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EA might bring Cinematic Storytelling to The Sims

Jovan
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4
EA might bring Cinematic Storytelling to The Sims

The Sims is working on adding significant new Cinematic Story aspects!

Now, before we begin with this post let me state the obvious – nothing is officially confirmed and it could take some time before we see the development of these features come to life.

The official EA Careers website has published a new Career Opportunity for the Maxis Studio. The latest published opportunity is looking for a Storyboard Artist who will help visualize everyday life moments into a video game. We of course presume it’s for The Sims considering that described scenarios that they’re looking for fit perfectly into gameplay and features that you would expect from The Sims.

The initial description of this job opportunity requires for a Storyboard Artist to visualize body language, relationship dynamics and timing and spacing between important characters.

Check out the full description below:

We’re looking for a gifted visual storyteller to help us visualize our designs, gameplay experiences, and technology solutions through animatics and storytelling. Maxis creates life simulations that tell stories through characters in every-day or extravagant situations. As such, we need someone who can help us explore body language, visualize relationship dynamics and play with timing and spacing between characters.

We’re interested to know:

  • How do a couple watch a romantic movie together when one is upset with the other?
  • How does a husband engage in a conversation with his wife, while he almost breaks a new record on his favorite video game?
  • How does a family cook together in the same kitchen while carrying out a conversation?

Our ideal candidate is someone who is thrilled to contribute visually and share ideas, in a collaborative environment with several disciplines, and who loves telling stories about every-day life.

The responsibilities for this opportunity share more about the potential Story-driven features for The Sims. The Storyboard Artist will have to bring to life characters with emotion, humor and dynamic actions and gestures for each character. Check out the full list of responsibilities below:

Responsibilities:

  • Creatively tackle challenges in story and explore ways in which to bring characters to life, visualize game dynamics and support story expectations.
  • Brainstorm and create storyboard panels against a specified vision or problem space.
  • Produce illustrations and sketches evoking the project’s style and aesthetic.
  • Apply emotion and humor to characters.
  • Apply dynamic action and exaggerated gestures.
  • Work within staging and composition of the scene.
  • Emulate character designs, from our character team, within boards.
  • Bring life to each character and emphasize on their personas.
  • Translate storyboards into Animatic sequences that highlight and bring the characters to life.
  • Edit and refine the timing of Animatic sequences to maximize emotional impact and convey appropriate audience response.
  • Partner with peers from different disciplines to understand challenges and suggest improvements.
  • Team up with creative supervisors on deliverable goals within the limitations of the story/script.

The Storyboard Artist will also have to bring in some examples and sketches of given scenarios, including:

Qualifications:

  • Excellent foundation in art production, and experienced in developing drawings and sketches that demonstrate:
  • Characters that portray emotion, humor, and appeal.
  • Clear storytelling with action, mechanics, and interaction.
  • Expert sense of camera, staging, perspective, and composition skills.
  • Expert sense of anatomy, dynamic motion posing and exaggerated gestures.
  • A high level of experience with digital editing software
  • Experience in hands-on timing and editing of focused animatics to create lively and dynamic story sequences that inspire gameplay implementation. For example:
  • A conversation between multiple characters
  • A dinner sequence involving an extended family
  • A lively sidewalk scene outside a store

So, what does this all mean for The Sims?

Last year in March we published an article how EA is planning Story-driven and Narrative Features for The Sims. Their job opportunity looking for a Senior Narrative Designer described that The Sims project that they’re working on is going to have a “narrative” aspect.

It’s been a while since this job opportunity was published and Maxis now finally has its Senior Narrative Designer, considering they now want to visualize and bring these Story-Driven aspects of the game to life.

This part is purely speculative as we don’t have any official information or confirmation yet – but all this preparation and development hints to features and game modes that we could expect from the next Generation Sims Game. Or as we call it (at least for now) – The Sims 5.

The Sims 4 already has its Scenarios which, compared to what EA is working on here, is nothing alike. Of course keep in mind that there are multiple studios within EA and Maxis working on multiple projects. The Sims 4 still has years of content planned out!

We’ve published plenty of news findings and reports on the next Generation Sims Game, including an official confirmation from EA’s CEO that the game is in the works. For more information catch up on all The Sims 5 News!

The Sims 4: Stepping Into The New Year Lookbook

SnarkyWitch
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0
The Sims 4: Stepping Into The New Year Lookbook

Okay, maybe New Year’s Eve has come and gone but that doesn’t mean our Sims can’t still ring in the new year in their best party attire! Kick off 2022 with some of these ultra-fabulous party looks that will make sure your Sims greet the new year in style!

As usual, all our looks for this lookbook are CC-free and only use the base game and two other packs.

Happy New Year! Or, as they say in Simlish, SHASHOOBIE!

Making My Way Downtown

The Sims 4: Stepping Into The New Year Lookbook

Heading out to the club to dance the night away and ring in the new year with a glass of expensive champagne? You’ll turn heads with this stunning black dress accented with gold jewellery. Nothing says New Year’s Eve like black and gold and little black dresses so when you hit up the club, make sure all eyes are on you as the clock strikes midnight.

Hair: Side Part Afro (Base Game)

Body: Layered Mini Dress (Moschino Stuff)

Shoes: Strappy Heels (Luxury Party Stuff)

Accessories: Necklace (Luxury Party Stuff) / Earrings (Moschino Stuff) / Nails (Base Game)

Makeup: Eyeshadow & Eyeliner (Luxury Party Stuff) / Lips, Contour, & Highlight (Base Game)

It’s Called Fashion, Look It Up

The Sims 4: Stepping Into The New Year Lookbook

Is he trying too hard or is it high fashion? Who cares? It’s New Year’s Eve! Whether the stares you get in this flashy outfit are impressed or perplexed, there’s no doubt everyone will be looking at you at this year’s big bash.  And remember, it’s not what you’re wearing. It’s how you wear it. So strut into that New Year’s Eve party with confidence in all your shiny sequined glory.

Hair: Swept Back Volume (Get Famous)

Top: Shiny Sequined Suit Jacket (Get Famous – CAS Unlock)

Bottom: Shiny Sequined Suit Pants (Get Famous – CAS Unlock)

Shoes: Gold-Studded High Tops (Get Famous)

Accessories: Glasses (Seasons) / Necklace (Base Game – CAS Unlock) / Nails & Socks (Base Game)

All Grown Up

The Sims 4: Stepping Into The New Year Lookbook

Picture It: It’s your very first New Year’s Eve party. Your parents are finally letting you stay up until midnight and hang out with all the grown ups downstairs. You want to feel just as grown up as them, right? Your space cat tee and paint-splattered jeans just aren’t going to cut it for a milestone as important as this. Those grown ups won’t take you seriously at the party unless you look the part, so impress your parents and all their friends in this sophisticated black and white party attire.

Hair: Layered Comb Over (Vintage Glamour Stuff)

Top: Layered Suit Jacket over Vest and Tee (Vintage Glamour Stuff)

Bottom: Straight-Leg Slacks (Get To Work)

Shoes: White Sneakers (Get To Work)

Accessories: Glasses & Nails (Base Game)

Midnight Nap

The Sims 4: Stepping Into The New Year Lookbook

This poor lil munchkin wanted to stay up until midnight like her big siblings but her parents knew she’d never be able to make it to midnight without falling asleep so they put her in her comfy new PJs she just got for Winterfest and let her run around the party until she tired herself out. Sure enough, she rung in the new year napping on the couch. Oh well, maybe next year, little one!

