Here's an idea for those who want/don't want SimPort or Extra Rewards

I also don't believe this idea will actually be implemented, and I kind of think a lot of the social stuff will be implemented via patch, however it's still speculation and I know nothing for sure. What a lot of other people are saying may or may not happen might be correct too. It's still fun to think about the possibilities you've presented here though and these options might quell a lot more people than them just simply shoving it at us.

Since no one is really answering the original question though, I'd totally go for and buy the cheaper version of the full EP minus simport and the rest of the social features.

Sorry, I don't remember what option number you had that as, but that's my vote.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 12/10/11 05:55 PM

Coffee Chick, with online features, EA says you can turn off and on, same would apply to SimPort as it is an ONLINE feature, but to the Showtime EP.

One of the new features we’re excited about in The Sims 3 Showtime is the capability of in-game messaging, so that you can communicate with your Simmer friends while you’re playing. If you prefer not to have this connected experience, then it’s easy enough to turn off this messaging.

As far as we know EA has informed us that we are not required to have online interaction nor do we need to. If anything if we have no online interactin required = we aren't required to use SimPort.

They gave us options, we have a choice whether to use it or not.

Also:

They included "rewards" to entice you to use it so heck yes there will be opportunities popping up left and right that ask you to use it too.

But hey, that's my two-cents on that on/off switch assumption so many people seem to feel is being included.

They gave us the options to suppress opportunities from a different EP (can't remember if it's Late Night or Ambitions) so if it's like opportunities, then we can have the option to suppress it also.

SimsManiac2k9 wrote: I just looked at the price you are paying.
The limited edition can be bought from Play.com in the UK for £24.99 I do not know if you double that to get your dollars, I forgot what you had to do. We normally pay around the same price as you, But this time we are not.

Im one of the 'Simmers who just buy the EP regardless but not use online interaction at all' But i may considering using it at least once. I can't say I don't like it until i have tried it.

It's probably because of the Pets scenario so they are making it cheaper for UK people.

This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 12/10/11 06:12 PM

AznSensei wrote:

XOX1 wrote:
I choose option 7:

I will be unplugging my internet cable from my computer during gameplay.

Brilliant response hun, idea that I wish some simmers could take and use *applauds* (honestly though, I'm glad you see the picture).

Why should anybody have to unplug their internet connection to play a game they bought for 40 dollars? I don't recommend taking out your internet cable. If you turned off the feature, yet something still happens, that would be EA you would have to go to.

These ideas I doubt will be implemented anyway. This would just cause EA to spend more money on making now 4 editions of the EP (limited, regular, and your 2 ideas).

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 12/10/11 06:19 PM

Sk8rblaze wrote:

AznSensei wrote:

XOX1 wrote:
I choose option 7:

I will be unplugging my internet cable from my computer during gameplay.

Brilliant response hun, idea that I wish some simmers could take and use *applauds* (honestly though, I'm glad you see the picture).

Why should anybody have to unplug their internet connection to play a game they bought for 40 dollars? I don't recommend taking out your internet cable. If you turned off the feature, yet something still happens, that would be EA you would have to go to.

These ideas I doubt will be implemented anyway. This would just cause EA to spend more money on making now 4 editions of the EP (limited, regular, and your 2 ideas).

First off, she isn't literally going to pull out her internet cable, it's simply a metaphor of pretty much "I just won't use internet connection"

Technically, it would only make two, both of which will be replaced:
- Limited + Lack of Social Features
- Limited + Normal as showcased
- Regular game
- Regular game + Lack of social features

It's like how they made with Pets:
- Limited
- Plus Pets
- Regular

1 more game is not going to make a difference and pretty much at the end it'll go down to just "two" games. ^_^

I heard that the SimPort thing will be optional, so im not chooseing, i just thought i'd inform you all!!

AznSensei wrote:

Sk8rblaze wrote:

AznSensei wrote:

XOX1 wrote:
I choose option 7:

I will be unplugging my internet cable from my computer during gameplay.

Brilliant response hun, idea that I wish some simmers could take and use *applauds* (honestly though, I'm glad you see the picture).

Why should anybody have to unplug their internet connection to play a game they bought for 40 dollars? I don't recommend taking out your internet cable. If you turned off the feature, yet something still happens, that would be EA you would have to go to.

These ideas I doubt will be implemented anyway. This would just cause EA to spend more money on making now 4 editions of the EP (limited, regular, and your 2 ideas).

