Survey at Official Site

[nikita]

I don't think it has anything to do with the TS1 eps sucking or not.  For me, at least, and for Maxis, I would hope, it's about exploring new possibilities and avenues with the game that were never available in TS1.    If their not allowing people who select the old TS1 games is any indication of their trying to weed out any TS1 bias when choosing what ep people want in the survey, then I'm all for that. 

I didn't like all of the ideas they put out but at least they were, for the most part, breakaways from any of the original TS1 eps.

[Simlover]

Well if people are lying about whether they had Sims 1 ep's then its not really an unbiased vote is it?

[Regina]

Even though I had all the TS1 expansions I still don't want re-makes of them (well, with the exception that Nightlife is very similar to Hot Date and I really, really wanted something like that, but that's about as far as that goes).

Even so, I would like the option of taking my sims on a vacation but as was mentioned that's practically doable right now.  The only thing that's missing is some kind of amusement park.  (Oh!  Just had a thought!  Maybe I'll turn Bluewater Village [or whatever it's called] into a Vacation spot! LOL

I'm just glad I read this thread first because I did get to fill out the survey and tell them exactly what I think about the OFB mascot costumes.  

Okay--here's my take on the feature-by-feature:

Create your own holiday--  
Frisbee-- Why?  So we can have yet another invisible object to find and unstick?
Weather & Seasons-- NO!  I love it that when I'm freezing in the winter I can turn on my game and have a bright, sunny day and it never looks HOT there when it's over 100F here!
Croquet-- Could be fun
Casinos-- Boring
Pool toys-- *yawns*  My sims don't get pools, either, usually.
Celebs-- Remember Drew Carey? *pukes*
Zoos, amusement parks-- Yes! I voted on this!
Concert lighting & stages--- And these would be for?
Health & Sickness-- No thank you.  I like healthy sims.
Natural disasters-- Again, no thanks.  My sims can create enough of their own disasters.
Prom parties-- What skandelouslala said
Skating,ect-- This could be okay
Cooking materials-- I'm thinking something similar to what was in MM here--sims actually had to buy the ingredients in order to cook certain foods.  Of course this involved a special oven, but it was a lot more interesting than grabbing ready-prep stuff out of the fridge.
Casino stuff--- See Casinos, above.
Apartments-- Um-hmm.  What skandelouslala said.
Gardening-- Emphatic YES! here, as long as it actually works!  I'd also like to see sims gain body skills and a bit of fun from gardening.
Snowball Fights & Fishing-- Fishing=good, snowball fights would have to be dependent on the weather and I don't want weather.
Create your own furnishings-- What skandelouslala said because I can't see how you could create something with a new mesh on a workbench.
Movie Theater-- Could be interesting.
Camping-- Oh yeah!
Sports-- I don't do sports--and neither do my sims.
Hotels-- This I could enjoy (don't shoot me but I actually liked Vacation).
Going shopping--  What skandelouslala said
Pets--  Ditto

[BlueSoup]

I managed to get the survey to come up and do it, but I totally forgot to mention the stupid costumes.

On the open questions:

I think The Sims 2 Open For Business could be improved by…
Beta-testing the game more.  Not pushing to meet the 6-month "deadline" so that more bugs can be found and fixed BEFORE the release. 

[J. M. Pescado]

Clearly, their lack of respect for the elderly is exactly why they continue to fall short. I am offended by this move and resolve not to purchase any more of their products.

[Simlover]

LOL

[miramis]

I think it's more likely that they were concerned about the younger simmers finding OFB so 'difficult', and want to be sure the next EP will be extra easy *cough*boring*cough* so they can win back their adoration.  That's my theory anyway.  What do you think?

[Dark Trepie]

Time for some Trepie-tastic opinions.

"Take your Sims on a trip back in time! Drop them in a fantasy neighborhood where they can live like royalty or enjoy the simple things in life. Build a masterful castle and enjoy enormous feasts with your Sims' new friends or work on a small farm and grow crops for the townspeople."

Wow.  Just think of all the new ways your sim can die by time traveling.  Being accused of being a witch.  Getting put in a guillotine.  Dieing of a super rare disease only members of the Royal family get because of generations of inbreeding.  Getting eaten by a velociraptor.  The possibilities are limitless!

"Take a break from your Sims' daily home routine and hit the outdoors for some fun! All-new seasons and weather provide your Sims with a variety of year-round activities including snowball fights, fishing, gardening, sand volleyball, and more. Build your Sims dream home to take advantage of each season from winter cottage to summer hideaway, just beware of unpredictable weather!"

Weather?  Its about damn time.

"Your Sims are celebrating the seasons the entire year! Plan parties for any time of year whether it's fall harvest, first winter snow day, summer picnic barbeque, or spring concert. Watch the neighborhood change as each weather system rolls in and use the all-new party planner to create a variety of celebrations for your Sims to mingle, mix, and party."