Hair: Top Bun with Fringe (Snowy Escape)

Body: Winter Patterned Onesie (My First Pet Stuff)

Shoes: Slippers (Base Game)

Accessories: Nails & Socks (Base Game)

Credits

Don’t forget to show us your New Year looks over on social media!

LEAK: The Sims 4 Carnaval Streetwear Kit

Jovan
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13
LEAK: The Sims 4 Carnaval Streetwear Kit

This is the second time a Kit has leaked this way!

@Alumia_Italia, a reliable source who reported first on the leak for The Sims 4 Blooming Rooms Kit is back with another leak from the Microsoft Store database.

This time around it’s for the upcoming Kit titled The Sims 4 Carnaval Streetwear Kit!

According to the source the Carnaval Streetwear Kit is releasing on February 3rd, 2022. Check out the leaked screenshot down below featuring new Create A Sim items:

LEAK: The Sims 4 Carnaval Streetwear Kit

Shortly after we reported on the leak the tweet has since been deleted. When a twitter user asked if they know anything else regarding upcoming releases, they replied with this:

The leak fits perfectly with the official description from The Sims Team for their current roadmap, calling the next two Kits “Vibrant that Celebrate Fierce Design”.

What is the other Kit all about? We’ll just have to wait and see.

Until then stay tuned on our website for all the latest news and updates on future releases!

The Sims 4: Encanto Community Showcase

Krista
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1
The Sims 4: Encanto Community Showcase

There is no denying the Disney’s latest animated movie, Encanto is everywhere! Even if you haven’t watched it, you have probably seen someone talk about it, posts online or possibly heard snippets of the incredibly catchy songs! After recently watching the movie myself, I can see why everyone loves it and why many players have been inspired to create content in The Sims 4 based around the movie!

Here is a selection of Encanto inspired content from the community!

Inspired by the promotional posters for Encanto, PlumbobKingdom has recreated a beautiful fully furnished versions of Casa Madrigal!

The Sims 4: Encanto Community Showcase

 

Click here to view on The Gallery

Another fabulous recreation of the Madrigal’s home comes from PlaySimsWithDee! Not only have they created this beautiful shell of the Madrigal’s home that you can furnish, they has also created a number of the characters from the movie too!

The Sims 4: Encanto Community Showcase
Casita Encanto Shell

 

You can find all of PlaySimsWithDee’s creations on The Gallery here.

While we might not talk about Bruno, you can also find him on The Gallery!

Don’t see your favourite character here? Don’t worry! You’ll find all of your favourite characters from Encanto on The Gallery.

While many players have been uploading their creations to The Gallery, many were also sharing their creations on social media.

Are you looking for some Encanto inspired gameplay instead? Why not take a look at these gameplay challenges!

Have you created either the characters from Encanto or even the Madrigal’s home from the movie? Let us know in the comments below or over on social media.

The Sims 2 Revisited: 5 Things I Liked (And 5 I Didn’t)

SnarkyWitch
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9
The Sims 2 Revisited: 5 Things I Liked (And 5 I Didn’t)

Even though my first love is The Sims 4, I sometimes find myself wanting to revisit a simpler time in The Sims’ history. Maybe it’s the nostalgia of remembering what life was like back in 2004. Maybe it’s because The Sims 2 is still a solid game that holds up remarkably well even nearly two decades later. In reality, it’s probably both those factors combined.

I decided to put away The Sims 4 for a little bit and start a legacy in The Sims 2. I’ve been having a blast playing The Sims 2 again and wanted to share all my favourite parts of it with you guys. However, The Sims 2 is also… well, a product of its time. There are a multitude of little annoyances that drive me so far up the wall, I went on a mod hunt to fix them. I’ll be sharing some of those with you as well to hopefully help other lovers of The Sims 2 improve their experience.

Things I Love

Real Babies!

The Sims 2 Revisited: 5 Things I Liked (And 5 I Didn’t)

It seems downright ridiculous that I would be praising an 18-year-old life simulation game for having real babies in it while the newest installment of the series relegates babies to being objects, but here we are. Yes, babies in The Sims 2 are easily the best in the series. They have limbs, they can be carried around, be bathed in the kitchen sink, and they have plenty of objects to make this life stage fun. The Sims 2 Store had a baby bouncy swing and a baby play mat that can now be downloaded as free CC since the Store is no longer running. Adults can play with the dangly toys with the baby on the play mat, too. Babies and toddlers both also have real, proper cribs and changing tables! Whoah, so revolutionary! (cc link)

Milestone Events Camera

The Sims 2 Revisited: 5 Things I Liked (And 5 I Didn’t)

To be honest, I both love and hate this feature but the only reason I hate it is because I’m a storyteller and the events camera renders me unable to take nice shots of important moments in my Sims’ lives. However, from a general gameplay perspective, the events camera is fantastic. Whenever an important moment happens in your Sim’s life, like a first kiss, first woohoo, proposal, wedding, or the birth of a child, a cinematic cutscene plays. This makes all those important milestones feel that much more special.

Family Albums

The Sims 2 Revisited: 5 Things I Liked (And 5 I Didn’t)

This is a feature that my little storyteller heart loves! Every household in your neighbourhood has their own family album. Take a picture with the C key and then go to the family album to organize and sort through your photos. Add pictures to the album with captions. This lets you document your Sims’ entire lives directly in the game! I am obsessed with this feature. I only wish we could write longer captions to really let my imagination run wild with storytelling. While The Sims 4 attempted to reintroduce this with the Screenshot Manager, it’s really just a shallow copy of The Sims 2’s album system and doesn’t have the same kind of functionality.

Individual Bios

The Sims 2 Revisited: 5 Things I Liked (And 5 I Didn’t)

The Sims 1, 2, 3, and 4 all have family bios you can write in the household descriptions which is great, but The Sims 4 seems to have forgotten about individual bios. This was something I really enjoyed in previous games, including The Sims 2 so I felt its absence strongly in The Sims 4. Having the ability to write both a household description and a Sim description allows players to write more nuanced stories for their Sims. Instead of having to lump each household member together in a vague family bio, you can summarize everything in the family bio and then go into more detail with each individual Sim.

Attention to Detail

The Sims 2 Revisited: 5 Things I Liked (And 5 I Didn’t)

When I went back to The Sims 2 from The Sims 4, I felt like there wasn’t as much gameplay in terms of number of things to do but I did notice that there was a lot more detail in what was there. That kind of detail counts for a lot because in spite of not having as many things to do, I was still completely enchanted with this game and drawn into their world. Kids jumping on the bed, sliding down banisters, playing make-believe in the bathtub, teens giving their younger siblings noogies, I could go on and on. All of these little things that the Sims do plays a large part in the emotional connection you make with them. That’s something that I think later Sims games have really lost sight of.

