Paralives Made a Change...
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- čas přidán 22. 12. 2023
- Ever since it was announced, paralives development caught the attention of many in the sims 4 community. That's been building into expectations from gameplay live mode to even elements of the parameter and parafolk. And now in an update, the paralives team changed something about their game. What does this mean for paralives development and the demands of both Patreon and non patreon members?
Stay tuned for sims, paralives, life by you, and inzoi reviews, news, commentary series, guides, and more in 2024.
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
uppbeat.io/t/paul-yudin/magic...
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Paralives FAQ
Is there a release date for Paralives?
It’s still in early development. No release date has been announced yet.
How is Paralives different from The Sims?
Paralives is being developed by a small indie developer and features unique graphics. For now, it seems to be interested in a more realistic take on a life simulator. It will also include unique features like height sliders.
Why is it called Paralives?
“The name Paralives is a reference to parallel lives, allowing players to live different virtual lives and build homes to stage them.”
How many people are working on Paralives?
There are just 10 people on the Paralives team.
Will Paralives be multiplayer?
No multiplayer mode is planned.
Where can I get Paralives?
It’ll be able to be purchased for PC and Mac on Steam. No console version is planned.
Where can I learn more about Paralives?
Website:www.paralives.com/faq
Steam: store.steampowered.com/app/11...
Twitter: / paralivesgame
CZcams: / paralives
Facebook: / paralives
Instagram: / paralivesgame - Hry
I like the changes. I personally do like the hand drawn kind of style they are going for but it really was way to busy with all the lines and detailing so it’s nice to see that reigned in a bit.
for sure, I can understand that.
It's cool to see them continue to refine, so long as it's good for their process
I liked it before, I liked it after. I honestly really like how the parafolk look. That painterly art style makes me feel warm inside 😊
yeah it has a very cozy feel. The bit of animations and expression I've seen I'm fairly fond of too
Same - I like the overall style, before and after.
Am I the only one who doesn't think the Paras didn't clash with the rest of the game? I really like how they're looking!
I think they complement. that is, I think the style feels cohesive and the paras are distinct enough to not get 'lost' in the background
I was about to comment this! I don't get it either, I think the Parafolk blend into the game nicely.
Ah yeah, I didn't hate the line work, as someone who enjoys the Borderlands games, where the characters have distinct line work, the extra lines never bothered me that much. But I can appreciate the update for folks who were bothered by the style lines.
Edit for typo 😊
Honestly a good point though- I suspect people's preferences are highly influenced by what games they've played (well I guess that's a circular argument ha)
@@SimmerErinand also what art styles they enjoy! all the lines reminded me of the old wishing chair and magic tree books, tho i don’t mind the toned down look either
I love the art style. I like the before and after. I don't know what people are talking about, I think they fit the environment very well. Fact is, it's impossible to please everyone.
certainly you can't please all. So far I've been impressed with how they're handling fan requests vs their own vision for the game
I like how they look now more but I didn't really mind what they looked like before. I think Paralives has to do what's best for them. If all they do is listen to the fans, then I feel like they would lose their own creative vision and it's also impossible to please everyone anyway.
certainly, and that is something I have sometimes been worried about. only thing I will say is that I have seen them flat out say no to things- so so far at least they seem to be balancing those issues
Not only Paralives have a graphic update, Life by You also went through with a visual update after the feedback from the community.
I do find that they are intentional to make the Paras and surrounding the way it is. Their response explained it all.
yes I saw that. I know a lot of people have written LBY off but I know they are working hard to improve graphics- I need to get back to covering it.. I got so hopelessly behind ha
Yeah and because it's intentional I certainly do not see them completely changing the distinction between parafolk & surroundings
I think it’s good, even in real life those things aren’t as defined so it makes sense. While I didn’t mind the original it does look nice
yeah, I def can see pros and cons to both- I see why some felt the lines were a bit exaggerated
I'm not a huge fan of the art style, but I think I can get over it. It doesn't give me that uncomfortable uncanny valley feel Life By You gives me. I still think the best graphics in a life sim were in The Sims Medieval. That's an art style I'm in love with.
I feel like I'm weird in that I tend to like different graphics for different games- and overall, does it seem to suit the game? LBY I have seen some gradual improvements, and Humble said they're still going to make more plus work with people in early access to do even more. I'll save the rest of my commentary about that though or we'll have a whole essay ha. I'm happy to hear even though it's not to say your cup of tea you're still receptive to paralives. I never played Sims Med but agree the graphics were pretty good for that game
Yes the Sims Medieval was so good and so overlooked!!
I actually like this game because of the art style. 😂 Different strokes for different folks.
sims medieval is pepitasse
I prefer the way they're drawn now. The "before" picture wasn't so much defined as overly emphasized. The front wasn't as problematic at the beginning but the back was problematic. The "after" still shows muscle definition but it looks better. As others have said, "not so busy." I also agree that the original way to draw it made it look more wrinkled and old, than defined.
