The Sims 4 is truly massive, not only in terms of life simulations, but in regard to The Sims franchise itself. After all, The Sims 4 is the longest-running title in the franchise thus far, with Project Rene still being kept in the dark. Nevertheless, InZOI may be giving The Sims 4 a run for its money with one new feature clearly inspired by the latter. Released in early access on March 28, InZOI may be very new, but it has established gameplay features that are clear improvements on gameplay elements that players know and love. In particular, inZOi‘s canvas is something The Sims‘ gallery should be learning from.
Related
One Sims 4 Life Stage Could Use a Major Overhaul, And It’s Not Elder
Life stages have always been points of contention in The Sims 4, but Elders aren’t the only life stage that desperately needs an overhaul.
The Gallery Could Learn a Thing Or Two from InZOI’s Canvas
Simmers can easily see that InZOI’s “Canvas” holds a lot of similarities to The Sims 4’s Gallery. Like the Gallery, Canvas has been framed as an in-game social media hub for sharing creations. In the case of The Sims 4, players can share their builds, Sims, pet designs, tattoos, and much more in the Gallery. Based on the Canvas website, it appears that InZOI’s version of the feature will similarly host player-created Zois (InZOI’s term for Sims) and build designs.
However, Canvas has some differences from the Gallery that The Sims developer Maxis should make note of. After all, Simmers have long complained about rampant Gallery issues since the feature launched. One key complaint is loading times, as uploading designs to the Gallery and in-game can take ages. Another is the game’s filter system, as players can struggle for long amounts of time to find what they are looking for within the Gallery.
It would seem that InZOI publisher Krafton has heard these complaints and made sure that Canvas avoids these issues. With InZOI’s debut so recent, it’s a bit unfair to compare load times between the Gallery and Canvas. However, part of Canvas’ marketing focuses specifically on the social media aspect of the in-game platform. Canvas’ interface feels like a social media platform, with designs fitting specifically into grids. The Gallery’s interface may seem similar, but it feels more like online shopping rather than a place for The Sims community to connect. Additionally, Canvas highlights InZOI creators and has a ranking system that updates frequently. The Gallery occasionally highlights creators and designs, but it appears that Canvas is cultivating a specific feed and competitive environment for InZOI creators.
How the Gallery Could Be Improved by Canvas
Maxis will hopefully take notice of Canvas if it ever gets around to improving the Gallery. Currently, the Gallery feels like it lacks a distinct feeling of community. The introduction of tattoo designs in the new Businesses & Hobbies Expansion Pack certainly gave Simmers more of an excuse to visit the Gallery, but the system still feels dull and hard to navigate. Perhaps implementing a “Highlights” category or a ranking system similar to InZOI’s, in addition to a social media aesthetic, could help build this sense of community.
At the end of the day, the Gallery was a great idea that has clearly inspired a modern, cleaner version of the concept. InZOI is still in its infancy, so the success of Canvas has not yet been set in stone, though early reactions are positive. There’s still plenty of time for The Sims‘ developer to improve the Gallery, as a true competition between InZOI and The Sims 4 seems to have arrived.
- Released
-
September 2, 2014
- ESRB
-
T for Teen: Crude Humor, Sexual Themes, Violence
- Publisher(s)
-
Electronic Arts