Things I Don’t Love

Smelly Baby Bottles

The Sims 2 Revisited: 5 Things I Liked (And 5 I Didn’t)

I downloaded a mod to stop this nonsense SO fast. What sane human being proceeds to chuck an empty baby bottle on the floor after feeding their infant? I’m a family player, too, so my Sims’ houses would just be littered with these smelly baby bottles all over the floor. It may be a small thing to nitpick at, but if you’ve experienced this yourself, you’ll know what a massive annoyance it can be. I have a mod that causes the bottles to self-destruct after a few moments of being on the floor. (mod link)

Route Failures on the Stairs

The Sims 2 Revisited: 5 Things I Liked (And 5 I Didn’t)

My current legacy family has 8 Sims, all child-aged and older so everyone inevitably needs to use the stairs at the same time to go downstairs in the morning when they wake up. This resulted in an absolute nightmare for me every day. While two Sims can use the stairs at the same time when going in opposite directions, only one Sim can be going up or down the stairs at a time. Everyone else trying to go up or down the stairs the same way has a route fail tantrum. Imagine this happening 8 times every single day. It makes no sense that you can’t just follow someone up or down the stairs and it made me angry enough to quit playing the game… until I found a mod to fix this. Now all my Sims can follow each other down the stairs each morning with no tantrums or issues. (mod link)

Less Travel Freedom

The Sims 2 Revisited: 5 Things I Liked (And 5 I Didn’t)

Some people might disagree with me on this one and I get it; it comes down to realism versus convenience. In The Sims 2, you can’t just travel to anyone’s house that you want. In fact, you can’t go to anyone’s house at all as a visitor. If there’s another Sim in town you want your Sims to meet, you have to hope they live close enough to you to show up during the welcome wagon or be lucky enough to run into them at random somewhere on a community lot. I’ll admit this is a more realistic way of meeting new people; you wouldn’t be likely to just knock on the door of a random house and be like “Hi stranger! Wanna be friends?” You’re far more likely to meet a new neighbour when you first move in or run into someone while out somewhere. Still, I kind of prefer the convenience of just being able to do what I want when it comes to this.

Lots Feel Confined

The Sims 2 Revisited: 5 Things I Liked (And 5 I Didn’t)

The Sims 2 and The Sims 4 both have loading screens in between lots but what really sets these games apart in this area is The Sims 4 also has neighbourhood space around the lot that loads. The Sims 2 does not. My Sims in The Sims 4 can take a jog around the neighbourhood, fish in the pond behind their house, or enjoy an afternoon playing at the nearby playground, all from their home lot. This makes the lots feel more open and I find myself forgetting that it’s a closed world since there is ample space to explore around every lot. In The Sims 2, the only thing you can access apart from the confines of your home lot is the sidewalk and the road directly in front of the lot. This creates a very confined, closed-in feeling and I’m constantly reminded that I’m trapped on this square of land unless I want to go through another load screen.

Clunky Sim Customization

The Sims 2 Revisited: 5 Things I Liked (And 5 I Didn’t)

This may be another instance of realism versus convenience and I guess I prefer convenience. I hated having to go to the store to buy new clothes for my Sims so much that I downloaded a modded coat rack that lets me “purchase” the entire clothing catalogue for free. I’m very big on customizing my Sims exactly to my liking and The Sims 2 makes it very difficult to do that. Without mods, I can’t dress my Sim how I want if they aren’t wealthy enough to afford the clothes. I can’t easily pop into CAS whenever I want to make all of my changes at once; I have to awkwardly queue up Plan Outfit interactions for every clothing category. Then I have to go to the mirror to edit their hair and makeup separately. It’s a whole ordeal I would just rather not deal with. I also can’t edit NPCs until they’ve moved into my house which means my Sims are stuck dating some ridiculous-looking townies. I’ve been spoiled with the convenience of having all of this stuff at my fingertips in The Sims 4. (mod link)

So what’s the final takeaway here? Do I love The Sims 2 or hate it? Well, in spite of its somewhat awkward and clunky mechanics and lack of things to do in comparison with later titles, The Sims 2’s charm and attention to detail really keep this game relevant almost 20 years later and that’s a difficult feat for a video game to accomplish. I’m nearing my 2nd generation in my current playthrough and I don’t intend to stop playing anytime soon. I say there isn’t as much gameplay as there is in later titles but that doesn’t mean there isn’t enough to still be fun and enjoyable. I still have plenty I want to do in the game. And truth be told, The Sims 2’s greatest strength is its ability to make you fall in love with your Sims without even trying. Those small everyday moments between Sims that happen spontaneously without you having to dictate every single interaction are what make The Sims 2 the most authentic life simulation experience even to this day.

The Sims 4 might be my #1 game now but I always have and always will love The Sims 2 with all my heart. It’s just… special.

The Sims 4 Scenario Playthrough: New Year New Hustle

SnarkyWitch
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0
The Sims 4 Scenario Playthrough: New Year New Hustle

With a new year comes a brand new scenario to play through! The New Year New Hustle scenario lets you choose between career success or having a successful hustle business of your own. It’s a timed scenario that ends on February 2nd, 2022 so if you want a chance to play this one, make sure you start it before then. You can continue to play timed scenarios that are already in progress after they expire so there’s no rush to finish once you’ve started as long as you start the scenario before February 2nd.

Getting Started

The Sims 4 Scenario Playthrough: New Year New Hustle

As usual, start from the main menu and select New Scenario to get this show on the road. Select the New Year New Hustle scenario from the list and jump into CAS to make your household of 1 Young Adult or older Sim.

I went with the default Sim the game spit out at me and decided to go down the Painter route with her so I gave her the Painter Extraordinaire aspiration and the Art Lover, Creative, and Perfectionist traits to help with her painting skill and the quality of her paintings.

The Sims 4 Scenario Playthrough: New Year New Hustle

Don’t do what I did and misread the scenario summary! My silly self obviously did not have enough caffeine this morning and misread the outcomes. There are two potential outcomes for this scenario; your Sim can reach level 3 in any career, or they can make $25,000 and reach level 5 of any skill. It’s one or the other, so you’re basically deciding whether you want your Sim to pursue a career or a full-time hustle. For some reason, I thought we had to complete all three tasks. Don’t ask. I don’t know, either.

Anyway, I moved my new Sim, Serena, into the starter home in Mt. Komorebi. I thought Mt. Komorebi was a suitably inspiring place for a creative, artistic person. I bought her an easel with her leftover funds and then immediately had her join the Painter career. Then I sent her inside to paint.

Making Those Simoleons

The Sims 4 Scenario Playthrough: New Year New Hustle

Since we were simultaneously working towards both outcomes even though we didn’t have to, I had Serena painting every moment of every day to try and make that $25,000 and to build her Painting skill up to level 5. She reached level 5 of the skill the same day she moved in thanks to Snowy Escape’s Surge Emotions feature. After painting for a certain length of time, Serena became Emotionally Mindful, which allowed her to put herself into the Very Inspired emotional state for the next 12 hours. This helped her build the Painting skill very fast and also helped her produce better paintings that sold for more simoleons.

The Sims 4 Scenario Playthrough: New Year New Hustle

While in the process of making money and improving her Painting skill, Serena was also going to work. She got her first promotion on her very first day with very little effort, although I did choose the Work Hard option for her while she was there. It was helpful that her job tasks were just to complete paintings and build the Painting skill which she was already doing, anyway. It meant I didn’t have to go out of my way to focus on her career too much.

A Plot Twist

The Sims 4 Scenario Playthrough: New Year New Hustle

Just a couple days into this playthrough, Serena got that random inheritance call. I meant to click the Under What Conditions option to just get some quick cash but I accidentally clicked the Money Money Money option so all of a sudden, Serena now had to marry someone within 7 days to get the payout. This scenario just got a lot more interesting. Or so I thought.

The only people Serena knew were her neighbours, the Itos. I was too lazy to invest much time into meeting a new single day so I sent her over to her neighbours’ house to be a homewrecker. The plan was to seduce Naoki and convince him to divorce his wife so he could marry Serena but neither Naoki nor Megumi were home. Just their kids, Kiyoshi and Nanami. I thought I’d wait around for their parents to return so Serena had a nap while Nanami watched TV. Yeah, not weird at all for a stranger to walk into your house while you’re not home and sleep on your couch. Totally normal.