I guess they decided to throw in other useless parties because Sports Party was felling lonely.

"There's a new hospital in the neighborhood and your Sims are keeping the neighborhood happy and healthy. Choose a medical specialty including medicine, physical therapy, surgeon, or psychiatry and tend to other Sims who are ill. Heal the patients and determine how the relationships between the doctors, nurses, and patients unfold. The actions your Sims choose may affect the health and happiness of the whole neighborhood!"

I foresee skimpy nurse outfits.  Yes I do.

"Something has happened in the neighborhood and it's up to your Sims to solve the mystery! Socialize with other Sims all over the neighborhood to put the different pieces of the puzzle together. Will new clues lead your Sim to new rewards or dead-ends?"

A CSI style element.  That's interesting.  But I get the sinking feeling that it'll be something like "ZOMG where did Bella go?!?!?!!!!!1111one"

"Enjoy the best years of your Sims' youth! Dive into the world of your Sims' kids from birthdays, playground antics, and slumber parties to building tree-houses and forts, sports practice, and prom night. Forge special lifetime friendships with the new kids in the neighborhood."

New kids in the neighborhood?  You mean there's more townies to bloat my Characters folder?  Yay!

"Create the perfect pet for your Sims to train, play and love through life's great moments. Create and breed unique dogs and cats and give them personalities. Your Sims can also train their pets, teach them to do tricks, or get them a career in show business or security."

Kill me.  Now.

"Your Sims are castaways on a tropical island. Build a new home in the rainforest and work with other Sims to forage, farm, and fish. Design new furnishings for your Sims as you create their new life in paradise."

This sounds like that show Survivor.  I hate Survivor.



As for the rest of this crap...



Yearly calendar - You can mark the day your sim was born and when they died all in the same year!

Create your own holiday - St. Trepie day.  What celebrations will take place on this day is yet to be determined though.

Frisbee - Something to go along with the stuck invisible kicky bag.  But if the sim can miss and gets hit in the head that would be funny.

Weather & Seasons - THUNDER and LIGHTNING!!!

Croquet - Something to go along with the stuck invisible kicky bag and frisbee.

Casinos - More stupidly easy ways to make money.  Awesome.

Pool toys - Got to have something to do when your ladder gets deleted.

Celebs - OMG can I have your autograph?!?!

Zoos, amusement parks - Translation:  More poorly planned community lots.

Concert lighting & stages - Do I get to make a band and have groopies?

Health & Sickness - Don't these wussy sims get sick enough as it is?

Natural disasters - Now we're talking!

Prom parties - I never went to my prom...   

Skating,ect - Do they get to fall off the skate board and bust their nads on the stair railing?

Cooking materials - = More ways to start fires.

Casino stuff - One of these days Motherlode is going to become completely useless.

Apartments - Old sqeaky beds + Woohoo = Your neighbors beating on the walls.

Gardening - This I like.

Snowball Fights & Fishing - If your body skill isn't high enough you get pulled into the water and DROWN.

Create your own furnishings - Because Lord know everyone can make them look better than Maxis can.

Movie Theater - See Penny Arcade.

Camping - The few times I did this in real life I hated it.

Sports - Depends.  Will it be like Hockey where lots of fights break out?

Hotels - Meh.  Better alternative to camping.

Going shopping - Way to add something NEW to the game.

Pets - I mean it.  Kill me.  Please.



And that's all I have to say about that.

[vilia]

Well, I can see you're a glass half full kinda guy 

I'm not getting too worried or 'excited' over the survey. I'll wait until more solid info on the next EP will come out. 

Seriously, they are probably half way or more through EP 4 already so any ideas are unlikely to be implemented until EP 5

[starrling]

Seriously, they are probably half way or more through EP 4 already so any ideas are unlikely to be implemented until EP 5

Yes! This is what bugs me about this survey.  I know they started the next EP weeks (months, even) before OFB was finished.  That's how it's done.  It always bugged me (at my old job) when I was still rushing to test the latest version of our software (pre-release... unlike TS2) and the techs were already bugging me to test the NEXT one!  Ugh. 

So, we'll get what they give us, right?  ...or not   

[RainbowTigress]

The hospital thing sounds like ER: The Game.  Which I already own.  Which I haven't played in a while because I kept thinking about Sims.    It's a great game, I just didn't like the navigation.  I think I was used to how it is in TS2.  I played Theme Hospital a long time ago, and I loved it.  But I had to quit playing it because of a serious bug.  It was an older-style game.  I don't know how the hospital would be implemented in the Sims, but I don't have much faith in Maxis because I've seen the way they implement things in the past.  This sounds fine as a separate game, but I don't think it would fit in well with the current game.  It depends on how it is implemented.  I know one thing for sure:  There will be bugs.  You can bet on that.

