Which catagory should be green-free?

[Guest]

The results of the last poll made me wonder if the choice of the residential lot for motive/green-free use, is the really the best choice.

In the last Front page Poll (archive) , the least selected property category, to build in the new EALand, was Offbeat, with 1.65% of the votes. Entertainment and Service at 4.03% and 4.34% respectively, having the next lowest votes.

My bad, I left the Games category off the list completely!

It is rather sad, that no one seemed to notice......does that mean Games is even less popular than Offbeat???

So the new poll this week (which category should have motive-free).....should it be based on the least used or the most useful....or some other criteria?

For example:
*Entertainment lots could give plays, throw parties, do game shows easier with no motive loss.
*Game lots could do sports events and board games easier with no motive loss.
*Romance....ah well, the romantic atmosphere should not be tarnished with mundane concerns.

*Few know what to do with Offbeat, which is a sort of free-for-all-anything-goes category, anyway.
*Perhaps Motive-Free should be an 11th category, that can be chosen/reset every seven days, like all the others.
*Perhaps a lot owner can chose to be Motive-Free for 24 hours, once a month..or some such.

The follow-up this week, are some of the talking points....the questions themselves, are just bare bone, for those that want to vote, but not discuss. Everyone else, feel free to flesh them out, or suggest your own solutions and ideas.

 

[imported_Phoenix_Rising]

Thank you for this. I've always thought the residential category was a poor choice. My opinion is to switch out the "Games" category with a "free green" category. This category would be used to host events, etc.

 

[imported_Gracie Nito]

At this point, any category is green free as long as people still abuse the hide feature.

I still think Games and Entertainment should be just one category instead of two.

And yes, green free would help these categories. The community has always had creative people willing to host parties and create fun games. However, most players do not attend such events because they have to worry about greening and skill decay.

Anyone that has attended a sim wedding at a romance lot can agree that free green would be a blessing for cermonies. Nothing worse than having a bride suddenly start waving her hands in the air in protest just before saying "I do".

I believe it is important to leave offbeat lots as is for better roleplaying. Welcome houses should not be green free so that new players can experience and learn about needs and motives. I've never used residential lots much so I'm not sure why it is important to green there.

 

[Guest]

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I still think Games and Entertainment should be just one category instead of two.



[/ QUOTE ]

This is a good start.

The problem with the off-beat and game categories is that they have no special objects. I think if they had advantages, they would become more popular.

I think off-beat AND residential lots should both be green-free. As for Entertainment/Game lots, they should merge, and should stay the way they are.

Leading to another topic, we need to help create objects that would be category specific for the Game/Entertainment Categories, and even more so for the off-beat category.

 

[Guest]

I started out in a residential lot for my first property.

In a way it is used far more for roleplaying than any other, because *everyone* that builds a residential lot, uses it to roleplay the house of their dreams.

Whether a big mansion or a beach shack, it represents their fantasy vision of the prefect home. It is a retreat....someplace to go to be alone or roleplay the gracious host for just a few friends. And that includes activities like serving meals, taking sumptuous baths, singing while watering the garden, playing with &amp; bathing the dog.....things that require motives to make them significant.

Of course there is no *real* difference between various property categories; you can build any kind of structure or do any basic action (walk,talk, sleep,eat) on any lot, the only differences, are set by special items and motive loss rates. But I think a lot of people take the 'Residential' designation more to heart, than any other. I also think it is the basic reason, people have frequently asked for two lots...one residential and one in another category.....because most players want a personal home.

 

[imported_Gracie Nito]

Ok. I see what you mean now Gilly. I built my "residential" type home in TC3 in the offbeat category because it reflects on my offbeat style and personality.

Something a little more than just a residence

 

[Jessikarox]

I'm not sold on this green free thing, I've always enjoyed being required to keep my sim alive and happy, thats always just been part of the game to me... maybe its just me!

 

[Keep It Real]

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I'm not sold on this green free thing, I've always enjoyed being required to keep my sim alive and happy, thats always just been part of the game to me... maybe its just me!

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Can't say I have enjoyed it but I agree it has always been a part of the game. Free green lots should only be the Pub and EA lots for community meeting and such.

 

[Guest]

It's not just you. I also enjoy getting a break from skilling or making money to green my sims. I never really enjoyed green free weekends/holidays. Mostly because all I did when I last played, was hosting a skillhouse. Those weekends are terribly boring

Having permanent green free categories is, in MY opinion, taking away something from the game. I like greening my sims, I enjoy keeping them alive, and I enjoy being able to do that myself, not have game mechanics do it for me.

