SC/EarthSC5 as core + minumum of 10 expansions.

[Kinneas]

Something the SIMs and SIM2 fans enjoy are the endless supply of expansions.

SIMS had over 7 and SIMS 2 is going strong with 10 expansions out at the moment.

Why is it that SIMCITY was never a strong enough core to add-on other SIMS titles to it?

Why are most all SIMCITY offshoots stand-alone experiences?

Why has there never been an attempt to make SIMCity or a SIMEarth the CORE of a game allowing you to add: SimTower, Farm, Theme-Park, Streets, SIMS, Golf, Town, Copter....etc. etc. to it?

Sometimes it does not seem 'creativity' is the only problem. Just a lack of good business sense and giving folks the motivation to keep adding onto their product the way the SIMS allows instead of having stand-alone experiences.

Look at SCS...a stand-alone, offshoot.

Should it not be part of a series of expansions for a more exciting core?

One day I hope a SIMEarth/SIMCity title enjoys 10 or more expansions too.

[Almir]

Why would i pay another 400 euros when there are many people who are willing to do custom work for free and just for the community, for enchancing and developing the game and for true enthisasm and dedication to the genre and idea of citybuilding, citysimulation and citymanagement.

I feel sry for the sims fans having to pay for all those content expansions. I understand that of course EA as a company wants to make money, and i dont doubt Maxis dedication to the The Sims series.

Its just so obvious in this case that EA are just putting all that **** on the market and using the consumers as toiletpaper.

Maxis and indeed all gamedevelopers are better producing good, innovative, qualitative and ambitious games, such as Spore. Thats the kind of efforts i support.

[A Nonny Moose]

Because of the open-endedness of SC4, it is not really possible without a rewrite, at this point, to bring out anything new that anyone would pay for.

The fan site exchanges are full of new content, and growing.

[Aushun]

The Sims' seemingly never-ending is due to the fact that they sell extremely well; EA probably realised this after the first couple for the original Sims and has hence continued the trend with The Sims 2, and also indirectly with the console versions. I suspect that the expansion for SimCity 4 didn't sell to the same magnitude as The Sims expansions, explaining why there hasn't been a long line of expansions. I doubt if SC:S will be able to support 10 expansions.

[Kinneas]

IMO. Because of the SC4 engine limitations there was no way to make good expansion that were not more 'U-Drive it' 2D fluff.

Without a 3D engine (again..IMO) there just was not much to do with it.

There was way more potential in SC2k for expansions (Streets, Copter, etc, etc).

I adored Streets and Copter too and would have bought expansions for sc2k forever.

---
On "Toilet Paper": I see it and feel just the opposite. I feel L O V E D that there are so many expansions for the SIMS and SIMS2!

So does my family.

Most of the expansion have added greatly to our SIMS experience and we can not wait for the next expansion. Right now they are craving a 'MAKING MAGIC' for SIMS2. They love it so much they are going back to SIMS for the gameplay.

We are not forced to buy. They are 'brilliant'.

--

[Ocram]

The Eps were very 'brilliant' but the stuff packs were ripoffs. They were all made by the fan base in some form or other (usually pretty close) some time before the official stuff packs were even discussed. The fan base even made crude/rough objects and lots that might have inpired the official expansion packs. But they were/are far from the polished official eps and lacked most (if not all) gameplay features.

[gem1n100]

Most of the expansion have added greatly to our SIMS experience and we can not wait for the next expansion. Right now they are craving a 'MAKING MAGIC' for SIMS2. They love it so much they are going back to SIMS for the gameplay.

We are not forced to buy. They are 'brilliant'.

--


Are you serious? Making magic for Sims 2!! That would really be great!!

And, no, I never bought the "stuff Packs", there are way too many sites out there where you can download user made items for your sims and sims 2 games. I have all but 2 expansion packs for The Sims, I haven't got any for Sims 2 yet, but I did get The Sims Life Stories for my birthday, but if they come out with a magic expansion for Sims 2 I will definitly get that one!!

[Kinneas]

Off topic: SIMS Making Magic/ SIMS2 Making Magic

The SIMS: Making Magic marketing...(it's look) was so 'Harry Potter'. A coup!

(imo) Whomever was in charge of making the decision to play off of 'what was hot at the moment' deserves a lifetime 'brilliance' award.

It was not a shallow experience that rode on the H.P. fever at that time either.

Though bought for the kids and wife, I played it...and loved it. I was very impressed with the gameplay options.

I was hoping we would see or hear something on it...right about now... (Wednesday evening, July 11.)

IMO especially right now as Order of the Phoenix is coming out.

I think folks might be too depressed and sad after the next film (The Half Blood Prince) to really want to enjoy a Making Magic expansion. The whole H.P. audience is going to be sad for two years.

Anyway! I hope they move on it right now.


------ The SIMS in SIMCITY:

I know a lot of SIMCITY folks hate the SIMS...(four a wide variety of reasons)

In my opinion the earliest ads declare SIMS were supposed to be created as an expansion for SIMCITY from the start.

Given the limitations of computers and computer games at that time in the last 15 years it makes sense that they became their own offshoot.

I would love to be able to fully expand the SIMS (and it's expansions) into SIMCITY.


--- The current ability to merge SIMS2/SIMCITY4:
(http://thesims2.ea.com/help/detail.php?help_id=91)

Hmmmmmmmmmm. Gee. Thanks.