The Sims 4 Scenario Playthrough: New Year New Hustle

By the time Serena left, I had come to the conclusion that Naoki and Megumi were terrible parents because Serena stayed there all night and they never returned home. Kiyoshi never even bothered to check on his little sister once the whole night. He stayed in his room playing video games while Nanami had her face practically glued to the TV until 3 in the morning on a school night.

Oh well. Not my problem. I sent Serena home to paint some more before her next work shift. I could always invite Naoki over after work.

Oh… That’s It?

The Sims 4 Scenario Playthrough: New Year New Hustle

Or that was the plan but Serena got promoted to level 3 that day which completed the scenario. That was when I realized my blunder in misreading the outcomes. It was a very anti-climactic moment because I’d been expecting to continue to sell paintings and break up a marriage for money in order to earn the $25,000 and all of a sudden, the scenario was over just like that. Totally my fault for not reading the scenario properly but I can’t help but think this outcome is a little bit of a cop-out. It’s incredibly easy to get promoted twice in 3-4 days. You don’t even really have to try. You could go out of your way to do the bare minimum at work and still get promoted in The Sims 4.

The Sims 4 Scenario Playthrough: New Year New Hustle

Had I read the scenario properly, I wouldn’t have chosen a career. It’s laughably easy even for newbie players. I would have just focused on the Painting skill and earning money through that. I’m also disappointed I never got to play out all that drama with the Itos. Oh well. Live and learn.

Bottom line: if you’re looking for a longer, more interesting scenario playthrough, don’t join a career. Go for the first potential outcome and focus on making simoleons through a skill. If you just want to rack up an easy 5,000 satisfaction points in a couple days with almost no effort whatsoever, go for the career option with this scenario.

The Sims Community Challenge: January

Krista
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1
The Sims Community Challenge: January

Welcome to the first The Sims Community Challenge for 2022!

Continuing on from our December theme, this will be another build challenge. However, this time we want you to get creative with the outdoor space with the shell we’ve created. If you’re a part of our Discord, you may have also seen me share a few sneaky teasers for this challenge recently, too!

The Challenge

It’s time to get your gardening Sims ready, as we want you to furnish our greenhouse and create a beautiful outdoor space. While there are two aspects to essentially work on, your main focus will be the outdoor space. Utilize the space to the best of your ability and pay attention to the smaller details that you would normally find in a garden environment.

The Sims Community Challenge: January

Challenge Rules

  • You must use a 20×15 lot
  • You have a total budget of $20,000 (this includes the lot value)
  • No Custom Content
  • You can use DEBUG items and T.O.O.L
  • The pond can not be removed
  • The roof must be one of the six Glass Roof Swatches that come with the Base Game
  • You are allowed to change the windows, doors, wall paint and flooring
  • You must not move the greenhouse from where it is placed or change the greenhouse shape or size
  • Have fun and be creative!

As always, the shell is Base Game friendly, and you are allowed to use any packs that you own.

Shell Overview

The lot comes with the Greenhouse shell ready to furnish, a pond and a tree with a few flowers surrounding its base. The rest of the lot is empty and up to you how you fill it. The lot itself is listed as a Generic Lot, so you will not have any lot specific criteria to fill. Before furnishing, make sure to read the challenge rules carefully.

The Sims Community Challenge: January

The shell itself is simple and straight forward. As we mentioned earlier in this post, there are two aspects to this build challenge. Firstly, you will be furnishing the Greenhouse itself. Secondly, the outdoor space. You can be as creative as you want with the outdoor space, just make sure you stay within the $20,000 budget. Ultimately, have fun creating this outdoor space for your Sims!

The Sims Community Challenge: JanuaryDownloading The Shell

You will need to head over to The Gallery and use the information below to find the challenge shell and add it into your game.

  • Lot Name: SC Greenhouse Challenge
  • Gallery ID: LeeksEverywhere

Uploading your Entry

  • All entries will need to be uploaded to The Gallery and include the hashtag #SCGarden in the description.
  • One entry per person. Additional entries will not be included.

Closing date for entries: Sunday 23rd January 2022 at 10am PST/6pm GMT/ 7PM CET. The Spotlight post will be released a few days after entries have closed. 

If you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments below, or head over to our The Sims Community Challenge channel on our Discord server! If you aren’t a member of our Discord Server, you can click here to join.

Click the button below to join The Sims Community Discord 

[mks_button size=”large” title=”Sims Community Discord” style=”squared” url=”https://discord.gg/6kRVv4h2je” target=”_blank” bg_color=”#4e62ac” txt_color=”#FFFFFF” icon=”” icon_type=”” nofollow=”0″]

Good luck, have fun, and we can’t wait to see your builds soon!

New Scenario Now Available for a Limited Time in The Sims 4

Jovan
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4
New Scenario Now Available for a Limited Time in The Sims 4

New Year, New Scenario!

The Sims Team has just dropped a brand new Scenario in The Sims 4 with the latest SDX!

This limited-time Scenario is titled New Year New Hustle and can be played right now in The Sims 4 for both PC and Consoles.

The Scenario is somewhat rather similar to the previous ones we’ve had with a focus on upping your Sim’s Career Level / Skill.

It’s never too late to start a new hustle. After moving to a new place and making a New Year’s resolution to focus on building marketable skills, can your Sim channel that momentum and keep making big changes for a more prosperous future?

New Year, New Hustle will be playable from January 10, 2022 10AM PT to February 2, 2022 10AM PT.

New Scenario Now Available for a Limited Time in The Sims 4

The Sims 4 Sims Delivery Express: NEW DELIVERY! (January 10th, 2022)

Jovan
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7
The Sims 4 Sims Delivery Express: NEW DELIVERY! (January 10th, 2022)

The Sims Team has just dropped a brand new Delivery into The Sims 4 Base Game – featuring new Create A Sim content!

Through Sims Delivery Express you are able to download new Create A Sim Content, Build Mode Content and small bug fixes and improvements into your game straight through The Sims 4. Simply open up The Sims 4 and your game should automatically check for new content.

If not, go into Game Options > Sims Delivery and Check for new Content. This method of bringing new content into your game works both on PC and Consoles! Note that you will have to restart your game in order to obtain new content. You can select “Yes, Restart Now” for the game to restart automatically for you.

The Sims 4 Sims Delivery Express: NEW DELIVERY! (January 10th, 2022)

Sims Delivery Express – January 10th, 2022 Content

There’s new Create A Sim content waiting for you with the new SDX. Check out the preview of the new cultural outfits down below. There’s something new both for Masculine and Feminine Sims!

The Sims 4 Sims Delivery Express: NEW DELIVERY! (January 10th, 2022)

For the full breakdown, the new SDX comes with the following:

  • 1 Feminine Adult Hairstyle
  • 1 Masculine Head Accessory
  • 1 Feminine and 1 Masculine Full Body Outfit

The Sims 4 Kids Room: Did You Know These Facts About Voidcritters?

SnarkyWitch
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1
The Sims 4 Kids Room: Did You Know These Facts About Voidcritters?

Do you know about voidcritters? Collectible trading cards featuring a variety of cute little creatures in The Sims 4 Kids Room Stuff pack. Many players might have heard of them; after all, they’re referenced in numerous other packs for The Sims 4 but recently, I was surprised to find out how many people have yet to unlock the full potential of voidcritters. They’re far more than just collectible décor! In fact, they have a lot of lore, gameplay, and mechanics attached to them!

Let’s see how much you really know about the Pokémon of The Sims world!

