I've been watching several videos about this pack. I think this video has helped me confirm that I do not want to pay for this pack. I am still such a fan of the "Refresh" aspect of already purchased features/packs. They did it only once and never tried again. This pack could have easily been a "Refresh" scenario, where you add on to already existing features. I hate that we are now 10 years into the lifetime of this game and still things cost $40 for "quirky features", a few build/buy objects and that's it. This model sucks.
I'm glad they left in the base game dates (and changed it so Wedding Stories doesn't take away base game weddings). The flowers and champagne bucket are interesting and potentially useful reward items, though I'm glad we won't have to be inundated with those rewards any time we want to do a romantic aspiration (the new dates work for those right?). I don't need 10 champagne buckets, especially since they are worth like 300 simoleons a pop so you end up with a bizarre amount of money if you sell them
Cepzid has a cool mod that makes them functional and you can buy drinks from them. One of my fav mini mods since it was kind of a useless reward. Now my Sims can actually crack open some “juice” from it and get “dazed”.
@@TheDawnofVanlife Do they have that for the toast bucket from my wedding stories? Bc manned was I annoyed you can't even pull drinks from it let alone pop open the bottle ala Sims 2
@@merchantfan No sure, lol. I don't own MWS (now that base game weddings are possible even with MWS, I might get it just for Tartosa). Why does EA make objects that obviously should be functional decorative? Like the dumbbell rack in Lovestruck... you are gonna give us "gym dates" but we can't even curl a set of dumbells with our date? (Cepzid also made the dumbbell rack functional btw).
@@TheDawnofVanlife Technically it has a function, you can do toasts from it but that's it. I was also annoyed that they didn't include dumbells as a feature. There's already a modder who had a couple of those- couldn't they just pay the modder for their base code and polish it up even? It's clearly doable.
I still don't really understand how they can justify the price of an Expansion Pack for this... it's not changing the gameplay very much and yes, the CAS and build buy items are nice, but forty pounds?! For those and an app?! The new date system should have been added to base game in a refresh and I'm just so shocked that this was an Expansion.
i’m so annoyed by my sim finding everyone attractive or unattractive. like girl- you’re at a duel with simeon, get back to work tf? i think ui cheats has a turn off attraction for everyone but romantic partner option though :3
I think Sims 4 deffo falls in a special case category when compared to Sims 1-3 as at this point it has converted to an all-digital game AND its 10 years old. It also seems like EA wants to make it evergreen and ongoing for as long as they can and because of that I think all "systems" should be released from their paywall pack chains AND that the old DLC model just doesn't work anymore. Several systems need to be placed into base game. Not only turn ons/offs, but milestones, character values, and lifestyles (to name a few). Specific pack things that impact those systems can be locked behind the paywall (like certain types of turn ons/offs could just be Lovestruck), but the system itself being base game means every pack can use and contribute to said system instead of being forgotten (like lifestyles, think about how lifestyles COULD have been expanded upon since Snowy Escape, instead they're basically a barely used feature). The calendar is a good example where this benefited the game, the calendar being base game and NOT locked to seasons means any pack can use and interact with the calendar to expand it. It didn't take away from owning seasons, it added to the overall game experience for all and the creation of future packs. Making turn ons/offs as a system base game means it is an evergreen system that can be built upon by ANY packs and pack features moving into the future. I also think EPs and Kits just shouldn't exist anymore. It should either be a game pack or a stuff pack, with game packs having the option of "worlds" (tho honestly for the purpose of gameplay, I already feel overloaded on worlds and I don't even own every pack. Honestly just want some more official tools for world editing when I want to change my worlds, especially editing editing off lot objects - I know TOOL exist, but I would love to do it "officially"). With world edit tools, you can make the world whatever you want. You don't have to wait on EA to shape your representation.
YESSSS!!! I checked all day yesterday for this video because you said it would be posted Saturday. This is what I wanted to know before deciding if I wanted the pack or not. Thank you!!!