As for holiday plans, today I'm going to an "open house" at a friend's. She *loves* decorating and is especially fond of Mid-Century Modern styling. She has vintage Christmas decorations (as in she has a whole room dedicated to the boxes full of decorations.) I'm looking forward to seeing what she has done. (She's posted some "teasers" and it looks really pretty so far!)
Christmas itself is going to be quiet. I'll go to church in the morning but then just take it easy. I have no family other than my husband close enough to visit, and my friends are either far away or busy with their own things. Then the next thing is a big shindig at other friends' home that is "formal" for New Year's Eve. I have a new dress to wear (which I got basically for free) that is beaded and floor length. Snazzy. (I'm especially excited because I don't generally get invited to fancy things like this. It feels nice to be included!)
I hope you had a great time at your holiday open house- vintage Christmas decorations sounds awesome! If I ever buy a house I'd love to have some more unique decorations. We had services Christmas Eve, but most churches around here (I think?? ) don't actually have Christmas Day services, interestingly.
OOH yes it's so fun to dress up! Happy for you! I hope you have a wonderful rest of the holidays :)
@@SimmerErin I did have a good time at the party. The decorations were amazing. And so many of my friends were there that it caused a bit of a problem. I had only planned to stay an hour or two, but ended up sitting and chatting more than planned. That would have been okay except my husband had a gaming thing that he wanted to do (which is why we had only planned to stay a couple hours.) He said he liked that I was having a good time, which is why he didn't remind me that we had planned to go. But he was obviously cranky about it. Sigh. (The man is not a good communicator. If I hadn't suddenly remembered his gaming thing, we would have stayed even longer.)
I went to services this morning. I guess most people went to the evening services because it wasn't crowded at all (which was just fine with me!) Then I came home and my husband and I had pork barley vegetable soup (leftovers) and Yorkshire pudding.
I hope your holidays were wonderful!
I feel like the best solution is that the lines should be dynamic, as in, muscular paras should have defined and more lines while chubbier paras should have softer and less lines, that way, it gives more variety and better highlights the body differences as opposed to looking too similar, and the same principle should be applied to take into consideration the age of the paras, but I'm not too sure how easy that'd be to code.
they have shown wrinkles and other aging aspects, which I was happy to see
I certainly follow your logic and don't disagree in theory- it's mostly if they feel they can reasonably implement it
I'm a digital artist and personally, how they line the paras is similar to how I line my own art. It's shows progression as they start to finalize the overall Para design. I feel like since the game can be modded, the team should follow their vision for the overall look of the game them leave it to the community to create mods for other looks. We do it with the Sims with reshade/skin overlays so players should just relax on that front. To me the visuals are stunning and will hold up as time goes on versus other games like Life By You, the Sims 3, and the older GTA series. It's why games have to be careful when doing realistic graphics. Either you make it hyper realistic but in a fantasy way, Bauldur's Gate 3, or you update the graphic in each installment, GTA/Sims.
yes, I do think ultimately they have to decide what's best for their game- and such a style has certain advantages
I think the new change looks great! I also loved the old one, but I think this is for the better. I also like how the Parafolk stand out from the backgrounds in general.
good! yeah oddly I kinda appreciate that they stand out, I feel like it's a more visually clear direction. I also think they are distinct, but they don't stand out so much they don't fit- as in the styles are similar
I am a fan of this art style. I disagree that they stand out and/or are absurdly different from their environments. I don't think I'd want them to be equal in style because the entire thing would end up looking too realistic (like Inzoi) or too cartoonish (...Disney Dreamlight Valley is maybe the closest to what I mean by cartoonish). I just look at a Para like Maggie laughing in the formalwear and she looks beautiful. I don't have a problem with how Paras look. I definitely understand that it's not the style for everyone, but I also don't think the Paralives team will be able to please everyone. I just really hope that their fans remain as fair to them as they have been so it doesn't trickle into how The Sims 4 community can sometimes react on social media (I realize the loudest, most hateful are the minority) because I really appreciate the transparency the Paralives team continues to provide such as glitches in progress and before & after shots.
Ok I honestly loved that wedding showcase and I loved the expressions shown too!
