More Info: Growing Together, like I said, isn't a pack that immediately wows- and that's its strength. More so than any other updates, family dynamics, milestones and compatibility actually do add depth & impact sims' lives. Is it a perfect pack? Or does it completely change Sims 4? No. Does it feel like a staple and actually make me excited about the franchise? Yes. And that is no small feat. I list overall pros and cons at the end of this video- let me know what else I should look into. Apologies for some mild sound inconsistencies- and any minor background noises.
I thought, when I saw some of the "Let's Plays" this week, that you would appreciate the things like compatibility and family dynamics. I'm glad that it was something that impacted your play. I was hoping you'd find it that way. As a pediatrician, I'm really happy to see that there is a lot of floor time for these infants. Babies, when not held, need to spend the majority of non-sleep time on the floor. I'm also really happy that they didn't put in things that we peds define as "confining baby equipment." Things like walkers and car seats used to hold the baby when they're *not* in the car cause all sorts of developmental problems, as well as injury-related problems. I'm so glad they left them out. I also like that they put in baby carriers rather than strollers and prams. Having the baby carried closer is much better for the baby (even if it's less convenient for the parent.) I do wish that they had put in the fabric sling type of carrier, rather than only the structured backpack type. Non-US parents and indigenous parents are more likely to use the sling type, so it felt like an oversight that would have made the game more inclusive and representative. I do recognize that there is only so much they can put into a pack (number-wise), so I'm hoping that they'll do a kit to add more things like the sling carriers. If they could put in the sling carrier and a plain changing table in the base game, that would be ideal, but those are complicated enough that I doubt they'll do it for free. (I'm amazed that they put in as much as they do for free!) I wasn't planning on installing Growing Together until I had played more with the infants from the base game. However, I realized that all the things I was really looking forward to regarding infants were really in the EP. So, I installed it. I was amazed that the EP was only 1.3GB. The update was nearly 3 times that big! But that update was the foundation for the EP, so the EP didn't need to be too big. Also, fortunately, my internet was behaving itself (unlike the past few days) so it downloaded in only 5 minutes. I was also pleased to note that my preorders were included. (I had a worry because I had 4 emails from Origin/EA saying that they had canceled my order. I really do think that was a glitch due to the forced change from Origin to the EA App. Fortunately, it didn't affect me other than causing some worry that I'd have to deal with nonsense about "no, I didn't cancel it. And I want to make sure that I get the preorder items.")
@@myadoesrandomthings i feel like the dining experience in dine out and being able to own and run a restaurant is pack worthy, but there should be base game dining like a rabbit hole experience. so i agree with you halfway. they really should have put more ACTIVE careers into get to work too, like being able to be a plumber for example. things break all the time it just makes sense to be able to show up at a sims house or public lot and do repairs. this is my one specific pet peeve i am salty about i want my sim to be a plumber. 😂😂😂😂😂
Yeah, but unfortunately EA has found a system that works and brings them money. They know the consumers will buy, and most of do. I think we should just be thankful the sims team is somewhat listening to us and attempting to give us good content, whether it works or not :\
I don’t like the basegame argument. Sims 2 was a game someone could have made on their own in their house in a year or two. Sims 4 comes with much more advanced technology, longer production times and higher production costs. It isn’t possible to make a base game like sims 2 anymore, unless you go back to sims 2 graphics and animations. And then the people crying about the basegame would cry about that. Gaming changed a lot since the early games, which are still available for you to play if you really prefer them. No one is forcing anyone to play sims 4 and the crying about base game is so old now and unconstructive to the community.
Ugh, I'm pretty annoyed at the large amount of unusable houses/backdrop houses. I wished they were functioning lots instead of 3D models. I feel like the other neighborhoods had way more functional houses than the new neighborhood.
Newcrest only had lots; :( No houses or anything. Sure you can use them but... Well you literally have to find houses to put there first; and then make sure they are affordable and that's one of my biggest gripes; you can start with a 4 person family but they can't afford a four bed house. That's something that needs addressing without having to cheat.
@@johnbower7452 It's a pet peeve of mine that the game adds 2k for each person when the impact of additional people is much more complicated. If you're adding a spouse, it's fine, but if you're adding a roommate, that 2k needs to cover adding an extra room, and at some point extra bathrooms etc, It can't be hard to add 2k for a spouse/fiance etc, but 5-10k for each roommate since those relationships are defined in CAS anyway
I feel they missed an opportunity to make the world feel more alive with rabbit holes, like the cinema. Like, the shell on the pier could have been a restaurant rabbit hole for dates. They could have added more fishing and swimming points, and the greenhouse-like building could have been a spot for gardening/flower arrangement classes. Subway as a way to travel to vacation worlds. Usable boats. It would have taken just a few touches to make the world feel more alive.
I’m honestly just kinda bummed they never feature any curly hair (not coily mind you). Like there’s a whole entire hair type they only offered in like cats and dogs and island living... talk about representation
@@SimmerErin I’m not saying these are bad- at all- it’s great to see other textures represented knowing how it feels but I’m not kidding when I say I have no clue how to recreate a good chunk of my family/friends in game
The most recent curly hair I can think of is from cottage living (I think it's only huge curly bangs under a bandana???) Which is just one, not super practical
In my mind, this pack is a true expansion pack. It is ever-present and affects every save without having to go out of your way to use the features. The selling points for me were the milestones, family dynamics, and social compatibility. I have a huge save file in a zip file, and I'm going through and giving all the Sims family dynamics and new preferences to affect social compatibility. This will be a huge undertaking lol
From a gameplay perspective, I fully agree. It annoys me a bit that now the world and BB catalogue feels a little short. We can never have it all, can we?
In terms of how Generations was and how it was perceived in the early weeks/months of it's arrival, Growing Together is very much on par. It took literal years for simmers to respect Generations' subtle but well needed impact. I hear a lot about the small things: strollers, driving, etc. But it feels pretty obvious why none of that happend. The baby carrier honestly feels supeior (not to mention I remember those things getting randomly lost with the toddler in them in TS3). Driving...that's a can of worms within itself😅. The milestone system is exactly what I was hoping for and I really love how the social/cradle to grave experience really fluorishes. I get that it might seem underwhelming to some simmers at first. But what i've noticed in my years of playing the sims, usually the most non-mega stuff 'rpg'-equse pack commonly ends up making the biggest impact in general gameplay. That's something I personally felt that warranted a buy.