First off, she isn't literally going to pull out her internet cable, it's simply a metaphor of pretty much "I just won't use internet connection"

Technically, it would only make two, both of which will be replaced:
- Limited + Lack of Social Features
- Limited + Normal as showcased
- Regular game
- Regular game + Lack of social features

It's like how they made with Pets:
- Limited
- Plus Pets
- Regular

1 more game is not going to make a difference and pretty much at the end it'll go down to just "two" games. ^_^

Either way, disabling your internet to play a game you paid for, is NOT worth paying for in the first place.

I just don't believe EA will bother to make an edition of the EP with the social features and then without it. They might as well include it as an extra download from the site. That would solve everyone's problems, if that's even possible for them to do. I don't see why though they would choose to include it in an EP anyway.

AznSensei wrote:

Writin_Reg wrote:Hmmm Jarsie, you and AZNN just gave me a possible solution seeing I know I want the game, but don't want the Social part - Jarsie cause you mentioned two pcs - what if you started a new Account with the new ep for pc 2, make that your internet buddie and just send your sim to your other pc. I could use my hubbies Dell desktop just to recieve the Sim. It's get onboard crappy chipset Video so I would never use it to play my game, hubby uses it when he wants to take his Wow with him when he's waiting for me at the doctors - I am there sometimes a long time, so it should handle Sims on low and I'd get both set of rewards. hehehe Wonder if it is possible. I'll have to find out.

I just went and checked. He already has his own EA account for all his Football and Tiger woods golf, so it might work.

It might be possible but unless you buy two showtime EP's probably x.x as they both have to be registered to use the online feature for showtime.

Great idea Writig_Reg. Hubby's got his own TS3 game and EA account and if we were going to get this EP it would work but we both don't like this EP so we're not going to get it.

AznSensei - we both have our own copies of The Sims 3 and it's expansions. He's got up to Pets and I have up to Generations. We also have EA accounts for other games like SimCity, Madden NFL, Mass Effect 2, The Sims 2 series, The Sims 3 series, Dark Age of Camelot and for the upcoming Star Wars The Old Republic.

AznSensei - we both have our own copies of The Sims 3 and it's expansions. He's got up to Pets and I have up to Generations. We also have EA accounts for other games like SimCity, Madden NFL, Mass Effect 2, The Sims 2 series, The Sims 3 series, Dark Age of Camelot and for the upcoming Star Wars The Old Republic.

Oh my, I would never buy something twice but I guess it's to prevent piracy x.x

I hope that if I choose to buy this EP I can somehow get the achivment stuff, with out using the port! or well I'm curius....but not happy about this social feture thing....

anettesb wrote:I hope that if I choose to buy this EP I can somehow get the achivment stuff, with out using the port! or well I'm curius....but not happy about this social feture thing....

I'm "guessing" that the achievement system will be multiple things, like "create this many stories", expansion of uploading more memories, Have this many friends added, etc. (which I hope that the friend thing will be insane and pointless). It is a guess though and I can be wrong about that.

I think that those who are saying: "Well, I'll just exchange Sims with my friend/husband to get the rewards" and "I'll just get the rewards and then not use Simport anymore" are going to be in for a rude awakening.

EA has no interest in having people stop using Simport. Simport is designed to use the same system as many of the Facebook games. In order to accomplish quests in Facebook games, you have to have more than one neighbor. People may expect to be able to play with the same person over and over again to gain the rewards. But, Facebook games often require the player to depend on more than one neighbor to complete their quests, so I would not be at all surprised if the touring opportunity didn't come with a requirement to tour more than one venue, *after* you have completed the first tour. This means you'd have to go to more than one player's computer; and it probably would be done in a "one-at-a-time" fashion, since I'm sure you can only send out one Sim at a time.

So, if you get the opportunity that says "Perform at two venues", you won't be able to use the same person to do it with; that wouldn't make sense, given the fact EA really wants to encourage players to use this feature, and the more the merrier. I'm convinced that's the way this will be played out.

And, AznSensei, despite your brilliant ideas and your attempts to try to convince players that they are overreacting, EA will not be making another version of this expansion pack for those who don't want the social networking. I'll be interested to see if we can still bypass the launcher altogether by going through the .exe file itself, or if EA will no longer give us that option, but require us to use the Launcher to upload our game. If it does fix it so that we can only play using the Launcher, then that kills any idea of disconnecting your computer, since the Launcher is run by Origin.

Keep trying to soothe the masses, but, as in SimGuru Snelson's threads, it's not going to work. Some of us are neither stupid or naive.

LittleMissShibby wrote:I heard that the SimPort thing will be optional, so im not chooseing, i just thought i'd inform you all!!