There are two versions of each voidcritter

The Sims 4 Kids Room: Did You Know These Facts About Voidcritters?

If you open the collection panel from your Sim’s inventory, you’ll see 20 slots for 20 different voidcritter cards. But there are actually a total of 40 different cards to collect. Each voidcritter has a standard version and a Limited Edition Foil version. The foil versions are more valuable and they have a cool prismatic sheen to them when displayed. Have you collected all 40 cards?

Voidcritters have different elemental alignments

The Sims 4 Kids Room: Did You Know These Facts About Voidcritters?

No two voidcritters are the same. Each voidcritter has an alignment and within those alignments, some voidcritters are stronger than others. The common voidcritters are less powerful than the uncommon and rare voidcritters. There are a total of 5 different alignments; earth, air, fire, water, and the void. Every voidcritter falls under one of these alignments. Why do the alignments matter? Well, just like Pokémon, some alignments are weak or strong against other alignments so there’s some strategy involved when you’re battling them. Fire is strong against earth, earth is strong against air, air is strong against void, void is strong against water, and water is strong against fire. Keep that in mind the next time you take your voidcritters into battle.

Children can battle with their voidcritters

The Sims 4 Kids Room: Did You Know These Facts About Voidcritters?

On that note, did you also know you can play with your voidcritters? That’s right, they aren’t just decorations to display on shelves! Purchase a voidcritter battle station from Build/Buy in the Toys section under Kids. Then, with a voidcritter card in a child’s inventory, click the battle station to battle with your voidcritter. Only children can use the battle station and there must be another child on the lot to battle against. The outcome of the battle is determined by a combination of factors; the voidcritter’s rarity, alignment, and power level.

Voidcritters have a power level and can be trained

The Sims 4 Kids Room: Did You Know These Facts About Voidcritters?

Power level, you ask? That’s right. In addition to alignments, voidcritters also have a power level. All voidcritters start out with a power level of 0 but kids can train their voidcritters on the battle station to increase their voidcritter’s power level. The maximum power level for a voidcritter is 10. Training your voidcritters can be a good way to give them an upper hand in a battle they might otherwise be at a disadvantage in. For example, Arcticorn is a rare water type and Yorier is a common fire type. This puts Yorier at a huge disadvantage. Not only is fire weak against water but Arcticorn is higher in rarity and therefore stronger. Arcticorn is sure to win that battle… unless Yorier has a much higher power level. If the Arcitcorn’s power level is 0 but Yorier’s power level is 10, Yorier has a much better chance of defeating Arcticorn in spite of its other disadvantages.

Voidcritters can be traded between children

Do you keep finding duplicate voidcritters? Why not try trading them with your friends to see if you can get a new one? Children can ask other children to trade voidcritter cards if they have at least one voidcritter card in their inventory. The other child doesn’t need to have a voidcritter card; the game will generate one for them. Only your active child Sim needs to have a voidcritter in their inventory. If the other child wants to trade, select the voidcritter you’d like to trade and see what the other child trades you back. You can’t pick and choose which voidcritter you get from a trade but you will usually receive another voidcritter of a similar rarity to the one you traded. If you’re looking for a rare voidcritter, try trading some other rare voidcritters you have duplicates of.

Each voidcritter has detailed lore

The Sims 4 Kids Room: Did You Know These Facts About Voidcritters?

Click on any voidcritter card to read it. This will bring up a notification with more information about your voidcritter. Each voidcritter has its own personality and history associated with it and every card references a specific episode of the Voidcritter TV show that your Sims can watch on the BeTween TV channel! Take some time to read all your voidcritter cards and learn all about the amazing facts and history of the Voidcritters universe!

How many of these voidcritter facts did you know about? Did you learn something new about voidcritters? Let us know in the comments or come chat with us on social media!

We Ranked Every Sims 4 Garden Gnome. For Science.

SnarkyWitch
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3
We Ranked Every Sims 4 Garden Gnome. For Science.

Wow, the Sims 4 Gnomes! This may be the most important article I’ve ever written for Sims Community. I am fully aware that my choices today may change the course of the universe as we know it forever. I am honoured to carry such a heavy burden for the betterment of this community. This is not a duty I take lightly; these were some long and difficult decisions I had to make but they were decisions that had to be made. Anyway, let’s rank some garden gnomes.

16. There’s No Place Like Gnome

There's No Place Like Gnome

Coming in dead last at #16, we have the No Place Like Gnome variety of the Sims 4 gnomes. There’s not much to say about him. He’s a gnome. He hangs out in a garden. That’s about it. There’s nothing particularly interesting or exciting about him. If he was a shade of paint, he would be beige. Just look at that resigned expression on his face. He knows he’s the guy at the party no one remembers was there.

15. Happy Gnome Garden Pal

Happy Gnome Garden Pal

This Sims 4 Gnomes rating is slightly higher than his vanilla pal. Happy Gnome Garden Pal at least has some personality going for him. He’s in a playful sitting pose, fluffing up his luxurious beard  with a little twinkle in his eye and an “Oh, I know I’m fine,” expression. Unfortunately, he may have a little too much confidence considering he still looks exactly like his nondescript buddy, No Place Like Gnome.

14. Gnome Matter What, I’m Still Your Baby

Gnome Matter What, I'm Still Your Baby

We have to give this guy credit. After all, he has a very lively posture with those little arms stretched out wide for a hug. There’s no denying he has a big personality but he also kind of gives me “that weird uncle at Thanksgiving who’s always trying to get you to pull his finger” vibes. Seriously, Uncle Joe. I’m in college now and that gag stopped being funny when I was five. Maybe it’s the eyes. Those eyes… They can see into my soul and I don’t like it.

13. Upside Down Gnome Decor

Upside Down Gnome Decor

This cheery little fellow might look as nondescript as the previous Sims 4 gnomes buddies but he’s got one thing going for him that the others don’t; he’s helpful! The Upside Down Gnome dutifully holds up a wooden tray that can hold a variety of small items. Like cookies. Who doesn’t want a gnome serving them delicious cookies? It’s like having a miniature butler you don’t have to pay because he’s… a chunk of ceramic. Also, look at those adorable big blue eyes! They are much more pleasant to look at than the soulless abyss of Creepy Uncle Gnome.

* Jar of cookies sold separately. Terms and conditions apply.

12. Strictly Business Gnome

Sims 4 Strictly Business Gnome

Coming in at #12, Business Gnome rates higher on the list for the simple fact that he has an original outfit. We can respect a gnome in a hurry to make those simoleons even if his suit does look like it came straight out of the 80s. Maybe he’s running to the nearest Men’s Wearhouse to spend all those simoleons in that briefcase on a better suit. Make that money. Buy that suit. Live your dreams, Business Gnome.

11. Bearly Gnome

Sims 4 Bearly Gnome

I mean what can we say? Out of all the Sims 4 gnomes, this one is in a bear suit! How is that not awesome? And he looks like he’s doing the Thriller dance, too. Everything about the Bearly Gnome is a vibe. I too, wish I could throw away the trappings of modern life to do the Thriller dance in a bear suit somewhere deep in the woods. Looking at this gnome reminds me that I think about weird things.

10. The Ghastly Ghostly Gnome

The Ghastly Ghostly Gnome

Just barely making the top ten list of the Sims 4 gnomes is The Ghastly Ghostly Gnome! His eyes are just as terrifying as Creepy Uncle Gnome but at least it’s working for his vibe as a disembodied spirit. I’m getting a very strong “If it wasn’t for those darn kids” Scooby Doo energy here and I can respect that. Plus, it’s really cool that he’s semi-transparent. Is he made of glass? A hologram? The tormented soul of an actual garden gnome? The mystery is all part of the excitement!