Bit off topic, but related to greening....what is up with all people serenading all the time? oO I remember doing rounds of songs before, but it looks like its more required/demanded now? I swear my sims have hardly slept in a bed the last 2 weeks...

Don't get me wrong, I do like being serenaded...but wow....

 

[imported_Dali Dalinza]

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I'm not sold on this green free thing, I've always enjoyed being required to keep my sim alive and happy, thats always just been part of the game to me... maybe its just me!

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Can't say I have enjoyed it but I agree it has always been a part of the game. Free green lots should only be the Pub and EA lots for community meeting and such.

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I'm kinda surprised to find that I agree, also. I wouldn't mind if motive decay were slowed a tad, but overall I think that motive consciousness is integral to the game. Also, without motive decay "free green" holidays are meaningless. (And, I enjoy them.)

 

[imported_Gracie Nito]

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I'm not sold on this green free thing, I've always enjoyed being required to keep my sim alive and happy, thats always just been part of the game to me... maybe its just me!

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Can't say I have enjoyed it but I agree it has always been a part of the game. Free green lots should only be the Pub and EA lots for community meeting and such.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm kinda surprised to find that I agree, also. I wouldn't mind if motive decay were slowed a tad, but overall I think that motive consciousness is integral to the game. Also, without motive decay "free green" holidays are meaningless. (And, I enjoy them.)

[/ QUOTE ]

I confess. I don't even like green free weekends. I find the current residential lots with green free pretty boring. The only thing I can see a green free lot used for is if someone is holding a meeting or giving a presentation. It has served the Community Pub well in this fashion. Players are disruptive enough without everyone screaming for food and serenades every 5 minutes.

 

[Guest]

I really love my residence lot. I love not having to green, and its spoiled me rotten. I often forget to even look at my need on other lots. Its nice for me when I'm working to be able to be in game without worrying about it. I've always owned a residence lot. I like having a place for my friends to gather and hang out, I dont mind not having to provide greening services. If needs free lots were changed to a different category the park would change with it.

That said I dont want every category to be needs free. I think its an important part of the game. I do think it could be better applied to entertainment/games/offbeat. Which I think should be combined. I do like the idea of houses being able to choose a time period to be needs free. This could really help a struggeling house to get on the list. I'd go with an hour a week earned to the home owner, maybe even allow it to accumulate.

 

[TKSpeedy1]

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At this point, any category is green free as long as people still abuse the hide feature.

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I don't see how you can say people "abuse" the hide feature. Yes, I'm sure it was meant as a game at first, but I don't recall Maxis/EA sending out rules on how to use it. Since I only have a roomie in two cities (my sim hubby) since I haven't had any luck with roomies since beta, I find the hide feature helpful. Greening is very annoying if you have to do it all the time while you are sitting at your house hoping someone will stop by.

 

[TKSpeedy1]

Gilly,

No offense, but I really don't see how this is a fair poll. I mean if you spend a lot of time on your own property, unless you actually LIKE greening on your own property, who wouldn't vote for their own property category to be green/motive free?

 

[imported_DutchAmerica]

I would like to see 'off-beat' as motive free.

My house is definitely an 'off-beat' house disguised as a 'service' house at the moment. I think that it would possibly encourage sims to have events at my house if they knew they were not going to decay or need to green while their events are happening.

I would like to see 'entertainment' be free green. It's nothing like being all lagged up on the dance floor and then try to find the buffett and bathroom before your sim either dies of starvation or embarrasses themselves by creating 'un planned' puddles.

However, I wish the 'motive free' could allow sims to at least 'green up' while they are there.

Even if not 'motive free', I believe the more 'socially oriented' houses such as service/romance/offbeat, should have a much much much lower motives then the big 2 - skill/money.

 

[Guest]

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Gilly,

No offense, but I really don't see how this is a fair poll. I mean if you spend a lot of time on your own property, unless you actually LIKE greening on your own property, who wouldn't vote for their own property category to be green/motive free?

[/ QUOTE ]

Apparently, people like the no-greening option, more than any other choice on the poll, so far.

The reason I love polls, is because the votes so often surprises me.

 

[TKSpeedy1]

Ok, I know greening is part of the game and I accept that. But personally, I wouldn't mind greening if we didn't have to do it so often. My sim greens more than I do IRL. It's very annoying for me to have to be constantly greening. Especially if I'm skilling, in a contest (the ones that aren't "till you drop") or on my lot by myself. Thank God for the "hide" feature! Without it, I'd never be able to last alone on my property. Yeah, I have pets for social, BUT they never bring up my social all the way...except the cat, but that only happens when HE initiates the social interaction. Otherwise, I could pet my pets (and wrestle with my dogs) until the cows come home and my social still wouldn't be full. I'd love it if Maxis would make it so we stayed green longer.