I think they stand out from their environment- but in a complementary way if that makes sense
Yes, that makes sense. Like, they stand out enough so they don't just become scenery, but not like coloring book outline.@@SimmerErin
For me they stand out pretty extreme, exactly as the devs want them to. I gonna assume they don't want to use a plumbob or similiar, so they must take these extreme measures to highlight the characters
It makes for a very incoherent art style tho, so while these decisions are on purpose, I'm not too sure that these solutions are elegant
i'm very happy with the change! i really didn't mind how it was before, for me it was only the knees that needed fixing, but they look so much better now and i'm very happy with it. i do think they should have left the lines on the chest and stomach alone tho, the user at 03:05 makes a very good point and it's a concern i have too. more than anything i just wish they'd get rid of the perpetual blush paras have, it does not look good to me 😭
I kinda wish they'd ditch the blush too. I do know that there have been opacity sliders shown, but I'm not sure if those can be used for the blush. Not a deal breaker for me, but I mostly love how they look and don't find the blush needed. it is to me far more noticeable on pale skin tones and the youngest
In PAM they have you have ab option to make the blush colour the same as the skin tone so you can fix that for your Paras when you get the game. The Devs imo just like that style, but you can change it for yourself.
@@LlamaHannah oh wow i had no idea about that! if it's like you say it is then that's great
its much better now 😊 the artists know what they're doing
glad you like the changes!
They look so much better now so glad they made the changes to the knees and back of legs. There was a pool picture earlier this year all I could see was the harsh lines on the legs and upper arms please let those be gone as well but hard to tell from this photo.
As much as I actually would REALLY prefer if the environment followed the characters art style, I'd prefer if they made their decision and followed their hearts. Not that they shouldn't listen to fans, but this can quickly become a "too many cooks for a single dish" situation.
yeah I think ultimately it's great they are so open to feedback- but at the same time they absolutely need to have their sense of direction, limits and know what's best for their process too
And not only that, but it helps them know who to market to later down the line. They're never going to please everyone, but this was a comparatively minor critique to "test the waters" on. I will admit I do like the differences in line weight. It feels more balanced.
I like the changes and I always liked their art style. I think it´s important that they go in a different art style direction than other life simulation games, they are doing a great job. I´m very much looking forward to playing Paralives one day!
for sure, I am happy to see games pursuing their own unique styles
Good to know the team of paralives is still working on trying to make some more changes to this game. Can't wait to see what else they do. The team seems to be doing well with this game so far.👍
Ty for this video update too. Take care and have a happy and good New Years.👍✌💖🎉🍾
they for sure are, and they continue to make progress in live mode :) this was done some time ago and just not shared with the public
Happy New Years to you too!
I saw several people in the community asking for the lines to be removed altogether. I'm really glad they didn't go that route because there's a fine line they need to walk between listening to feedback and improving the game accordingly and just losing sight of their own vision for the sake of the community's opinions. As you so eloquently pointed out, they would never be able to please everyone, so I'm glad they found a way to compromise and tone down the lines without completely removing them. I think it's important for them to stay true to their artistic vision.
yeah, and honestly, I don't see them ever doing it. they've been pretty firm on that point and I think that shows they do still have a general vision for their game- which, even if some disagree- overall is important
I'm just glad the knees and elbows have less lines. It looked like the bone was sticking out of the arm.
Thanks so much for you vudeos always amazingly helpful content 🎉
thanks so much, appreciate the kind comment
If anything, I think the environment/objects could match the parafolk a little more, just to soften the contrast a little, but otherwise I like that they are making the parafolk stand out.
I can slightly see some differences with the arms and back although it can be hard to notice the difference at first glance as seen with the lines. One thin to note is that detailed comparisons can be hard to tell with the compression from the recording software (in my case, OBS), editing software, and CZcams, although some obvious changes can be noticeable. You also have to keep in mind what devices people are watching on as a smaller screen on a phone results in a smaller image compared to a laptop or monitor.
Looking at Rebecca's comment, I never realized the Paralives characters looked similar to the Borderlands characters which is similar to how the characters in Hogwarts Mystery looks similar to the Sims in The Sims 4.
certainly, these changes I'd say are already subtle, and how you view them gas an impact too
The clash between the characters and the rest is the thing I dislike the most about it, but I never complained because like you I remember them saying it was a design choice.
I really like the art style, probably my most favorite that I've seen from all the life sims coming out and it really makes the characters look lively and with personality. It gives me Sims 2 vibes and I'm very excited to play the game
I could see elements of that
I liked it before and I like it now too. I’m glad they listen to our feedback but at the same time I hope they keep a unique signature style.
I think they will. it'd honestly be too much of an overhaul to entirely change, and they have expressed before they'll keep with the general art style
I think it looks great. The art style is nice too. The update looks good.
glad you like it. they seemingly took a moderate approach, changing it a bit but retaining their general style
Yes, the shoulders, knees and elbows look WAYYYYY better now
Glad you like it! Are you pretty happy with how parafolk look now?
Now they only need to add a graphic option to remove the blush/sunburn on all townies, then I'm actually quite okay with the style. Way too comic-style for my taste, but I can work with that
The harsh outlines really killed my immersion (I'm one of the weirdos who automatically associates these with open wounds) and I'm quite surprised they actually for once listened to feedback, that's quite rare in my experience (or maybe their discord is just a bad place to give feedback, when any slightly non-positive comment gets immediately drowned by 20 fans who immediately state how much they love that particular aspect). Good job
The style is a vibe. Keep it.