9. Happy Gnomiversary!

Happy Gnomiversary gnome

Unlike Bland Bob at #16, this is the dude you want at your next party. Just look at him. Look at his dapper suit and bowtie. Look at his festive party hat. Look at that upbeat energy he’s serving with that obnoxious little party noise maker. And he brought cake! This positive-vibes-only gnome is more than welcome at my next big bash… in The Sims because I don’t talk to people in the real world, ew.

8. Guardian of the Gnomelaxy

Guardian of the Gnomelaxy

I gotta be real with this one. I was stumped on where to rank him. On the one hand, I’m not a Marvel fan and if I had to rank the Marvel movies, Guardians of the Galaxy would rate pretty low on an already underwhelming list. His name is also a really lame pun. On the other hand, he’s a pretty cool looking gnome! I decided to put my personal bias aside in this incredibly important, life or death mission and put him at #8. His outfit is unique, his beard is unique, he’s got a funky green skin tone and a cone shaped head instead of a traditional gnome hat, he’s expressive, and his pose looks like the cover of a cool sci-fi movie poster. He really deserves to be on the list for Sims 4 gnomes!

7. Poolside Gnome

Poolside Gnome

We stan a body positive queen and just look at this adorably chunky pool gnome! Not only is she an example of self-love and confidence in her cute little swimsuit and pool floatie but she’s also the only female gnome out of all the Sims 4 gnomes! May we humbly ask The Sims Team… why???? Just look how cute she is! That smile oozing of quiet confidence, those sweet pigtail braids and that teeny tiny adorable curl at her temple. I am LIVING. More adorable girl gnomes, please!

6. Herb the Posy Protector

Herb the Posy Protector

You know Herb. We all know Herb. Herb was that guy in the back of homeroom with the shaggy shoulder-length hair who dressed like a 70’s rock star. Herb didn’t talk much but he liked to play Wonderwall on his acoustic guitar at the picnic tables during lunch hour. Herb always had the best mushroom mash. If ya know what I mean. Yeah. That Herb. What a totally chill dude. Just like Herb the Posey Protector. Rock on, Herb.

5. Mr. Floppy the Gnome

Mr. Floppy the Gnome

What do you get when Merlin has a mid-century crisis and decides to take a year off to work as an Easter Bunny for kids’ parties? This guy! He makes it into the top 5 Sims 4 gnomes just for being cute in the derpiest way possible, honestly. The way he looks slightly off to the side with those innocent beady little eyes swinging his basket of eggs around just makes me feel some type of way, okay? Have I mentioned how cute those downturned ears are squished beneath his gnome hat?

4. High Rider Gnome

High Rider Gnome

You can bet your last simoleon that a garden gnome riding a lawn flamingo like its a bucking bronco is going to rank high on this Sims 4 gnomes list. I mean do I really have to explain it? It’s a GNOME! On a FLAMINGO! I rest my case, Your Honour!

3. “Onward” The Adventurous Gnome

Sims 4 Onward The Adventurous Gnome

Just when I thought nothing could be better than a gnome riding a flamingo, we transcend into a higher state of being with a gnome riding a chicken. This baby is also limited edition; it was an early purchase bonus for the Cottage Living expansion pack so if you have this guy, you’re one of the lucky ones! What a time to be alive!

2. Don’t Fear the Reagnomper

Don't Fear the Reagnomper gnome

Mr. Reaper was SO close to snagging that coveted #1 spot on this Sims 4 gnomes list. Grimmie is a Sims icon. He’s got a super cool scythe, spoopy robes, his little red gnome cap is pulled forward like a hood and did I mention his eyes glow in the dark? Well, they do. Indeed, it seemed as if no one could beat such a legend. That would be like some other townie beating Bella Goth! And yet…

1. Bare Essentials Gnome

SIms 4 Bare Essentials Gnome

Our #1 pick goes to this downright indecent Bare Essentials Gnome! Definitely the strongest out of all the Sims 4 gnomes. First of all, that’s the best pun out of every single gnome. I couldn’t even pronounce Don’t Fear The Reagnowerdcvcfrcbbfcf-huh??? Secondly, nothing, and I mean NOTHING, is more iconic to The Sims series than that block of pixelated squares protecting our Sims’ modesty every time they shower or use the bathroom. It’s been a staple of the series in every single Sims game, spinoffs included. This gnome is classic but naughty and I can’t get enough of his cheeky little wink. My only question is this: If Sims can’t see the censor blur… are they really looking at a naked gnome?

Honourable Mention: Yarny

Yarny Sims gnome

But wait! There’s more!

As much as my Unravel-loving heart would have loved to crown Yarny at the top of this ranking, it wouldn’t have been fair. Since he’s you know… not actually a gnome. But Yarny still deserves an honourable mention because he functions like a gnome! Yes, Yarny will make it a habit of disappearing and reappearing in random spots around your home. He’s an adventurous little yarn creature. So while he might not be a gnome in appearance, he’s a gnome in spirit.

Insulted by my rankings? Drag me in the comments and let me know what your top pick would have been in this super important, life-changing rankings list!

  • Special thank you to Ravasheen for her backdrop resources!

The Sims 4: Community Wishlist for 2022

Krista
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5
The Sims 4: Community Wishlist for 2022

A few days ago, I reached out to the community and asked what players would want to see this year in the form of new content! So many of you replied to the tweet and shared your thoughts on what you would like to see released this year.

If you haven’t seen the tweet already, take a look at it below.

 

Of course, since that tweet went out, we’ve had a small reveal from The Sims team in the form of the first roadmap for 2022!

The Sims 4: Community Wishlist for 2022

While the above roadmap is giving us an idea of what we are going to see over the next three or four months, that still leaves a good portion of the year open to possibilities.

Throughout the replies to the Tweet, there was a clear view of what many players would like to see, with many echoing the same responses.

Before we go into the main replies that focus more on new packs, many people shared their thoughts about how they would like to see more done to address current bugs and issues within the game. While we do see a number of issues addressed when they are shared in the monthly Laundry Lists and patches, there are still many that players have found haven’t been addressed or have been partially fixed. With the new year now here, hopefully we will get our first Laundry List of the year and an update addressing some of the current issues soon.

As for new content, there were a variety of replies which could see new features, experiences and ideas be delivered through the likes of Expansion, Game and Stuff Packs, Kits, Sims Delivery Express, game patches with additional content for the Base Game and even pack refreshes.

You can read all the replies to the original Tweet here.

The Sims 4: Community Wishlist for 2022

While these are just some of the many ideas voiced in response to the Tweet, there were a number of other ideas shared as well. These included:

  • Bands and more variety of instruments
  • Hotels Pack
  • High School Pack
  • Horses
  • More Occults
  • New Careers – Singing, Dancer, Hairdressing
  • New methods of transport ranging from cars, scooters, skateboards and more!
  • Zodiacs
  • Generations and Family Game Play
  • More relationship options (cousins, grandparents, step-parents)
  • Expanding on Skills such as Creative and Sports based Skills.
  • New Worlds which explore different locations and cultures yet to be seen in The Sims 4
  • New Aspirations
  • More pack refreshes
  • Improvements to current Base Game features
  • Improvement to the Likes and Dislikes

With many players sharing similar ideas, it will be interesting to see how many of these actually make their way into the game over the next twelve months.