[momtogirls]

Enjoy the best years of your Sims' youth! Dive into the world of your Sims' kids from birthdays, playground antics, and slumber parties to building tree-houses and forts, sports practice, and prom night. Forge special lifetime friendships with the new kids in the neighborhood.

maybe the current townies will have life cycles?  that would be kind of nice.

[shezoe]

I really hope pets is next, though, so all the whining and demands will stop.

I agree 100%! Its not that i'm against the pets idea, it may even be interesting, but now every 5 seconds there is a thread that says MAXIS PLZ PUT PATS IN TEH GME1!1!!! I RILLY WANT P3TS IN TEH GMA!!!!11!1!1!1!!

ROFL! looks like how i type when i'm trying to eat or something while i'm typing-lolol!

[TaWanda]

I'm glad they're booting people off who click on the TS1 eps.  Hopefully that indicates that they are trying not to repeat ep ideas.  I see too many "bring back Superstar" or "Unleashed 2" ideas floating around.

More likely they think the loyal users are already hooked and will probably buy whatever crap they throw out anyway. It seems to have worked so far, look at FFS.  Now they are more interested in luring newer customers into buying expansions and want to know what it will take to get the most people to part with their money.
 I find it insulting (but not at all surprising) that they apparently don't give a crap about the opinions of long time customers.

[BlueSoup]

One of the questions was asking about buying EP's (specifically OFB) and why we purchased it.  One of the options was "I purchase all EP's" 

[Ancient Sim]

Stupid thing is full and I would really have liked to answer that.  I just KNOW it's going to be pets and I just don't want them.  I am so bored with OFB I haven't played more than a few hours in the last week.  I would have gone for the mystery one and the hospital one (been asking for something medical on every forum I've been to for ages!).  The going back in time one might be OK, but otherwise they all sound totally uninspiring and thoroughly uninteresting.

[Paperbladder]

So, they're just not revealing it right away are they?  Too busy making SP1 I suppose.

Take your Sims on a trip back in time! Drop them in a fantasy neighborhood where they can live like royalty or enjoy the simple things in life. Build a masterful castle and enjoy enormous feasts with your Sims’ new friends or work on a small farm and grow crops for the townspeople.

This is the best idea in my opinion.  They could do quite a bit with this, but I doubt this will be the next one and will be more closer to the end and fused with a Magic Expansion.  It sounds like you'll need OFB to enjoy this one though.

Take a break from your Sims’ daily home routine and hit the outdoors for some fun! All-new seasons and weather provide your Sims with a variety of year-round activities including snowball fights, fishing, gardening, sand volleyball, and more. Build your Sims dream home to take advantage of each season from winter cottage to summer hideaway, just beware of unpredictable weather!

Vacation anyone?  I thought it was better than Unleashed though.  Anyway, I know we complain about not having weather but after seeing Simslice's Weather Machine...  We're not missing much.

Your Sims are celebrating the seasons the entire year! Plan parties for any time of year whether it’s fall harvest, first winter snow day, summer picnic barbeque, or spring concert. Watch the neighborhood change as each weather system rolls in and use the all-new party planner to create a variety of celebrations for your Sims to mingle, mix, and party.

Isn't this just a different version of the previous idea?

There’s a new hospital in the neighborhood and your Sims are keeping the neighborhood happy and healthy. Choose a medical specialty including medicine, physical therapy, surgeon, or psychiatry and tend to other Sims who are ill. Heal the patients and determine how the relationships between the doctors, nurses, and patients unfold. The actions your Sims choose may affect the health and happiness of the whole neighborhood!

This idea sounds like an expansion of OFB, and would probably require it if you were to actually sell your services to citizens.  I did like Theme Hospital, but I'm guessing that this'll be nothing like it.

Something has happened in the neighborhood and it's up to your Sims to solve the mystery! Socialize with other Sims all over the neighborhood to put the different pieces of the puzzle together. Will new clues lead your Sim to new rewards or dead-ends?

All that's missing here is "Scenario Creator."  If that was there, then this might be worth getting.

Enjoy the best years of your Sims’ youth! Dive into the world of your Sims’ kids from birthdays, playground antics, and slumber parties to building tree-houses and forts, sports practice, and prom night. Forge special lifetime friendships with the new kids in the neighborhood.

Why did people have to buy the FFP?  Now they're going to give us more crap for a lifestage that only lasts 8 days.  Seriously, are they expecting us to play the game with aging on?

Create the perfect pet for your Sims to train, play and love through life’s great moments. Create and breed unique dogs and cats and give them personalities. Your Sims can also train their pets, teach them to do tricks, or get them a career in show business or security.

