thesims4blogger:

Simified: Will Sims be able to have and own cars? Will cars in The Sims 4 have functions similar to The Sims 2 (opening doors, etc.) or will they be like The Sims 3?

Grant: Sims will definitely be able to own and have cars! As far as how they will function, I cannot comment on that yet. I do know that opening doors, like in The Sims 2, would require a lot from our animations team, so this may or may not happen.

It sounds like cars will be animated in the same way as in The Sims 3. This is very disappointing to hear, as I personally can’t stand Sims teleporting into their cars. Little details like opening car doors are essential if TS4 is to feel alive and complete. I just don’t buy that it would “require a lot” animation-wise. Have you guys seen the incredible amount of models, textures and animations in recent games? I think they could manage. I am alright with EA toning down and simplifying the graphics if it allows for more complex game systems…I hope they come through on this!

What do you guys think?

yibsims:

Some potential concept art was recently leaked from Tony Ianiro, who (according to his LinkedIn profile) worked on creating concept art for houses and environments as well as helping to create the overall look of the game. The art was available on Ianiro’s digital portfolio, which has since been made password protected. I normally don’t give much credence to rumours but just from the general look of the art on display and from the support from his LinkedIn profile I’d say this stuff is legit.

Anyway I thought I’d give a general overview of some of the images and say what I think they tell us about the game.

These beautiful house designs keep to the southern US vibe we’ve come to expect from the footage of the game so far. One thing I’m really hoping for is a better system for attic rooms, something that has never really worked in the series so far.

A classic Louisiana riverboat with a stylised flair. This piece of concept art could just be inspiration for the designers or it could hint at the return of boats, a popular addition in The Sims 3: Island Paradise. Personally, I’m hoping this boat is on the riverfront of the Riviera town, I’d like it to be a rabbit hole of sorts, one that you can see inside of and interact with but can’t edit. This would allow the team to create some incredibly impressive buildings that are visually complex but still usable as restaurants or shops. Just a thought.

Some random furniture designs, nothing much to comment on other than the traditional style, this also fits with the older architectural style shown above. The reason why I included the picture though is the minibar, the bar/counter from the original Sims game was perhaps my favourite item in the whole game, it was small but stylish.

Look how cool it is, what a game.

The next image could be for anything but if you ask me it’s to showcase a very different type of house that can be created in the game.

Reminds me of Florida, or an upmarket Strangetown.

This is the same sort of thing, just a different style of building. This Tudor style of building can be seen in the background of the leaked UI image from last year.

Finally we have some logos/signs that will no doubt appear on buildings in one of the towns available at launch (with Maxis being involved again I foresee multiple towns at release). 

I love these they’re so charming in a twisted way, just like most things in the original game. I’d imagine this is for Riviera too, the mystical element in most of the signs again reminds me of the New Orleans shown on TV in shows like The Originals and American Horror Story: Coven. I’m pretty sure the catfish is sniffing a pot of gumbo. I really hope from the variety of signs in the concept art that there will be a heavier focus on consumerism in the town centre of the game with plenty of different restaurants and shops. I might use the town more if there’s something to get my sims interested in that they can’t get at home, rather than restaurants I can’t see inside of and a theatre I’m meant to imagine my sims are having fun inside.

I wasn’t going to share these because I was told that they had nothing to do with The Sims 4, but EA keeps forcing them off Tumblr, which leads me to think otherwise. The cute signs and beautiful architecture would add wonderful depth and charm to TS4, so I hope that this art is for the game. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see!