Of course, with many positive and exciting ideas being shared, there will always be some negatives. However, in this case there wasn’t many and the main one came in the form of Kits. We have seen our fair share of Kits over the last several months, and many players are hoping to see more packs this year instead. Kits are still a relatively new and still a form of content that was first launched last year and have received mixed opinions since. We do know that in the first roadmap for this year, we will see two new Kits but as yet, there is no further information about them.

Another reply that popped up a few times was The Sims 5. While we are aware that a next-generation The Sims game is in the works, nothing has officially been revealed. There could well be a chance we see official confirmation that it is coming, but we will have to wait and see.

As always, we will keep you up to date with the latest news and information for The Sims 4 so make sure to follow us here and over on our social media accounts!

Let us know what you would like to see this year in The Sims 4 below in the comments.

The Sims 4 Snowy Escape is on a FREE Trial!

Jovan
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1
The Sims 4 Snowy Escape is on a FREE Trial!

Enjoy Snowy Escape THIS Weekend – starting NOW!

The Sims Team announced their latest FREE Trial Weekend for The Sims 4!

This time around you’re able to get your hands on The Sims 4 Snowy Escape Expansion Pack for FREE this weekend. Similar to previous weekend trials this one will last for approximately 3 full days – until January 10th, 2022 when it ends on 10AM Pacific Time.

Unfortunately all Expansion Pack Trials are exclusive to Origin, meaning that you can only try Snowy Escape if you’re playing The Sims 4 on PC or Mac.

You can get the free trial version of Snowy Escape right now on Origin!

It’s also worth noting that Snowy Escape, along with other Expansion Packs are currently 50% off on Origin! You can get the pack for half the price by January 11th at 10AM PT.

For more information about the trial check out the Frequently Asked Questions below:

Snowy Escape Trial – FAQ

When does The Sims 4 Snowy Escape Trial take place?

The Sims 4 Snowy Escape Trial will be available between the following dates and times:

  • Start:
    January 7, 2022
    10:00AM PST / 18:00 UTC
  • End:
    January 10, 2022
    10:00AM PST / 18:00 UTC

During this time, you will be able to play as much Snowy Escape as you like.

What do I need to know about the Snowy Escape Trial?

There are a few prerequisites to using the Snowy Escape Trial.

You must:

  • Have the most up to date version of The Sims 4 installed on your PC/Mac
  • Have the most up to date version of Origin installed on your PC/Mac. EA app is not currently supported by the Snowy Escape trial.
  • Claim the Snowy Escape through the Origin client, Origin.com or from The Sims 4 Main Menu.

What can I use in The Sims 4 Snowy Escape Expansion Pack during the Trial?

You will be able to use every part of Snowy Escape including the beautiful mountain town of Mt. Komorebi where you can test your Sim’s skill and endurance with mountainside activites such as snowboarding and rockclimbing or discover your inner zen in the natural hot springs or while unwinding over hot pot around a kotatsu table. If you are more of a creative Simmer then all of the pack content is available to you in CAS and Build mode.

Can I run The Sims 4 Snowy Escape Expansion Pack Trial on my PC/Mac?

If you have the latest version of Origin and your PC or Mac meets The Sims 4 minimum and recommended system requirements then you can take part in the Snowy Escape Trial

Can I play The Sims 4 Snowy Escape Expansion Pack Trial on PlayStation or Xbox consoles?

Currently our DLC Trials are only compatible with the Origin client for PC and Mac.

Can I play The Sims 4 Snowy Escape Expansion Pack Trial with an EA Play subscription?

Yes. If you have an active EA Play or EA Play Pro subscription for PC, you can download The Sims 4 from Origin, claim the Snowy Escape Trial and play with the pack content.

Can I play The Sims 4 Snowy Escape Expansion Pack Trial with The Sims 4 Legacy Edition?

No, The Sims 4 Legacy Edition does not support pack Trials. You must have the latest version of The Sims 4 and Origin to take part in the Trial.

Can I play The Sims 4 Snowy Escape Expansion Pack Trial with The Sims 4 Trial?

Yes. If you do not currently own The Sims 4 and haven’t previously used The Sims 4 Trial, you can claim the 48 hour trial from Origin and the Snowy Escape Trial and try out everything in one go.

Why does it ask me to Restart The Sims 4 when switching between Trial Saves and my existing Saves?

The Sims 4 will ask you if you want to restart your game so that it can include or exclude the Snowy Escape Trial from your current session.

Selecting to restart when going back to a non-trial save will keep the Snowy Escape Trial on your PC/Mac for when you want to come back to the trial later. When you want to play with Snowy Escape again, load a saved game or start a new trial save and you’ll be asked to restart the game so that Snowy Escape can be included in your session for as long as the trial is available.

Can I use my saves with the Trial?

Yes. If you want to put Snowy Escape into saved games you have already created, you can. Simply select your Save from the LOAD screen on the Main Menu and when asked if you want to PLAY WITH TRIAL? Select Yes, Start as New Trial Save. Once you do that, The Sims 4 will make a copy of your save to use with the trial and lets you save your progress without affecting your original saved game files.

I created a new Trial save based on my existing save, how do I tell the difference?

If you load an existing save while using the Snowy Escape Trial, we will copy your save and rename it for you so that it can be identified as a Trial save. Once you have loaded your save, you can hit Save to finish applying the Trial to your save game. If you do not save your session, you will still have a Trial save but it will not use Snowy Escape and you will be able to use the save without the Trial content.

What happens to my Trial Saved Games when the trial ends?

Your saves created while using the Snowy Escape Trial will still be available after the trial ends. If you choose to add Snowy Escape to your collection, you will be able to pick up where your saves left off.

I created a new Trial save based on my existing save, how do I tell the difference?

If you load an existing save while using the Snowy Escape Trial, we will copy your save and rename it for you so that it can be identified as a Trial save. Once you have loaded your save, you can hit Save to finish applying the Trial to your save game. If you do not save your session, you will still have a Trial save but it will not use Snowy Escape and you will be able to use the save without the Trial content.

What happens to my Trial Saved Games when the trial ends?

Your saves created while using the Snowy Escape Trial will still be available after the trial ends. If you choose to add Snowy Escape to your collection, you will be able to pick up where your saves left off.

AFTER THE TRIAL

The Trial has ended. Now what?

Snowy Escape will stay installed on your machine and if you purchase Snowy Escape, you will be ready to start playing with your content straight away.

If you have decided that you do want to remove Snowy Escape Trial from your PC/Mac follow these quick steps.

PC Steps

  • Find your The Sims 4 installation directory (Default C:Program Files (x86)Origin GamesThe Sims 4)
  • Look for a directory called EP10
  • Select the directory, Right Click and select Delete
  • This will move Snowy Escape to your Recycle Bin
  • Right click on Recycle Bin and select Empty Recycle Bin to free up disk space
  • If you decide to purchase Snowy Escape in the future, you will need to re-download the pack from Origin or EA app.

Mac Steps

  • Find your The Sims 4 Packs directory (usually located in the same place as The Sims 4.app, which is located in ~/Applications by default)
  • Look for a directory called EP10
  • Select the directory, Right Click and select Move to Trash
  • This will move Snowy Escape to the Trash, and select Empty Trash to free up disk space
  • If you decide to purchase Snowy Escape in the future, you will need to re-download the pack from Origin

The Sims 4 Dine Out: Tips to Make Managing a Restaurant… Barely Tolerable

SnarkyWitch
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0
The Sims 4 Dine Out: Tips to Make Managing a Restaurant… Barely Tolerable

Over the past two years or so, I’ve been on a mission to do everything there is to do in The Sims 4 across every pack with the SuperSim Challenge. Overall, this has been a very fun adventure. The Sims 4 has a lot to offer and every time I think I’ve discovered everything, I find something new to immerse myself in. However, I won’t lie; there are certain features of the game I’ve been dreading taking on. Like restaurants.