Thank you for the video and comparison. I would really like to see you talk about Lovestruck and High School Years or just Lovestruck and teens in general. I'm curious how it works for teens (I know they can't use Cupid's Corner but I'd guess they could use the new dating system?)
ngl i haven’t played with teens at all test but i assume cupids corner is the only thing that isn’t available along with maybe the counselling? but don’t quote me on the second one, it’s just a logical guess. they can do everything available on these dates so assume it’s all the same apart from woohoo being called mess around
unfortunately they can’t bc it’s not an actual location in the game. you could go to an empty lot nearby and then just send the group over there though
Thank you for testing all the dating systems and seeing how they compare across all packs. I am not buying this pack because of the lack of new gameplay. Adding new systems is nice but my sims need more to do than just collecting axolotls and playing a card game when they are not dating, which is most of the time. Also where is the heart shaped hot tub, pool tables, the pack integration with bowling, Carnival or any other festivals, and a kitchen set? This pack just feels like it had a rushed turn around.
Today, you have just demonstrated why I haven’t bought the pack. And I did fill up the survey and tell that right to EA directly. Why would I pay for something I already have? I don’t feel like it’s really changing anything deeply, the world is empty with nothing to do and no new lot type, compatibility with other packs is greatly lacking hence your demonstration with dine out (and you could have talked about many other pack that would have been awesome to set dates in like bowling or movie night), there is no expansion with this pack only little changes to base game. And the worse of it all is that with mods, you can have better than lovestruck, way more in depth gameplay without having to pay the high amount of money EA is asking for this pack. 🤷🏻♀️ When it will be 50% off, maybe I’ll buy it. 🤷🏻♀️ Absolutely not worth the 55 Canadian dollars I would have to spend to get it. 🤷🏻♀️
I found the new dates a bit repetitive in the tasks you need to do. I hate the options to talk about this or that as an objective. It felt way too micromanaging, and I was stressing to complete all tasks to get gold, like dance, talk about dancing, then dance again. I didn't have space to do anything else. And you always have to extend if you want to complete enough objectives to get gold..
20:39 This point doesn’t make sense to me. It’s great that you were already doing that in your game, but it’s better that those are now recognized as date activities… no? It can actually count toward completing the date objectives as opposed to you just pretending you’re on a date. This is exactly the kind of things Simmers complain about - having to *pretend* gameplay instead of just using gameplay features. So how is it a bad thing or a even just a moot point to actually have that feature?
i don’t think it’s a bad thing that they’re now adding to the date quests i just think when it’s something we’ve been able to do for 10 years it shouldn’t be a paid for thing when it’s just repackaged. i had the same point for mws and dream home decorator
I've just bought a PC and because you cannot transfer packs across from console im going through the process of deciding which expansion packs are worth it to rebuy and stopping buying more content on console. This pack isn't worth it, at least not at full price.
I like the lovestruck system better. The pack integration argument....it feels like you need the game to say 'do this ' but also i understand the disappointment of the lack of integration but not really with dates. I don't think it's just because 4 is 10 years old that we have this argument. I've had people tekl me because this is sims 4, because the franchise is 24 years old, that everything should be BG or free updates. They definitely struggle with... being broader. yes Lovestruck is about dating and romantic relationship. Very specific but players are saying XYZ could have been added and it's related to dating or romance in general. This could akso be because it's 3 gurus vs millions of players. Well with some packs like Lovestruck, while some packs, i think they forget about kids and teens. Everyone is going to have a different opinion. It just sux that people argue 'im right, everyone needs to sgree with me or you're a newbie, suckers etc'. That I've seen people ssy they don't dare talk about being interested in a pack.
I think it’s more the lack execution of mechanics that come with said content. This has had happened with other packs where they implement some good mechanics but the execution is half assed. I’ve noticed this in wedding stories, high-school years, island living and I’m sure there’s others I’m leaving out.
i don't like the "this should have been in base game" logic. You could make a good argument that all the packs should have been base game. I get where people are coming from though.
tbf i rarely give opinion on whether or not it should’ve been bc it is all personal perspective. however the new dates just feels weird when dates have been lacking for let’s say 8+ years. they’ve felt stale, restrictive and not all that exciting and considering the “new” date system doesn’t even add new activities and only really differences in how you approach dates, i do feel it should’ve been an update, a refresh if you will. i personally just don’t think it’s fair to give a new wrapping and some slight improvements to how you can ask out dates and then paywall it. blind dates and dating app could’ve stayed in the pack as but the system i think should’ve been an update
Right, I've actually had people tell me this is the Sims 4, logically everything we've gotten should be BG to force new things. Well imo 'new things' is a debate. I do feel like the new system is new but players say they forgot pack integration here. I haven't seen anyone say how. One thing being obviously go bowling ( bowling SP) dance ( get together) perhaps skiing and snowboarding ( Snowy Escape) but also I feel like this says you need the game to tell you what to do. So....I think I partially agree with other players but again it feels like wanting the game to tell you what to do. But I still like the new dating system.