Spot on!! I have said this to other people, saying that generations also was not well recieved. It's not a pack that immediately excites a lot of people this or generations, because it takes time to really use all the features. It becomes something that enhances, not something that stands out. It's a very different pack than a lot of packs we get in that way Yeah, I actually prefer the carrier to strollers as you can do more
My first impression of the pack is that there is more depth to it than what you normally find with Sims 4 packs. The benefits and features of this pack will be more fully realized through a sort of progressive revelation gained through hours of gameplay. To me, it's more of a journey of discovery, an expedition of sorts.
It is, in my opinion. a lot of people seem irritated that it doesn't 'have enough' but it honestly carries a lot more weight than your average expansion, it just can't all be seen at once
So far no issues with the game- lost my first tooth and the certificate was super cute- really hope they start doing refreshes like they said they would for some packs cause I can see teens and highschool getting a lot out of further integration with this- also the fridge and stove are… interesting… seems better suited for cottage living than this pack but can’t imagine using it myself
I liked the High School years and Werewolves world a lot! The werewolves world might have very few lots but the world is very open and super interactive, with a lot of funcional shells. I didn't explore too much of this pack yet but I am playing with my sim in Hopwell Hills and it's not anything special. It's really boring... And that's a very specific complaint of mine but there aren't a lot of collectibles to find in that neighborhood lol I couldn't even find a lot of frogs like I was expecting
Before I saw it I felt the vibes of an expansion that carefully wove itself into the game similar to seasons. I was definitely right. A decent enough world, and cas and build buy that mixes well with other packs makes it look very solid. I bet it will hit the top of a few top expansion packs just like seasons.
The main thought that has stuck with me is my surprise about how little you can do with infants without the pack. While there are some cute new deco items for infants in BG, there isn't even a changing table. So, if I have one critique, it's probably that that the new life-stage is so heavily tied to the expansion, that it feels a little incomplete without. - And of course there's a voice in my head that wonders how many infant kits there will be that will equally try to fill that gap.
This pack is a 100% MUST HAVE. More than any other pack. I do believe that it fundamentally changes the sims 4 for the better and inches it that much closer to joining the sims 2 and 3 at their glory days. When we get to the sims 5, it’s this pack that is going to make people complain “why can’t the sims 5 be more like the sims 4”
yeah I was skeptical it would impact much but it actually does. It breathes new life into the game, and it's not something you just play through and are done with.
I agree with you : this pack enhances Sims 4. I bet it's a future classic like Seasons or Get to Work, full of useful additions to gameplay. And now, I'm off to play, thanks Erin for your excellent videos, as usual!
I am in LOVE with the new library that Deli built, it's going to be the only one my sims ever go to now 😅 some of the build buy objects are really good, off the top of my head I like the double bed, rug, craftsman archway and doors, and the new windows 🤩🤩 don't like the fridge but I do like the stove. Some of the objects are specifically good for commercial lots like the rec centre or library, so I won't be using those much. Over all I think it's a really strong pack and one of the first packs new simmers should get especially for gameplay! The world is probably the weakest side of the pack, not much to do and barely any interaction with water for a seaside town! EDIT also disappointed there are no townhouses or apartments!
Honestly I don’t think this pack should’ve included a new world, if it was going to be so empty, most of the new things it offers can be placed on other lots and I feel like the resources could’ve been allotted to more CAS and BB items or more gameplay features like a daycare career, divorce, funeral or elderly homes, however I am really enjoying this pack and I’m genuinely having fun, it has changed my playing experience and immersion in a good way, I don’t think I can go back to pre-growing together.
I would have preferred no world and more gameplay as well- at the same time I guess from a marketing pov I see why they did it. I do think things like divorce and more for elders would be great, but it is indeed a staple
In the few hours I've been able to spend with the pack so far I think it's really good! I've heard others say it feels more like Sims 2...I agree and I am totally here for it!
or sims 3. But in any case, what I like is that it does impact how sims interact with each other, aside from activities or things to do I think that's something sims 4 has needed ()and still even needs more, but this does help
The milestone system is the star for me. It isn't exactly like Sims 2, which I wasn't expecting it to be, but it's so close that I'm happy with it. I'm also so happy if you load into families that are already created and have lived, they have milestones. My adult Sims who went to university have graduation milestones and it includes their degree, too. The compatibility and conversation pieces are my next favorite. I'm pleased with the pack so far. I also had trouble with the baby carrier, I haven't been able to get my Sims to use it yet. I sort of understand why it's how it is but also wish it was a build buy item like a bike or a flying broom or a familiar, instead of an interaction.
The world is really underwhelming, but everything else is good, It's an ok pack, for a new a player I will suggest this with seasons, and you are set for a nice experience. I also like Whalebert, I find it so cute and cool at the same time, I will use one in all my builds.
Agreeed!! Hate the stove and fridge!!! My question is can any age do a slumber party cause if so my teens are gonna have slumber parties! My teens will also be going to the movies on weekends when they aren’t at the wharf in the High School world. Plus teens with first kiss milestones… first prom… this pack still gives m3 a lot for teens with help from my imagination 😂
I agree with a lot of what you mentioned. I haven't experienced low compatibility yet. I made a couple to start with and added some extended family. they had a baby and the grandmother called to come stay and help. I'm playing on long life stage and she was automatically scheduled to stay until the newborn aged up to an infant. it was great for a few days, but then I had to ask her to leave early because she started cooking nonstop. she asked to move in and I told her no because we didn't have the space. I'm enjoying this pack a great deal so far. you can tell a lot of work went into the infants in the pack and not just the base game. the realism has me reminiscing on when my kiddo hit certain milestones or did certain things. I imagine your sim's youngest child will also be distant in the future because of all those negative moodlets.
