Since his return to Twitter, SimGuruGrant has been quite the social butterfly! With so many different tweets and topics, we’ve decided we will round up his tweets on a weekly basis so you can read everything in one place. See here for Part 2!
*sigh* That quote. Nope. 100% committed to The Sims 4. We have too much to do still!
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 11, 2018
Hi JoAnne – I'm referring to something I said back in 2014 that has gotten me in trouble on this topic. Sorry for the confusion.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 14, 2018
Sorry for the confusion! As Graham noted we switched a few things up on TS4 (game packs, stuff packs, free features). We have so much to make still and we're glad you guys are sticking with us. Thanks for being patient. It takes a while to make all of this!
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 14, 2018
To be fair, Sims 3 didn't have Game Packs at all, which Sims 4 has 6 of. Plus the 14 Stuff Packs that all include new gameplay, which they did not in Sims 3. Also a good number of substantial free features. Totally understand the desire for more large Expansion Packs though!
— Graham Nardone (@SimGuruGraham) May 11, 2018
Right now, I cannot. That's super lame and I know it. BUT. We're working on changing things like this. We're working on it, give us just a little time!
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 11, 2018
I have a very big hand in that, yes.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 11, 2018
We aren't going anywhere 🙂
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 14, 2018
I will be at EA Play. And if I were working on something, it would be my favorite theme.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 14, 2018
Fun Fact: When we interview designers, in their interview they have to design a vacuum cleaner. https://t.co/QyXlwZ9vTg
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 14, 2018
Didn't say it can or can't be done. Just thought it'd be fun to share that note. I think vacuum cleaners would be neat, but they will also be difficult to make.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 14, 2018
An image? Of a vacuum cleaner? We aren't working on that feature currently.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 14, 2018
The basic rule of software is that almost anything can be done. We just have to make sure it's the best use of our limited time. We know how many different things our community wants.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 14, 2018
There are a lot of complex rules and laws (not joking, it's weird) on what we can discuss in the future. It's something we're trying to figure out how to improve actually. We want to show you folks more of what we're making.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 14, 2018
We've found our players don't necessarily care as much about the end result as the act itself. People like things like laundry, vacuums, to tell real stories and have real routines.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 14, 2018
Laundry Stuff is one of our most successful games. Would you consider that entertaining?
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 14, 2018
That's a good piece of it. In many ways we're helping players create a movie set almost. Not everything has to be "real."
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 14, 2018
Need to get back to things, folks. I'll try to check in tomorrow morning to read your replies. My day is full of meetings…which I had to block out like some secret government document! To protect the innocent, of course. pic.twitter.com/yfNhZeobaD
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 14, 2018
If we weren't working on something I wouldn't be employed! 🙂
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 14, 2018
That's from almost 4 years ago. The game has evolved quite a bit since launch. Yes, we didn't have everything we wanted in the game at launch.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 14, 2018
We discuss this quite a bit. We are trying to do it in a way that lets you tell your story, see yourself, but is also respectful. We have some ideas. We hear you and know it's important. Please keep reminding us. Thank you for sharing this.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 15, 2018
The community pack was a MASSIVE success. We want to do it again.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 15, 2018
So, design interviews are often less about "tell us an awesome feature." They're more about making sure folks will slot in well with the team, that they love and respect The Sims, but also, we want to hear how they would make the game better. https://t.co/duDNqGW184
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 15, 2018
Very few things are a no. It's really a matter of time and what we lose making that versus something else. I don't think terrain tools are a no.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 15, 2018
Yeah, auto-roof needs some love I think.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 15, 2018
Back on TS3 base game I was really into Xbox 360 achievements and one of my friends/engineers named a book to make fun of me. I don't care about achievements and haven't for a long time. 🙂 https://t.co/oJViNBHeCY
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 15, 2018
Maybe! The reality is we cannot do everything at once. If we did all the stairs, we may not have dogs yet. Or we may not have apartments. Or, something else. It's always a trade off with finite time. But, we're going to keep at it!
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 15, 2018
I'm getting asked this quite a bit, and I forced you fine Simmers to pick one intentionally. It doesn't mean you won't get one, two, or all of them at some point! But, we can't do everything at once! And, if we pick a thing, we want to be better about it being the thing YOU want. https://t.co/YnRS0Z0IrC
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 15, 2018
It's a good theme! I cannot comment on whether we will or won't do it, but it's a good theme, and it's one we know you like!
