SimGuruGrant took to Twitter to discuss various topics related to The Sims 4, and the series in general. As we’ve been doing for some time, we’re rounding up all his tweets in one place for your convenience.
Be sure to check out Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, and Part 7!
Haha you think it's just three 🙂 https://t.co/ks3fpM5825
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) September 26, 2018
No
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) September 19, 2018
Something we would like to do.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) September 19, 2018
We won’t be changing Forgotten Hollow. https://t.co/K5P1JjLtmc
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) September 20, 2018
Something we are thinking about.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) September 20, 2018
Not currently planned but thanks for the kind words 😁. https://t.co/qzESusFcYl
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) September 20, 2018
This is such a challenge! I’d love to make more, but we also have to create NEW features and content for you. The forever challenge :/ https://t.co/yuybJNHmHA
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) September 20, 2018
Yes, but it is difficult to explain those subtle differences in a marketing context.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) September 20, 2018
We have released ~25 pieces of paid content in 4 years, as well as literally dozens of free updates. We are working as hard as we can, every day, M-F. https://t.co/HfDuTxO7sN
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) September 20, 2018
That isn’t how engines work. https://t.co/hbBgmYRqgS
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) September 20, 2018
FIFA is a massive, beloved, incredibly successful global brand. It is okay they get a lot of attention. EA supports us don’t worry. https://t.co/Mnt2X7PuzQ
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) September 20, 2018
Depends. Bugs, yes. Changing how the feature works…tougher. https://t.co/p8XeW1nw12
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) September 20, 2018
We actually put a lot into it. It is…tough for us to affect some things in that category. I think that some of the festivals really worked and some didn’t quite match what we had in our heads. Ah, game development.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) September 20, 2018
We have a handful of black men and women who work for us. We need more, we recognize this, and it is something we approach in our hiring.
PS: We've consulted with Xmiramira because she is fantastic.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) September 20, 2018
Please don't believe rumors. If we haven't announced it, it isn't a thing. https://t.co/JTsqkaERa6
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) September 20, 2018
Quite a few with the expansions, but yes, we're always trying to find different methods of fulfilling your Sims, especially beyond fiscal success. https://t.co/Hok9IzCilx
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) September 20, 2018
Fashion changes so quickly and we are trying to keep up! https://t.co/1sIf1K52ul
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) September 21, 2018
Probably not. We would have to change a TON of things. https://t.co/U4jHTu4VEs
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) September 21, 2018
Focus is the key to making great things. Just because I don’t care about this aspect doesn’t mean we don’t employ people who do. We are a big, diverse team. Each of us provide perspective. Sorry…not sorry? 😁 https://t.co/g5ueRhl4xu
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) September 21, 2018
Fun Story: Early on TS4 Cats & Dogs, the audio team had me bring Peaches to work (she is so vocal, talks a lot) and we spent a few hours recording her as a prototype. She didn't make the final game, but it was fun. Her in studio 👇 https://t.co/3JxtiEElI4
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) September 25, 2018
You guys often ask how I stay interested after 13 years, and it's because on days like today, I got to spend most of my time working on a thing I've *never* done before in these 13 years. No, that isn't a hint, I won't tell you, don't ask, you might see, someday 🙂
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) September 27, 2018
We've never done it before and we want to do it appropriately. I agree, it's taken too long. But, it's not something I want us to just do wantonly. We need to do it right and with strong understanding.
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) October 1, 2018
We said we were teasing new content. That doesn't always mean packs. And again, for better or worse, we always have more in development than we can tell you about. https://t.co/BZOHxShdnL
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) October 2, 2018
The number of things we're asked for though is a *huge* list. Some want witches. Some what countless other things. It's a big list of things for us to try to figure out. https://t.co/abvwQSNA3C
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) October 2, 2018
No, that is not planned currently. https://t.co/WIIBoYgSlK
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) October 3, 2018
Generally we have always tried to make our worlds topographically interesting. There are *some* limitations (stairs don't work the same on/off lot). But also, Terrain manipulation (on lot) is NOT the same as changing the terrain off lot. https://t.co/t9PqL4nar9
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) October 3, 2018
We have to make improvements to our code regularly to keep everything running. We don't do this with any animosity towards our modders. In the same way a car needs a tune up, so does our engine/code. There is zero malice here. https://t.co/yEoJtNRm96
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) October 3, 2018
Step one is the modders will have to figure out how to make it work with the new version. Step two is you should disable all mods once this update goes live. Step three is you download the updated mods that will work and return us all to happiness. https://t.co/DpYp1rghIC
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) October 4, 2018
This is a big priority for us. One of the main reasons we targeted our Caribbean update in August. https://t.co/oyAofbYhoj
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) October 4, 2018
I've said multiple times: This will not happen in TS4. https://t.co/HIqxu67hsW
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) October 4, 2018
I *just* answered this. :/ https://t.co/LRtQIZmCKz
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) October 4, 2018
They are basically the same thing. The game wasn’t really architected for it. There are pluses and minuses. It isn’t really feasible to change in a big way. https://t.co/O6GZhN8QIz
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) October 5, 2018
Not in this case, but over time as the game continues to age we may change minimum specs again. https://t.co/bXBYzvoJUO
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) October 4, 2018
Probably not. I don’t think this is appropriate for us to tackle. But, we are investigating ways to add tools to let those so inclined do religious like things. https://t.co/XAPBahI2LN
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) October 5, 2018
I can’t say, as I don’t know the code intimately. I will say we can do many of the things you want in Build, it just takes time to do it right. https://t.co/WQ0RlriVpz
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) October 5, 2018
Reference images are collected to figure out the geography to support the design. We do "grey box" where they create rough layouts. They concept the neighborhoods. They do "paintovers" on existing terrains. Then a lot of 3D art and in game object placement. Testing. https://t.co/OvNSiuhSrG
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) October 5, 2018
The more traits you add, the more you muddy the Sims, the less distinct they are. The traits just cancel each other out and every Sim is vanilla. https://t.co/u2LCflorcK
— Grant Rodiek (@SimGuruGrant) October 5, 2018
