1. The Sims 4 Will Be An Offline, Single Player Experience. Hallelujah!
The Sims franchise has always thrived under the single player, offline aesthetic that it was built on. A user could play it on any compatible computer, with just a mouse and a keyboard. The Sims 3 implemented some online features, taking advantage of social networks and user profiles through the official website, but it was never required to use these features. With EA under the helm of the franchise, there was always going to be a worry that The Sims 4 would be forced to undergo the methods that not only tarnished the release of SimCity, but severely damaged the potential for gamers to trust in an always online game or console. I have yet to play SimCity, and most likely never will. It's probably a fun game, but the server issues that plagued its release have left a bitter taste in my mouth that probably won't disappear any time soon. One of the smartest things EA and Maxis did when they announced The Sims 4, was to confirm that the game would stick to the format that it had always been known for. By confirming that they had learnt from their mistakes, they showed consumers that they were willing to accept that always online gaming was not yet feasible and that they would not try to change one of the main elements that made the franchise so successful since its launch in 2000. They've not shown any gameplay, or revealed anything substantial about the game itself, but by announcing this in its first press release, EA and Maxis have ensured that their doubters would not automatically close the book on The Sims 4. Ultimately, this step could be the one that makes or breaks the success of the game on its launch. The next year shall be an interesting one, as details of the game begin to trickle onto the internet. Needless to say, 2014 will probably be the year of The Sims 4.