Dose this game have supernatural like stuff? Or in depth Personality and game play like the sims 2 and 3 ? And the weirdness of the frist game?
supernatural is being considered for a dlc in the future, but no, not for the base game,
They do indeed have a personality system! but details haven't been shared with non patreon yet, so hang tight
I didn't mind the previous art style, but I do like this one a smidge more - particularly around the knees. I think those are the most notable changes for me (front and back).
Softening and getting rid of some of the lines that look like a cat scratched them up looks good to me. But I realized that I didn't even notice the heavier lines during thier Game Play videos. So either way is fine with me.
that brings up an interesting point: I do think lines are more notable when you're just staring at the parfolk by themselves vs watching with live mode demos
I don’t mind Paralives stylised look and the tweak they did make to the line was good enough because some of the line work was too detailed looking uncanny it certain places like knees and backs. I think it a good choice to have an identifying looked to the game like purposely making Paralives stand out against the background of the world. I think some people forget the games isn’t just to fill their every wish on what they want their dream life simulation to be. I like this improvement however we have seen the other stages with this change.
I agree about standing out- and I feel like the style is still cohesive. I feel they stand out just enough to make it visually clear so to speak
The "after" changes do improve the Paras IMO. However, I wasn't a fan of the art style of them when I first saw them, but I may come to like them if I like the way this game is being developed. I'm divided between, the next Sims version, Life by You and this one. The two deciding factors will boil down to the gameplay and what system requirements are needed to play each game. I will only choose just one. Thanks for this video, have a Merry Christmas, and happy holidays.
yes, gameplay is very important- and obviously there's a lot we still have to see
Merry Christmas to you too!
I like the before but I do appreciate the knees being a little less defined; those caught my eye constantly when seeing footage, like the lines were a little too harsh. But I think even those could be kept if some of the lines were made a little more transparent/closer to the skintone? Kinda like when I color the certain part of the lineart to help it blend better.
Still, I'm sure they'll made adjustments a few more times before they find the balance they're looking for!
The changes look good and I'm looking forward for Paralives still ✨
I liked Parafolk before and after. I like it because of the unique art style. I just want the game tbh.
InZoi and Life By You are coming as well. I like that if you really aren't a big fan of the style, the answer isn't mods. Just play one of the orhers
yeah the changes here are honestly imo subtle- which is prob good. They retain their art style and just adjusted it a tad
I actually like the fact that all these games are going with a different style. I think they need to be different, that way you can own multiple games without feeling you are on repeat. You'll go into one game or another feeling like your getting a different experience with each. If they all go with one style then what's the point. I want multiple options but not just to decide which to buy but which to play depending on how I'm feeling that day. I've like paralives from the beginning, and the changes they are making will only make it better.
Exactly! I don't know why people want or expect everything to be similar or the same. The games all have different goals and approaches to the genre, and that's great! I'm definitely going to rotate around depending on features, gameplay, mood, and how I want to play.
Yes, I once made a comparison video and my general take was- it's great to see more options in the genre, in different styles and different approaches. how dull would it be if they were all too similar!
I don't know how I feel yet.
I think I liked the old version more, but they're both good honestly and I'm not worried about the direction they're going. 😊
same ha
I think the art style is nice, but the parafolk not matching up with the background is my biggest issue. I don’t think I’d be able to ignore it
They are pretty firm on that design choice, though mods will be compatible through the steam workshop- it is possible we will see mods that change para appearance, albeit this may not be enough for some
@@SimmerErin true but in this case I either have to apply it to everyone manually even randomly generated npcs or the mod does it itself but has to update every now and then or else the game gets buggy/breaks. I’d rather just use what they have and try to get used to it. Don’t get me wrong tho I’m still gonna try this game, I’ve been following it since day one. The gameplay is honestly all I care about. If that’s good then I could care less about the contrast between parafolk and their environment haha
I do like the line work since it makes the game unique amongst the other simulation games on the market but I do think that it's a bit harsh for my liking, so them toning it down is a good choice.
yeah makes sense. Maybe it's a bit how I feel about the blush overlay- I don't mind it being there but feel it could be toned down
Tbh I think the legs and back look better after, but the front torso looked better before. I feel like the best option would be to just make it easier to mod the textures.
Also I think the characters look good with the non-cel shaded environments. It reminds me of how Genshin Impact, Guilty Gear Strive, and Gravity Rush have cartoony cel shaded characters in stylized non-cel shaded environments. Maybe taking inspiration from how those games do their shading and environments would help them with their art style?
