Video game developers Electronic Arts (EA) recently released "The Sims 4" for the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox. This is the first time that the widely-popular simulation was ported over the consoles and outside the confines of the personal computer (PC).
There is no multiplayer mode for "The Sims 4," which makes it effectively a simulation for one player. Gamers find no problem with this initial setup on the PC, as evident in the success ofthe previous "The Sims" titles.
However, the console port does make for an experience similar to a multiplayer platform because it allows the use of controllers. With the right setup, "The Sims 4" can be the usual couch game, played with friends by passing the controller back and forth. This is possible because Sims have autonomous action.
When a player is done giving orders to his Sim, he could pass the controller to a friend so that the friend can issue orders to another Sim in the same household. A typical scenario would be like if a player's Sim is ordered to read a novel, a friend can order the other Sims to have a pool party at the same time.
Still, the controller that provide new ways to play seems to be offering the most inconvenience. Sims veterans know that most of the features in the game need the precision of the mouse. For example, building a house requires the pointer to be in the exact location so that the floors and roofs are placed just right.
The game is also littered with menus. Menus have been a staple of every "Sims" game because of the variety of features and for the PC, navigation is manageable with a keyboard and mouse. However, with the controller, this menu-surfing takes quite a while to get used to.
"The Sims 4" is out now for the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox. The console version contains updates, expansions, and improvements made available to the original PC version.