It's not truly optional, yes you can choose not to use it, but if you do you'll miss out on the EPs content.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 12/10/11 08:51 PM

Jarsie9 wrote:I think that those who are saying: "Well, I'll just exchange Sims with my friend/husband to get the rewards" and "I'll just get the rewards and then not use Simport anymore" are going to be in for a rude awakening.

EA has no interest in having people stop using Simport. Simport is designed to use the same system as many of the Facebook games. In order to accomplish quests in Facebook games, you have to have more than one neighbor. People may expect to be able to play with the same person over and over again to gain the rewards. But, Facebook games often require the player to depend on more than one neighbor to complete their quests, so I would not be at all surprised if the touring opportunity didn't come with a requirement to tour more than one venue, *after* you have completed the first tour. This means you'd have to go to more than one player's computer; and it probably would be done in a "one-at-a-time" fashion, since I'm sure you can only send out one Sim at a time.

So, if you get the opportunity that says "Perform at two venues", you won't be able to use the same person to do it with; that wouldn't make sense, given the fact EA really wants to encourage players to use this feature, and the more the merrier. I'm convinced that's the way this will be played out.

And, AznSensei, despite your brilliant ideas and your attempts to try to convince players that they are overreacting, EA will not be making another version of this expansion pack for those who don't want the social networking. I'll be interested to see if we can still bypass the launcher altogether by going through the .exe file itself, or if EA will no longer give us that option, but require us to use the Launcher to upload our game. If it does fix it so that we can only play using the Launcher, then that kills any idea of disconnecting your computer, since the Launcher is run by Origin.

Keep trying to soothe the masses, but, as in SimGuru Snelson's threads, it's not going to work. Some of us are neither stupid or naive.

No to me the real question would be how many ep's after this will utilize simport. THis surely won't be the only one, with just this one feature. This is a huge shift in the game, and changes sims in a huge way. Though Azn wants to convince people to like the feature, he really can't because he needs to understand some people just don't want to socialize with their sims. There must be a reason that they're pushing the game into this besides wanting players to socialize. In sims social if you can't advance and get the rewards than you can buy the rewards, or buy sims points to help you out. I feel that is the true nature of the ep to push the game into costing more money.

You aren't going to get those rewards unless you spend the time interacting or paying more. Especially when people beging to see what those rewards are. Then you'll see lots of threads popping up saying make the rewards optional in the store. It's almost like EA is playing us into what they want. Why do you think the online store is so heavily marketed in game. They're making it easier and easier to shop from within the game. Do I think this is right no, this could spell some serious trouble for sims. One thing we know about EA they haven't learned yet to charge reasonable pricing. If your customers feel like cash cows and you incringe on the gaming freedoms your sales are going to keep dropping.

AznSensei wrote:Since I suppose many of us who don't want to be "forced" to use the social features to get these rewards that affect our gameplay so much, how about this:

Pick the choices you like the best and poll results posted at end of post.

Option 1: Split EP
Release Showtime for $29.99 containing:
- No SimPort Feature
- No requirement of social interaction to play your game or career advancement (obviously with the patch update, some online features will be there but shouldn't be required for you to earn or obtain extra rewards).
- Given all content released including achievements at that time unlocked using SimPort but only that.
- Extra rewards released for social simmers can be bought for $4.99 (conversions apply) each time they are released for those of us who wish to not use social features.

Release Showtime for $39.99 containing:
- SimPort Feature
- Options to turn off or on social interaction to play your game
- Given only content in the EP
- Future content or extra rewards released can be earned via SimPort feature only

Option 2: Single EP
Release Showtime for $39.99 containing:
- SimPort Feature that can be turned off and on and not required for career advancement
- Options to turn off or on social interaction to play your game
- Given Content in EP
- Given the option to obtain Future content for free using SimPort or "pay" for these extra content in the form of $4.99 (conversions apply).

See what I did there, pretty much for those who don't want to deal with the hassle of wanting to get those content through social features can just pay the $29.99 to get their "money's" worth and pay extra for rewards, not being forced to do social interactions to earn them. Other players who don't care or mind the social interactions can pay the higher price, but can just get the content for free if they get involved in social interactions.

Ya I don't see anything wrong with anyone being disadvantaged or required to do social interactions, do you? Regardless, EA gets moneys from both parties, angry or not and for those of us who hate Social Features can just pay the lower price and deal with playing by ourselves, while those who don't mind the social features and are clearly just buying the EP for the heck can have the option to choose the higher price and deal with it along with options to get the free incentives.

Simmers who want option 1:

Simmers who want option 2:

Simmers who just buy the EP regardless but not use online interaction at all: 1

I kinda like Option 1. It allows them to make even more money on this EP, and it caters to the complaints of the fans who don't want the social networking.