Exploring Other Video Games For House Building Ideas
Hello Everyone!
If you’ve seen some of the shorts on my channel, you’ll know I’ve started using other video games to create room ideas, but what about actual houses? Well, there’s a lot for me to discover, when it comes to building in other video games and applications, and sometimes that learning can be overwhelming. Truth be told, I have enough attention span to explore the basics, but I haven’t fully explored everything in these other games, because let’s face it, I’d need to take at least a month to immerse myself in these games. Of course, for some other gamers, they can pick these things up pretty quickly, but if I want to make beautiful homes with the same level of attention as I use for my house builds in The Sims 4, I’d really need to go in depth into these other systems, and get used to a different mindset that I’ve gotten used to, over the years.
Freedom Vs Structure
Most of the time, you’ll hear builders, in The Sims 4 complain about the restrictions the game has, and so the answer to that, in other games is to grant you access to anything and everything (quite literally). In Inzoi, you have the option to make whatever item they have in the game into something else, by changing its appearance to something else. You can create your own wallpapers and textures by uploading real world images into your own list of textures and images. In Paralives you can adjust the colour of your items and even upload images as well, so that you have your own customised artwork. You can customise nearly every aspect of the items in the game to suit whatever look you’re going for. You can even change the position and height of items, freely, without it snapping to grids or onto surfaces. It’s literally as easy as dragging and dropping them.
You get all this freedom, but at the same time, it can be overstimulating, especially if you’ve grown used to the mechanics of The Sims 4, like I have. I’m not going to lie, I’ve struggled to navigate these new build mode functions, particularly the scrolling and the zooming aspects of the game, because I’m just so used to The Sims 4. Not to mention, all the customisation options, while amazing, and eye-opening, can sometimes feel a little too overwhelming. Sometimes, I just want the swatches, so I don’t have to think about specific colours and textures. It’s why you’ll always find me going back to The Sims 4, I kind of like the structure, because I know I can match furniture and textures together, without really having to think about it.
Free Build & Creator Mode
Both The Sims 4 and InZoi have this mode or function, where you can build a house without dipping into your actual character’s funds. Paralives is different, only because it’s still new, I’m sure, given time, they’ll create a function where players and builders can build houses without using up their Para’s funds. For now, the ideal thing to do is to cheat code the funds and build houses using those funds. However, this is where InZoi does it best. In The Sims 4, you do have a “Free Build” mode, but it’s only available after you’ve created or used one of their randomly generated Sim, to get into the world of The Sims. To enter the free build mode, all you need to do is click onto the option to “choose worlds”, then you’re free to play and build on other lots.
For InZoi, you have dedicated creator modes on the main menu. You can go in depth into creating Zois (i.e. the characters in your games), or you can dive into build mode and play about with settings like landscape and the surrounding areas of your build. Of course, if that’s the case, you could even build whole neighbourhoods or an entire city if you wanted to (I haven’t really gone that far, so I wouldn’t know). However, I would say that while the concept is great, it would be even better if you could change the setting you’re in. So, instead of a blank space that’s waiting for you to create a building or room, you could assign a background or environment to the space, so you’re not just building in a blank space. There’s actual context to the build you make. Now, that’s just me, since I haven’t played all that much in the space, but from what I’ve seen, there really isn’t that option, unless you go into the main game and build on a lot there.
Real Time Vs Instant
What I love about The Sims 4, InZoi and Paralives is that you can make your houses in one go, so they’re ready for your games. After all, that’s what these life simulations are all about. It’s the same with actual interior and architectural applications, where architects, engineers and interior designers map out floor plans and render designs, for clients. However, something needs to be said about games like Palia and House Flipper 2, where you make and renovate homes by hand (virtual hand, I mean). Essentially, you don’t get given a blank lot to just plop a house down, you’re given a simple structure which you can expand on, renovate and decorate to your liking.
While I haven’t played these kinds of games all too much, I actually find it exciting watching my homes go from small shacks with tools, furniture and decorations placed pretty much anywhere, to actual liveable homes, complete with matching furniture, décor and rooms that make sense in an actual home. Although I do love the sandbox play, where I build the house from the ground up, in a matter of minutes, it’s fun to watch a tiny room turn into a mansion, as time goes by. It gives me that sense of realism, because in real life, homes aren’t pre-made. Yes, houses are, and they’re initially designed and decorated specifically to entice buyers to buy the property, but making those houses a home, full of quirky personalities take time, and that’s what I love about these other styles of games. It reminds me to relax and understand that purposeful decorations and furniture take time.
So, Sandbox Video Games or In Game Builds?
Honestly, I still prefer sandbox games, because I can pretty much do what I want, however I want. With in-game styles, it’s a little more difficult, since it adds that sense of realism, although at the same time, it also offers a slower way of building homes and spaces. Mind you, it’s not always a bad thing, it does teach patience, and it does bring you back to the game, because you’re never fully finished with the space, but for the sake of my content, I need to play sandbox styles. Although, if I do start streaming, I may prefer the in-game style.
Well, that’s it from me today, I’m going to go and explore more house building and renovation games. I’ll see you in the next one. In the meantime, please don’t forget to like, subscribe, comment, share and follow me, here on Feather’s Charm, on my YouTube channel, on my other social media channels (Instagram, Twitter/X, TikTok), and on Patreon. Your support really does help me make more content like this, for you guys.
And as always, be kind, be creative, and be unique.
I’ll see you later!
Feather, out!
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