Oh no not the non stop cooking ha,. sometimes sims get just so fixated on things I'm glad you're enjoying it though! I do think this pack will take a long time to explore. and yeah.. this family is going to have problems, lol, there is no doubt in my mind
I hardly ever play families, but I am almost tempted to buy the pack just to vote with my wallet for more focus on gameplay and less on purely decorative objects. I did that with Snowy Escape, which I hardly played in. This game is so starved of gameplay that even small additions like family dynamics stand out like lighthouses on a dark coast.
I am very pleasantly surprised with this pack, the only disappointment is the neighbourhood, it's very plain (I'd rather see a bit more European cost city, it would be a perfect opportunity to get inspired by Spain, Italy, France, Croatia etc.), but the CAS items are great, there is a LOT for masculine sims, which I appreciate a lot ♥ And The build and buy is straight in my alley ♥didn't get to explore the gameplay yet, planning to do so right now ♥
Well it's plain even for where it is: San Fran is actually a very vibrant colorful and diverse city, truly. I loved it when I visited. i don't think it captures its charm. It is definitely good to see some more masc items
I tend to agree with Kyla Ping below. This pack impacts the entire game overall. I don't have it yet, but will be getting it in the next week or two. I am waiting to see how impactful the bugs are. I can't have it ruining my save, as I play only one big rotational save, with many, many families, living across all the worlds. While the new world is a bit disappointing, both in size and features, I need it more for the lots, to place more households. Would be nice if there had been more water access points, and I always enjoy hunting for plants, fossils, etc., but I can edit the community lots and make my own builds, to liven up the place a bit. My one thought about this pack is I'm amazed it took them 8 1/2 years to release this pack. It really should have come out in year 2 or 3 of the TS4. This fulfills a lot of requests the community has been asking for. Why did it take them so long! Did we really need Strangerville or even Get Famous before this? It will be interesting to see how compatible all my existing couples end up being. Am hoping it is not too much of a chore to make them happy. Luckily, I am not too far into the save, as I only got TS4 at the start of the pandemic, and I'm a slow player, making all my own Sims, and builds.
yeah definitely, it's akin to seasons in that it can impact your game no matter what world you're in, and I do think that is huge for an ep to do So to your second paragraph: they almost didn't even release parenthood. They seem surprised it sold well? I am also guessing they may have not expected sims 4 to last long as it did
I am honestly impressed how fun infants are. As someone who doesn't like kids below 10 in real life, I am actually enjoying the infants a lot and find them a lot cuter than toddlers.
In CAS, I think we have a problem. Going with the argument about rep. There's a few African American hairs. Though I've been thinking if EA actually decides these hairs are to be free, wouldn't that mean a lack of rep in pack? Or would the pack sims be enough? Worlds will always be a debate. Like what themes/ DLC should have a world. Starting with what's fake. The houses are ok but the water not being interactive is ridiculous. The navy carrier will get people arguing not tested, but I've seen people talk about they want Sims to refuse to obey us, the sun Gods...so...🤷♀️ Then the argument about testing vs glitches happen. Milestones & infant care is an example of how much challenge people want varies. Like there's probably some who would call requiring micromanaging good but others would say no, but how much sims care for infants without us telling them is too much for some. Which I find interesting. Just a list of many things everyone has a different opinion on. Same with style with build/ buy. I feel like 'stands out' is more depending on what a player is interested in rather than OMG look at this item/ gameplay!! But I'm still feeling like this is showing little things are great. Wish they put in a tricycle. How cute that would be. I can see trying to program those wagons that can be attached to a bike being a nightmare to program. There's that debate on how much AI should decide with we need a attraction system and the compatibility system & emotions need work. Plus the idea of how much drama should be seen. I don't think that'll go away, because of EA decides back to ts2 drama, there's going to be people not happy with how much there is & how much the game is deciding. Though traits could help getting to that good medium. I like what they've introduced/ brought back in the pack.
so for sims 4, while I can critique worlds, I think there prob will always be a lot of limitations. I think maybe adding a few more rabbitholes would be cool, but I do think the engine and the way the game was designed will be a limiting factor for the rest of its lifetime. To me stands out means is it different or new than a lot of sims 4's catalog/ I don't feel this pack is aiming to do so, but to be a solid starter pack and also one that offers versatality
It would’ve been nice to see more interactive options in the world. I honestly thought there was going to be a boat to take to an island or something from that dock area in the first neighborhood. But I’m not buying this for the world really, so this isn’t as big of a deal to me.
Thank you for this pack review. It was well balanced, not too negative and too overly optimistic. I can usually count on you and Plumbella to give us honest, straightforward reviews. I really do appreciate that since I still haven't bought the pack. I think the world is nice, but it does feel empty. It's like why put boats, empty houses and most of the water areas when they can't be used. I do understand that the whole map can't be usable but maybe put the set houses on one part of the world. They should've just put a bunch of Sequoia trees around instead of the empty houses.
I would have liked the milestones to give more details. It says got a job or a promotion but not in which job..so it's not quite a memory system which is a shame. Also. Do you know if you ignore infant milestones does that change what a the child becomes? I have a feeling that it doesn't really make a difference?
Yeah it's definitely not same as a memory system. I do like its inclusion, but it's not quite as personal Hmm that's a good question. Honestly I was not trying to achieve any milestones and they kept happening anyway
I think I'm almost definitely going to get this pack, but there are a couple things I'm a bit concerned about. One is the autonomous move-in requests. I hope there'll be a mod to turn those off, because I just know those are gonna be spammed constantly like the best friend/dating requests from HSY (which is the main reason I didn't buy that pack) and wreck my Sims' relationships with friends and family. I'd also like to learn a bit more about the chemistry system, because I'm worried that it might... again, wreck my Sims' relationships with friends and family. Hopefully already having a good relationship will make a difference, but y'know... things in TS4 tend to be pretty simplistic. I know many if not most Simmers like random drama in their games, but... I don't, not in my households anyway. I'm a control freak. XD I enjoy watching the chaos unfold in other people's games, but prefer to limit it in my own.
they can be a bit much. They are interesting to be sure, but they may need to be tuned down I love random drama, but I'd say this drama it adds is mild unless you set dynamics to be especially tense
Not fully explore the the pack so far, but from my experience bb items are very ideal for a sea front theme house, some of the decorations are perfect for a traveler. Was a bit disappointed that we didn’t get new counters and cabinets for the new stove and fridge. As for gameplay it’s perfect for those that like family theme stuff in general. They finally gave us a purpose to add guest bedrooms to our builds for other than NPC roommates. So far I had a random elder lady volunteer to stay over to help with my infant sim, after that my sim’s older brother ask to stay over. Overall I’m enjoying the new expansion despite some of the cons.