I say something should have been Base Game when it’s more of a quality of life update rather than new content. There’s no real reason why planning a date isn’t Base Game when we have calendars now. Star/cloud gazing being a romantic interaction is a quality of life update, not entirely new gameplay. Cupid’s corner being paid content makes sense. The different dates being paid content makes sense. The ability to extend a date to take a date back to your house? Sounds more like quality of life than actual new gameplay to me.
I don't think the pack should be basegame, I think the SYSTEMS should. And only because I think it benefits future pack creation. Like a really bad example, the new eyelashes. The system is basegame for all packs to use in the future, but there are two specific eyelashes that are a part of lovestruck. I think the turn ons/offs system could have been basegame with limitations to basegame, but you get access to special turn ons/offs with Lovestruck. My biggest problem with several game systems is because they are pack locked they never get to be expanded upon in future packs. Like I have a modded "farmer aspiration" because it actually makes you use more than cottage living to complete it and incorporates farming features from several packs and base game. I don't buy packs to play "a pack" I buy them to add more features to the sim world at large and some of those features feel disjointed after so many packs and systems locked forever by when the pack was published. I also have a mod that expands the EA lot traits so they are not limited to either being base game or their pack associations, but use both. And if you don't have that pack, it just isn't impacted by that pack. A single coder did this!! If EA wants Sims 4 to go on for years and years, packs (of all sizes) should expand the game in some way and not be these isolated hype experiences that everyone obsesses over at pack release and forgets about a week later when we are talking about the new/next pack.
I've been watching several videos about this pack. I think this video has helped me confirm that I do not want to pay for this pack. I am still such a fan of the "Refresh" aspect of already purchased features/packs. They did it only once and never tried again. This pack could have easily been a "Refresh" scenario, where you add on to already existing features.
I hate that we are now 10 years into the lifetime of this game and still things cost $40 for "quirky features", a few build/buy objects and that's it. This model sucks.
Yeah I went from on the fence to pulled totally off and not interested.
I'm glad they left in the base game dates (and changed it so Wedding Stories doesn't take away base game weddings). The flowers and champagne bucket are interesting and potentially useful reward items, though I'm glad we won't have to be inundated with those rewards any time we want to do a romantic aspiration (the new dates work for those right?). I don't need 10 champagne buckets, especially since they are worth like 300 simoleons a pop so you end up with a bizarre amount of money if you sell them
Cepzid has a cool mod that makes them functional and you can buy drinks from them. One of my fav mini mods since it was kind of a useless reward. Now my Sims can actually crack open some “juice” from it and get “dazed”.
@@TheDawnofVanlife Do they have that for the toast bucket from my wedding stories? Bc manned was I annoyed you can't even pull drinks from it let alone pop open the bottle ala Sims 2
@@merchantfan No sure, lol. I don't own MWS (now that base game weddings are possible even with MWS, I might get it just for Tartosa). Why does EA make objects that obviously should be functional decorative? Like the dumbbell rack in Lovestruck... you are gonna give us "gym dates" but we can't even curl a set of dumbells with our date? (Cepzid also made the dumbbell rack functional btw).
@@TheDawnofVanlife Technically it has a function, you can do toasts from it but that's it. I was also annoyed that they didn't include dumbells as a feature. There's already a modder who had a couple of those- couldn't they just pay the modder for their base code and polish it up even? It's clearly doable.
@@merchantfan Gotcha!
