#expansion pack

LIVE

Let’s go back in time just over ten years ago when the console war between big names like Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo, raged in a great offensive to contrast the dominant PC base back then. A bit of history here trying to refresh the memories of gamers and non-gamers. Until the first half of 2000s PC titles were displaying the top shelves at your local Gamestop with their thick boxes as the DVD format became a standard pushing for bigger titles. At the same time console were still expanding and learning the consumer behavior of the players, but games had still little to no cross-platform so they were created for dedicated hardware.

Fast-forward today and everything is gone: video game stores have been closing with the advent of online platform like Steam and other outlets. But this is just the beginning of a new story that takes place online, where the face of gaming has been changing drastically so far. Gamers are now experiencing a whole new and different scenario of title quality and gameplay.

In the second decade of the 21st century a new different method of gaming has spawned and has been successful. Players have been shifting from purchasing a fully finished game inside a box to a platform of entertainment made of unfinished programming. Triple A titles have taken the habit of being release with the intent purpose of achieving their entirety through continuous purchases from the players. You are now getting sold video games that are meant to be consumed above their original price tag.

A funny yet realistic accountability of the gaming situation…

The rise of partially executed software for PC and eventually consoles has become (unfortunately) a common practice to yield more profit for the developers and the publishers. You are now getting the original title at a 80% out of its 100% so the remaining can be delivered to you in the following:

deluxe game edition

expansion

retailer exclusive

But this is not the end. This is the norm now, the rest has become a much deeper problem in the last years that is costing gamers more than they originally paid for the game they wanted. Today micro-transactions of all kinds are the standard meal for the top gaming tears, which includes EA, Valve, Blizzard, Activision, Ubisoft, and neighbors.

Off course, nobody is pushing players to open their wallets to include more digital content; however, the situation shifted from adding something extra to adding something that should have been there since the beginning, to adding something needed. The easiest analogy that comes to mind is when someone purchasing a car at the dealership is paying more for features that aren’t includeden the standard package; fair enough and everybody agrees with it. But now it has come to having to pay more to have the air conditioning and the windshield: you can still use your car but it’ll be very uncomfortable without those two necessary items.

The apex of this phenomena translated after the release of Counter Strike: Global OffensivewhenValve included its reward system of loot in the shape of a crate, which needs a key to be opened and that key costs real money. Players have to add funds from their credit card to their virtual wallet in order to be able to open such crates, which contain for the majority items of very low value that are resold for pennies. On the other hand there’s the very low chance that a rare and high valued item might spawn, it can be sold on a virtual market on Steam for hundred of dollars making some people very happy and generating a system based on chances of getting what you wish for. At worst this is gambling, at best it’s dishonesty.

In 2016Washington State Gambling CommissiongaveValve until October of the same year to end their game skin gambling. This issue came with no surprise to me since I’ve been playing Counter StrikeandTeam Fortress 2 from their releases. It was clear that something was wrong if a gaming commission knocks at your door with official papers. Despite the court battle we cannot ignore the fact that millions of players around the world have poured millions of dollars in digital and extra content outside any original gaming release price.

What does all this mean?- It means that there’s a problem in the gaming community because there’s a behavior at play which entangles the user in sliding into a practice which has become far too common: paying to win. This translates into having a large chunk of players willing to use their credit cars to achieve a status which is not granted by simply purchasing the game, but rather adding real money in order to access the full intended game.

The latest scandal of uncomfortable micro-transactions and game addiction came in the form of uproar from the player base.EA pulls out their e-commerce of digital goods in the wake of online protest from Star Wars Battlefront 2. Winning upon paying? Sounds like that recently and for some times. Forms of favorable upgrades in gaming experiences are around to push the user into spending more to enhance the game quality. But the worst part if how casual EA executed the whole thing from the beginning by allowing this pay-to-win system to be released: purchase this item to easily win against other players and not by skill.

It’s worrisome that we have reached the slot machine level that Las Vegas does to enjoy what was just recently a standard gaming experience. Gambling forms of video games platform shouldn’t be there for players to go through, because this entertainment square is widely open to kids who are minors and don’t understand the concept of what gambling is and how does it work, especially when you allow it inside their favorite games. The line between fun and sorrow easily blurs and disappears.

Gaming addiction can only become worse when the legitimization of real money in video game gambling becomes the norm, which in part has been happening in the realm of digital products .I can only hope that game developers along publishers understand the basic relationship of digital entertainment: a virtual game for a virtual fun. That’s all.

@12hedron

Fri, 24 Nov 2017 19:35:13

My husband has returned to me. Maybe this game isnt so bad after all.

#story of seasons pioneers of olive town #sos poot #twilight isle #expansion pack #trio of towns

@missusk

Fri, 27 Aug 2021 08:53:07

The Sims 4 Expansion Pack Survey: August 2015

The latest Sims 4 survey is making the rounds (it’s by invitation only, check your email) and this time it includes a short blurb for 11 potential expansion pack themes. Four of the expansion pack themes (Generations, Vacations, On The Road and Find Love) included a detailed description.

Of note: There is no mention of a Pet expansion pack or the popular Town Life (with neighborhood editing tools) option from the October 2014 survey.

POTENTIAL THEMES
Potential themes for future The Sims 4 expansion packs.

ON THE ROAD
Get behind the wheel of different vehicles including cars, trucks, and motorcycles. Fix up old cars, build a hotrod, or jump on your ride and explore a number of unique tourist destinations.