I doubt anyone has fully explored yet, which is props to the pack- a lot of sims 4 packs it's easier to rush through,. I also like that this is replayable by nature. Yeah! good point, I do think the stay over feature will be useful for a variety of reasons
not gonna lie, as a gay male simmer, when i first heard that the new pack was going to be a San Fran based world i was incredibly biased towards it and really hyped. not even just for the fact that san fran is basically considered the lgbt capital of the usa, but because san fran has so much style and personality. you have the trolleys, the museum of modern art, you've got the painted ladies which are really cute and colorful row houses, you have chinatown, the beaches near golden gate bridge, golden gate park (which is actually bigger than central park in nyc), the palace of fine arts where lots of people get married, fisherman's wharf with its fresh caught seafood and tons of seals that hang out there, lombard street which is a really pretty and twisty road that makes cool scenery, the castro theatre, and of course just the lgbt vibe of the castro district in general. they had SO much inspiration to pull from for this new world, but instead they chose to give us willow creek 2.0...talk about a major let down for someone like me.
Yeah....the city truly is very important, on a social level, and it also has such rich history and culture. So maybe I am most disappointed here because it could have been an amazing world.
I agree with your assessment. Once I could actually login and play, I found that the milestones can function as a memory system. That has been something I have wanted back from previous games. I have not been successful with using screenshots as memories.
I can see this would add layers of difficulty I don't think I'm ready for. I may still get this full price but I do want to continue testing a few things out first. A few of the bugs are concerning
For me the world could have more rabbit holes or things to do similar to High Schools pack. Your review and SnatchonSims are the two reviewers that seems the most unbias and critical thinking of the new pack. It would have been fine as a stuff pack. Also because a lot of game play features of this pack was in bas e game in Sims 2 & 3..... Sims 4 is beginning to feel as if it was made badly on purpose so that they can add more packs that we need so they can get more money from us. Seriously this pack could have been base game or mixed together with parenthood. It rubs me the wrong way that they made sound as if the reaction center had classes also why was there no new job e.g daycare for this pack. Also, I don't think it's worth they money to buy it.
I do agree that a few rabbitholes would liven up the world. I like the addition of the cinema because it gives you something to do. It;ll be cool to see a few shells replaced w/ rabbit holes
I really like this pack! I play on console and pc. I have all the packs on my console player but on pc I only have seasons. So I would try to find something I could do on there, but having all or a lot of the packs makes a big difference for game play. Now that I have this pack, even though I haven't played it for that long yet, I already feel like I have so much more to do in the game. I highly recommend this pack!
From the reviews and lets plays I've seen it is 100% must have without a doubt, but its still a waste of money... Sorry but I am sticking 100% with my opinion on this just being a base game update with a treehouse and a world. I've been sticking with Maxis, being one of the few who really believed they'd live up to their promises and remedy the game's features which fell short and now they're selling the overhaul we needed. And I understand everyone who says "they can't not charge for all this effort and love they put into this pack" but where was that effort or love when they made the game before release? Why was this effort and love in the older games and just part of the package from the get go? Cut the build/buy, CAS, the world and the treehouse and this whole EP is barely bigger than the neighbourhood stories update. This whole thing has left such a sour taste in my mouth that my only regret is that I've ever bought for or financially supported this game from the get go. At least dlc are optional extras in other games rather than "must have or the game is bland" edit: I feel like I'm always ranting on your videos, I am so sorry - I'll keep things more light hearted going forward.
For a future sims game, I would prefer we get all life stages (and relevant life issues) from the get go though- and some larger systems. I do think it's important to chat about, and I plan to discuss this in a future video
There were development issues with the Sims 4 which led to the game being built on a poor foundation. So now it's like, no matter how much you try to polish a mediocre product, it's still kinda average. I'm still excited about adding this pack to my gameplay but I'm more excited about Life by You and paralives
You’re a grown man and this is a game for teenage girls. It’s a dollshouse, was always intended to be a dollshouse and only ever wasn’t a dollshouse because of technical limitations. It’s not supposed to be some hardcore strategy game and most simmers would hate the game you seem to want so bad. Also ‘cut most of the features of the expansion and it’s no bigger than an update’ comment is hilarious 😂. CAS, build buy, world are 3 of the most popular things people want in a new expansion. It is simply not the right game for you if you don’t like CAS or build buy... time a lot of you older simmers just moved on rather than bringing down every comment section complaining that a game in 2023 doesn’t have as much content than one 20 years ago. They’d make a far better game than sims 2 if you’d still be happy with those graphics and animations.
CAS reminds me a bit of 1960s/1970s clothes. That and grandma chic. As far as gameplay though I like what i've seen so far. Just wish there was more as far as adoption goes. Maybe finally add that whim to adopt or even maybe a gotcha day for adopted children to celebrate the day they were adopted. Or maybe even an option to tell child if adopted or find birth parents when older. Idk I just always thought they should focus a little more on that type of family as well but maybe that's just me.
Im tired of the braids. Give us different styles of wash and gos. Not every curly hair is a round Afro… some of us style bangs down to our eyebrows and/or rock undercuts.