I still don't really understand how they can justify the price of an Expansion Pack for this... it's not changing the gameplay very much and yes, the CAS and build buy items are nice, but forty pounds?! For those and an app?! The new date system should have been added to base game in a refresh and I'm just so shocked that this was an Expansion.
i’m so annoyed by my sim finding everyone attractive or unattractive. like girl- you’re at a duel with simeon, get back to work tf? i think ui cheats has a turn off attraction for everyone but romantic partner option though :3
I think Sims 4 deffo falls in a special case category when compared to Sims 1-3 as at this point it has converted to an all-digital game AND its 10 years old. It also seems like EA wants to make it evergreen and ongoing for as long as they can and because of that I think all "systems" should be released from their paywall pack chains AND that the old DLC model just doesn't work anymore. Several systems need to be placed into base game. Not only turn ons/offs, but milestones, character values, and lifestyles (to name a few). Specific pack things that impact those systems can be locked behind the paywall (like certain types of turn ons/offs could just be Lovestruck), but the system itself being base game means every pack can use and contribute to said system instead of being forgotten (like lifestyles, think about how lifestyles COULD have been expanded upon since Snowy Escape, instead they're basically a barely used feature). The calendar is a good example where this benefited the game, the calendar being base game and NOT locked to seasons means any pack can use and interact with the calendar to expand it. It didn't take away from owning seasons, it added to the overall game experience for all and the creation of future packs. Making turn ons/offs as a system base game means it is an evergreen system that can be built upon by ANY packs and pack features moving into the future.
I also think EPs and Kits just shouldn't exist anymore. It should either be a game pack or a stuff pack, with game packs having the option of "worlds" (tho honestly for the purpose of gameplay, I already feel overloaded on worlds and I don't even own every pack. Honestly just want some more official tools for world editing when I want to change my worlds, especially editing editing off lot objects - I know TOOL exist, but I would love to do it "officially"). With world edit tools, you can make the world whatever you want. You don't have to wait on EA to shape your representation.
YESSSS!!! I checked all day yesterday for this video because you said it would be posted Saturday. This is what I wanted to know before deciding if I wanted the pack or not. Thank you!!!
Thank you for the video and comparison. I would really like to see you talk about Lovestruck and High School Years or just Lovestruck and teens in general. I'm curious how it works for teens (I know they can't use Cupid's Corner but I'd guess they could use the new dating system?)
I concur I would love some test with teen sims.
ngl i haven’t played with teens at all test but i assume cupids corner is the only thing that isn’t available along with maybe the counselling? but don’t quote me on the second one, it’s just a logical guess. they can do everything available on these dates so assume it’s all the same apart from woohoo being called mess around
@@EnglishSimmer Thank you. Wouldn't it be awesome if a teen could plan a date at the pier - but probably not...
unfortunately they can’t bc it’s not an actual location in the game. you could go to an empty lot nearby and then just send the group over there though
Thank you for testing all the dating systems and seeing how they compare across all packs. I am not buying this pack because of the lack of new gameplay. Adding new systems is nice but my sims need more to do than just collecting axolotls and playing a card game when they are not dating, which is most of the time. Also where is the heart shaped hot tub, pool tables, the pack integration with bowling, Carnival or any other festivals, and a kitchen set? This pack just feels like it had a rushed turn around.
This is really interesting comparison!
Today, you have just demonstrated why I haven’t bought the pack. And I did fill up the survey and tell that right to EA directly.
Why would I pay for something I already have? I don’t feel like it’s really changing anything deeply, the world is empty with nothing to do and no new lot type, compatibility with other packs is greatly lacking hence your demonstration with dine out (and you could have talked about many other pack that would have been awesome to set dates in like bowling or movie night), there is no expansion with this pack only little changes to base game.
And the worse of it all is that with mods, you can have better than lovestruck, way more in depth gameplay without having to pay the high amount of money EA is asking for this pack. 🤷🏻♀️ When it will be 50% off, maybe I’ll buy it. 🤷🏻♀️ Absolutely not worth the 55 Canadian dollars I would have to spend to get it. 🤷🏻♀️
I found the new dates a bit repetitive in the tasks you need to do. I hate the options to talk about this or that as an objective. It felt way too micromanaging, and I was stressing to complete all tasks to get gold, like dance, talk about dancing, then dance again. I didn't have space to do anything else. And you always have to extend if you want to complete enough objectives to get gold..
20:39 This point doesn’t make sense to me. It’s great that you were already doing that in your game, but it’s better that those are now recognized as date activities… no? It can actually count toward completing the date objectives as opposed to you just pretending you’re on a date.
