The Sims 3 berates you for having a child out of 'wedlock' Yes they use that word...

[Moonlight Butterfly]

But it isn't bad...or shameful :|. The fact they even point it out as a negative action is ridiculous.

Again, depends on perspective. Some do view it as "Bad". But that's not the issue for this thread. The game is simply telling you that the in-game world is giving your sim a hard time about it. That's all. Your sim is in a bad mood because their credibility as a celebrity has been damaged. Again, if you take issue with the wording, look at it like this. After the 3 days the public realizes it's mistake and returns to seeing you as an awesome person.

I'll just reiterate that I don't think it's a bad action and I don't think the majority of the public think like that anymore. So I think that this shouldn't be included.

Who even uses the word wedlock. ><

 

[Moonlight Butterfly]

In light of the recent episode, I wonder how the Extra Credits crew feels about statements like these in games.

Is it realism or preaching?

 

[numbersix1979]

There is absolutely no shame in having children out of wedlock these days . . .

You . . . don't live in the South, do you?

 

[RJ Dalton]

SNIP

You know, that's fairly true to life in some communities. The woman gets all the stigma, then men get away with it. The game could be attempting to make some kind of commentary on societies. Given that the man can get away with it, I'm pretty sure they are, because that seems too deliberate to be an accident.

 

[LadyMint]

I can understand if not many people on this site care about the Sims 3 or what goes on in relation to it but I would just like to draw your attention to this;

Your female sim is the only one who recieves the 'shame' for this 'heinous act' Also note the term 'bad actions' and 'innapropriate behaiviour' :|...

Personally it made my blood boil. There is absolutely no shame in having children out of wedlock these days and many couple choose to remain unmarried because of cost and also religious (or lack of) beliefs.

So despite your feelings on the Sims 3 what do you make of this??

(If this should be in off topic then please move I was unsure where to put it)

Edit: I'd just like to point out that my sim is a celebrity and this is why this message appeared, It's still not justified though...

Edit 2: Maxis did not make The Sims 3...look it up >_>

Hmm. Well, like others I've never run into this before. I read other comments--someone said it was tied to your celebrity status?--well I've had a celebrity Sim have a kid without being married and I don't remember seeing that at all. Must be something new.

At any rate, if you want to change the situation, the place to bring this sort of thing up is The Sims 3's forums. Despite how people may feel about EA, many expressed concerns on the forums have been responded to in a very respectful manner by the company's representatives. If you file a complaint there and I see it, I will certainly add my support to it. I just don't feel it does quite as much good on The Escapist's website as it would on The Sims 3's own.

I also feel wierd about this because the Late Night expansion pack, which introduced Celebrity Status into the game, has been out for several months and this is the first time I've heard of such a thing. Certainly you couldn't have been the first person to have an unmarried celeb decide to Try For a Baby in the game.

 

[The_Yeti]

I think what offends me is that EA judge public opinion to be that it is shameful to have a child when you are in a secure and financially stable partnership. Just becuase you aren't married.

I think you are taking this way too literally here. The press is saying this about your sim. And that's the point. It's an in game mechanic. The game isn't even saying that it is correct. They are just saying that is what is happening in the game, and it's putting your sim in a bad mood. The in game public thinks your sim is a "woman of loose morals", so think the public opinion is moronic. EA/Maxis isn't telling you your life is wrong. What you can do (and have done) is sue. And since your sim lost the suit (which happens in real life) the best your sim can do is live with the shame for 3 days when everyone realizes "hey I guess she wasn't so terrible after all" and the public likes you again.

I just don't think the game should push this opinion on you especially with that wording. It's pretty vicious in my eyes.

Pfff, Vicious? I Agree with EA, as a child born out of wedlock, due to my mother being an ignorantly promiscuous youngster. I don't resent her for it but it has made I and my two brothers lives much more difficult, my grandparents too, not just hers. I'm glad she lived up to her responsibilities and works her ass off to have had and currently is providing for the family the best she can, but with this economy, with a close to minimum wage job alone in a town that has ridiculous rent prices, having a kid alone is SELFISH and IRRESPONSIBLE. Now say your sitting on a fat bank account, fine, have a child alone, who cares, but if your working a job that consumes 80% of your time, your still neglecting your children emotionally, even if you hire help / have the relatives assist.

Is it shameful to have a child out of wedlock with the resources and prudent planning to actually be there and care for your child? of course not.