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 15, 2018
Truth time: I 100% know you want to edit ceilings. I 100% don't get it! Don't worry, it's on the list. https://t.co/qdjDe2KAsL
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 15, 2018
It's tough. Everyone has ONE thing they want more than anything. And, often, the people we need to make that thing conflicts with the people to make another. If we make dogs, it might mean we have to delay stairs. We can do ceilings, but then we can't do curved walls. Etc.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 15, 2018
Nah, you're good. I don't expect each of you to be a producer. That's what I get paid to do. We just want you guys happy and playing our game. We're going to keep working towards that.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 15, 2018
❤️ We're gonna try to get better and do more. https://t.co/pcr1Iz931u
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 15, 2018
I would love to be able to assign multiple lot types to one community lot. That way we can make malls with a cafe or food stand.
— Leah (@MrsPechler) May 16, 2018
This one is really tough. We did a LOT of prototyping on this for City Living, actually. With our current architecture and AI, this one is tough. But a lot of you want it. Seems we should kick the tires and investigate it again. https://t.co/5TJKvV675S
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 16, 2018
We're always learning. My First Pet Stuff was an experiment – we wanted to see if we could add additional content for an expansion. If I'm being honest, I'd love to add more content for retail for Get to Work.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 16, 2018
It's interesting how My First Pet Stuff went. Community sentiment was frustrated. But, it sold well. For now we probably won't do this in the future (probably), but I still think it's interesting. Adding more content for themes that are already released.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 16, 2018
I LOVE the passion and thoughtfulness. I've wanted to do a drafting table object for a super long time. Need to find the right pack for it.
What do you guys think of Amber's idea? https://t.co/VblrE5jozu
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 16, 2018
Ooo, I see this sentiment often. "That shouldn't be too hard, right?" You'd be so surprised at what is really really hard and what is really really easy. And again, that makes sense. This isn't what you do all day! Things that tend to be "super easy" tend to arrive sooner… https://t.co/Xa84zARDzv
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 16, 2018
I have another day full of meetings. BUT. I carved out a two hour period this morning to write some upcoming blogs. We're going to try to tell some fun stories, not just discuss features. A healthy mix as we experiment with some new stuff.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 15, 2018
Right now lot type is really fundamental to the game's architecture.
1. What sorta of Sims can and can't appear
2. What behavior your Sims run, townies run, other families run
3. What objects can and can't be there
4. Who owns what, recognizes what they own, know what they touch https://t.co/Cr4qsKE0Zx— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 16, 2018
So, as long as I can recall, when we release new build features (roof, stairs, walls), we give them away for free. We might not give you all the content (patterns, textures), but more or less, you get them for free. Basements, new roofs in C&D, half walls. https://t.co/zNSYue85MB
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 16, 2018
We will often use the pack's budget and time to make it. That also helps us test it and so forth, and use it in the new pack. But, even back on TS2 and TS3, we give them away for free. It is more or less our standard policy.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 16, 2018
We released aliens in Get to Work, so we probably won't be returning to them. Probably. I don't want to say never.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 16, 2018
So, TS3 is still available, it still works. We are constantly trying to find the balance between recreating the things you (the community) love while also creating fresh experiences. If we just copy TS3…why not just play TS3? It's already all there!
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 16, 2018
Okay okay I need to work on some stuff. On a positive note, it is SO energizing to check this feed to see you excited for things we're…
-Planning to make
-Are already making
-Have already made *wink*It's like a pot of coffee for my soul and I 😍 it. Have a good day!
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 16, 2018
It's possible. One of the reasons we don't often expand expansion packs is that a.) only a % of the community owns each pack and b.) we don't want folks to think we deliberately withheld something to sell later. It's a catch 22.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 16, 2018
You can blame me for no dog houses, and I stand by it. Dog houses are a weird relic of the past and not the experience we wanted. We wanted your cats and dogs to be inside, on the sofa. The dog houses have to be HUGE, which are so odd. Sometimes we will not repeat the past. https://t.co/CvMjEREgXX
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 16, 2018
Instead of dog houses, we tried to prioritize cats walking on lots of surfaces in the home and world. We wanted dogs and cats to sleep in a variety of positions. It was a trade off we decided from the start. Totally cool you want a dog house! Fair critique. https://t.co/CvMjEREgXX
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 16, 2018
Several of you have said this and I agree 100%. Ultimately it comes down to WHERE we give you options. Is it where pets sleep? How they behave? How they look? What you can do with them? Literally limitless possibilities and sadly we have to choose. https://t.co/UCfDoE1FCf
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 17, 2018
I mean, you can use fences, lock the gate so dogs can't exit. I can't recall if we have the standard metal "hurricane" fence or not.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 16, 2018
I'll be honest, the main place I ever saw a doghouse (like not fenced off area for a dog, but that actual wooden house thing) was in the Sims, I don't think I've ever seen them in real life, so I didn't mind them not being there.