I think these are gorgeous but I agree I'd love them to branch out for both hairs and tbh clothes. Usually i like the quality of what they produce but it does feel as though sims 4 has been a little bit in a style rut
Exactly, there are so many versions of our hairstyles. Unfortunately I still don't find my hair style in-game, even though the hair texture is there. :/
Whatever the Pack is worth buying really depends on the playstyle of the Simmer or scenario. Similar to Kids Room and Toddlers, players who mostly play only with Adults or Elders will probably find Growing Together useless since it caters to family gameplay. The opposite issue is true with Packs that cater more to adults like Get to Work, Strangerville, and Enter University which may be useless to family players. I do agree The Sims 4 has gotten better over time despite its issues, at least on Windows/macOS. Console is a different story unless you're playing on PS5 or Xbox Series X|S though there's the issue with controls.
for sure. That is true for any pack, arguably. However, I will say, I actually argue this is useful beyond family gameplay. The compatibility system and milestones can impact sims and behaviors even outside a family. Perhaps I'd recommend game pack price if that is all that appealed to someone, but I actually do think it extends a bit beyond that family game play
I'm having an issue in my game, idk if it's because of the new pack, or the recent update, but my sims won't do any of the actions on queue that I set for them and just stand there for many hours while the infant starts crying cause of low needs.
I don't have any mods and I think I found out what causes this bug to happen, each time my infant is tired and I set it down on the playmat, the infant calls out instantly to my sim and by doing so my sim freezes in place until you save and quit out of the game entirely. Second time I noticed the infant doing that before my young adult sim freezes in place. Please just place the infant on the crib when they're tired instead of the playmat (even if they're able to try sleeping on the playmat), until this issue is fixed please avoid the playmat when the infant wants to go to sleep.
Thanks for your review, Erin. I like this pack so far. I haven't explored it as much either, but what I did see I like. This new lots would seem underwhelming, because of the limits of using this pack and base game items only this frees us to customize the lots from other pack content and CC. I also think that the gurus could've substituted the shell homes with some more empty lots for simmers to add our own creations or the creations of others. While the idea of having an open world would be nice, the system requirements to make this happen would affect many simmers who can't afford to buy the top-of-the-line systems.
yeah, or idk if possible but a few more rabbit holes, It's so hard to say, but I do think in sims 4 we are often running against limitations with the engine and the age of the game when it comes to world mechanics
I don't know why they couldn't have made more playable houses and open lots in this world. It was SO disappointing that there really isn't much to do because my IRL dream would be to live near a bay area like this. I also was hoping there would be more activities geared around different age groups. Where are the skill classes in the rec center that was talked about for example?
I have a massive legacy, we are in our 6th generation and this pack is great for that. However I’ve noticed a lot of glitches: my child sims being turned into demons and my family tree being broken beyond repair. I can’t tell if the pack caused those glitches or if I did. But I still don’t regret downloading.
I find the style of the build buy is all over the place, but all the pieces round out other styles in the catalogue well. Honestly, I agree I think this pack could have come without a world, it's pretty enough, but not unique. However, if they didn't include a world, they would have had to up the ante to make it worth expansion price.
I really, Really want this pack. But the solution given to me by the community manager on the official forum (for the crashing problems) was "just delete your save" which is so fucking tone deaf. This is a game with a Brand new game pack that Centers around building and maintaining relationships. Something that you completely lose if you just redownload your families. All the relationships outside your family. all the sentiments. life changes like divorce and remarriage. Big family trees that branch out beyond 8 people. All impossible to save to the gallery, and a monstrous undertaking to even Try to cheat back into play. I'm so frustrated with the lack of shits given to me as a paying customer when I've out so much time and So Much Money into it. Yet I am STILL tempted to get the pack! I can't even play what I have!?
@@SimmerErin No real reason beyond oh it must be old and old saves get crashy. better delete everything. And then Maybe the crashing will reduce. Maybe. And when I replied that this was an insensitive and tone deaf solution that treats my time and game play as worthless. it got removed for being "rude".
I am so eager to play this pack, however, I'm unable to right now. I did buy it yesterday but I'm not able to install. I tried all the tricks and did report the issues. Crossing my fingers they can fix my games soon. Thanks for your review! 🤗🤗🤗
First, I will definitely purchase the pack at some point. But definitely not at full price, not for the bonus items, not for being the first on the party. As you said, the strongest point of the pack is the gameplay. And there is the point for me. Especially the milestone should have been included in the basegame, the changing table, too. I am one of the long term players and I did pay full price for a weak basegame. So I feel like I have invested a lot of money already and I don't see the point of paying full price to fully experiences a life stage that was better implemented in older sims versions from the beginning. If I had purchased sims 4 for a discount or even for free I would be much more willing to buy the pack immediately. Also, I take it with a grain of salt that sleeping bags and sleepovers were not released with the little campers kit as a whole accessory pack (for instance with the tree house and make the textures better) or they put the kit inside the EP. Sims 4 always feels like you are getting the cake but they remove some decorations and let you pay extra for stuff they did remove from the actual product, especially since we got introduced to kits. Too much of the CAS and BB items have low quality textures in my eyes. The BB has no full furniture sets. We used to get at least 2 different styles with EPs and the items are a little bit all over the place for me. I do appreciate the number of interactive objects, though. Lastly, I am very disappointed with the world. If they decide to include a world I expect an interesting gameplay experience to discover the details and its secrets. I have no use for empty shells. So I'd rather have no world and did see more focus on elders or apart from learning how to ride a bike also learn how to skate and give even teenagers a little something to do. I would love skater parks and actual stunts. Tbh I am a little creeped out that you can whoho in the treehouse. I would never have the idea to whohoo in my child's bedroom and the treehouse seems as intimate to me. I would have rather seen some usage of the boats and give the sims the opportunity to fish from the boat. It's also a nice hobby while being on pension. Boats would have been a much more acceptable whohoo spot for me. 😅
I'm so mixed about the what should be bg or not issue, and I do plan on speaking about it. I think this has a lot of good content, but certainly weaker areas too. If someone wanted a pack for the world or cas or bb I'd be hesitant to recommend; the gameplay while not perfect adds complexity in a way I have rarely seen from sims 4, so I have to personally give it a huge win
@@SimmerErin I have mixed feelings about this question, too. Where to draw the line? I feel like sims 4 is quite messed up when it comes to basegame features vs. pack features vs. splitting up content mainly through the kit concept. What is acceptable, what not anymore? How much can the consumer expect from basegame updates? what I don't like about packs in the sims 4 is that there's always some neglected area of the whole game that is the sims (gameplay, world, CAS, Build Buy mode). There are few examples of packs that feel full and whole. For most they neglect gameplay. Now we are getting a lot of gameplay but get an empty shallow world. I don't like this manner of adding new content. I invested a lot of time and money into TS4 because I like the game. But I don't like how I am treated as a consumer from EA. I feel like Growing together is adding elemental gameplay I was longing for for ages and I see the point of getting the pack for enhancing my gameplay. But I guess refusing to buy any kits, refusing to buy packs that came with major errors (Highschool years, My wedding stories) and only buy good packs on discount is the only way to still broadening my gameplay experience but also have a possibility to protest against the downsides of EA's pack releasing strategies. Also, I want to say on public media that EA's publishing concept is disrespectful to the game as a form of art and disrespectful to the people who are using their content.
