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Theorist
#51 Old 4th Aug 2013 at 3:47 PM
Considering how tenacious the modding community can be, I really doubt it's possible to make Sims entirely mod-free

This seems relevant
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Mad Poster
#52 Old 13th Aug 2013 at 8:03 PM Last edited by PANDAQUEEN : 14th Aug 2013 at 12:02 AM.
I would stop buying The Sims series if the programming of The Sims 4 prevents modding.

I use mods to tell extravagant stories.

EXAMPLE: I currently have a Power Rangers reunion going on in The Sims 3, but that's because circumstances beyond my control happened. (I was only 5-6 year old when Power Rangers first came out and from what I was told, a key cast member faced abuse that UNICEF and The United Nations would outline in their charters to avoid.)

(Back to the topic)
Then again, I would hate to see EA upset their fanbase.

I actually have the right tools to tune my XML files now, but I'm not sure what kind of files will be used in The Sims 4.

A NOTE ABOUT MY GAME:
I have been thinking long and hard about my farm. (Yes, I have a farm with 8 farmhands working with me, so yes, I have Nraas mods on my game) All except my Sim self are celebrities. Well, celebrities from my day. I could go on about Kim Kardashian and joke how even her baby's birth involved no labor (rim shot goes here) and that she's famous for nothing. The celebrities in question are from Power Rangers, which I saw the original first season when I was 5 going on 6. Even the two that were credited in the opening but didn't play rangers (Paul Schrier and Jason Narvy) appear in my game.

BACK TO THE TOPIC
I just hope that I can actually carry over a recurring story into The Sims 4. I hope it allows for all the things I already know about in The Sims 3 in The Sims 4. Of course, if I can mod it, I will be happy.

My point? I guess we'll have to wait and see if this rumor is nothing more than a bogus joke.

I tend to debate with myself over such issues.

Personal Quote: "I like my men like my sodas: tall boys." (Zevia has both 12 and 16 oz options)

(P.S. I'm about 5' (150cm) in height and easily scared)
Inventor
#53 Old 21st Aug 2013 at 5:46 PM
I did talk to two of the Gurus today about CC and mods and to me it sounds they have no intention of making it mod/cc proof. I tried to explain that what I find important when it comes to cc (and I hope I do represent your opinions with that) as in, cc shouldn't attach, we want an easy system for it - most important to make sure we can delete cc from within game - and that we need our mods to have fun.

Both listened and all we can do now is hope that they really did listen. They did say that they knew that this was important and do encourage cc.
Field Researcher
#54 Old 21st Aug 2013 at 6:43 PM
Deleting CC while in game would be soooo wonderful. Keep begging for it crinrict, and good job so far.

I wasn't too worried about cc/mods being included in the game, once I saw TSR is on the yibsims guest list. Even if they did try to keep mods and cc out of the game, I figure it would turn out about like the underwater dive areas. Remember Graham telling us that absolutely, positively there was NO way dive lots could be used anywhere except Isla Paridiso? It was less than 24 hours after the game came out that there were detailed instructions here about how to put one in other worlds.

My daddy always said "It's hard to make things foolproof, cuz fools are so ingenious."
Forum Resident
#55 Old 21st Aug 2013 at 7:21 PM
Quote:
Deleting CC while in game would be soooo wonderful. Keep begging for it crinrict, and good job so far.
Agreed. Then I wouldn't have to go hunting the filename for that hair/outfit that looked nice in the pics, but terrible in-game. Is memory failing me, or could we do that in TS2?
Forum Resident
#56 Old 21st Aug 2013 at 7:41 PM
Just like the simcity issue. Maxis purposely made Simcity 2013 harder to mod, so people would rely on paid DLC instead. Typical EA games.
Instructor
#57 Old 22nd Aug 2013 at 2:28 AM
The Sims without cc and mod is like The Sims in the console and mobile phone...

Is The Sims actually really a good game?
Forum Resident
#58 Old 22nd Aug 2013 at 2:31 AM
Quote: Originally posted by Celebriton
The Sims without cc and mod is like The Sims in the console and mobile phone...

Is The Sims actually really a good game?


?

Is "The Sims Console" a good game? Yes.
Is "The Sims On mobile devices" a good game? no.


While not moddable, the ones from Edge Of Reality are pretty good. EOR developed TS1,TS3 and TS3 Pets console.
Urbz and the others are good too. Avoid the mobile games like Freeplay for example, and the god terrible Sims 3 Mobile.
Top Secret Researcher
#59 Old 22nd Aug 2013 at 2:45 AM
Quote: Originally posted by vhanster
Considering how tenacious the modding community can be, I really doubt it's possible to make Sims entirely mod-free

This seems relevant


Oh my. I don't play anything but the Sims, but, wow. The Horsarity!

My eyes have been opened and I'm not sure I should have seen all that.
Instructor
#60 Old 22nd Aug 2013 at 2:49 AM
Quote: Originally posted by residenteviloutbreak
?