— rras1994 (@rras1994) May 16, 2018
There may come a day when a Sims game doesn't have a desktop computer. Why? Technology evolves! It sorta blows my mind to think how quickly society and the world is evolving. I personally haven't had a landline telephone since 2001 in real life. https://t.co/HiXtCAW1bZ
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 16, 2018
I meant an in-game computer for the Sims. I'm not saying we're only going mobile! https://t.co/vW1nnXjXMw
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 16, 2018
There seems to be confusion from my post. I wasn't saying we won't be on the PC in our real life world. I was saying THE SIMS that are IN THE GAME may not have a PC. In the same way we're not putting landlines in the game still. https://t.co/WS19oyDORI
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 17, 2018
We're 100% committed to the PC, speaking for my slice of the studio. There is SO much to do. TSM or console don't preclude us. Just more flavors for a huge world of Simmers. https://t.co/RGxEmf5Bri
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 16, 2018
Nice. Transparency/glass is very cool. It's…surprisingly tough. Some of these can be hard on performance, aka they can make your game "chug" or even crash. But, glass stuff is cool. Good suggestion. https://t.co/HMHfCVS0Av
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 17, 2018
We spend SO MUCH TIME improving performance, optimization, to make sure the game doesn't crash. SO MUCH.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 17, 2018
Ok, dog houses are bad, but what about dressing them? Animals are not dolls or toys to be dressed as burgers or hot-dogs.
— Shakuahi (@DominikaNosows1) May 17, 2018
I personally own a banana and bee suit for my corgi. https://t.co/8ZWBRiUhOq
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 17, 2018
It's not a cheap feature, and at this point it is far more likely we make new, different things. Just so many other things I think you guys will like more.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 17, 2018
The vampires have been a really big success for us. It's definitely a type of pack we know you guys like.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 17, 2018
I think we'd like to, and MFP SP actually did well (sales wise), but the community sentiment is really negative and we don't want to aggravate folks. I'd personally love to add more retail features for Get to Work.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 17, 2018
We try to find the right balance between free updates that everyone gets and paid DLC that funds development on bigger stuff. It's something we discuss daily.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 17, 2018
Not currently planned (to my knowledge?) but who knows. Pretty massive uphill battle to make it load (performance optimization) and make the controls work.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 17, 2018
We're honestly working on doing this. It'll take some time to get it right, but it's something we're working on.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 17, 2018
@SimGuruGrant
I have a question, why are not there small telescopes in the sims 4?— Mattia_Rcc😱 (@Mattia_Rcc1) May 17, 2018
Because we are idiots and haven't made one yet 😬.
We need to make one. We need to figure out the right pack to get it in thematically. But, yes, we want and need to make one. @SimGuruGraham and I discussed this Tuesday. https://t.co/rZBszGdXzQ
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 17, 2018
Speaking of easel ! Would it be possible to add a portable one in the game (or make the one we have portable) ? So our Sims could paint this beautiful sunset on Brindleton Beach or the waterfalls in Selvadorada ? 😁 Our Sim can take a grill with them but not an easel ?
