Okay, I only got GA a couple of weeks ago (was off for a while, checking out Sims3), and after having played around with it for a bit, I have to say it's GRRRREAT!!! The best Maxis expansion pack I got so far, ever. I've heard somebody claiming that it's "just a scenario editor" for Spore -- which may be true, except for the "just" bit. The thing is that it's a very thoroughly worked through and extremely user-friendly scenario editor. It's true that a scenario editor could do more (e.g. branching dialogue), but I think it's the right decision of Maxis to keep a conservative policy about the scope of the pack when doing something so groundbreaking for their games. And, coming to that, I've been very pleasantly surprised about how flexible and full of possibilities it actually is within all its limitations. With a little imagination and ingenuity, it's amazing how far you can get with it.

Adding to that, it's remarkably low on bugs compared to what we were used to from the Sims2 era. With Spore, Sims3, and GA, Maxis seem to have taken a turn and begun moving away from the "praise us for the numerous amusing bugs" policy, which may have been comfortable enough for developers and testers, but which became frustrating upon the getting-offensive border for us players. The increasing robustness and taking their own products seriously which I seem to have been sensing lately, does greatly inspire confidence in me. I think this'll keep me hanging around Maxis products for a while yet (be that a blessing or a curse, however they'll take it).

The solid and well-worked through scenario editor and the increased robustness of the scenarios, are integrated rather simply into the game as missions. This simple solution is quite brilliant overall. If I have to come with a few quibs (and don't I always?), I could say that

1) one gets impatient for new scenarios turning up, when having to go on "traditional" missions several times before getting an adventure. This is a very superficial problem, as it just has to do with impatience to try out our new toy. As one plays on for a while, it seems to balance okay with the general game-play.

2) it's a pity that missions with "locked captains" don't show up in normal game-play. This is essential, however, to the main game, and I think Maxis have found the best solution in keeping the option open to make locked captains possible even if they'll only be played by the "nerdier" players (like me).

3) it's a bit disappointing that the same Adventures start popping up again and again if you've uprated them. With such a plethora of user-made Adventures, it should be no problem for the game to present you with a new adventure at every mission in-game. This is the one key point that needs to be fixed -- and which shouldn't be too hard.

Well, as you'll see, the quips are minor and go away at closer inspection. Combined with the facts that it's the most innovative, most robust, and most flexible Expansion Pack that Maxis ever made, what can I say but that my final conclusion is:

THUMBS UP!

I'm glad you think that way. Hopefully the next expansion will be announced in 2010.

tyrannolodon wrote:Hopefully the next expansion will be announced in 2010.

If it's going to be as cool as GA, I probably won't need to buy Sims expansions anymore.

...Oh, ooops, I didn't mean that, Maxis! Please don't hold back on Spore packs just to keep me addicted on those morsels provided by Sims packs! I didn't mean it! Oh, holy Spode, my hands are shaking... hey, Maxis, don't think intentionally downgrading future Spore expansion packs will keep me on the traditonal Sims ep's. I don't NEED them, I just get them... because I choose to...

Oh, bummer...

Bantaar wrote:hey, Maxis, don't think intentionally downgrading future Spore expansion packs will keep me on the traditonal Sims ep's.

Maxis has nothing to do with Sims 3.

MinionJoe wrote:

Bantaar wrote:hey, Maxis, don't think intentionally downgrading future Spore expansion packs will keep me on the traditonal Sims ep's.

Maxis has nothing to do with Sims 3.

That's a sweeping statement. (Not that I mind sweeping statements -- I frequently make them myself.) Since Will Wright originally made The Sims (and Spore) with the development team Maxis, I don't really think that they can relinquish it and blankly refuse to talk to the new development team. And if I was in the new development team, I would cop out if they did. So, I think *nothing to with* in your reply is overstating *no responsibility for".

Anyway, it's all nitpicking. Substitute "EA" for "Maxis" above, and it should all be valid again.