This is exactly the kind of things Simmers complain about - having to *pretend* gameplay instead of just using gameplay features. So how is it a bad thing or a even just a moot point to actually have that feature?
i don’t think it’s a bad thing that they’re now adding to the date quests i just think when it’s something we’ve been able to do for 10 years it shouldn’t be a paid for thing when it’s just repackaged. i had the same point for mws and dream home decorator
@@EnglishSimmerI guess I misunderstood. That does make sense to me too
I've just bought a PC and because you cannot transfer packs across from console im going through the process of deciding which expansion packs are worth it to rebuy and stopping buying more content on console. This pack isn't worth it, at least not at full price.
I like the lovestruck system better. The pack integration argument....it feels like you need the game to say 'do this ' but also i understand the disappointment of the lack of integration but not really with dates. I don't think it's just because 4 is 10 years old that we have this argument. I've had people tekl me because this is sims 4, because the franchise is 24 years old, that everything should be BG or free updates. They definitely struggle with... being broader. yes Lovestruck is about dating and romantic relationship. Very specific but players are saying XYZ could have been added and it's related to dating or romance in general. This could akso be because it's 3 gurus vs millions of players. Well with some packs like Lovestruck, while some packs, i think they forget about kids and teens.
Everyone is going to have a different opinion. It just sux that people argue 'im right, everyone needs to sgree with me or you're a newbie, suckers etc'. That I've seen people ssy they don't dare talk about being interested in a pack.
I think it’s more the lack execution of mechanics that come with said content. This has had happened with other packs where they implement some good mechanics but the execution is half assed. I’ve noticed this in wedding stories, high-school years, island living and I’m sure there’s others I’m leaving out.
i don't like the "this should have been in base game" logic. You could make a good argument that all the packs should have been base game. I get where people are coming from though.
tbf i rarely give opinion on whether or not it should’ve been bc it is all personal perspective. however the new dates just feels weird when dates have been lacking for let’s say 8+ years. they’ve felt stale, restrictive and not all that exciting and considering the “new” date system doesn’t even add new activities and only really differences in how you approach dates, i do feel it should’ve been an update, a refresh if you will. i personally just don’t think it’s fair to give a new wrapping and some slight improvements to how you can ask out dates and then paywall it. blind dates and dating app could’ve stayed in the pack as but the system i think should’ve been an update
@@EnglishSimmer Fair. No direct criticism towards you, Just the logic that a lot of people use. Apologies if it sounded like I was being rude.
Right, I've actually had people tell me this is the Sims 4, logically everything we've gotten should be BG to force new things. Well imo 'new things' is a debate. I do feel like the new system is new but players say they forgot pack integration here. I haven't seen anyone say how. One thing being obviously go bowling ( bowling SP) dance ( get together) perhaps skiing and snowboarding ( Snowy Escape) but also I feel like this says you need the game to tell you what to do. So....I think I partially agree with other players but again it feels like wanting the game to tell you what to do. But I still like the new dating system.
I say something should have been Base Game when it’s more of a quality of life update rather than new content. There’s no real reason why planning a date isn’t Base Game when we have calendars now. Star/cloud gazing being a romantic interaction is a quality of life update, not entirely new gameplay. Cupid’s corner being paid content makes sense. The different dates being paid content makes sense. The ability to extend a date to take a date back to your house? Sounds more like quality of life than actual new gameplay to me.
I don't think the pack should be basegame, I think the SYSTEMS should. And only because I think it benefits future pack creation. Like a really bad example, the new eyelashes. The system is basegame for all packs to use in the future, but there are two specific eyelashes that are a part of lovestruck. I think the turn ons/offs system could have been basegame with limitations to basegame, but you get access to special turn ons/offs with Lovestruck. My biggest problem with several game systems is because they are pack locked they never get to be expanded upon in future packs.
Like I have a modded "farmer aspiration" because it actually makes you use more than cottage living to complete it and incorporates farming features from several packs and base game. I don't buy packs to play "a pack" I buy them to add more features to the sim world at large and some of those features feel disjointed after so many packs and systems locked forever by when the pack was published. I also have a mod that expands the EA lot traits so they are not limited to either being base game or their pack associations, but use both. And if you don't have that pack, it just isn't impacted by that pack. A single coder did this!! If EA wants Sims 4 to go on for years and years, packs (of all sizes) should expand the game in some way and not be these isolated hype experiences that everyone obsesses over at pack release and forgets about a week later when we are talking about the new/next pack.
Maybe? I mean Weddings were easier...kind of....before they had My Weddings Stories.