— Missing / Patrice (@MisterPomme) May 17, 2018
This idea has come up on SO MANY PACKS. A part of the challenge is that it's sorta new, but not entirely new. So, we spend all this time on a thing and some players go "eh, just an easel!" But, man, I want this. https://t.co/9o0hiLYvGr
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 17, 2018
I don't remember. I didn't go to EA Play and we were so busy on Cats & Dogs I don't 'remember. Let me just say: Stay tuned. Just a few more weeks.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 17, 2018
Sickness is tough. In some ways it just makes the game not fun. In other ways, it's like real life and it makes the game interesting, different. I think we need to think about it at some point. https://t.co/QSXIgNVvGD
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 17, 2018
This is more or less the store on TS3, which we didn't want to do on TS4. https://t.co/QxWuBJ4a3G
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 17, 2018
I work on a combination of all things TS4 PC.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 17, 2018
Yup. It's not that Dog House is bad, but that we only were able to make items 1-100 and Dog House was 101.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 17, 2018
Yup, totally hear you. At some point we had to choose to animate pets doing things other than sleeping. It sucks, they do so much in real life. Just a matter of priorities, balance, and trying to do a little of everything.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 17, 2018
We think about cars a lot. We're really trying to think about how to make them interesting and incorporate them in a way that is meaningful and not just a cosmetic thing.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 18, 2018
We know elevators are a thing the community wants.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 18, 2018
Yes yes yes. We actually worked with a student research team lately to better analyze the custom content community, and my two biggest takeaways is that we need more normal careers and more traits. I 100% agree with you. https://t.co/XandBcamwV
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 18, 2018
"Ported over" doesn't quite work. TS2's engine/technology is now ~14+ years old and is from a completely different engine than TS3 (~10+ years old) that is from a completely different engine of TS4 (~7+ years old). https://t.co/0b7in6hFd9
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 18, 2018
Hi Stephen! We've been having conversations lately about how we need to better support your community. I cannot speak to any specifics, but it's a conversation we're having that @SimGuruNinja is a big proponent for.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 18, 2018
I think there's always room to improve every life stage! But, like with stairs, we have to prioritize and improve them one by one. My gut check would be:
1. Teens
2. Babies
3. EldersWe just did toddlers last year, and children/toddlers got beefed up w/ Parenthood. https://t.co/Or1oxB0joq
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 18, 2018
Adding new life stages is really hard. It means we have to re-animate or scale the animation for *almost all the content in the game*. Not just the content that exists now, but will be added forever. https://t.co/ObDjfjag0P
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 18, 2018
We added toddlers "late in the game" so nothing is off the table. It's just a really big undertaking. We need to not do it casually. https://t.co/YWpq2PzlZi
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 18, 2018
We try to do 1 woohoo 1 death where possible. https://t.co/Evd77DBn8m
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 18, 2018
Producers on The Sims do a lot of things. We act as design editors, we prioritize and scope w/ design, we're the first playtesters, we help evolve the feature, we write text, oversee icons, work with marketing, communicate information…it's a weird and varied job. https://t.co/VzsQucutyA
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 18, 2018
Hi Saara – We have a lot of work to do here. It's been a focus of mine lately. I cannot speak to our plans right now, but rest assured you have been heard.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 19, 2018
I'd like to make them more impactful. We talk about this actually. We need less "increases this by 10%" and more "this lets you do this" or "this doesn't let you do this."
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 19, 2018
Right now honestly probably not. There are so many things I'd rather we do instead first.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 19, 2018
So far we've enjoyed spending a longer period of time on the EPs while experimenting and creating Game Packs and Stuff Packs. I think right now there are over 20 pieces of content for folks to try, not to mention features added for free. I think just looking at EPs is a mistake.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 19, 2018
The emotion system has a complicated history! My word. Big part of my life on base game.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 19, 2018
@SimGuruGraham is a big advocate for this.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 19, 2018
You'll have to be patient – everything takes time. But we're always trying to improve.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 19, 2018
I keep a framed photo of it on my desk. TS3. The sim's fire extinguisher got caught in his crotch. pic.twitter.com/x8jTUqaO2D
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 19, 2018
@SimGuruGrant Do you think bouncy castles/houses could be a possibility for TS4?
— Josh Middleton (@MiddletonPlays) May 19, 2018
I wrote a design for this on TS4 base game, I kid you not, that we cut for *very good reasons.*
But, it's a fun object. Would be a neat thing to make. https://t.co/I3VzhVHP4c
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 19, 2018
We don't hold stuff back for other packs. I'm sorry you feel that way though. Can you give a specific example?
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 19, 2018
We talk about it almost daily.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 19, 2018
Fun Fact: For years folks see secret hints, easter eggs, etc. in our comments. I have 100% never hinted at a pack, ever, in my career. https://t.co/3T9hvSXnSJ
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 19, 2018
Someone asked about a particular moment that really stuck with me. I had zero to do with it, but when Toddlers launched at last, and we saw your reaction, a lot of us almost cried.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 19, 2018
I don't know. Right now it's a lower priority than other things.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 19, 2018
Not sure how or why this became our habit. Personally, I'm glad we ripped off the bandaid so we could devote and entire Game Pack to vampires. I think they're way more fun as a result. Basically, we wanted to apply more focus to them. https://t.co/OCRcDF6e1K
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 19, 2018
Uh, we are always discussing things. It just has to make sense. Right now we really want to keep the focus/love on TS4. So much to do.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 19, 2018
You should be thankful Sarah works here b/c I would have cut cats so bad! Just The Sims 4 Dogs if you ask me! https://t.co/9MoUTnSbgV
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) May 19, 2018