Without the pack, there is no progression for infants because they have no skills like toddlers. They have milestones instead which unlock crawling and other things. If you don't have the pack, your infant just instantly can do everything which I found a little weird. So, the pack is necessary to make infants more like the toddler life stage. I like the milestone system, but I think the same thing could have been achieved with the skill system. Milestones in other life stages make more sense because they don't unlock abilities. They're more like achievements in life.
milestones are nice. they are not quite as personal as I'd like, but I think they are a good addition to making them feel a bit more realistic. I do agree they are a bit more achievement oriented, so I don't love them as much as a typical memory system. that said, for sims 4, it's def an improvement
Agree pretty much with your review! The world is not one of my tops but I am currently using the Tool Mod to add stuff in the world that would make it more useable... I'll need to play test it to ensure it works though as I know sims can't access every area. I started out down by the water, I think where the movie theater is, that waterfront I wanted to make seem more like Pier 39 so I added the ferris wheel & tunnel of love rides, a little playground across the way, some picnic tables, benches and food stands and I am building some shops on that empty lot. I feel like the library is technically covered under the rec center so I will most likely make that a restaurant. Now I can't recall if that is in this same area or if I am eyeballing a rental to bulldoze for my restaurant lol I also really want to do a science museum and I have a WIP for Alcatraz on that big waterfront lot. Whomever that was already got evicted! Sorry not sorry, as they will just move in somewhere else with the neighborhood stories setting. I am trying to make the best of it. Now I really could use a good cc Redwood tree! Still salty over that ha! We went from conservation up the ying yang to deforestation! The other thing am I the only one who is noticing the sky looks really fake in this world? Like the clouds look like the art department quit partly through the design and it is especially bad during the day - at night it looks better. I think it has something to do with the fog look but it is giving me huge Truman Show vibes and bugging me out! I plan to actually enter and hope to stay in live mode this weekend and see how the gameplay is and if it turns my builder self into more of a family player (to some extent! lol) Am hoping for the best :) I do like the chaos the little buggers bring! We need more chaos in this game imo! So it's a good step and the family dynamics, milestones and visits look fun too. Build/buy/debug isn't the best ever either but I am in love with those interior archways! CAS who dis? Lol I struggle when I have to dress my sims so they could put all clown suits in that and I probably wouldn't notice - unless this pack gets me into live mode more! Fingers crossed!
Thank you for the great (and HONEST ^^) review - it pretty much solidifies my impressions about this pack. The gameplay looks interesting and could definitely make the game better, but it's not groundbreaking. The build/buy doesn't impress me at all (but to be fair, Sims 4 aesthetics never do - everything always looks like it's from a kid's dollhouse - very plastic and chunky - good quality dollhouse, like something from Playmobil - but still something for children). So I think this expansion will remain on my very short list of "Sims 4 expansions I would consider buying if they're ever on sale." In other words, I think it would make infants fun as well as cute, and certainly add to family gameplay; but it's not going to add enough to make me play with Sims 4 more so is not worth the price for me. :D
fair enough! I do def recommend considering it at least on sale, as I find it adds a lot more complexity to everyday sims interactions. I can't say the cas or bb or world are reasons I'd buy
my hot take? this pack could have scrapped the new world entirely. seasons didnt come with a new world because it went back and affected every previous world, and with gameplay like this that seamlessly integrates into any playstyle and world i almost feel like a new world isnt even needed. when its a fundamental gameplay pack that integrates into everything i say forget a new world and just focus on the gameplay side of things.
something i noticed is that i feel like this pack should’ve brought back one sided relationships. i’ve noticed that because of compatibility, one sim will gain relation during an interaction but the other will lose it. because it’s a double sided relationship i’m pretty sure the positive gain and negative loss just cancel out. i wish it was one sided so one person disliked the other while the other thought everything was fine
i can definitely agree that I'd like them to continue to push more tension- and adding that complexity of someone feeling one way vs the other would have been pretty compelling
A positive surprise with this pack is the attention to adults and elders, both with CAS and gamepley. This is an aspect of the game that has so far been very, _very_ much neglected.
It's not worth it because of the things they put behind a pay wall, but in the same breath could be worth it if players feel they want the social features...plus this doesn't speak expansion it speaks game pack at best. They knew we wanted this and decided to half do it and make us pay for the rest.... This pack was a miss on the world map as well. This was a chance to bring back neighborhoods like Oasis springs or willow creek, which in my opinion, may have worked better for their growing expansion idea.
it's an interesting conversation that also occur ed during generations; while i agree there's a discussion to be had about bg vs dlc, I also feel an ep should truly expand and enhance your game- and this is one of the few packs I feel does this
ls it just me, or a lot of the newer worlds really dark? Like it's gloomy looking even on a sunny day. Moonwood Mill, Copperdale, Windenberg, now San Sequoia. It rains or looks cloudy most of the time. Glimmerbrook and the wedding one are a dim dreery yellow light. It's not my computer. My brightness is maxed, and I play a ton of games. Some worlds I notice have a dull toned, closed feel. I'm really sad that they continue to make new worlds with water, but don't let you do anything with it regardless of what packs you have.