Actual 2D animation also often doesn't have cel shaded backgrounds, so the environments make sense for the style that they're going for.
some modding will be allowed via steam; however, to my understanding it is unlikely as of now to support modding for character lines. This could have something to do with the complexities of the animation system, but don't quote me on that
Don't really have any holiday plans since I don't really celebrate anything but I do like where Paralives is headed. The art style isn't really a big deal for me. I play Minecraft, Stardew Valley and Terraria for goodness sakes lol so I'm cool with pretty much anything. What I'm really looking forward to is gameplay. I know people get hung up on graphics but if most people just hold back their critics on it and let the devs focus more on gameplay, the timeline might possibly be pushed up sooner since they wouldn't have to focus so much on revising the art.
yep, and see I think that's a lot of where we see a divide between people.. I think other games one has played or currently plays also plays a role in how graphics are perceived
You are not alone, I personally don't mind either way but seeing the back in comparison the before does look a bit too heavy with the lines. What is a positive is that they listened to a large portion of the community and did something about it but I say that with the same reservations you state. Of course, they'll be some that still won't like the changes but that type of person is never going to go away, it just changes who that is.
Have a great holiday Erin and I can finally tell you to get stuffed....with lots of food of course. 😁
yeah, I think at least they seem to not simply comply to every demand but consider it carefully
Happy Holidays to you too!
respect for responding to all your comments
ha thank you! I try to respond to almost all of them
I like it! They look more like people than sculpted dolls now.
interesting, can you explain that a little?
glad you like the changes
@@SimmerErin The new lines are there more through shadows rather than penciled on. They feel more natural. That spine line looked like a seam in a stuffed doll.
I thought the art style was good at first but now it’s better! 👌
I was fine with how it looked before. Also, I care more that they feel alive because the team uses lots of animations to express feelings. I don't want the budget going to making them look different when it can go to making them feel alive. Several ways to lay on the couch based on how you feel or based on your personality verses spending money on making a para look more like TS4.
for sure- personality and gameplay tbh are the most important to me
I agree with you, I think the problem is more that people are commenting on everything instead of just allowing the game to develop. Yes there are pros to engage the audience most people that are customers are not vocal. Therefore, the people giving feedback about what they want don't represent the actual player base. I think it looked better before too. Yes, they need to engage their fans on patreon but fans need to stop being so critical and just let them make their game. In this way, I miss the way games used to be developed.
I kinda liked how they looked before but I think it’s still good. I just want the game to come out already 😂 (but I appreciate them taking the time to make the game fully fleshed out before release)
Hope Paralives and Life by you live up to the hype EA needs competition
that depends on what kind of hype- or expectations one has
I think the body texture should change depending on how fit the character is, that way you get the option for both more definition or less if that's your preference.
that would be ideal- for now, it isn't planned
I sort of want something in between the two.
I feel like it's kind of a hard balance to please- someone mentioned an option for players to adjust it themselves but idk how hard that would be to pull off or not
i personally like the before version, I think the harsh likes add to the style. though i understand why they changed it.
I like both fine, I guess it's just a matter of preference ha
They went for some sort of CEL shading art style, and i personally don't hate it. I've played the Borderlands games. In fact, cartoonish graphics aren't a problem for me, as they age very well in most cases. I don't mind realistic graphics, and i don't mind cartoonish graphics as long as the game is good.
good insights! a few people now have mentioned borderlands as a comparison- I have never played, but I've seen what it looks like (but I need a refresher). I do agree that a stylized approach usually runs less risk of being called 'outdated' for its graphics
and yeah, gameplay is by far my main concern too
@@SimmerErin To this day, The Sims 4 graphics still look very decent to me. Especially if you play it at max settings and in 4K. Shows how well cartoonish graphics can hold up.
Me personally, while I like that they listen to the community but I stand firmly in the camp of "People dont know what they want". The game isnt even out & people are complaining. I think its best to just stick to how the devs want to make their game, implement any ideas they think is good from the community IF they want to. Its better to have a clear artistic view than a hoshposh of ideas from a community to a game that no one has played. They're not customers until the game actually comes out, right now we're all just Sims fans who feel burnt by EA.
I think it's a mix. many provide constructive feedback, and many do not. Giving feedback in reason can improve a game
i think the front lines were fine but, somewhat agree for the back being harsh. this also depends on body type for me. instead of just removing them i think they should make them a choice for both the front and back.
I can understand that, as the back lines were certainly more distinct, and you can see the bigger change there
I LOVE IT!
i think its is cleaner while staying loyal to there art style the after made the back defenetly profited more from the change it loses more of the defenision from the front that i think looked fine in the before picture but then again the chance is nice i just hope they wont get rid of the 2D out line on there models just becouse other people think it should be realistic i realy love there art style and want them to hold on to it not remove it.
