The Sims 4 has just recently received it’s 13th Stuff Pack – Laundry Day Stuff with new clothing, objects and gameplay. EA’s decision to alter the prices of The Sims 4 Packs (including Stuff Packs) and the fact that The Sims 4 now has thirteen Stuff Packs may not be the best news to some Simmers who are struggling to complete their collection with each release, but things have definitely improved since The Sims 3 days, and here’s how!
By now you probably know The Sims Team’s formula which has been used since the introduction of Stuff Packs in The Sims 2 – 60 new items including clothing and objects. That’s it. And oh yeah – they are $20. Considering the fact that there weren’t too many Stuff Packs for both series it was still somehow affordable, knowing that you only have 9 Stuff Packs to add to your collection (this was the case for both Sims Series) were somewhat good news to simmers.
These Stuff Packs offered the following:
- New Clothing
- New Objects
Yup – that’s where the line ends. For a price of $20 you were offered nothing but objects and clothing.
Let’s take The Sims 3 Outdoor Living Stuff Pack and compare it to The Sims 4 Backyard Stuff as the same formula has been used beside the fact that the focus point and the theme of these two packs are not entirely matching, there are some differences and similarities.
Here are some things you’ll notice at first. Things that are bolded below are what makes them extremely different, considering that the items count, well, doesn’t really count:
The Sims 3 Outdoor Living Stuff
- 18 Create A Sim Items
- 46 Buy / Build Items
- No unique gameplay
- Costs $20
The Sims 4 Backyard Stuff
- 36 CAS Items
- 43 Buy / Build Objects
- Includes unique gameplay
- Costs $10
Without focusing too much on CAS as Stuff Packs are given somewhat a same treatment in all 3 Sims games – there are some things that I’ve noticed after scratching the surface of these two packs. Even though The Sims 4 Stuff Packs may offer more clothing, objects and unique gameplay, The Sims 3 Stuff Packs were focused more on trying to cover every section in Buy / Build Mode. This means that Outdoor Living has new furniture, beds, chairs, tables, electronics, fireplaces, hot tubs, counters, refridgerator and more with a minimum focus on decor. However, Backyard Stuff only has new chairs, tables, random decor and gameplay objects. This is a thing that occurs in almost every Stuff Pack for The Sims 4: only certain parts of “useful” objects in the catalogue being developed while trying to add some fresh new gameplay as well.
If you look back you’ll notice that the recipe for The Sims 3 Stuff Pack formula was pretty much the same: adding new objects and trying to cover as much catalogue as possible. Take High-End Loft as an example – that Stuff Pack is full of refurbished new objects such as new workout equipment, beds, sofas, bathroom objects and living room objects.
Trying to make a wide arrange of various objects isn’t a strong side for The Sims 4 Stuff Packs. Still, considering that there’s still a fair amount of objects, CAS items, unique gameplay and on top of all that a price that’s two times smaller – The Sims 4 Stuff Packs take the crown. However, it would still be amazing if there was a Stuff Pack or two for The Sims 4 which would solely focus on adding different objects for different rooms and purposes.
There’s still more to talk about when it comes to comparing prices and value between The Sims 4 Stuff Packs and The Sims 3 Store as TS4 SP’s are basically a replacement for the Store, but I’ll talk about that in another article.
Do you agree with this article? What are your thoughts on The Sims 4 Stuff Packs as they are now? Let us know in the comments!
I very much prefer TS4 stuff packs to TS3 stuff packs. heck even TS4 stuff packs over TS2 stuff packs. Even though from a numbers standpoint it seems TS4 SP’s are half the amount we’re getting, and as you explained in the article that other stuff packs focused on variety of objects where as TS4 stuff packs focus on certain themes.
TS4 just having some gameplay features in the stuff packs makes the whole ordeal so much more worth it and each stuff pack has a use. Even if the stuff pack doesn’t have that many objects, the fact it has actual new gameplay makes it more welcome, previously stuff packs were just decor and furniture which is just re-skinned and remodelled furniture and clothes, we can mod and CC furniture and decor all we want, but getting actual new gameplay even if it’s little just make it much more worth it.
Also given the fact TS4’s stuff packs have been getting bigger and bigger, as you used the example of TS3’s Outdoor Living stuff and TS4’s Backyard Stuff, Backyard stuff has the same amount of CAS and build objects but with the added bonus of being cheaper and includes gameplay. Although i can see the complaints that there are too many stuff packs, but being that in TS4 stuff packs are the reason we don’t have a TS4 store i will gladly welcome the replacement considering the mess that is TS3’s store prices.
Boi
I still don’t like the stuff packs we’re getting. I mean, even tho TS3 sps cost 60 zł, you can still get them for not more than 20 on other sites and there’s 95% chance for it not to be fake, so it’s worth trying.
And after raising the cost of stuff packs on 12th, they’re even less worth the money. Unless you buy them in a Bundle (which is like half the cost of all the things combined), it’s bad. And it’s not, that I’m just whining, I really like B, VG and LD, but they’re lacking.
I don’t like the fact, that you said, that OL has no new gameplay. It has some new hot tubs (I think two or four, I don’t remember). Yes, it’s not exclusive to this pack, but somehow six seat tables in LD are such a new object, even tho they appear in B. Same with large aquariums and coolers. I know, they’re not the main aspects, but they’re here.