Do the milestones not have any actual gameplay attached to them?? From this video it looks like the milestones are simply little messages that just appear in a timely manner, rather than attached to any gameplay that trigger those milestones. I didn't have high expectations, lol. This is The Sims 4 after all, but I thought there would be SOME gameplay attached to those milestones!
this is only infants and it was sort of happening on its own- just the initial basics. for kids, you learn how to ride a bike and lose a tooth (that does include a pop up, bike is more active). adults get milestones for things like starting a fire or getting married. DSo yes, there is it's just as I said my first impressions- didn't have enough to show for the bike riding yet. However I will say some of the milestones can sort of happen without your intervention. Hope that helps
Hopewell hills should have had alot more lots. Even willow creek has neighbors across the street. And i wholly agree with it not having a world. I would like it better. Without the world. It could have a new lot type and the water park. And they should release a game pack within a world with more empty lots
I don't mind less lots; I do often wish parts of the world were more interactive. It would have been cool to maybe see something a bit more unique or new vs the rec center, so that was a little downside
This one falls in the weird "expansion that should have been a base game update" area for me. It's similar to Seasons where it adds something more passively and consistently over time than an in-your-face addition that you go out of your way to dabble with a few times before forgetting about it entirely. But like Seasons, it shouldn't be locked behind a paywall imo (a lot of the infant stuff *especially* falls under this criticism). A lot of the features in this pack really should have been base game instead of locked behind dlc, and it blurs with Parenthood in a strange way that I struggle to explain fully as well It's not as bad of a pack as I thought it would be (the more the hype in the community and from the Sims team, the more dread I feel). I just don't think some of the features it brought belonged in an expansion, but instead in the basegame. It honestly feels like the developers began making a game pack meant to go with a major game update, but wanted to bump up the price so they took some of the base game features, stuck it in the game pack, and slapped an expansion pack label over it instead
We have truly been conditioned to expect very little from EA. But can we please stop advocating for less lot's for these already miniscule worlds, or no new worlds at all?! This isn't taking us into a brighter future for the Sims at all! 🙄 It's not like we get so little content because the world's take so many resources to get made. EA has realized that it works out for them to allocate little resources into this game in the first place. Simmers will just buy 1000 reskins of existing objects and buy packs that didn't focus on gameplay and do forth. While in fact for a 1000$ Triple A game one should expect to have at least as much content as we got in previous entries to the franchise and maybe even a step up. Because if they did something better 20 years ago, then why should we even buy the content otherwise?! I have been playing the older games and waiting for something, anything really to pull me back into playing 4, but it never happens. I was intrigued seeing the new traits being gained through gameplay feature. But then I remembered just how little traits matter in this game and how we still don't even have as many traits as we previously had. The most interesting traits are still found in the predecessor. 😅 As a positive the infants themselves seem nice, though very buggy and partially broken when playing through the EA app.
everyone can give their own opinions. It's not that I love tiny worlds, it's that I think some packs, like seasons and heck sims 3 generations, stood out as good packs without a world. I also know the sims team has said many times worlds are not going to be way bigger. In addition. the last few packs were around 12 lots, and, minus the gfet together outlier, 13 is actually the average size. So I try to think about, within sims 4, what would make the best pack for said theme? All of our answers are imperfect, but my view is pragmatism.
@@SimmerErin I watch your videos regularly to hear your opinion. Hopefully this didn't come off as hateful or mean spirited. ☺️ I really appreciate your reviews too, this is just a bit of criticism. This is why I'm surprised that this would be your take on the world. I think TS3 was also rightfully criticized for not including a world in Generations and Seasons, although it wasn't as bad as in 4 because we could download custom worlds or make our own one. It's still worth criticizing though, because it's just lazy on their part! Just because the Sims team said that they wouldn't include bigger world doesn't mean they should slack off on the worlds they do release. And it's still worth it to criticize the decision they have made, because it's just another regression for us simmers! We don't have to just sit by idly while the game regresses more and more over the years. The Sims team also said that we wouldn't get toddlers and with enough vocal criticism, we got them back 2 years later. Same goes for most things the team said wasn't even possible in the first place. I don't think it's really pragmatic, it does encourage the team to focus even less on worlds in the future though. And this game currently has had a monopoly on the life simulation genre for decades and we are the only ones who can give them push back at all, while they sell us less and less for more and more.
I'm going to wait on this one until I can find it on the cheap somewhere because from what I'm seeing right now it's definitely not worth full price. As well as the disappointment of the whole Seaside thing from the housing to the water. Once again they've gone for the money not for the quality. Fortunately I was expecting as much so I'm not terribly upset just disappointed. It might be worth half the price but certainly not full price and considering I have so much else to work with as it is this one can definitely go on the back burner for a while.
I have to be the only one who latches onto something so trivial in these Sims packs. Great infants with the new pack I've done infants irl x2, I am dying over the ram footstool chair thing. I want the pack for the ram 😂 🙄
haha no you aren't~ I recall when I first joined the online sims community, strangerville was coming out. People bought the pack purely to have a laptop
It seems an odd thing that simmers seem to feel the need to editorialise how other people should view their thoughts - almost every review I've seen has been labelled in the title with things like "HONEST" or "UNPOPULAR". This is the first expansion release since I've been playing the game and this just strikes me as odd but maybe there is some reason for it? I'm just curious because a dishonest reviewer would label theirs as honest, so how do these adjectives help? I'm not meaning that as a criticism, it's just something that I'm trying to understand why it happens. A concern I have with the big neighbourhoods with lots of empty shells is just a question of how much time do you then waste moving between places? Isn't it better to go with a Newcrest type arrangement, where the lots are all fairly close and then you surround those neighbourhoods with shells? In terms of the empty space on the more touristy neighbourhood, I do wonder if they ought to add 'slots' for buskers, so as you walk around the area, you see a juggler, or guitar player etc. The dimensions of the space feel natural, it just needs the right kind of interactivity. I'd like to see big buildings maybe function like the small food booths if you can eat outside etc, maybe with an option to act like a rabbit hole in bad weather, but I'd need to see that in action to figure how good that idea is.
@@SimmerErin Thank you! Although it is a depressing answer as it implies the people who are searching are idiots... I'm not using that word lightly either, if it causes a positive bump in the views it means enough people aren't aware that you can't search for honesty, and have zero media literacy in evaluating sources. I'm attaching no fault to the creators on this, you've all got to play the game, even if part of the game is pandering to the inept... It seems like a lot more people need to watch the Tom Scott lecture about there being "No Algorithm for Truth"!
