written by Jessica Xiao
edited by CHIQIO
Key words: artistry, Sims4
The Sims 4 is a life simulation game developed by Maxis and published by EA (Electronic Arts) back in 2014. The main concept of the game is to create your virtual characters, or “sims,” and have them live out their lives in the many worlds of the game. At surface level, many unfamiliar with the game will assume that artistry within this game lies in the creation of sims and the architecture of building houses and public areas, but for long-time players, we know that there is a world of artistry created by the fans of the game.
There are two types of umbrellas that every single person who has played the Sims 4 fall under. The first are the base game players. These players maximize and create their save files through the existing content in the game, whether that’s through the base game or through the purchasing of the different packs. Many first time players of the Sims tend to fall under this category. The second type of players is where artistry truly comes alive, and that is the custom content players. Custom content, or CC, is a term that describes additional content that can be downloaded and added to the game but it is not created by the people of Maxis or EA. Instead, CC is created and developed by Sims players. Through the use of CC, there are essentially no limits to your creativity in the game as there is a plethora of CC for almost every need.
The first type of CC falls under CAS (create a sim). This type of CC allows players to download custom hairs, presets, clothing, jewelry, etc. Anything related to the creation of a sim falls under this massive category. By using CC, players are no longer limited to the base game content and can create their sims exactly to how they’ve imagined them to look like. While CAS CC makes for aesthetically pleasing sims, it also serves as a storytelling tool used by players as hair, clothes, and accessories say a lot about one’s personality both in real life, and in the sims. The other level of artistry comes from the creators of the plethora types of CAS CC as they use their skills to design and create this type of content.
The other type of CC in the Sims 4 is the build CC, or furniture CC. This includes items from custom windows and doors to plants used for landscaping. Essentially, furniture CC pertains to items used to decorate any type of room. Similar to CAS CC, a level of artistry is shown through the players as furniture CC removes any barriers when it comes to creating and designing the homes and rooms that they’ve envisioned. Build CC also allows Sims players to showcase their architecture skills as they can bring to life their exterior designs. Once again, another level of artistry is shown through the creators of build CC. They are the ones who design what the furniture looks like, but they also have to ensure that the items they are designing are functional; meaning the sims will interact with the piece of furniture in the game. Several furniture CC creators will design and release individual items such as a couch or a bed for instance, but many furniture CC creators like to design and release their own version of packs. Sims players can download a variety of furniture styles and custom items that are not found in the base game, for example, blenders. Furniture CC once again helps players design rooms and homes that aid with storytelling, and showcases the personality of their sims since this is a life simulation game. For instance, a player might download furniture that falls under the seaside theme because their sim has always loved the beach but does not live by one, so they want the interior of their home to resemble something they love. Another example could be, a player has created a sim that loves darker colors and inspires them to move to the big city to become a music producer. CC can be downloaded to design a bedroom that reflects who that sim is and their aspirations.
Finally, artistry when it comes to the Sims 4 can be shown through another general category but does not pertain to the use of any type of CC, and that is content creation. Many sims players will create videos that showcase their builds or gameplay, which anyone can watch for inspiration or entertainment. Anyone could tune in to watch build videos or gameplay videos such as a Legacy Challenge, where they follow a family of sims through the generations of life. Build videos showcase the creativity and skill of sims players as they demonstrate their design skills and their creative process. Many Sims 4 players will watch speed build videos or home renovation videos to gain inspiration for their own builds, or to learn more advanced techniques when it comes to designing lots or interior decoration. Many content creators that create build videos usually don’t include any CC in their builds so (video thumbnail from Gryphi) the general audience, who might not play with CC, can see how base game items are utilized to achieve these incredible builds, and so the general Sims 4 player could download the build off the Gallery in game. When it comes to creators that create gameplay videos, some will use CC to make their gameplay more realistic and add character and personality to their sims, while others will stick to the (video thumbnail from lilsimsie) base game. For the content creators that do use CC, sometimes they will release CAS videos that showcase how they create their sims and what CC they like to use. These types of videos allow viewers to learn CAS tips and serve as a resource for finding new CC that they could add to their own game.
As you can see, there is a wide variety of artistry when it comes to the Sims 4. Creativity and skill is not only shown through playing the game, but it is also shown through the creators that make different types of CC and the content creators that like to share how they play the Sims.
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