but it absolutely has a larger visual budget than Sims 4. The throw blanket on the couch had more polygons than any object in Sims 4.

I’m sure there will be more updates early next year, I mean they’re play testing already. For it being super early in development there seemed to be quite a bit already there. Time will tell, but I kind of think that was a front to avoid turning people away from Sims 4.

Oh good. Now I can fight over wallpaper swatches with randomers online and not just with my partner in real life. What a great idea.

Like yeah, jt doesn't even excite or color me curious. What hooks me to play The Sims is micro managing and simulating aspect. I'm probably inn the minor in this, but what the hell is being able to change cushioks on a couch in renamed TS5 (kudos for them not titling as such) for the first time in the "series" do for me?

On other hand, I really strong believe from start that's why ghey took a different nane. There might not be any or identical simulation/LIVE mode in this new installment. The Sims, I might know, is probably over and death. PROJECT RENE is now here. Why is nobody concerned or addressing this???

Like yeah, jt doesn't even excite or color me curious. What hooks me to play The Sims is micro managing and simulating aspect. I'm probably inn the minor in this, but what the hell is being able to change cushioks on a couch in renamed TS5 (kudos for them not titling as such) for the first time in the "series" do for me?

On other hand, I really strong believe from start that's why ghey took a different nane. There might not be any or identical simulation/LIVE mode in this new installment. The Sims, I might know, is probably over and death. PROJECT RENE is now here. Why is nobody concerned or addressing this???

I think they are more shaking in their boots because of Paradox. Like someone said earlier they completely killed SimCity. They would be better off just taking Sims 2 and giving it a graphics overhaul if Paradox really is working on a life simulator.

I am looking forward to Paralives however. I think the simplicity of it will be refreshing and I could see it being like Minecraft and evolving for decades with updates; non gamebreaking ones too lol. I'm still pissed that the last TS4 update killed off all of the grandparents in my multigen save

In a somewhat predictable manner the first round of leaks has hit the internet. EA’s early access play test has at least one user breaking NDA to share clips of a set piece most likely not even intended for the final game, as well as some unfinished placeholder character files..

https://twitter.com/thesims5_world/...G4RAy_QvEDv-4SQ

https://twitter.com/thesims5_world/...G4RAy_QvEDv-4SQ

Not much to gather from the leaks but it is notable that it appears the new game will follow Sims 4 using 3D modeled environments with baked in pieces. Kind of kills the idea of a world creator but since these are just excerpts unused in this test it’s hard to say for sure.

Is there any news since that rather vague interview from 2020 that actually confirms they are working on something?

I like the Paris theme, but ATM it all looks so fake.

Oh, it's just like Sims 4- full of empty, unplayable building models. I'm not much interested if it's going to be like that- why would I, when I can build a whole world of liveable, playable lots in Sims 3 or Sims 2?

There was Rod Humble's interview earlier this year, which suggested strongly that yeah, they were working on a life simulator. Also there was an interesting Paradox hiring description within the last year or so for "a new IP" looking for "a deep understanding of a diverse and predominantly female PC gamer audience."

Attempting to figure out what is going on is not made easier by Paradox keeping a "loose lips sink ships" policy about announcing games early, after getting burned badly a couple of times.

Do you have a link for this? I can only find one from 2020 and one from 2017.

They already know what we want, they are not that stupid. If they do another scam like with sims 4, I'll assume this game is already dead.

Can I just point out, as a female, that I HATE descriptions like this? You don't see ones listing for a 'deep understanding of a diverse and predominantly male PC gamer audience' so why the heck list females specifically?

I want equality dammit. Animal Crossing isn't just for girls, GTA isn't just for boys, and you shouldn't have to hire people who have apparent 'knowledge' of one gender specific over the other when it comes to gaming. Just fudging game, who cares.

... #micdrop

Before Rod Humble left twitter (when musk first announced he was buying so whenever that was) he told simmers we should hear something "soon" and to back that up in Paradox's Q2 report their "ambition" was to provide more info on new titles later in 2022. It seems like the announcement has been pushed back considering there's not much time left in the year but the Tectonic Studio has recent job openings for a 3D Tech Artist and a Technical Animator and they've recently renewed their trademark in CA so it seems likely the game is still being developed.

In fact I enjoy things more when they have a balance between masculine and feminine. Speaking abstractly.

Me too! Makes my skin crawl. I think they forget how many women and girls are gamers.