Will this game be more "mature" than the sims franchise

[Epictet]

Or will it have the same kid-friendly spirit?

[Higgs]

From Ashalyn in this thread:
https://steamcommunity.com/app/1118520/discussions/0/1642052612839330916/

Originally posted by Ashalyn:

The game aims for a Teen rating, so 13+. That means it won't include many things that are considered mature theme, such as drugs, murder, sexual violence, pornography, gore, etc. Also, the game will not contain religions.

Also, keep in mind that it isn't game developers who get to chose what fits into these rules, but the ESRB, which you don't get to argue about to be fair.

[Epictet]

Ok thanks

[Higgs]

You're welcome.

[Lesbo_Knope]

Will we be able to have mods that aren't T rated? I mean, the sims in itself is also a teen friendly game, but there are plenty of mods to make it more mature.

[Ashes]

Scripts mods aren't planned as of now, as he wants to try and use a system that would make it so that they aren't required.

[Red]

Targeting an M rating for this kind of game wouldn't be very wise if it is going to get the attention it deserves, BUT I hope that they at least have alcohol and various buffs/debuffs related to it.

I am not expecting drugs or other adult content to be in the game, but I would be totally keen for that to be able to be modded in too.

[Rhalius]

16+ would be the best age rating for a game that simulates real life. It leaves out sex, drugs and such but would still allow for alcohol, smoking and for the people to murder each other.

I'm not looking for more of the same. The sims lost it's edge, they did have alcohol, pie dancers and other more mature content in the past but they keep pandering to a younger audience that barely plays the sims and when they do they'd be playing their parents copy.

[Red]

Originally posted by Rhalius:

16+ would be the best age rating for a game that simulates real life. It leaves out sex, drugs and such but would still allow for alcohol, smoking and for the people to murder each other.

I'm not looking for more of the same. The sims lost it's edge, they did have alcohol, pie dancers and other more mature content in the past but they keep pandering to a younger audience that barely plays the sims and when they do they'd be playing their parents copy.

I completely agree, it's time for someone to shake up the formula a bit and add a little more maturity, but not too much for the base game. Leave that stuff to the modders, but please try to make it as easy as possible to let them add all kinds of game content, from small objects to things that can potentially be expansion sized chunks of content. This will keep the game alive for decades.

PS: I don't know about the murdering though, but I take it you are just poking fun at the laughable "morals" of the rating system.

[Chaz Kensington]

The Sims Franchise consistently babied down their games to the point where they are just ridiculous. More maturity is something I've always fought for in the forums and if EA had at least developed maturely rated expansion packs (why the heck not?) the sales would have skyrocketed. This does not need to be made at Disney levels (pre-Marvel)
And as others have stated here, please pop it up to at least 16+. OR, as I've suggested as well, make 2 versions! Or M rated DLC.
That's something no one does and it could be done!

That being said, there's ways to add more maturity without going overboard:

1. For the love of Bob, if you do ONE thing, allow for traits (if traits is a thing) or emotions/attitudes that actually portray negative sides of humanity. Sims 3's "evil" trait was anything but evil. An evil laugh and taking candy from a baby is just so weaksauce. Have all the happy go lucky traits you want to put in, but we really need to see the darker sides of sims to portray stories and make the game more enjoyable.

2. Humans drink alcohol, smoke tobacco and make love. Plenty of games out there that display these without causing children to turn to a life of degeneracy. Not to mention movies and TV. I had to restrict the 13 yr olds I take care of from watching Shameless, which was somehow no problem for their dysfunctional parents while Family Guy was off limits. Please, no "woohoo" or "juice".
Do we really have to be that Puritanical? Give these things side effects if desired to offset their use and make them more interesting. (and make those side effects options or able to delete in mods)

3. Murder/violence: As much as I'd love a good 'ol slasher killer sim, it's not necessary to go straight up violence, but I don't know of a 13 year old that isn't familiar with plenty of fight scenes or cartoony / soap opera-like overly dramatic murder scenes. Then again, I don't know of 13 year olds that haven't played GTA or at least something like Town of Salem, where there's multiple hangings in every round and more graphic. But ANYway, Think of RPGs or WoW. Fighting and death animations like that are harmless. Why does it change with a genre like this?
At the very least, you can create animations with say, someone pointing a banana at another sim and have them fall down as if shot or similar scenes that give the players the animations to mod appropriately if that level of modding is intended.