Is it shameful to have a child to work your ass off(if your not rich or with an at home job) whilst forcing/asking others to care of them in the meantime or simply fiscally like adoption that didn't come from worst case scenarios? AB-SO-LUTE-LY... but redemption is as easy as caring, at least in your children's eyes, and if your willing to have a kid out of wedlock in the first place why would you give two shits what anyone other then you and your child thought anyways?

 

[TrevHead]

Lets put it another way if EA wouldnt have put that in, would there be an media outcry that EA promotes kids born out of wedlock?

Also I dont know how EA has localised Sims 3 but not everywhere in the world is liberal about that subject.

Hmmm I wonder if this is in every english language version?

 

[Monsterfurby]

To be honest, I think The Sims could do with a far more hostile environment. It still brightly brushes over many serious challenges of real life, which if included would make it a challenging and interesting game to play, as opposed to a mere sandbox. Things like this cause conflict and make the game interesting. Think of it as running on soap opera rules: having a child out of wedlock in a soap opera will certainly be used for some sort of controversy-plot, and the same thing is true for The Sims. It just takes an opportunity to create conflict, and it should do so far more often.

 

[Xanthious]

Wow. I'm actually surprised at this. This is exactly the kind of thing that media outlets love to hype and yet no one has mentioned this before?

This is right in line with the views of the stations you are referring to, so they're hardly going to kick up a fuss.

. . .and kicking up a fuss over in game content that we, as gamers, find offensive is acting just like right winged crazies like Fox News. So let me get this straight, it's not ok when they do it but gamers should have an open season to attack games if their feelings get hurt? That is pure hypocrisy. Like I said earlier, imagine if this were Fox News slamming the game for allowing same sex marriage. Christ, gamers wouldn't be able to defend the game quickly enough.

 

[Autofaux]

Well, it is reflective of how society reacts if someone is a single parent.

I am good friends with a 27 year old woman with a five year old, and there was a woman in her workplace who works with children everyday that made a comment about her being a single parent...

It makes light of an issue, to be sure. Is it appropriate? I don't know. But its definitely not an outdated statement; ask the Republicans or the ACL how they feel about single parents.

 

[Mouse_Crouse]

I'll just reiterate that I don't think it's a bad action and I don't think the majority of the public think like that anymore. So I think that this shouldn't be included.

And that's a fair point. But if you disagree with the having an "inaccurate majority opinion" take issue with that. But it really dosen't seem like they are trying to push their morals. Simply for the fact this is IS the same wording as fighting and peeing in public. Just a in-game mechanic. Celebrities have to deal with public opinion, now so does your celebrity sim. Bad wording? Yes. But it doesn't come across as preachy to me (once you know the full story). Having said all this, I can actually see them changing the wording on this for the next patch. Just because it is making people upset.

 

[Moonlight Butterfly]

I just don't feel it does quite as much good on The Escapist's website as it would on The Sims 3's own.

I also feel wierd about this because the Late Night expansion pack, which introduced Celebrity Status into the game, has been out for several months and this is the first time I've heard of such a thing. Certainly you couldn't have been the first person to have an unmarried celeb decide to Try For a Baby in the game.

Firstly I'm worried about getting banned from the Sims forums, they ban you for anything over there and I don't want to risk losing access to my account.

Secondly I have provided other screenshots. I'm not making this up I wish I was. I can link to a thread about other simmers speaking about the issue if you like.

I wasn't trying to rile people up or cause a stir I was kind of curious about how fellow gamers on the Escapist viewed this and to see if I was justified in my reaction to it as it really annoyed me as you can see. Note that I couldn't really decide whether the off topic forum was more appropriate.

Yes. But it doesn't come across as preachy to me (once you know the full story).

I apologise if it seemed like I was trying to hide things for the sake of drama that was not my intention I merely didn't think it was relevant and later edited my post.

 

[Anah'ya]

I think what offends me is that EA judge public opinion to be that it is shameful to have a child when you are in a secure and financially stable partnership. Just becuase you aren't married.

And I think you are overreacting and thinking too much into a game. You know, these things that people buy so they can have a bit of fun. Sometimes that fun includes murdering people in colourful ways. Do you get your panties into a knot over that too? Do you raise your voice in anger for every stereotype explored and exploited?

If so: Poor you.

 

[Nimcha]

Way to overreact. This is a simulation of charicatures of people. There are still some societies where it's frowned upon to have children before being married. Apparently this virtual one is such a society. What's the big deal?

By the way I've played the Sims 3 too recently and this didn't come up. Maybe because my family lives in the Nightlife town where the "people" are a lot more relaxed about this stuff?