I wish they would've taken the time they used creating the lack-lustre world and just gave us more of everything. More Lifstyles that sync with preferences, more Sentiments, Wants, and Fears that cross ALL packs, more careers, a lot type that's more than just a title... let's face it, there is nothing special or unique about the rec center as a lot type. They basically LIED about there being classes on certain days. They could've actually incorporated a type of calendar system for a rec center to ACTUALLY have classes. You may as well just use the Generic lot type for all the difference it makes. But you know if they didn't make a world, half the community would lose their minds. Which I understand in a way, just don't agree with for this particular pack.
wants and fears I think I'd like fine tuned first, but I understand. a caveat is there is cross pack gameplay- and this is such an initial look at what the pack offers. I do think it could have included at least one rabbit hole career. I like the rec center, but would have preferred a unique feature. I first thought it'd be a special gathering place, but it's sort of just something one could build. I have critiques and I think those points are fair- all the while sitll feeling it's probably one of the best packs
@Simmer Erin I agree, it's honestly a very necessary pack, one of the best they've put out - However, I get tired of them setting up systems just to abandon them in all future packs. In the next pack, are they going to add relevant milestones? Because they're not adding Sentiments or Lifstyles. Or Wants and Fears (fine tuning definitely needed too). All of those things they said were supposed to make sims more lifelike... just one pack and done.
From the gameplay videos from major RU-vidr’s make it look glitchy (I bought it, haven’t had time to play it yet). I saw in the livestream, there was 3 dots next to the 3rd trait and randomise button, and wondering if any knows what it’s for?
I recall a lot of people noting the emphasis on cars back in eco lifestyle. I'd say it's just a way for them to make the worlds look more "real" ; of course, there is some speculation but idk
We haven't bought the pack and likely won't for a while. Even though my better half is a gameplay person, she doesn't care for infants. The world still seems too bland for me, I wish at least hopeful for that harbour area but from the footage I've seen it also disappoints. The shells always show the potential that Sims 4 can never realise. Those shells are the cliffs were possible in Sims 3. While there are some nice bits that you highlight, with other bits you pick up on, it seems like another case of almost but no gold stars. Maybe we'll feel differently if we ever get the pack. Have a great weekend. :-)
world definitely isn't wonderful- and I actually adore san fran in real life. I feel it's lacking in personality. it's not terrible, just not a reason I'd buy it. of course- I could see most of sims worlds being this way., I do suspect there are some tech issues and limitations they may be wary of
@@SimmerErin Yeah, we've talked about limitations for a very long while and as time goes on and the game gets bigger, they're only going to became stricter.
Yeah. i wish they had spent less time on creating a world (b/c we have so many, unless it was unique) and more on the features. Seasons and parenthood did not come with a world, but plenty of gameplay.
Yeah that was my thought. I can see people getting upset for not getting a world but generations in sims 3 also did not have one. that isn't to say it's bad here, just that I could make an argument for it not coming with one and shifting the focus
I’m anti-sims 4 because they try to monetize everything and at the end of the day, it’s empty and soulless. If this came with more hair, clothes AND came in base game, I would’ve changed to being pro-sims4 and reinstall sims4. Sadly, it’s not so I’m still pro-sims3 and pro-sims2
I'd say that could be applied to most AAA games, to be fair While I do certainly understand the feeling of being souless, I'd given an exception to this pack. I think it adds some soul back, truly
Playing the game without this pack is so disappointing now that I know exactly what I'm missing. The core things that have been missing from the game are finally here, just locked behind DLC. (Specifically the new like/dislike options and some of the family dynamics.) Unfortunately I can't buy the pack right now so... I'm feeling a bit robbed honestly
@@jaybee4288 I definitely didn't say that. Also I paid for the game a long time ago. Just saying "sim characteristics" feels more like a base game necessity than "growing together" pack content
@@SimmerErin I feel like it's a nuanced issue and it's fair for anyone to feel however they feel about it. Just wanted to share my opinion because I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who has similar thoughts about this pack specifically
I am still locked out by that wretched EA crAPP but I have noticed from RU-vid Simmer content that the infants have no skills etc, or any real way of (100 baby challenge style) to age them up early like you can with all other life stages. I could be wrong, but most have the expansion pack (early access) and never played the infants without it, but as far as I can tell they are just chaos unleashed without the expansion. No skills or anything for them to work on. Will this change my mind about buying the expansion? Nope. Only about whether I will stop playing the Sims 4 (and EA forever) entirely because the crAPP doesn't work anyway and they have no intention of fixing it any time soon. (timestamp 4:39-4:53) How does that song go? (Malvina Reynolds) Little boxes, on the hillside, little boxes, made of ticky-tacky. Little boxes on the hillside and they all look just the same... Glitchy and annoying? No doubt. Multi-purpose lots are only a plus for people who like to build or have the time (or initiative) to dig around in the gallery for stuff. I know they will never be gotten rid of, but the fact that there are so many multi-purpose lots that seem shallow (not alot to do that you can't do at home or in other lots like the many gyms/libraries that already exist) is one annoyance I have about gameplay regardless of the pack.
Infants get quirks and milestones, team explained they felt infants were too young to have skills yet, and I actually sort of agree. I'm cool with the additions they made
I didn't buy the pack and I'm still not sure if I will. What I like most for my personal way of playing the game is not or not enough in the pack. I really miss new careers and aspirations for adults. Some part time careers for elder sims and teenagers would have been nice. The rabbithole cinema is no pro for me. The rec center would have been nice but I already build centers like this since Eco Living. So it is not a new gameplay for me. I really dislike the fact that basegame infants are really basic. They have no skills like toddlers and very less objects. Chaning tables, diaper pails and playmats should be basegame content. I don't like the fact that you need an pack to have enough gameplay for infants.
Yeah, there is substantial things added here I'll say that- but a rabbithole career and even a few new traits could certainly add to the value. I have to admit, this pack does indeed take infants up several levels