Is "The Sims Console" a good game? Yes.
Is "The Sims On mobile devices" a good game? no.


While not moddable, the ones from Edge Of Reality are pretty good. EOR developed TS1,TS3 and TS3 Pets console.
Urbz and the others are good too. Avoid the mobile games like Freeplay for example, and the god terrible Sims 3 Mobile.


I didn't play the console, but I tried the Freeplay. I assumed Freeplay is like The Sims in consoles.

Btw, what makes console interesting?
Mad Poster
#61 Old 22nd Aug 2013 at 4:17 AM
Quote: Originally posted by Tzigone
Agreed. Then I wouldn't have to go hunting the filename for that hair/outfit that looked nice in the pics, but terrible in-game. Is memory failing me, or could we do that in TS2?

Or you could use CC magic and you can browse your CC with a preview picture. Much easier than trying to remember what file name it was.

You can delete cc in TS2 in game but from what I remember (And after a bit of googling) it wasn't fool proof. You had to use Clean Installer to delete orphan meshes and recolours left behind in your folders. If it's possible to un-install CC from game, I hope they make it so that bits and pieces are not left behind. Otherwise what's the point if you still have to manually go through it and delete. Of course 99% of players wouldn't do this, they would just delete from game and be happy.
And all the maladies of the world burst forth from Pandora's cooch
#62 Old 22nd Aug 2013 at 6:41 AM
Quote: Originally posted by Celebriton
I didn't play the console, but I tried the Freeplay. I assumed Freeplay is like The Sims in consoles.

Btw, what makes console interesting?
Consoles play very similarly to the PC versions, but with a few restrictions. There is a limit of how many items you can have on a lot, and if you put too many, you run the risk of fire. The one thing they DO have that the PC doesn't, is Karma Powers. In some ways they work like Lifetime Awards, but you can use them to effect other sims. http://sims.wikia.com/wiki/Karma_power
Lab Assistant
#63 Old 22nd Aug 2013 at 12:55 PM
I feel sad that don't use mods.
Lab Assistant
#64 Old 22nd Aug 2013 at 1:07 PM
They can make it easier for modders, but they could probably make it harder as well. I feel that they wanted people to mod in Sims 2 but not in Sims 3 because they wanted you to download from Store instead...

What they CAN do, is make it illegal to customize the game... Which would definitely suck.
Scholar
#65 Old 22nd Aug 2013 at 1:14 PM
It could be a possibility that the game will be un-moddable, i mean EA is trying to appease the online crowd these days...with the use of mods they won;t be able to control the online "content". Since people will be creating weird and bizarre things, it might be too risky for them. Who knows...damn.
Lab Assistant
#66 Old 23rd Aug 2013 at 12:03 PM
Making the game "mod-proof" would come with a huge backlash. Or at least that's what I want to believe. The amount of things some people are willing to put up with surprises me.

However, I do believe that they have zero interest whatsoever in making the games "mod friendly", because they actually care more about the stuff packs, expansion packs, and store items they can sell than what the fans can do.

So my guess is that the Sims 4 will be mod-able, but that they are not going to move a finger to make it easier. It would be really nice if they had a workshop to promote fan-made material, but seeing how that worked out for The Sims 2 (some of the most bizarre CC i've ever seen came from the sims 2 exchange) I doubt they would consider embracing the community. It would be nice, but yeah this is EA.
Mad Poster
#67 Old 23rd Aug 2013 at 12:05 PM
it won't be.. they said themselves that they will have new tools for custom content etc. i don't care though honestly lol
Field Researcher
#68 Old 23rd Aug 2013 at 3:25 PM
Let's be honest here: If TS4 is completely capable of being mod-proof, the game will DIE. And EA's money will just not flow as well towards them as it used to. Will EA care? Yes. Will they change how they do things? Yes. Will they change positively? Who really knows.
One Minute Ninja'd
#69 Old 24th Aug 2013 at 1:07 AM
Quote: Originally posted by jthm_nny
Let's be honest here: If TS4 is completely capable of being mod-proof, the game will DIE. And EA's money will just not flow as well towards them as it used to. Will EA care? Yes. Will they change how they do things? Yes.
No, they won't. because the revenue decrease will be attributed to forces beyond their control, not from the dumb assed decisions they're making.

I can see it already. PC sales are tanking. Everyone is buying tablets and phones. There is no longer much of a market for pc games, so while we tried, we didn't anticipate the rate of contraction of the marketplace. From now on, it's FB, console, and table/phone production for our strategic strategy. The good news, all the effort in the early stages of TS4 development will translate great into a social game played on tablets, consoles and phones. See how smart we were to plan ahead?

Quote:
Will they change positively? Who really knows.
They haven't changed yet. Why break the streak now?
Fat Obstreperous Jerk
#70 Old 24th Aug 2013 at 4:45 AM
Positive change is physically impossible. The entropy of a closed system must always increase. Things can only go from bad to worse. This is why modding is essential: It creates an open system in which energy can be inputted to reduce entropy, the force of suck.

Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I cannot accept, and the wisdom to hide the bodies of those I had to kill because they pissed me off.
Mad Poster
#71 Old 25th Aug 2013 at 9:45 AM
Quote:
The good news, all the effort in the early stages of TS4 development will translate great into a social game played on tablets, consoles and phones. See how smart we were to plan ahead?

For all the hoopla about tablets, phones and consoles, EA makes a game that cannot be limited to those.

The amount of RAM needed to play the game will exceed those specifications, and it will have to be programmed to be able to play it on a regular old computer. You know the type that most of us grew up using-a desk top.

Sims 3 I think was problematic because everyone expected it to play on a notebook, and many of those just didn't cut it for power, thus many who used them to play the game had massive problems playing it.

I don't think EA has changed their specs just for one segment of the population. They have to take into account all types of computers. Phones definitely won't be part of it.

This is a game that will require more intricate technology than an IPhone. It's not the same kind of game as those you play on Facebook. Or so I hope.

As for modding, EA knows that the modders will be there waiting to fix whatever problems they're too lazy to do themselves, and probably expects them to jump in with both feet. I also expect said modders are looking forward to having a new game to break.
Instructor
#72 Old 25th Aug 2013 at 11:59 AM
Quote: Originally posted by vhanster
Considering how tenacious the modding community can be, I really doubt it's possible to make Sims entirely mod-free


Actually, it's very easy to make it non-moddable. That's what all the fuss about online play is really about.

In a software for service model, the gamer actually does not have most of the code for the game. You may by a CD rom in the store, or even download a program. But that CD rom or download does not have the guts of the game. The guts of the game lives on EA's servers. The program you purchase just allows you to access EA's servers.

The game cannot be modded because propsective modders cannot access EA's code. EA can restrict what is done or not done on their servers.

In a multi-player environment, EA will want to restrict the types of cc available. For example, one of the first mods to come out was the anti-mosaic mod. Many gamers did not like that their nude sims were being blurred/scrambled, so the mod removed that limitation from the game.

However, in a multiplayer environment, the mosaic may be something of a necessity. First, there are people who object to depictions of nudity. At one point during the Reagan years, we had an attorney general who covered up the genitals on scuptures in the Department of Justice. Plus having nude children or teens could be construed as kiddie porn by some, even though the sims are cartoons. Yes, this is crazy.

Moreover, some gamers have an irrational fear of cc and simply don't want other peoples creations in their game. Most people probably want to control the third party content which appears in their games. To make these people happy, no third party content can be allowed on EA's servers. in a multi-player environment.
Mad Poster
#73 Old 25th Aug 2013 at 12:44 PM
Actually, HPG, I remember them saying it would be single-player and offline, only activating once.

Although, I have my fears, doubts, reservations, what have you and I just hope they don't re-neg on the structure they laid down.

Of course, they may rely on the Store as being their source of income between sales of the game and expansion\stuff packs, which in the case of TS3, they've got my money due to my OCD in wanting new content that has new coding. Sure, by the consensus of this board, you try to make it seem like an unclean animal according to Biblical standards and not touch it, but I know a few things on the downloads section of this site that are based on the TS3 Store downloads, improving on some of the pitfalls, such as the "Hello Angel" hairstyle, which, if you're trying to make a Decora girl in Japanese pop culture, it's okay, but all those accessories do look ridiculous on the wrong woman.

I am wary of their intentions, knowing what they released is the alpha version.

Personal Quote: "I like my men like my sodas: tall boys." (Zevia has both 12 and 16 oz options)

(P.S. I'm about 5' (150cm) in height and easily scared)
One horse disagreer of the Apocalypse
#74 Old 25th Aug 2013 at 1:00 PM
I don't know for sure but you may well find that depicting naked under-16s in the UK, even as a cartoon, is now illegal.

"You can do refraction by raymarching through the depth buffer" (c. Reddeyfish 2017)
Theorist
#75 Old 26th Aug 2013 at 3:07 PM
Quote: Originally posted by FranH
For all the hoopla about tablets, phones and consoles, EA makes a game that cannot be limited to those.

The amount of RAM needed to play the game will exceed those specifications, and it will have to be programmed to be able to play it on a regular old computer. You know the type that most of us grew up using-a desk top.


I think you underestimate the speed at which consoles and mobile devices are improving. It is outpacing the old desktop PC.

Xbox One and PS4 both have 8-core processors and 8GB of RAM. GPUs are somewhere around the PC equivalent of an AMD HD 7870. More than capable hardware.
Mobile devices are still a bit behind, but every year their capabilities increase exponentially. It's not unusual to find tablets and phones these days with 2GB of RAM and quad core processors.

Thankfully, PC gaming is not dead yet and we're definitely getting Sims 4, but I wouldn't completely discount the possibility that Sims 5 and beyond may be console/mobile exclusive and unmoddable as a result.

Resident wet blanket.
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