10 Things about The Sims 4...

So finally this game comes out! It seemed a lifetime away when it was first announced but it's already been over a week since The Sims 4 was released. I had HUGE expectations for the game. Let's see if it lives up to those expectations. Here are 10 most interesting, funny or just plain weird points about The Sims 4.

1. The Sims themselves...

Sims in Sims 4 are more dynamic, extra funny and definitely more fun to play with. The game's main focus is the Sims. There are more social interactions than ever! I can see that the developers paid most attention to sim detail and to the amazing animations. The sim's actions seem so fluid and life-like. Sims will still, however, be sims. They still don't think to remove a dirty dish blocking the refrigerator nor do they think to get out of the way of a fire!

2. The MULITASKING!

This has got to be the most amazing feature ever added to the Sims series! It's so useful,  allowing you to satisfy a lot of your sim's needs all at once. Eg. Having breakfast while watching TV and blowing your wife a kiss. It's possible! Sure the other Sims series attempted it, i.e. you could talk while eating in Sims 3 but there are so many more actions that can be performed now. Your sim can now cook or paint while talking to another sim and listening to music!

The Sims 4 Create-A-Sim Demo Review

Let me start this off by acknowledging that I'm one of the privileged few who got the demo early and I feel really grateful to have received it. Many are upset because they didn't and I'm very sorry for that. A few more weeks and you too will join in the CAS fun.

This is a post stating my views on The Sims 4 CAS demo. This is by no means an overview of the content. For that there are heaps of youtube channels and websites for you to check out. I give the best and the worst of the demo. Hope you enjoy!

my finished product, Rocco Da Vinci (twitter avatar)

The Best...

•  The first thing I noticed was the speed and smooth running of the demo. On opening the game this was immediately evident. The game runs exceptionally well on my old machine. This is such a relief and such a huge contrast to the super slow Sims 3 CAS. I do, however, realise that the base game and subsequent expansions will have tons more content and it may slow it down but I don't think by very much.

World of Wonder Review!

Another month, another Sims 3 store set. This one slightly under the radar due to the buzz being directed at the Sims 4 E3 appearance around the same time as release of this set. This is the 2014 June store release and is a venue in the carnival/circus/fun fair theme which is not a new idea in the series.

 

Note: I have decided to exclude price/simpoints as a factor in my reviews. I will mention it (sometimes) but it will no longer affect rating and review of the content. There's just no winning with the cost of store content for the remainder of Sims 3 and going into Sims 4 it will always be overpriced.

Here are some points to note about the venue.... 

•  The whole venue itself. The size. The layout. The detail. Perfection. The lot loaded very quickly despite the size and the amount of objects on it. It kind of reminded me of something out of Sims: Makin' Magic because of the simplicity and excited feeling I got just from looking at it. 

Store Review in 5: Deliciously Indulgent Bakery

A bakery. It has got to be the most requested store item ever. Simmers (including me) have been BEGGING for this since, practically, the beginning of the Sims 3 series. And as the release of Sims 4 gets closer, we FINALLY get the Deliciously Indulgent Bakery which includes the Baker's Station AND the Baker's Bazaar Collection so your sims can sell the goods they make. I was super excited for this store content and really hoped it would not disappoint! Here's a quick review, in 5 points, on my thoughts about the venue, content and amazing desserts!

Q&A REVIEW: Bohemian Garden

 The Bohemian Garden set was released as the monthly store release for March. It contains premium content in the form of eight new harvestables. That's right, EIGHT NEW HARVESTABLES! You can tell that I was pretty excited for this set because technically it's eight new premium content items and I loved the initial look and theme. This review will answer those questions you may have about this new spring-time themed set.

Is that a hanging chair I see? 

In essence, yes it is a hanging chair. One of the main features from this set is the Wonderfully Woven Hanging Chair. It's not new premium content because it has no new features and sims use it as a regular chair. In fact it doesn't even seem to be affected by the forces of gravity or the wind. It remains stationery even when sims sit on it. That means no swinging which is a little disappointing. What makes up for that disappointing fact is that it can be put anywhere and IT LOOKS FREAKIN' AWESOME! I can safely say this is the best chair in the game if there had to be a countdown of best chairs (not that anyone will ever do that, I hope...).

Q&A review: The Prism Art Studio

The Prism Art Studio was released as store content for February as part of the monthly trend of store releases. It is a venue for 1900 simpoints and comes with new premium content and a new skill. Is it worth the price of 1900 simpoints? What can I do with it? Is it simply just a modified art gallery? This review will hopefully answer all these burning questions and more.

For aesthetics this is definitely one of the top venues. 

What exactly is the Prism Art Studio? 

Basically it's exactly as the title says, an art studio. It has everything you would expect in an art studio such as easels, an art display area and it contains the new premium content: The Artisan's Glass Blowing and Jewelry Making Station. It also contains stained glass windows which kind of made simmers think this would be a church or something. I love the look of this venue. The Business As Usual Bistro and the Skylight Dance Studio are the best looking venues, in my opinion, but this comes very close! It fits perfectly in any setting and I loved how it showed off the objects (stained glass windows and L-Shaped stairs). It's a large lot (40X40) and it is packed with objects and beautiful architecture. I really like how the store team designed this one. I hardly changed anything except add the sculpting station from Ambitions to really make it very arty.

Homecoming Set Review

The Sims 3 expansions have long since stopped but the store must go on. The first set of 2014 and it's a strictly CAS set in the theme of the American tradition of Homecoming. Homecoming started as a celebration to welcome back the alumni of a school. This usually includes a game of football and a banquet. This set includes attire for both: 

(all the outfits for teens are also all available for young adults and adults) 

Bring on the Bling Dress.

Gorgeously Gathered Dress