 

[Mouse_Crouse]

I apologise if it seemed like I was trying to hide things for the sake of drama that was not my intention I merely didn't think it was relevant and later edited my post.

No, wasn't saying you were trying to hide anything. You clearly just reacted to something in a game you perceived as offensive. And there's nothing wrong with that. In fact it's exactly what you SHOULD do.

My wording (which may have been as poor as EA's) was simply to state that once I looked up the games mechanic and why it chooses to give this to you. It made complete sense in the context of celebrities and public opinion.

 

[Moonlight Butterfly]

I think what offends me is that EA judge public opinion to be that it is shameful to have a child when you are in a secure and financially stable partnership. Just becuase you aren't married.

And I think you are overreacting and thinking too much into a game. You know, these things that people buy so they can have a bit of fun. Sometimes that fun includes murdering people in colourful ways. Do you get your panties into a knot over that too? Do you raise your voice in anger for every stereotype explored and exploited?

If so: Poor you.

I'm allowed to have an opinion on somthing, and this is a gaming site. The Extra Credits this week looked at race in games, you know, those things people buy so they can have a bit of fun. Are they worth your pity also?

 

[MrFluffy-X]

Hold on, maybe its only a "disgrace" to that certain community that the sim is living in? Different communities do hold different values in real life.

 

[Woodsey]

Wow. I'm actually surprised at this. This is exactly the kind of thing that media outlets love to hype and yet no one has mentioned this before?

This is right in line with the views of the stations you are referring to, so they're hardly going to kick up a fuss.

. . .and kicking up a fuss over in game content you find offensive is acting just like right winged crazies like Fox News. So it's not ok when they do it but gamers should have an open season to attack games if their feelings get hurt? That is pure hypocrisy. Like I said earlier, imagine if this were Fox News slamming the game for allowing same sex marriage. Christ, gamers wouldn't be able to defend the game quickly enough.

When FOX News do it they claim its interactive porn or that its training you to become a terrorist. Bit of a difference to, "I don't think this is reflective of today's society."

"Christ, gamers wouldn't be able to defend the game quickly enough."

Yeah, not with that example. Plenty of raging, homophobic gamers about.

 

[Xanthious]

Wow. I'm actually surprised at this. This is exactly the kind of thing that media outlets love to hype and yet no one has mentioned this before?

This is right in line with the views of the stations you are referring to, so they're hardly going to kick up a fuss.

. . .and kicking up a fuss over in game content you find offensive is acting just like right winged crazies like Fox News. So it's not ok when they do it but gamers should have an open season to attack games if their feelings get hurt? That is pure hypocrisy. Like I said earlier, imagine if this were Fox News slamming the game for allowing same sex marriage. Christ, gamers wouldn't be able to defend the game quickly enough.

When FOX News do it they claim its interactive porn or that its training you to become a terrorist. Bit of a difference to, "I don't think this is reflective of today's society."

"Christ, gamers wouldn't be able to defend the game quickly enough."

Yeah, not with that example. Plenty of raging, homophobic gamers about.

Here's the thing, either we want games to have free speech or we don't. If we do we can't go getting our collective panties in a bunch every time we come across something that rubs us the wrong way. Hell a few posts up the OP said she thinks that content be removed from the game. She wants EA to remove content from the game based on her personal beliefs. Gee that doesn't sound like the right wing crazies at all . . .oh wait it sounds exactly like them.

It's simply amazing how everyone was applauding that court decision earlier in the week that gave games the same free speech as other mediums and yet here we are a few days after the fact proving that we just want that free speech as long as it's something we don't find personally offensive. As gamers we can't defend the game against the harsh criticisms of places like FOX news and at the same time give people like the OP a pass. That's simply hypocrisy if we do. Either we want our games protected by free speech or we don't. If we are going to ***** when we get offended we shouldn't attack others when they do the same. However, if we are going to defend gaming's right to free speech we need to defend it from everyone, gamers and nongamers alike.

 

[tappajasieni]

This bothers me a little bit. Well, the wording at least. I'm sure they could have come up with a way to say the same thing but in a less offensive way.

The only thing I disagree with is the wording. As the daughter of a single parent, it is definitely accurate to say that a child out of wedlock is something that many people will look down on you for. I'd just rather the pop up would have said something like:

"Those gossipy prudes are talking crap about your life choices again. What is this, the 80s? How dare they?! -20 bad mood".

Like this, for example.

I mean, I was born out of wedlock and I turned out okay.