For paid content, I’m actually fairly liking what I see here, despite never being involved in the old ‘Eco Living’ vote.

I don’t necessarily care for the ‘fix the world’ mechanic, but I do like how both the dirty and ‘beautified’ neighborhood look, so I can see myself playing it the way it’s presented right out of the box or working to get the other version (or cheating, depends on if I have the patience). Combined with the Island Living expansion I love that EA is implying the Sims world is a dump. I actually like a bit of filth and grime in my gameplay- it’s part of why City Living is one of my favorite expansions- deliciously scuzzy build items (not enough, really).

I’m also liking that they’re giving more things to ‘do’ with the candle making. They say there’s other craftables, so that’s also nice. The main reason I was looking forward to the knitting pack (which I didn’t vote for myself) is because it’s ‘something to do’ for age groups outside of YA. Having things to ‘do’ doesn’t fill the void of Sims not having personalities, but I at least like being able to get unique decor pieces from it. The candle station seems to be ffffairly small too, so it’s not a observatory/microscope/cupcake machine situation again. Don’t know what I feel about the machine that builds the mini-vacuum. Feel like there’s enough unrealistic things in the game when we’re lacking so much in real ones. It would be cool if that machine was a 3D printer of some sort, but it’s also huge.

Liking the vertical gardens. I’ve been wanting vertical gardens that don’t break the Sim’s animations for a long time.

Ladders! About time. Since it’s a big update to a foundational building mechanic in the game, I’m assuming that they’re going to patch in a simple ladder into the core gameplay for people who don’t buy this expansion.

Liking the dew collectors and the generator. I have a ‘outdoorsman’ Sim who I’d love to live effectively ‘off the grid’ and be more self-sufficient, so I’m happy to see those. I wish that canning and food preservation was in here as well for him (and for the old biddy grandmas in the neighborhood with their gardens), but … we’ll see, I guess. I try not to get too hopeful over things, but I’m alright with what I’ve seen.

Other people have said now would have been a perfect time to fix the Plantsims. Agreed. I doubt they’re going to, though. The initial unveiling of Plantsims as a ‘weekly challenge’ thing back in the day made them a wet fart of an ‘occult life state’- more of a status condition, really. I doubt they’re actually going to spruce up Plantsims in this pack, but it would have been nice. If I’m going to be a dreamer, I’d want Plantsims fixed up with customizable as well as aliens and mermaids revamped to use the same systems as vampires and spellcasters. But that’s a dream. Honestly that should be a free update too, since Plantsims were initially introduced as a free update. More and more dreams.

Hey, it looks like death by being consumed by flies is back. Nice.

I’ll buy this on sale. [/Opinion]

I wrote too much.