 

[imported_Spacey]

I think every catagory should have a green free period like we do on holidays. I enjoy having that break from greening so that during busy holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, I can focus on rl and not worry about if my sim is about to pee on the floor. Its easy and relaxing...just like a break should be.

I think stores would be a great place for green free. It might encourage the people to stay and chat a little while shopping, instead of hiding under the nearest hidable object, grabbing something and bolting. But, I don't think there needs to be a entirely new catagory for green free.

 

[imported_Gracie Nito]

Free green cannot be allowed on money lots. Without the motive to decay to slow us down we would overproduce simoleans at a rate that they can't be drained out of the economy fast enough and we would again see inflation skyrocket.

I'm not sure what is worse. Entering a store with the sim owner hiding and obviously afk or with a green free store and an AFK sim just sitting there staring into to space with no intention to responding to your requests.

 

[imported_DutchAmerica]

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I'm not sure what is worse. Entering a store with the sim owner hiding and obviously afk or with a green free store and an AFK sim just sitting there staring into to space with no intention to responding to your requests.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well?

At least we could give them a few "Nyah-Nyah's" or a couple of "Kiss My !@#" before we leave.

They could take the place of kicking the flamingos. Have a bad day? Go on over to the AFK store and give the store owner a good berating. He won't mind...he obliviously AFK.

 

[Guest]

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Free green cannot be allowed on money lots. Without the motive to decay to slow us down we would overproduce simoleans at a rate that they can't be drained out of the economy fast enough and we would again see inflation skyrocket.

I'm not sure what is worse. Entering a store with the sim owner hiding and obviously afk or with a green free store and an AFK sim just sitting there staring into to space with no intention to responding to your requests.

[/ QUOTE ]
I pretty much agree - but how about this:
For an absolutely ridiculous, poverty inducing price, a sim could purchase (from EA) a widget that would slow motive decay by half on any lot in the game. It could be something that resides in inventory and decays (gradually disappears) at a constant rate, or a clothing item that is effective (and decays) only when worn. Even at an astronomical price, it could prove to be very popular - and a jim dandy money drain.

 

[Guest]

ttl

I also think games and entertainment should be combined, and feel that that combined category would be the best for a "no needs" lot.

I do not like the way no needs lots work at the present time though. I think we should be able to green, no matter what type lot it is. I have a residential lot in TC3 that I have tested and it's ok if you just want to use it for linking or a long make out session but there is basically nothing else to do and it's very boring. If this was moved to entertainment at least we could dance and enjoy ourselves. If the games/entertainment was combined, along with the no needs, I think we would see many more creative, fun lots pop up. I know, I for one, would get that saloon I built going, I'm ready for a party

but even so, my saloon also has a "road kill bar and grill" so I'd like to be able to serve those specially tenderized steaks. Those who actually land red, should be able to get their needs up, enjoy themselves, and know when they leave they are greened again.

 

[calvinscreeksim]

I think we should have periodic no needs/free green on only a specific category (absolutely not stores)....personally I wouldn't mind it at the skill houses because it would help those who are actually wanting to skill.

 

[Guest]

but... the way they made the "no needs" lots, you can't skill on them. I am hoping they do not take away our "green free" vacation days. I much prefer those than the "no needs" lots.

 

[TKSpeedy1]

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I'm not sold on this green free thing, I've always enjoyed being required to keep my sim alive and happy, thats always just been part of the game to me... maybe its just me!

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm not against greening. It's part of the game....BUT I think it would be nice if we could green less...I mean, come on...My sim greens more than I do IRL. That's just wrong. Like I said before, it's annoying to keep greening on your own lot when you are the only person living there and are waiting for someone to drop by.

 

[TKSpeedy1]

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Free green cannot be allowed on money lots. Without the motive to decay to slow us down we would overproduce simoleans at a rate that they can't be drained out of the economy fast enough and we would again see inflation skyrocket.

I'm not sure what is worse. Entering a store with the sim owner hiding and obviously afk or with a green free store and an AFK sim just sitting there staring into to space with no intention to responding to your requests.

[/ QUOTE ]

OK, after reading your post a dozen times, I can see what you are saying now...and yeah...free greening for store owners...bad idea. However, in regards to the "economy", I still don't understand why they can't put a stop to the inflation problem by just limiting the prices stores can sell things for. Makes perfect sense to me, but I guess that is why I'm not a dev.

