With The Sims 4: Discover University coming out next week, speculations are in full swing. While most players are simply excited there's a college-themed expansion pack coming to The Sims 4, some have a list of wants and needs for EA to match. Some Simmers are worried that Discover University won't have as many beloved features as The Sims 3: University Life did.
Others still think Discover University will be the perfect time to introduce new long-awaited features. Here are five features from University Life players want in Discover University and five brand new features they want to be added too.
10 From University Life: Toga and Masquerade Parties
College toga parties are about as old of a cliché as they come. University Life took advantage of this and offered Sims the chance to host parties with toga and masquerade themes. Of course, Sims still had the option to post a regular old house party, but it's always fun to dress Sims up in fun costumes instead.
A lot of players hope toga and masquerade parties, as well as the outfits in general, make a comeback in The Sims 4: Discover University. The trailer didn't reveal anything on this front, but that doesn't mean these parties won't exist.
9 Brand New: Grade and High School Gameplay
As much as The Sims community wants a university expansion pack, so do they want a way to follow their younger Sims to grade school and high school. There are plenty of incredible school builds on the Gallery for Simmers to enjoy, but they can't really be fully enjoyed without some gameplay. School, as most of us know, is a huge part of our lives while still living at home, and as a life simulation game, it would make sense if you could follow your little Sims to and from school every day.
This kind of gameplay would give players more control over how well (or terrible) their Sims do in school, and it would work perfectly under the Discover University umbrella because it could determine whether or not your Sims get into college.
8 From University Life: Fraternities/Sororities/Secret Societies
Along the same lines as themed parties are a next big-ticket item on The Sims fans wishlists: frats and sororities and/or secret societies. These organizations are typically the ones that throw those big parties in their massive chapter houses in real-life college scenarios, so it's almost a given that the people want to see them make a comeback in Discover University.
The expansion pack would probably feel incomplete without the Greek experience, so here's to hoping The Sims 4 takes the cue from The Sims 3.
7 Brand New: University Sports
One rather large element missing from all college-themed packs in the past, as well as The Sims gameplay in general, is sports. Not everyone loves sports, but The Sims has already provided the community with the Fitness Stuff pack, a basketball hoop, and the Discover University trailer teased the introduction of bicycling and soccer.
Would it really be that big of a step to include more sports for Sims to engage in, collegiate or not? Sims could enjoy a fun tailgate party before going to support Britechester vs. Foxbury or vice versa. And after the game? Imagine the victory juice-kegger your Sims could throw!
6 From University Life: Roommate System
Roommates are a huge part of the college experience, but incorporating this kind of gameplay into a simulation game like The Sims isn't always easy. With the apartment system that came with City Living, Sims can't live with NPCs and the neighboring apartments are grayed out until you travel to them (yes, through the annoying travel loading screen).
Needless to say, most Simmers hope the dormitory/roommate gameplay in Discover University is reminiscent of the system in University Life, where gamers could pick the room and bed they want their Sims to own and not have to worry about playing all of their roommates too.
5 Brand New: Get to Class Options
The Sims 4: Get to Work offered a type of gameplay Simmers had never seen before: the ability to follow your Sims to work and determine how well they do their jobs first-hand. This gameplay continued into the Get Famous expansion pack, which extended this invitation into your Sim's place of work to the Actor career.
Similar to the type of gameplay you'd expect when following younger Sims to grade school and high school, this "Get to Class" option would make it possible to follow your Sim to their college class and give you reign over exactly what kind of college student your Sim turns out to be.
4 From University Life: Streaking
The Sims wouldn't be The Sims without a little bit of irreverent humor. Streaking made a comeback in The Sims 3: University Life from The Sims 2: University, and Simmers would probably be pretty disappointed if it didn't show up in The Sims 4: Discover University too.
What good are sports games or protests if your Sim can't run through the place, shocking and embarrassing every Sim within eyeshot without a stitch of clothing to be seen? Just imagine the kind of hilarious moodlets your Sim could get from streaking through campus. With the "Change into Nude" option already available, streaking shouldn't be too much of a stretch.
3 Brand New: Minors
While majors are a given in any university expansion pack to come with The Sims games, minors are a small detail that has never been seen before. Though a "minor" detail, adding this little extra to Discover University gameplay could give your Sims' schedule the boost it needs to feel even more realistic.
Sometimes, the major selections are pretty slim, and in order to tailor your Sims' college experience to more perfectly fit their personality and interests, you could give your Sim the perfect minor. Maybe the minors could even give your muse a leg up when they enter the job search after college!
2 From University Life: More Traits and Aspirations
The Sims 3 Sims have always had more traits than The Sims 4 Sims do. In fact, the topic is often one Sims 3 fans use to defend the game against its successor. On top of that, University Life gave Sims two extra traits slots you can earn through gameplay—one is earned by graduating from college while the other is attained by reaching level 8 with the first social group.
With the severe lack of traits The Sims 4 exhibits, using Discover University as a way to add more traits to Sims and spice up their personalities a bit more is a great idea.
1 Brand New: Cars
If there's anything Simmers want more than they want this university pack to come out, it's cars. Sims games have always had cars in the past; in the original Sims game, they came with the Bustin' Out pack, then again in The Sims 2: Nightlife and The Sims 3 just had them from launch.
This is the fifth year The Sims 4 has been out, and there's still not a sign of cars to be seen. Discover University, with all its new gameplay and even a new mode of transportation (bikes!) could have been the perfect way to introduce cars.