Detailed description and potential features:

THE SIMS 4 ON THE ROAD
Jump behind the wheel and travel the country with your Sims! Choose from a wide variety of vehicles, including cars, trucks, and even motorcycles. Make a living fixing up old cars, or building the perfect hot rod. Jump on your ride and explore the world by visiting a number of unique tourist destinations.

New Vehicles: Your Sims can now choose from a variety of vehicles to own and drive including cars, trucks, and even motorcycles.
Build A Garage: Build a brand new garage where you can work on your vehicles and display them for all to see.
Become A Mechanic: Fix up, customize, and build new cars with the new Mechanic active career.
Visit Tourist Destinations: Take your ride on the road to visit tourist destinations like the Grand Sims Canyon, the World’s Largest Ball of Twine, or the Secret Mystery Spot.

UNIVERSITY
Send your Sims off to University! Explore the University campus and decide whether your Sims are going to study to ace their exams or spend their days partying it up. Sims can also pledge fraternities and sororities and try to become members of these prestigious organizations.

GENERATIONS
It’s time for your Sims to settle down and start a family! Raise your children from cooing babies into rowdy toddlers, with all the fun and excitement that youngsters bring. Watch as your children grow into moody pre-teens and help them overcome the trials and tribulations of youth. Help your family grow and flourish into a dynasty that will last forever.

Detailed description and potential features:

THE SIMS 4 GENERATIONS (Incomplete description; missing feature descriptions.)

It’s time for your Sims to settle down and start a family! Raise your children from cooing babies into rowdy toddlers, with all the fun and excitement that youngsters bring. Watch as your children grow into moody pre-teens and help them overcome the trials and tribulations of youth. Help your family grow and flourish into a dynasty that will last forever.

Toddlers: For the first time in Sims 4, you can experience the joys of …

GET REAL
It’s time to become a reality star! Join the cast of Sliced n’ Diced to compete against other chefs, Finding Love to become the most desired bachelor/bachelorette, or Runway Takeoff to become a fashion design star.

POWER UP
Turn your Sims into superheroes! Use powers like mind reading, telekinesis, and teleportation. Learn new powers at the Super Hero Academy and use them to make the world a better place or terrorize the population.

REBUILD
The apocalypse has struck The Sims 4! Explore abandoned neighborhoods and rescue survivors, rebuild your town into a thriving community, and fight off zombies to protect your new town.

BACK TO SCHOOL
Take your Sims to school! Have your child and teen Sims participate in school activities including classes, dances, and student government elections or become a teacher with the new Teacher active career!

GET FAMOUS:
It’s time to get internet famous! Start a band, play pranks on your friends, give Sims stylish makeovers and broadcast it all on SimTube to gain fans and get famous.

VACATION
Take your Sims on vacation! Head to Mt. Wright for fun winter getaway with ice skating, sledding, and snowboarding, and mysterious ice caves. Or head to Isla Cordinada to soak up the sun and build sand castles, surf the waves, and uncover ancient tombs.

Detailed description and potential features:

THE SIMS 4 VACATION
It’s time to take your Sims on vacation! Head to one of two new exciting locations with unique activities and weather. Travel to the peaks of Mt. Wright for some winter fun where you can go ice skating, sledding, snowboarding, and explore the mysterious ice caves. Or head to Isla Cordinada to soak up the sun, build sand castles, surf the waves, and uncover through the ancient tombs.

Summer Vacation: Experience the best of summer at an island getaway, with sand castles, surfing, and delicious island food and drinks.
Winter Getaway: Enjoy a winter wonderland with a snowy mountain vacation. Go snowboarding, sledding, make snowmen, or hit the lake for some ice skating!
Explore Ancient Locations: Explore ancient tombs in the jungle, or beautiful ice caves in the … avoiding deadly traps and yetis..
Winter & Summer Seasons: Bring the weather home with you. Experience the warm days of summer or magical snowfall in your home town!

FIND LOVE
Find true love in the Sims 4! Meet your date on SimMatch, take your date to romantic getaway spots, build up your romantic reputation, and have the wedding of your dreams!

THE SIMS 4 FIND LOVE
Love is in the air in The Sims 4! Find your Sim’s soulmate with the new dating app SimMatch, then head to one of the new romantic getaway spots for the perfect date. Build your romantic reputation as a loyal companion or the town heartbreaker, and enjoy the ultimate wedding celebration, complete with bachelor & bachelorette parties and exclusive food and decor.

SimMatch Dating App: Help your Sims find their soulmate or a fun fling for the night with the new SimMatch app. Pick out the perfect selfie, fill out their profile, and decide how honest your Sims want to be.
Romantic Getaway Locations: Take your Sims out for the perfect date at one of the new romantic getaway locations including a cozy bed and breakfast or the swanky eco-lounge.
Romantic Reputation: Build up your romantic reputation as you go out on dates with different Sims. Will you be known as a loyal companion or the town hearkbreaker? Your reputation will determine how Sims in the world react to you and earn you unique romance rewards.
Ultimate Wedding: Live out your Sims’ wedding fantasies and have the ultimate bachelor or bachelorette party, select and customize the perfect wedding party, and spruce things up with exclusive wedding food and decor.

METROPOLIS
Move into a bustling, modern city! Live in new apartments and penthouses, eat at food carts and shop at street markets, and immerse your Sims in the different cultures of the city by exploring the many diverse neighborhoods.

Source: gurlgamer

Honeywell’s Sims 4 News|Survey

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#honeywell #sims 4 news #the sims 4 #sims 4 #survey #expansion pack