“They'd be better if we could add the rules in game. Maybe even get alerts when we're about to break a rule. I'm low-key tired of having to look at three different windows just to make sure a sim can get married in a particular challenge.” - Melody R.

“I think challenges are a great way to spice up game play or experience things you otherwise wouldn't in your typical play-style but I personally don't really play out challenges because all of the rules are constricting. I get that's what makes them challenging but I would rather play out my own storyline of a family trying to make it rich than following set guidelines in a Rags to Riches format - or see how many babies I can have with a regular family without turning it into a baby factory like 100-baby games.” - Tim D.

“I hate them. I'm totally uninterested in following someone else's rules. I always find at least one of them arbitrary or nonsensical and just end up getting annoyed with challenges. “ - Carla C.

“I get bored partway through especially if the challenge isn't especially difficult, just time consuming.” - Annika J

“I did the asylum challenge and won the lotto literally the first day 😂 Right now I’m doing the decades challenge which has been fun. I tried doing the 100 baby one but it got too repetitive. I don’t completely follow the rules for each one tho. I’ll change things to match my play style. Or because I have adhd and don’t like blocks of text I just skim over the rules and miss a bunch of them lmao.” - Alyssa K.

The general consensus 
Challenges aren't for everyone. For those of us that enjoy structure and are sticklers for rules they are your jam. With a game that's open world anything goes. That can easily get overwhelming and sometimes boring. Challenges are a way to spice up our game and have a goal to reach. Gives us a reason to want to stay up 1 more hour and all of a sudden it's 3am and we have no idea how we got here…
For some challenges just aren't it. Rules shmules! Let me live my life how I want. Personally I have the attention span of a squirrel and cannot stay focused. Challenges are my kryptonite and I have never been able to finish one. I'm sure many simmers can relate!
However you choose to play, structured or not, there is a challenge out there for all of us. From builders to CAS challenges to those of us that like killing off our sims. We don't judge here. This is a safe space! Now..
We pass the question onto you. Do you use play with challenges? Let us know! Have a juicy question you’d like to ask the community? Leave it in a comment below! 

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SimGuruDuck, SimGuruSalo, and SimGuruRusskii all took to Twitch on October 26th to not only reveal what lies in Sims 4’s immediate future but also to celebrate the vast, unique contributions of Hispanic people in the Sims community.

During this stream, players learned that Sims developers would add a new piece of wall art - painted by Brazilian collaborative Laño- to the game. The wall art, inspired by the flowing, entangled lines of found in nature, is done in black and white but manages to feel light and airy.

Players will find this particular selection of art in game after the next Sims patch, which will hit PC and consoles next week. Folded into this patch is also a textured toddler hairstyle, one previously available via a purchasable DLC. This move is an effort to uncouple many essential representative features from their previous paywalls.

Additionally, the newest Sims update will enable what developers have deemed “Sims Delivery Express,” or hotfixes within game. That is, developers will be able to push out build/buy assets, fresh hairs, or decor in bite-sized updates. Because these updates are so small, they will not require the same content-breaking patches with which Simmers have grown increasingly familiar.

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The talk of the town, without a doubt, is Sims 4’s newest feature dubbed “Scenarios.”

Essentially, Scenarios are a codification of existing community challenges such as “100 Baby Challenge” and “Rags to Riches.” That is, Sims 4 will now provide in-game structures for completing these challenges to everyone. Players will be able to choose a scenario and complete its objective by whatever means they see fit.

After the update and upon opening a new game, players will be prompted to choose a “new scenario.”

Initially, only two scenarios will be available for players to complete: “moneymaking” and “finding love after a break up.” Each scenario will require the target Sim to achieve a specific goal or set of goals to complete. For “MoneyMaking” the Sim must work (or cheat/lie/steal) their way from zero to one million simoleons within their lifetimes. Some members of the Sims community will recognize this gameplay as “Rags to Riches.”

Players will need to meet the requirements for each new challenge before exiting Create—a-Sim before they can embark on a scenario journey. Some may ask for a certain number of adults or children in the household. Some may require certain aspirations or traits.

While “moneymaking” and “Love after a Breakup” will be the initial scenarios available, Maxis also plans to introduce “well-rounded,” “too many toddlers,” and some limited time only scenarios in the future.

Players who successfully complete challenges earn a lump sum of satisfaction points for their trouble.

What are you excited for?

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Sims FreePlay developers have released one of many fresh events for their player fanbase: SimChase #35, Scandi Scrimmage.

While most of this update, which began October 18th, is a decadent experience of Victorian proportions, the first few events, Influence Island Scandinavian Decor and SimChase Scandi Scrimmage serve as somewhat of a palette cleanser for modern-preferring players.

SimChase 35 launched October 19th, and it offers players clean cut furnishings made of natural woods and glass.

Players can look forward to earning simple chairs, spare tables, glass vases, wooden bath shelves, and woven toiletry baskets in return for completing a healthy gamut of in-game tasks within a time limit.

Influence Island rewards players for cajoling FreePlay NPCs into friendship. The prizes for this event include sectional sofas, bathroom vanities and shelving, wall decor, and more!

​What are you most excited for?

On October 18th, 2021, Sims FreePlay developers will drop their most opulent update yet. Dripping in Gothic beauty, the Mystery Masquerade update will not only bring the darkly luxurious Victorian fit for any haunted manor, but it will also bring players key updates to gameplay and build mode.

The update will also offer Simmers who prefer a cleaner, less fussy look a few Scandi events to wet their collective whistles, equally opulent Moroccan and South Asian items, and a ghastly Ghost Flustered Quest rerun just in time for the spookiest season of all.

To start off this incredible season of costumes and candy, Sims FreePlay has collaborated with Funko Pop, one of the biggest toy companies in the world. Funko Pop is best known for its adorable, big-headed vinyl pop culture collectibles.

All players in Sims FreePlay will receive a free pack October 18th that offers a cute ghost light, pumpkin light, and adorable costume heads for all Sims from toddlers to elders!

Here’s what the heads look like in Create-a-Sim:

And here are the lamps in game, courtesy of GirlWhoGames.

The title event, “Mysterious Masquerade” begins October 28th. This will be a live event which encourages Sims to craft large amounts of candles, glassware, jewelry, and pottery in exchange for the luxurious prizes pictured below.

The bookshelf pack and in-game shots:

Floor lamps and pillars prize pack:

The pillars and candelabras in game:

Bewitching Banquet set pack:

Bewitching Banquet set in-game:

Haunting Hearth pack:

Haunting Heart Pack in-game:

Simmers who complete the entire event will win the massive house template shown below:

This Mysterious Masquerade house template also comes with new female hair, sumptuous dresses, and a dance floor that enables a ballroom dance interaction:

Stay tuned for more coverage of the upcoming Sims FreePlay events! What are you most excited for?