 

[imported_Gracie Nito]

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Free green cannot be allowed on money lots. Without the motive to decay to slow us down we would overproduce simoleans at a rate that they can't be drained out of the economy fast enough and we would again see inflation skyrocket.

I'm not sure what is worse. Entering a store with the sim owner hiding and obviously afk or with a green free store and an AFK sim just sitting there staring into to space with no intention to responding to your requests.

[/ QUOTE ]

OK, after reading your post a dozen times, I can see what you are saying now...and yeah...free greening for store owners...bad idea. However, in regards to the "economy", I still don't understand why they can't put a stop to the inflation problem by just limiting the prices stores can sell things for. Makes perfect sense to me, but I guess that is why I'm not a dev.

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Prices of objects that have a static cost never really go up. The costs of things that vary are the one's where the cost to acquire that item is ever changing. Rare pets, rare objects, custom content. We have seen how the over abundance of simoleans can inflate the cost of these rare objects. Inflation is controlled by the amount of simoleans produced in the world combined with the availability of objects. Even when billionaires flooded the cities, catalog priced iobjects did not change because there is a never ending supply of these objects.

 

[gusdegloom]

The popular skill and money lots are really struggling. It’s costing them a fortune to feed sims. Roomies don’t want to host because the food money comes out of their pocket and they just don’t have enough money. Sims are coming in with 0 money and have no choice but to ask for food. Some popular skill and money places are forced to close when their food money runs out. Needs need to be LOWERED. Not abandoned, just lowered. Sims eat a LOT

I’m seeing money delivery sims showing up at popular lots and you know what that means. Possibly an exploit .. at any rate popular lots are buying money.
I tried to convey the above at the Pub, but no one seemed to listen.

 

[imported_Gracie Nito]

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The popular skill and money lots are really struggling. It’s costing them a fortune to feed sims. Roomies don’t want to host because the food money comes out of their pocket and they just don’t have enough money. Sims are coming in with 0 money and have no choice but to ask for food. Some popular skill and money places are forced to close when their food money runs out. Needs need to be LOWERED. Not abandoned, just lowered. Sims eat a LOT

I’m seeing money delivery sims showing up at popular lots and you know what that means. Possibly an exploit .. at any rate popular lots are buying money.
I tried to convey the above at the Pub, but no one seemed to listen.

[/ QUOTE ]

At some point, people that run skill houses will have a choice to make. Charge people for food or find another business to run.

 

[Guest]

Not sure here, but this post is identical to the one in another thread. Anyway, I don't believe needs to be lowered. Your sim may green more than you do in real life, but the time is different. Follow the sim day and your own real life day, its close enough. As for the feeding of sims on skill lots and money lots, I think food should be something that is charged. Having things for free is no longer part of the sim life future. I think skill and money house owners should charge for food. I always have. That is just how I roll. There are sim jobs to go to for earning money. and they pay better than money houses.

Sorry, was flowing with the posts and realized I am way off topic.

I think that only non tso lots should be green free. Greening is a part of sim life and a part of the old game play. So I say all sim lots should have to green.

edit: to add to topic

 

[Keep It Real]

I think green free lots should be EA type lots, maybe entertainment/offbeat also.

 

[Courtneymarie]

I think entertainment/games lot should be one. And should
have free green. These are normally places to mingle with other sims, party and link. We SIMs need a break from what seems like 24hr skilling.
Would be nice if on these lots we didnt have to worry about lose of skills too or as fast.
Sort of sucks you dont want to socialize to much when not skilling because when you do, you look and drop hours of skilling because at a party all night with friends.

Other lots like skills (yeah I wish for green too here but that just me being lazy LOL) house lots (part of role playing) and romance (takes a lot out of you as it should LOL) and same with crafting lots.

 

[Guest]

Okay, the general poll results so far:

A strong 'no' vote, for basing motive free property on category popularity...or lack of.

A 'yes' vote on basing it on usefulness to the category

A 'no' vote on a separate motive-free category.

A strong 'no' vote on having limited periods of motive-free on all categories.

On the front page poll:

After an early lead in favor of having no motive-free lots at all, the skill category has surged ahead, in popularity.

 

[Guest]

To be honest, I think the greening issue needs to be rethought a bit more. Heres my suggestion.

How about making it so that you CAN'T green certain things on certain lots at all, have no decay on others and have a third type that you can go to to green.