I believe they are pretty firm on retaining the outline, and that's good. they have explained their reason and showcase confidence that this is the right choice for their overall vision
Hoping there will be occult on this game too.
not confirmed, actually
they said they were open to maybe adding it in dlc in the future but it won't be base game, nor are they sure
wonderful video friend
thank you. Merry almost Christmas and Happy Holidays
@@SimmerErin yqw friend same to you :)
One thing that I still think could be improved with the lines is making the line-art more saturated and slightly lighter version of the skin color rather than just dark brown regardless of skin color or hue. I think dark skinned paras look great, the lines feel refined, add detail but are not overimposing but with lighter skintones, the lines being so dark washes out the skintone and comes off too harsh of a contrast. The changes so far are great improvement but I do think that making the line-art slighly lighter and more saturated would help to cut out the character without washing them out.
i think they could just add setting or add as details for parafolk bodies how many want have wrinkles on body and how much opacity precents lines should be on body overall than everyone would be somewhat maybe happy
they will have wrinkles and skin details :) they have shown those.
as for overall lines, I certainly understand it;d be ideal to have opacity sliders- they said so far that isn't planned. I'm not sure coding and animation wise
I think it's personal preference some will like the lines some won't. I like the change. Knees and back look better to me.
for sure, graphics and artistic direction is always going to have a high level of subjectivity
I like both, but I like the knees better in the new one. I also hope they don't remove even more lines though
they prob won't
Honestly either way is fine, I want this game to go out already!
it's going to be a while, They are currently working on core mechanics in live mode and showing progress- but I also know there's a lot left to be done
Not being arrogant, but I think I was the one to trigger this. When they released an image with the body detail, I was the first to critique and got hundreds of upvotes on reddit. You’re welcome! 😊😅
Mmm...you do know that there's discussions on their Patreon and Patreon only discord channel weeks before they even announce it on Reddit, right?
do you think they pay attention to reddit most? was kind of curious how much they pay attention to various socials- as I'd think they'd prioritize patreon first
I'm actually glad they softened the lines on Parafolk because they were all starting to look like muscle builders. Happy Holidays to you.
Happy holidays to you too!
They made the lining less rough and removed pocketed skin? Dunno maybe that'll now be an option for charactees that have those features
Also what if I want a muscular baby? Lol
a muscular baby? lol idk about that
I like the art style a lot, the before didn’t bother me at all. The young paras do look odd lol. I’m sure it will all come together when the lighting effects are completely polished!
yeah! I agree that the art style is nice, just that the younger ones need some work. I do know the team seemed open to tweaking the younger ones, so that's good/
Personally, I preferred the before. I like this art style since it's different from what we are used to. It remind my of old Disney.
The para looks much better with less definition. If the character design was different, the lines would have helped. Maybe highlighting where they want definition with some shading would also aid in the design they want?
I really love the art style of the game, they will never please everyone, I think they could add the option for us to choose the opaticity of these lines, so if you want it to be harsh so be it, Paralives has something special, I see the game and I know it's Paralives, it gives me the same feeling of uniqueness I get with sims 2. Inzoi and Life by You just look like a modern game to me, I don't know what to pin point in paralives that gives me the "I have something special" but certainly I'm not the only one noticing it.
yes, I do agree the style seems to overall fit the game well and feels distinct- and while not everyone may love it, it's honestly impossible to appeal to everyone
I was fine with the original version, but I do like the after version a bit better - especially the knees. I like the blend of art styles with the paras vs the environment. I think it's nice and cozy.
yes, cozy is the word I'd use to describe it too
I mean...can't they just do both? If someone doesn't want a "harsher" look as they put it then just don't customize your character to be that way. Right?
I'm honestly not sure, from a coding point of view
I actually like that the parafolks do not match the environment personally think it looks really good ♥
I do too, tbh. I think the styles work well together and it makes it visually appealing. I like that the paras are easy to spot
After looks better for sure . The quads were def harsh before
I think it looks better with the softened lines, the first ones were a bit too aggressive. I also agree that the art style is cute, drawn instead of realistic makes them stand out. It gives me the vibe of the art that I used to see in novels when I was a kid.
oh cool, any idea what some of those novels were
The lines are now more anatomically correct than previously drawn. I think that the lines were overdrawn and the complainers made a good call to highlight it, and the team's response to their feedback was great as well. However, I think they should work a little more on the scalpula's scale/definition on the back, but it is far improved than the before image.
Aside from that, I don't mind that the artistic style of the paras against their background differs, it makes them stand out.
what would you like to see changed about the back's definition?
yeah I've been pleased regardless with how they respond to feedback
@@SimmerErin Like previously said, the scapula is not that accurate in shape and definition. Scapulas are more angular at the bottom, there should be more of a triangular formation between both scapulas. They are currently rounded in shape.
Aside from that, the front torso looks fine. The newer back is not horrible and I know the artstyle is cartoon-like, but human characters should have some anatomical accuracy for human players to relate to. Scapulas are a notable landmark on a back's definition. Happy Holidays!
