The Sims 4 Movie Hangout Stuff Pack Review

Hey guys,

Here I will review the newest stuff pack of The Sims 4: Movie Hangout Stuff that was just released on January 12th, 2016. Most of this review is based on my personal taste and also an overview of all the content introduced with this stuff pack.

Hope you guys enjoy,
AznSensei

Price Breakdown and Analysis

This stuff pack can be purchased online on Origin or in retailers (at later times and dates) for $9.99. This pack comes with 2 extra gameplay objects (not to be confused with main gameplay), 32 Build/Buy content, and 27 CAS content. That totals to be about 16 cents per item introduced with this stuff pack. 

With all the other previous stuff packs being changed to be priced at $9.99 instead of $19.99, with not a drastic change in content (replaced by new animations and gameplay), I find this stuff pack worth it much like all of the other previous stuff packs. 

If one were to compare this with a Sims 3 store set, you could say the extra gameplay objects would be about 400-500 Simpoints each (a movie projector screen and popcorn maker), this making this entire stuff pack pretty much add-on content along with the paid Movie Projector Screen and Popcorn Maker.

Thankfully, the team decided to not "generously" charging us for such content, thus making the price fairly reasonable for purchasing this stuff pack.

Price Rating: 10/10

Theme

Not to be confused with other types of Movie-related content in the past Sims Series (Cinema Venue and Movie Stuff Pack) this stuff pack's main focus is centered towards enhancing a Sims' home by introducing new content to decorate their living room and dining room with a "Boho-Chic" style with all the content introduced. Not only that, but they also incorporated new outfits for Sims to dress-up in based on theme.

Personally, Boho-Chic is not my favorite theme or style, but it was decently fleshed out and introduced without great distaste in my book. (Note: I do not find the pack ugly). Looking back in the past of what we were given in Boho Style, we were given only two clothing sets and barely any Boho-related furniture/objects. This stuff pack was a step-up from what was released in the past. However, in The Sims 4 series, this stuff pack was slightly a step-down in terms of theme as movie entertainment and boho-chic don't mesh well together. I would have preferred separate stuff packs such as "Boho Lifestyle Stuff" and where Movie Hangout Stuff would consist of actually home-theatre items or not included and could be incorporated in a Game Pack/Expansion Pack involving Cinemas and the Actor Career (Which can involve watching movies at a community venue or watching them at home if it's decently fleshed out).

I do question, however, what Boho and the "Movie Night" theme correlates with one another, but at least it gives the stuff pack a twist and unique quality rather than giving it a style in contemporary or industrial homes. Imagine if this stuff pack was just new furniture that looks "normal" or "high-end", I would easily be bored of this pack (because the style isn't as fun and quirky). 

However, as a builder I still feel restricted and limited by the number of color options and designs, but after going through this pack, I found out many ways to incorporate this pack without making it stand way too far out in my homes and enjoy it.

Theme Rating: 6/10

New Gameplay Objects

Introduced with this stuff pack are two brand new gameplay objects that introduce a little extra gameplay for your sims: The Sugar Kane Popcorn Popper and The Projectotron Outdoor/Indoor Movie Screen.

Sugar Kane Popcorn Popper

This new item provides a new snack for sims (Popcorn duh!) and includes 12 different color options along with 4 different flavors. 

Basically its only function is to produce popcorn for your sims to eat and new flavors are unlocked based on your cooking level.

Buttered Popcorn ($10) - Level 1 Cooking

Kettle Corn ($15) - Level 3 Cooking

Cheddar Popcorn ($20) - Level 5 Cooking

Caramel Corn ($25) - Level 7 Cooking

I was still disappointed by the number of flavors as we could have gotten:
- Chocolate Popcorn
- Fruit Flavored Popcorn (Cherry, Strawberry, Cranberry)
- Cinnamon Popcorn
- Dark Chocolate Sea Salt
- Butter Toffee (One of my favorite flavors)

and much more! While I understand it's the holidays and everyone is away in December, I felt like there was a lack of creativity in this popcorn maker in terms of flavor options. 