I.e

Money lots = bladder, social and comfort only - Med decay
Skill lots = bladder, social and comfort only - Med decay
Shops = bladder and social - Med decay

Entertainment = Bladder, social, comfort, hunger - slow decay

Romace - Bladder, hygene, social comfort, hunger - slow decay
Residential - All abilitys - slow decay

You get the idea
By doing this you open up all the lots to there own paticular use, you make botters and afker's jobs harder by introducing time constraints and u open up residential lots and other neglected lots to buisness as people go to them to green. A sim could make a coffee house in which you would get people coming to green up with food and coffee for those boosts. You take away the negitives from romance and games places and you break the stranglehold of skills and money lots who pull in the majority of the sims who log on. You open up creativity and interaction.

On the subject of interactions I don't know tbh, I would remove the bonus's from things like sernades or really limit them - how about as an idea, what you give in a social boost, you loose from the sim themselves - rather like transfering the greening ability? i.e Sim 1 serenades Sim 2, Sim 1's energy goes down and Sim 2's goes up

Anyway, these are just ideas, but rather like the inital move when the all purpose lots at the launch of the game were replaced with the current catagories, I think a radical move might work better than simple tweaking!

Discuss

 

[Guest]

Just to throw this out there, that idea wouldn't be simple. That would more complex than most things they are doing.

 

[Guest]

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Just to throw this out there, that idea wouldn't be simple. That would more complex than most things they are doing.

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Yes it is more complex, I agree, but if we ignore the social interactions its not that complex and if the rewards are what I think they will be is it not worth trying it, after all thats what test centre is about, testing new ideas to see if they work.

Besides the Devs are asking for ideas and opinions and that is what I am providing.

 

[Guest]

Bump

 

[imported_DutchAmerica]

Since lots no longer make money via guests/guest time bonuses.

Shouldn't food on 'non-money' making lots be free since there isn't a guest time bonus?

Money/store/service lots have a means to make money for their owners/roomies through the money objects, sales and craft table kickbacks.

However, other then tips, there is no way to make any money at a skill house. So the food costs should be free.

That would actually be the most fair in this case I believe.

 

[Guest]

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Since lots no longer make money via guests/guest time bonuses.

Shouldn't food on 'non-money' making lots be free since there isn't a guest time bonus?

Money/store/service lots have a means to make money for their owners/roomies through the money objects, sales and craft table kickbacks.

However, other then tips, there is no way to make any money at a skill house. So the food costs should be free.

That would actually be the most fair in this case I believe.

[/ QUOTE ]

If food was an expensive Commodity then that that idea may work out, but food is cheap and the game does need ways to drain all the money it pays out.

 

[imported_DutchAmerica]

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<blockquote><hr>

Since lots no longer make money via guests/guest time bonuses.

Shouldn't food on 'non-money' making lots be free since there isn't a guest time bonus?

Money/store/service lots have a means to make money for their owners/roomies through the money objects, sales and craft table kickbacks.

However, other then tips, there is no way to make any money at a skill house. So the food costs should be free.

That would actually be the most fair in this case I believe.

[/ QUOTE ]

If food was an expensive Commodity then that that idea may work out, but food is cheap and the game does need ways to drain all the money it pays out.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, food it not that expensive. But I was just thinking in terms of fairness to categories.

Since skill houses do not make any money, then there needs to be some kind of compensation or perk to actually running one. Food may not be that expensive, but newbie roomies with $100 to their names may not be able to afford to pay to feed guests.

Roomies in money houses can at least make a few jams or such to raise a few bucks for food.

 

[Guest]

It is not written in stone that food has to be free. Or that hosts have to bear the burden of paying to feed their guests.

It became common practice to offer free food when money was growing on trees.....but now that it is not, it may be time to revisit the idea of kiosks, buffets, and vending machines that have the ability to charge for food. Or even paydoors for home-cooked meals.

And there is the classic stand-by of placing a tip jar right next to the plate of home cooking.

 

[imported_DutchAmerica]

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It is not written in stone that food has to be free. Or that hosts have to bear the burden of paying to feed their guests.

It became common practice to offer free food when money was growing on trees.....but now that it is not, it may be time to revisit the idea of kiosks, buffets, and vending machines that have the ability to charge for food. Or even paydoors for home-cooked meals.

And there is the classic stand-by of placing a tip jar right next to the plate of home cooking.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, I keep my handy dandy tip jar sitting around and in my bio I say....we appreciate tip to help cover the cost of food.

There are some that tip and some that don't. It all balances out. If there is a tip jar when I'm visiting someone, I make a practice of always tipping if someone has been good enough to keep my sim fed.