The Paras don't look cartoonie, but comic book like, which is different, but not much different, meaning they still don't fit with their environment, which I am not really a fan of myself, I liked the art style better before they had to change the way you make your Para in the Para Maker, thanks to EA deciding to claim a patent on the push and pull thing. But just because they had to change to the sliders, doesn't mean they had to change the whole way they looked too!
And really them seeming to be determined to keep the drawn look, even though A LOT of people don't care for, isn't really them listening to their customers that much! Especially seeing as they are getting all their money to make the game, from The Sims players/their customers or soon to be customers.
I mean I understand they want their Paras to look different from other life sims characters, but, even if they made them where they matched more with their environment, they would most likely still look different from The Sims or Life By You!
Also, the first The Walking Dead games by Telltale has a drawn look, though it's a bit more real looking and the environment matches the people in the game more too, I in fact thought they were going for that look, but it's clear they are not. I think in fact, that if they had made the people look more like them, even with the environment looking different, it would have been a lot better and people might like the game a lot more too.
I am the type of life sim player that does care as much about the look of the people and environment as the actual game play, and also to me bad graphics to me, can effect the game play for me, like whether I will like to play it at all, game play alone isn't enough to attract me to a life sim, if the people I play with don't look right to me, I won't enjoy the game play anyway!
And until I see some real game play, instead of little clips of them walking across a room or field or standing and chatting, it's hard to say much about the game play or how they are going to look during the game play.
This all doesn't mean it can't be a good game, and there is no reason why one can't enjoy Paralives and Life By You, and if you still want to stay with The Sims, also The Sims 4 or Project Rene or whatever they choose to call it in the end. Some act as if you have to just choose one or the other, but if you can afford it, you can just get them all and instead of just having one true life sim, meaning a game that is about just day to day life, more like The Sims, we will have 3 or 4 at least to buy and play, like when we get bored with one, we can play one of the others.
Which up until now, we didn't have a choice, the most we could do is go from playing The Sims 4, to playing The Sims 3 or The Sims 2, now we might have at least 3 that we know of, if we include the Korean one too, not counting of course any The Sims game of course.
interesting. I def prefer parfolk now- I find they have a lot more detail and dimension (but honestly, I was def still up for playing and following the game either way) - it just goes to show how subjective graphics and art are, which is why to see different simulation games, too, going in different directions
I have to disagree on the comment on artistic style though- these have all been hand drawn. changing to a 3D model now only would take away from their unique style but scrapping tons and tons of work
And yes, I def agree that there are many games to choose from, and certainly, one can play many games ay once :) I have sims 3, 2, and 4 installed ha
I think if you make a strong artistic decision, its always going to alienate some people who have different tastes. I hope they don't listen too much to the critics, sometimes you need to follow your artistic vision and not allow it to be diluted. I personally think the art style is absolutely beautiful, and will also age well, as it doesn't compete in terms of realism, so future developments in graphics technology won't harm them as they are not competing to be the most realistic looking. Also, from what I understand its easier on the system requirements. So, as a fan of their art style, its a win on almost every measure!
for sure, some have suggested they change everything and that's simply not going to happen.
I do think that the characters need to blend in with their environment more, because right now they kind of look like stickers on top to me, instead of just existing inside the space. I wonder if that’s not really a problem with the art design though, and more a problem with lighting. The characters have shadows and the lights affect all the other objects, but don’t seem to touch the characters at all. I wonder if they just made it so lighting affected them, it would help make them look like they’re actually in that environment. A look similar to Klaus, where they still keep that 2d charm. I think it’s a lighting issue, not an art style issue. What do you think?
I don't force them changing the overall direction and they actually seem a bit against making them blend in more- as in they simply do not want to. I do agree lighting and shadows make a huge difference, though, for a variety of reasons- taking a look at paralives when it was first unveiled vs now really I think showcases that
I think your reasoning is sound, while at the same time I find it unlikely the team will do so.
that said, you can always share your feedback with them if you want- they seem pretty approachable!
Hot take: but if they added more lines on the faces when the paras are emoting, that would be really cool. When we frown, smile, narrow our eyes, widen our eyes, etc a lot of wrinkles show and it makes us look more human.
that would be really cool! not sure if it's feasible or not
I thought they looked fine before, but with the comparisons id say i liked the originals better. They seem kind of blurred out and too simple. I think they just removed too many lines. I think the weird lines on the upper arm are unnecessary. Most artists dont draw those lines at all and leave the arm just looking smooth. Coz arm definition isnt as important when its a basic round shape. I think they just need to prioritize which definitions are important instead of going off of every possible shadow crease a human may have that we normally dont even notice. And idk, people that are perfectly happy arent going to say much, so i hope they dont cave on what they want too much, coz people complaining is gonna shine through more than people praising particular small details.