Other than that, the only animations included are just watching your sims add the contents into the popper, and then let it start cooking. There are no funny or disastrous interactions that I've noticed so far and I was slightly disappointed that this popcorn maker should have had some fun extra gameplay. Like the Ice Cream Maker gave some small animations when eating certain flavors, and I hoped maybe they could have infused more flavors in the popcorn machine to make it fleshed out more and gave some nice new animations.

Perhaps if I find time and a mischievous sim, maybe I can sabotage the popper and see what happens (if that is an option).

Popcorn Popper Rating: 5/10

Projectotron Outdoor/Indoor Movie Screen

This item comes with two versions that can either be indoors or outdoors in a sims' home.  Not only does this introduce new movies into the game, but you DO NOT have to watch the movies on just these screens.  Installing this pack allows anyone to watch movies on ANY television set (making this gameplay not too limited) and also incorporates watching movies as a club activity from Get Together. 

Most of the footage in the movies are from The Sims 3.

There are new interactions involved related to movies such as critiquing during the movie, shushing other sims, romantic interactions, and much more. Many of these can be initiated through the friendly social interactions options while watching the movie, while others just randomly happen during the movie. Basically, I wasn't able to show all the interactions, but I'm sure you'll see some of the unique ones if you watch your sims and see how they react to each movie (apparently they are unique per movie watched depending on the Sim). Sometimes even a Sim will cry! (I did have one cry during a horror movie).

Below are all of the movie options for your sims to watch:

While I wasn't too keen on what I initially thought was gonna be limited gameplay with this object (much like the one introduced in The Sims 3: Le Plumbob Cinema Store Set), I was very surprised and happy with the fact that interactions are not technically tied to the object, rather the object opened interactions that can be utilized in other movies and on different television sets. 

Movie Screen Rating: 8/10

Build/Buy

This pack comes with 32 other Build/Buy content that is styled in the boho-chic theme.  While there may be vibrant and unique designs on many of the objects, there is also the subtle option for most of these objects, making it actually easier to mix-and-match with other content and blend into other styles.  At first, upon initial announcement, I was worried on how unique and limited I would in utilizing these items in other rooms/lots, but after color-changing the different options, there was more to these objects that I could utilize from than I initially thought.

I was also a huge fan of the descriptions of every single item as they are quite lengthy and tell a story (mostly related to The Sims 3 content) and gives background on some of the items. 

Included are also three different rooms and their styles, along with a lot and a room provided by MaxisCreator_01 in the Sims 4 Gallery. Below are all the images and different design options for all 32 build/buy content along with the rooms and lots.

Build/Buy Content Rating: 10/10

CAS

Included in this stuff pack are 27 CAS content that are spread mostly through Teen-Elder age groups and a minimal amount towards children. I was again yet disappointed that children are neglected in this pack and even though they were slightly included, you can tell there is no equal ratio between all age groups.

Many of the clothing designs are pretty nice and while some are quite unique and colorful, there is always a non-stenciled version (although some items do not have a blank stencil). Below are the content for every single age group and gender and I hope you all enjoy!

CAS Content Rating: 8/10

Female (Teen to Elder)

 

 

 

Male (Teen to Elder)

Female Children

Male Children

Overall Review

Price: 10/10

Theme: 6/10

Sugar Kane Popcorn Popper: 5/10

Projectotron Outdoor/Indoor Movie Screen: 8/10

Build/Buy Content: 10/10

CAS Content: 8/10

Overall Rating: 7.8/10

So far I have not been super impressed, but also not very disappointed in this stuff pack and it was worth the $10 spent as it introduced not only unique and detailed content, but also more gameplay that was lacking in The Sims 4 (even though small). While one may think this is worth it just for the two new items, I feel there was more to this pack and if you are someone that likes to utilize ALL of the content showcased in this review, then by all means do not regret your purchase as it is a good buy.  

However, if you want to buy this pack just for the popcorn popper and the new movie entertainment screens, I would probably hold off until it's on sale as I really do think there was some lacking features in the popcorn popper that could have made it stand out more and the movie entertainment screen was the major gameplay item introduced.