This sounds almost like Unleashed except for the fact that there's nothing else than pets in it.  The only reason I installed Unleashed was the addition of 30 lots, otherwise I was just kind of "Meh." about it.  I'll just fire up Azureus when this comes out.

Your Sims are castaways on a tropical island. Build a new home in the rainforest and work with other Sims to forage, farm, and fish. Design new furnishings for your Sims as you create their new life in paradise.

I want my sims to live life pillaging trade ships, not stranded on a desert island.  This might go with the first idea, but meh.  The only thing this has going for it is the design new furnishings part.  Are they going to give us an automated tool are do we still have to use SimPE?

As for the other ideas...
Yearly calendar
I guess, but the sync would be off.  Sims only live 1/3 of a year without the elixer though, so that has to be taken into account.
Create your own holiday
Again, Sync issues.  Maybe with a "Scenario Creator."
Frisbee
Shouldn't this have been added in University?      
Weather and Seasons
They're not all that they are cut out to be.  I've tried the thing that Homeslice made.
Croquet
Sounds like more of an object to put in an expansion than a separate idea.
Casinos
We might already be able to make this with OFB.
Pool toys
How'd this get in here?      
Celebrities
Uh, Superstar?  People hated that.
Water parks, zoos, amusement parks
I'll just play RCT3, thanks.  Speaking of which, I never played that game more than an hour.   
Concert lighting and stages
Let's see, how about a better default lighting system first?  I'm using a hack right now.
Health and sickness – doctors and nurses making house calls
I really don't see how Maxis can make something good out of this.
Natural Disasters
I'd rather play Simcity 4.  Seriously, I don't feel like rebuilding everyone's house.
Prom parties
Can't we already do this?      
Skating, snowboarding, skiing
As long as they're integrated in the game, and not like Vacation objects.
Cooking materials, food items
I guess, this is the only thing that TS2 PC doesn't have that is in a console version.
Slot Machines, Roulette, Craps tables
This goes with Casinos.
Apartments
Just update the CAS, and you won't have to do that.  What about Myne doors from Uni?
Gardening, growing food
Possibly the only good thing from Unleashed that didn't add lots to your game.
Snowball fight
Vacation?
Fishing
Maybe if they fleshed it out, but meh.
Furniture workbench (create your own furnishings)
OFB?  Seriously, they're not going to include a meshing tool with TS2 so what's the point?
Movie Theatre
It's possible with what we have in the game already or with downloads.
Camping
Vacation?
Sports and other active events
Uh, no.  There's an entire branch of EA dedicated to this.
Hotels
Why didn't we get this in OFB
Going shopping
The Base game added this.  OFB allowed you to own a store.  How could you expand this any more?
Pets
The only bad feature of Unleashed is that it had pets.

I'd personally wish they'd move on to TS3, but that won't happen for a long time.  Then again, Spore's coming out soon and could be considered TS3.

[nikita]

I think by yearly calendar they just mean cyclical time.  I wouldn't take it too literally, they obviously can't go by our concept of years because they don't mean that long.  They're probabyl are just talking about implementing time in a cycle, which would incorporate seasons and holidays nicely.

I think it'd be a nice idea.  I was actually a fan of most the ideas on the survey, save for vacation and time travel. 

[J. M. Pescado]

What would be nice is the ability to blot out the sun and plunge the neighborhood into eternal darkness.

[Paperbladder]

What would be nice is the ability to blot out the sun and plunge the neighborhood into eternal darkness.

You mean, it's not possible to make a hack for that?

[Metalkatt]

Hmm, you might be onto something there, Mr. Paper...  pillaging trade ships... I could finally have my Jack and Will, and make them kiss.   

[RainbowTigress]

Well, if one day of a sim's life is roughly a year, then you could start your day celebrating New Years, have the fourth of July at lunch, Halloween and Thanksgiving at supper, then celebrate Christmas before going to bed. 

[kasumiarmstrong]

I see so much potential in all of these options, but I'm sure whatever they implement is going to fall really short of our expectations. 

[MutantBunny]

and then the patch they send out to fix it won't work either.

[mistymage]

I kinda wish they would do a Sims 1/Animal Crossing thing:

In Sims1 with the magic pack one of the things to do was get items from random sims in order to receive an ingredient for potions.. in animal crossing you do chores for your neighbors and get back furniture, wallpaper, a carpet, a shirt or money.

I would love it if EA designed some _really_ nice sets (furniture, walls, carpet and clothes) that you could only get by 1) dating 2) job reward 3) trading and 4) business promo give-away.

I get bored with the game because there are too few actual goals.. basically getting enough money, going to college and filling skill bars..  easily accomplished by a second gen sim.  I don't really count woohoo or dates.. those are just bonuses 


This would also give me incentive to actually interact with the NPCs beyond killing them