So I used to worry about them doing so- changing too much on opinions, but happily I often see them say ' sorry, but that isn't in our development plans'
it certainly is a balance, but so far it does seem they are handling it well
I like the art style regardless. I do worry fewer lines will make more muscular body types look too soft and squishy. In the examples, their body attributes hadn't been changed at all, but the one with fewer lines definitely looked less toned. Hopefully they find a way to gradually increase the lines as muscle tone is increased, to give the appropriate effect. I don't mind that the paras stand out a little bit from the background and environment, for visibility. They still look like they fit the environments, to me.
yeah I get what you're saying- ideally, it would make sense to have a variety of definition depending on muscle composition (Im cool whichever but it would be more 'realistically representative' so to speak
great info. I liked the after.Graphics are important to me. I like the real-ism of the grand theft auto graphics, but it's too gritty & violent for me to play. Thanks!!
Yeah ha I feel like GTA isn;t for me. Are graphics most important to you, and does this mean you're most drawn to inzoi
Honestly the most amazing game for me would be combining the best from Sims 1-4, with improved graphics. I often wonder if professional modders could make a game to rival Maxis 'inzoi' and 'paralives' have good improvements, yet it's too early to tell if these games will have the all important Personality. Merry Christmas & THANK YOU for a great year of videos & info @@SimmerErin !
I think I like the change, it seems kinda more realistic.
I don’t think the argument for them looking too cartoony has anything at all to do with the fact that it’s 2-D animation. It has more to do with how the line work just seems so overly exaggerated and the light and shadows don’t work well with the environment. I understand that they wanted the paras to stand out from their environments, but there needs to be more consistency between the environment and the Paras because they look like they’re from two different game styles. Also, you shouldn’t have to use mods to correct design flaws that the game creators could’ve corrected themselves. That’s basically what we’re doing with the Sims right now. They need to fix the kids BEFORE launching, if they’re going to do it at all. Getting rid of some of that meaningless skin detail is a good starting point and it looks much better.
What would achieving that 'consistency' mean or look like?
Happily they seem fairly open to feedback on younger life stages
It is a great change but I think they should not focus on all of the style criticism they get (that sometimes clash or go in opposite directions) and build their gameplay. They should be more confident in their style choice and prioritize gameplay so that the game has a chance to exist one day, and then make style improvement later.
You can please some of the people sometimes, but can't please all of the people all of the time. But looked ok to me before and now. Is it perfect? No, but imho it has a unique style. Plus I am still excited for it.
exactly. great to see them be responsive, and at the same time they need to have a clear vision for their game overall
Personally, I've always felt that character designs fit quite well with the overall game aesthetic, so I've never really understood the people saying they didn't match. As far as the new designs go, I think they look fine; but I was fine with the way they looked before too. I will say that perhaps having fewer lines will be easier to animate? At any rate, I suppose this is one of the issues with making a new game in a genre that really only has one entry: people who have played that entry will judge your submission against it, for better or for worse. But I hope that the Paralives team doesn't take too much of the criticism to heart and works to show us their own vision for their game; I'm happy the life sim genre is getting some competition, and I don't want them to all look exactly - or play - exactly the same!
And I'm having a quiet holiday with only immediate family members, but I'm fine with that; I'm still a bit worn out from a bug I was dealing with earlier this week, plus I rather like just getting to be a bum sometimes! 😅 I hope you and your loved ones have a happy and healthy holiday!
certainly possible- I am not sure in terms of the animation aspect.
Ah, I'm glad you're feeling better! And yeah sometimes quiet is just as nice
Personally, I like the art style. It took a while for me to get used to but after watching a few of their videos, it became really cute. I don't really trust twitter opinions anymore because a lot of people on the app are there just to hate.
oh yeah it took me a bit too. I like how it's come along
I am okay with this change.
But you are right, listening to customers is not necessarily a good thing. For one thing, you can't please everyone. That point is highlighted by the comments responding to this change. Some people like it, some do not and to others it is fine either way. The most important part is that you should not make changes to your art if it changes your vision. Listening to criticism and making adjustments based on that should only be done if it makes sense to YOU, the creator.
yes! it's a fine balance. it's good to be receptive and responsive but you also have to have an overall vision of what's reasonable and what's ultimately best for your game
I'm entirely neutral on the change - I liked it before, I like it about as much after.
A quiet Christmas with my husband is about the extent of my holiday plans this year.
❣ honestly a quiet Christmas sounds nice, I hope you have a good one
They can stay with the left but make it more refined. For now it still feels rough for someone, but for me it's good enough.
refined how so
I think the only problem with the art was the knees. Gladly they fixed it.
you can fix this much much much later, for the most part they nailed the style (unlike life by you for example) so PLEASE finish the development for us to start playing already!
they're currently working on live mode, but it's going to be a while.