simcitizens

There is a new post on the official Sims blog today that addresses the outcry regarding the omission of pools and toddlers in The Sims 4. With less than 60 days until launch, it appears these features will not be added to the base game despite the many Facebook comments requesting them. However, the post specifies that these features will not be included at launch, suggesting that they may be added in a future update or expansion pack. According to the post, sacrifices had to be made due to the new systems and technology that were built for the game, including but not limited to:

• New AI system.
• New animation system.
• New audio positioning tools.
• New locomotion logic.
• New routing intelligence.

Speaking of the animation system, The Sims 4 boasts seven walk styles spanning about 75 different animations, approximately 320 emotion-based animations, and more than 600 reactions to objects. Your Sims’ emotions will cause a clear reaction and possibly a special walk style.

In order to focus on creating new and interesting emotions, animations, interactions, behaviors and Create A Sim tools, toddlers were unfortunately not included. Pools suffered the same fate due to all of the new features that have been added to Build Mode.

On a brighter note, a Sims 4 Create A Sim Demo is on its way later this summer and fifteen minutes of Live Mode gameplay footage will be released within the next two weeks.

Worlds will be split up into different neighborhoods. This means that unlike The Sims 3, the game will not feature an open world. Willow Creek, for example, will contain five different neighborhoods as well as one large park lot. Each neighborhood can hold up to five lots. This may not seem like much, but the public spaces (areas not part of a lot) will have various interactive objects. Even when on a lot, Sims may autonomously interact with objects in a public space, leading to more populated areas outside of lots. As for the lots themselves, you’re free to convert them from residential to community lots and vice versa.

“Counting the number of lots in a single world is a rather arbitrary number in The Sims 4 though, as you can freely travel, move, work, visit, etc, any world, neighborhood, or lot while still retaining the information about who your Sim is, their belongings, their relationships, their family, etc. That’s right, unlike The Sims 3, your Sim can live in one world, and work in another. “You may only have one active lot at a time and will encounter a short load upon traveling between lots, neighborhoods, and worlds. Up to twenty active Sims may appear within your neighborhood at any time within your active lot and the public space. When you travel to a different lot within the same neighborhood, they will remain and continue as they were.

Additionally, the game will feature in-game video capturing via the Cameraman Mode. In this mode you will be able to easily hide the user interface and change the field of vision.

Gameinformer recently got a hands-on session with The Sims 4, which provided us with some more information on how The Sims will express themselves through their daily lives. Below is a summary of what was posted in the article.

Sims will let you know how they feel through their facial expressions and actions. This means, if a conversation is going sour, you’ll see it evidently on their faces. The game even gives you the option to change the course of conversation once it goes downhill. 

They’ll have access to certain interactions based on their current emotional state. Like when a Sim is feeling flirty, they’ll gain access to striking a seductive pose. You can influence a Sim to a particular emotional state by socializing with others or interacting with objects. Their environment also lends a hand in influencing their emotions too.

 

 

As you play your Sims, you’ll typically run into 1 – 3 emotional states throughout the day. The mood shifts are supposed to feel natural, so you won’t see Sims bouncing around emotions so quickly.

 

The relationship status indication has changed. There’s now two bars, one bar for friendship, and another for romance level. Due to this, you can have situations where a Sim could be romantically involved with someone they detest.

 

 

Aspirations are back! A similar concept to wishes will be brought over as well. However, they’re going to be called “Whims” which are short-term goals the game generates for your Sim. These might be easy or hard to complete depending on the goals.

 

One final tidbit we’ll leave with you was this line from the Gameinformer article. “Your Sim is no longer attached to one neighborhood, they can work in one and live in another.”  It appears The Sims is getting closer to bridging the gap between itself and Simcity.

E3 is currently in progress, and we hope to provide you with even more information later this week. (Like the Caliente Sisters and Don Lothario returning!) But until then…farewell.