Antithetically, I beg you to spare us the over the top "progressiveness" that EA not so subtly pushed while replacing a giant hooka with a bubble machine because smoking is somehow taboo. Males don't have babies. Not everything needs to reproduce with everything else. Look where that's gotten us! (and yes, I partially blame EA a little bit)

Editing to add that false religions that don't come close to any realistic religion could be really cool and add traits. I've always thought the Sims should have built a religion regarding the giant diamonds over their heads. :) Wacky stuff totally unrelated to any actual belief system could add new dimensions.

[Rhalius]

Well with murder I think it should only come up with evil people, those with the evil trait could have some possibilities there. Not outright shooting or stabbing someone to death, but more like messing with a machine or poisoning some food or a drink.

And of course supernatural beings should actually be threatening if they are put in!
Werewolves should maul people, not chew on couches and be chased off with a wack of a newspaper.

And jobs like the millitairy should have the real risk of a soldier being killed in action if send on a mission. And that chance could come up, they'd be away from home for a while and some pop ups could come up allowing you to make decisions for them. Some could lead to possible death.
Could be a risk/reward thing. Be brave and get medals and save another's life, or play safe and live while others die.

[Ashes]

I feel like I repeat myself, but the game will not be 16+. Alex aims for 13+ (Teen) and I doubt that would change. While yes, children of that age are exposed to things through movies and whatnot, it's still not for him to decide what he can put in the game without raising the ratings, as he isn't the one who set that rating in the end. It will be based off of the content he puts in, and then the ESRB will evaluate it and put a rating based on it. That means, he has to follow their rules if he wants the rating he aims for.
Doing two versions of the game is a big no-no, I don't think you realise just how much work that would be just for this, and a dlc would raise the rating so it would also be a no.
That said, lots of things are still unknown about the gameplay and how it will work. Be patient, see what comes next and then as it gets closer to release you'll be able to judge whether or not it is a game for you.

[Chaz Kensington]

That's a bummer but thanks for the reply though. I had to make my post because this aspect of the game has always mattered a lot to me. I grew to hate what EA did to the Sims over the years and they never listened. I've never bought or played Sims 4 and won't ever touch it. They ruined the game as far as I'm concerned.

And I'm not looking for a porn-y game or anything like that. I just want them to be more like people and have good ideas about it.

I can see how making 2 games would be insurmountable. I find that surprising about the DLC raising the entire rating. I'd do away with the rating system altogether if I could.

But yeah, he should definitely make the game with whatever vision he has for it. I support anyone that gives this a shot.

[Rhalius]

Either way the game will need to have something else to offer than what the sims has to become valid competition against their dominance.

The build tools look amazing, but it won't matter much if the gameplay of the parapeople offers no improvements over the sims. That's going to be what makes or breaks the game.

[Ashes]

Originally posted by Rhalius:

Either way the game will need to have something else to offer than what the sims has to become valid competition against their dominance.

The build tools look amazing, but it won't matter much if the gameplay of the parapeople offers no improvements over the sims. That's going to be what makes or breaks the game.

Just as a reminder that "competition" isn't what he aims for, per se. While it will be because of the genre, his goal is just to make the game he always wanted to make, which is why it is important that it ends up being the way he envisions it. Regardless, we don't know yet how the gameplay will be, so again, we shall wait and see. Maybe you'll like it, maybe you won't. Only time will tell.

[Ashes]

Originally posted by Chaz Kensington:

That's a bummer but thanks for the reply though. I had to make my post because this aspect of the game has always mattered a lot to me. I grew to hate what EA did to the Sims over the years and they never listened. I've never bought or played Sims 4 and won't ever touch it. They ruined the game as far as I'm concerned.

And I'm not looking for a porn-y game or anything like that. I just want them to be more like people and have good ideas about it.

I can see how making 2 games would be insurmountable. I find that surprising about the DLC raising the entire rating. I'd do away with the rating system altogether if I could.

But yeah, he should definitely make the game with whatever vision he has for it. I support anyone that gives this a shot.

No problem for the answer, and thank you for understanding. I hope that once we know more about the gameplay, you would still find the game interesting and will want to play it. Thank you for the support regardless of how you may feel about it, that is very kind. Have a nice day :)