The Sims 4 Dine Out: Tips to Make Managing a Restaurant… Barely Tolerable

Dine Out has got to be the biggest mess The Sims 4 has ever released. The idea of eating out at restaurants and managing your own restaurant sounds great in theory and all the mechanics are there for a great dining and management experience. The problem is that none of those mechanics work properly. Eating out as a customer is a gamble; will you wait 8 hours to get your food just to have the waiter drop it on the floor, leading to another 8 hour wait time? Or will you even get your food at all? Will other diners walk up and take your food right off the table while you’re in the bathroom? Managing a restaurant is even worse. Between your staff not showing up, leaving the lot at random to go for a jog, dumping dirty plates on tables where diners are still eating, and many customers never receiving their food and leaving 1 star reviews, you’ll spend more time doing damage control as a restaurant manager than actually focusing on your restaurant.

I did manage to get my restaurant to 5 stars very quickly with my SuperSim but by that time, I couldn’t wait to get rid of the place. While managing this culinary nightmare, I did pick up a few tips for keeping things running smoothly. Barely. Unfortunately, a lot of it was done with the MCCC mod and cheats to troubleshoot glitches.

Hey Sims Team, when are we getting a Dine Out refresh???

Start Out Wealthy

The Sims 4 Dine Out: Tips to Make Managing a Restaurant… Barely Tolerable

I really don’t recommend trying to start a restaurant with starting funds. A lot of your restaurant’s success will depend on you being able to dump more money into it than you’re making for quite a while until you start to see a real payoff. The best way to start off on the right foot is to already have a million or so simoleons (at least) to buy a really nice restaurant with great ambiance, spend tonnes of money on training your staff as fast as possible, and give away lots of freebies to keep customers happy when things go wrong. You will lose a lot of money doing this at first so make sure your Sim already has the funds to be able to afford big losses.

Invest in Your Staff

The Sims 4 Dine Out: Tips to Make Managing a Restaurant… Barely Tolerable

To be honest, even fully trained staff can be pretty useless but poorly trained staff are much, much worse. Chefs won’t be able to cook your most expensive dishes properly, waiters will drop food, and hosts will be rude to your customers, leading to a bad dining experience and poor reviews. As soon as you hire your staff, invest money into training them. Pay for the best training available on each staff member every shift. Consider it an essential investment for your business. If your customers are eating excellent food that wasn’t dropped in their laps and being treated nicely by the staff, they’re going to leave happy and that means good reviews for your restaurant. Your staff will also work harder when they’re happy with their job. This means promotions. Be generous with handing out promotions to your staff.

Pay Attention to Your Customers

The Sims 4 Dine Out: Tips to Make Managing a Restaurant… Barely Tolerable

Most Simmers who’ve worked in the restaurant business will already be familiar with this but there’s a certain order in which customer interactions are usually done. First, welcome the customers as soon as they sit down at their table. Once the customer receives their food, go and check on their table to make sure everything is going well. If the customers are unhappy with something, appease them with some sort of freebie. If they feel the staff treated them rudely or they aren’t happy with the quality of their meal, offer them free drinks. If they have a bigger problem, like the waiter dropped their food, offer them a free dessert. If they’ve been waiting ages for their food, prioritize their order in the kitchen and offer them free drinks while they wait. Comp their entire meal only as a last resort if your customers are stuck at 1 or 2 stars and you’ve exhausted all other efforts to make them happy. Being attentive to the diners can help cushion any mishaps caused by incompetent staff. These management actions also give you perk points to spend on rewards for your restaurant so you want to be schmoozing with your customers constantly.

If All Else Fails… Troubleshoot

The Sims 4 Dine Out: Tips to Make Managing a Restaurant… Barely Tolerable

A lot of the time, you will find that no matter what you do, you cannot make a customer happy because of glitches. Dine Out is plagued with glitches. It was so frustrating for me when all the diners in the restaurant would randomly reset themselves next to their tables, breaking the queue in the kitchen resulting in no food going out. I had no choice but to use mods and cheats to get them out of my restaurant before their star rating dropped to 1. I would also end up with full plates of food floating at a 45 degree angle in the air that no one could clean up. Or stacks of dishes on tables where diners were eating. No matter how many times waiters tried to clean them up, they’d glitch out and just put them on another table. Not to mention diners would get up from their seats to just wander around aimlessly with their food. I wanted to pull my hair out.

I highly recommend the MCCC mod by Deaderpool to help with this. You can turn on advanced cheats with this mod so you can shift-click stacks of dirty dishes and floating plates with testingcheats true on and destroy the object instantly. MCCC will also let you click on any Sim to force them to leave the lot. This can be very handy when it’s become clear that the kitchen has completely lost the customer’s order and they won’t be receiving their food at all. Instead of being stuck waiting for them to stomp out angrily and give your restaurant a 1 star review, you can usher them out with a 3 or 4 star rating instead which will avoid completely tanking your restaurant’s reputation.

Will all these tips make running a restaurant a dream come true? Honestly, probably not. But I did find that managing my restaurant was a little more tolerable when I was doing these things. I hope they’ll help you survive this messy game pack, too. Until The Sims finally does something about Dine Out, we’re unfortunately left to find workarounds on our own.

That said, this should be an urgent call to The Sims Team to focus on Dine Out again. We appreciate all you do, but please revisit Dine Out. It’s been broken for an unacceptably long time.

EA wants your feedback on The Sims 4 Scenarios

Jovan
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4
EA wants your feedback on The Sims 4 Scenarios

The FIRST version of scenarios, to be more precise!

EA has released a brand new official survey for The Sims 4 that’s all about Scenarios!

The Scenarios Feature, which launched in November last year has allowed for players to start a brand new game with different challenges and outcomes. It was stated in the beginning of the rollout that there are going to be more Scenarios and more features added eventually in the game.

Now, it’s time to let your voices be heard! In the first official Survey for The Sims 4 Scenarios, The Sims Team wants your feedback on the current features of this gameplay mode, including feedback on the 6 Scenarios that they’ve launched in the past 2 months.

This is only the first iteration of Scenarios in The Sims 4 – as clued in the URL of the Survey with Scenarios-V1-Survey tagline. If you want to see more complex challenges and outcomes of this feature now’s the time to have your voices be heard!

Down below are some of the questions you’ll see throughout the survey so you can help prepare yourselves with answers.

Survey Questions

  • How did you learn about Scenarios?
  • How satisfied are you with Scenarios?
  • What excited you most about Scenarios?
  • Thinking about what made you most excited about Scenarios, how well did Scenarios live up to your expectations?
  • Some Scenarios were only available for a limited time. Please rate your agreement with the following statement: Limited-time Scenarios were available for long enough for me to be able to play them.
  • What, if anything, would you like to see us improve about Scenarios?
  • Which Scenario(s) did you play?
    • How satisfied were you with these Scenarios?

Ready to take the Survey? Click the button below!

[mks_button size=”large” title=”TAKE THE SURVEY!” style=”squared” url=”https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/6601243/Scenarios-V1-Survey” target=”_blank” bg_color=”#1e73be” txt_color=”#FFFFFF” icon=”” icon_type=”” nofollow=”0″]

EA wants your feedback on The Sims 4 Scenarios

What are your thoughts on the current version of Scenarios and how did you vote in the Survey? Let us know in the comments below!

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