And to be fair, I don’t like OL that much, I still like B more, it’s really good and useful, but there are also half done stuff packs, like LP, CK, RG, BN, F and T. M&G offers much more stuff than RG does, same with K&B and CK (I don’t even care about bath, we have only one new kitchen set)
I own all of the packs and even I can’t keep track of all of the abbreviations you’re using, lol.
What Language or sub-language
Lovely Patio?
LOL I was thinking Perfect Patio, but LP mean Luxury Party
My fail
I think the price hike is to get it back in line with international exchange rates.
Yeah, that’s exactly what it is. Exchange rates change often, so they changed the prices for some international areas, so that they’re actually paying the same as the rest of the world.
It’s something Microsoft did with Minecraft early last year to keep prices in line with each other. For some areas, they were paying way, way less than US Dollar prices and some felt it was “unfair” and I agree. The UK was buying Minecraft more than half the price of the US Dollar, so I can see something similar happening to products from EA, such as all Sims Packs.
It’s just to keep them up to par with each other and in my opinion, even keeping it fair and allowing Game Studios to get their full price of the game, instead of losing money in some countries because the exchange rate is so off and causing countries to pay way less than the US Dollar’s exchange rate.
I think the best aspect of the stuff packs being so focused and “on theme” is that it makes it easier as a player to determine whether or not they want/”need” the pack. If you don’t engage with certain content or aren’t interested in certain themes, you’re less likely to feel pressured to buy the stuff pack catering to that theme. If you don’t want the laundry day pack, you don’t have to worry about missing out on the best bed added to the game, or the best entertainment system, gym equipment, etc. It’s so thematically sound that unless you’re interested in that theme specifically, or the gameplay featured in the pack, you can totally get by without it.
I very much prefer TS4 stuff packs to TS3 stuff packs. heck even TS4 stuff packs over TS2 stuff packs. Even though from a numbers standpoint it seems TS4 SP’s are half the amount we’re getting, and as you explained in the article that other stuff packs focused on variety of objects where as TS4 stuff packs focus on certain themes.
TS4 just having some gameplay features in the stuff packs makes the whole ordeal so much more worth it and each stuff pack has a use. Even if the stuff pack doesn’t have that many objects, the fact it has actual new gameplay makes it more welcome, previously stuff packs were just decor and furniture which is just re-skinned and remodelled furniture and clothes, we can mod and CC furniture and decor all we want, but getting actual new gameplay even if it’s little just make it much more worth it.
Also given the fact TS4’s stuff packs have been getting bigger and bigger, as you used the example of TS3’s Outdoor Living stuff and TS4’s Backyard Stuff, Backyard stuff has the same amount of CAS and build objects but with the added bonus of being cheaper and includes gameplay. Although i can see the complaints that there are too many stuff packs, but being that in TS4 stuff packs are the reason we don’t have a TS4 store i will gladly welcome the replacement considering the mess that is TS3’s store prices.
I think the best aspect of the stuff packs being so focused and “on theme” is that it makes it easier as a player to determine whether or not they want/”need” the pack. If you don’t engage with certain content or aren’t interested in certain themes, you’re less likely to feel pressured to buy the stuff pack catering to that theme. If you don’t want the laundry day pack, you don’t have to worry about missing out on the best bed added to the game, or the best entertainment system, gym equipment, etc. It’s so thematically sound that unless you’re interested in that theme specifically, or the gameplay featured in the pack, you can totally get by without it.
Boi
I still don’t like the stuff packs we’re getting. I mean, even tho TS3 sps cost 60 zł, you can still get them for not more than 20 on other sites and there’s 95% chance for it not to be fake, so it’s worth trying.
And after raising the cost of stuff packs on 12th, they’re even less worth the money. Unless you buy them in a Bundle (which is like half the cost of all the things combined), it’s bad. And it’s not, that I’m just whining, I really like B, VG and LD, but they’re lacking.
I don’t like the fact, that you said, that OL has no new gameplay. It has some new hot tubs (I think two or four, I don’t remember). Yes, it’s not exclusive to this pack, but somehow six seat tables in LD are such a new object, even tho they appear in B. Same with large aquariums and coolers. I know, they’re not the main aspects, but they’re here.
And to be fair, I don’t like OL that much, I still like B more, it’s really good and useful, but there are also half done stuff packs, like LP, CK, RG, BN, F and T. M&G offers much more stuff than RG does, same with K&B and CK (I don’t even care about bath, we have only one new kitchen set)
I own all of the packs and even I can’t keep track of all of the abbreviations you’re using, lol.
What Language or sub-language
Lovely Patio?
LOL I was thinking Perfect Patio, but LP mean Luxury Party
My fail
I think the price hike is to get it back in line with international exchange rates.
Yeah, that’s exactly what it is. Exchange rates change often, so they changed the prices for some international areas, so that they’re actually paying the same as the rest of the world.
It’s something Microsoft did with Minecraft early last year to keep prices in line with each other. For some areas, they were paying way, way less than US Dollar prices and some felt it was “unfair” and I agree. The UK was buying Minecraft more than half the price of the US Dollar, so I can see something similar happening to products from EA, such as all Sims Packs.
It’s just to keep them up to par with each other and in my opinion, even keeping it fair and allowing Game Studios to get their full price of the game, instead of losing money in some countries because the exchange rate is so off and causing countries to pay way less than the US Dollar’s exchange rate.