Conversation
Conversation
Sims having a conversation in The Sims 4.
A conversation is an event in The Sims series that happens when Sims interact with each other through social interactions.
While having conversations, Sims can gain and lose relationship points and have new friends, lovers and enemies. Conversations can be friendly, flirty, or mean, causing different events to happen and possibly give Sims memories related to those events, such as becoming best friends.
The Sims
Conversations in The Sims were initially very simplistic. Sims would autonomously converse with each other if they were seated together at the same table, or were seated next to each other on the same couch or bench. Otherwise, Sims could chat with each other while both Sims were standing up. Conversation topics were determined by the interests a Sim had; Sims with more interest in a particular topic would be more likely to respond positively if that topic was brought up, while they would react negatively if they were not interested. Hot Date added the ability for Sims to view their own interests as well as ask other Sims about their interests; these interests could be changed by having a Sim read a magazine. Hot Date also allowed adult Sims to change the conversation topic to any topic they had more than 6.01 interest points in. Sims who were chatting while standing up often ended conversations early if a topic was brought up that they were not interested in, so the best way the player can get Sims to converse with each other for extended periods of time was to have them sit together.
The Sims 2
Conversations in The Sims 2 worked similarly to those in The Sims. Sims can now converse with each other even if they are sitting on different sofas and chairs, provided they are within a reasonable distance from each other. In addition, it is possible for a Sim who is standing up to chat with someone who is sitting down. All Sims, including children and teenagers, can change the conversation topic, even to those they are not interested in.
Like The Sims, Sims who were standing up to chat would end conversations early if they were disinterested in a particular topic, at a cost to their relationship with the other Sim. Having Sims sit together was a good way of ensuring that Sims would continue to talk even if they were not interested in the current conversation; they would generally change the topic to something else rather than ending the interaction. University allowed Sims to hang out anywhere, which could also be used to the same effect.
The Sims 3
In The Sims 3 and The Sims Medieval, every time socializing occurs, a box on the top left[TS3][TSM] or bottom-left[TS3C] will appear. The box contains the relationship, the relationship status and how the opposing Sim is feeling about the other Sim.
The short-term context is displayed below the relationship on the top right corner, which tells the feelings that the opposing Sim is having towards their socializer. Socials like to flirt and argue, will put the context to flirty and impolite, respectively. There are five different social types. They are friendly, funny, romantic, mean and fight. However, not all social types will change the short-term context. For example, "Talk About Computers" (A friendly social) may change the context to boring when it is used on a technophobe Sim.
- Friendly: The common social type. These socials are commonly used by friendly Sims. Examples of friendly socials include "Chat" and "Gossip".
- Funny: The social type that is funny as its name implies. Examples of funny socials include "Make Silly Face" and "Tell Inside Joke".
- Romantic: The social type where Sims make love. Examples of romantic socials include "Flirt", "Kiss" and "Flirtatious Joke".
- Mean: The common negative social type, commonly used by mean spirited Sims. Examples of mean socials include "Argue", "Scare" and "Insult".
- Fight: The social type related to attacking, more powerful than mean. Fight socials are not available until the Sim has a negative relationship. Examples of fight socials include "Fight!/Beat Up" and "Slap".
Traits
Traits can effect what socials will and will not work. Traits such as dislikes children effect socials used on teens through elders, when a child uses a social on that Sim. Unflirty decreases the effectiveness of romance socials, as traits can conflict with each other.
Repeat limits
The Sims 3 and The Sims Medieval have social limits. If the limit is exceeded, a message will appear (Depends on which game it is).
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A boring message in The Sims 3.
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A boring message in The Sims Medieval.
Social effectiveness
The effectiveness of a social is determined by traits, short-term context, the relationship and how many times it was used. Socials that are not effective on a Sim with that trait (Such as using "Talk About Computers" on a technophobe Sim) will cause relationship to decrease and change the commodity to boring.
Most socials have a repeat limit which the short-term context will either be changed to boring (non-mean socials) or very angry (mean socials).
The Sims 4
Conversations in The Sims 4 work similarly as in previous games, but this time emotions have a big part on how different conversations can go. Playful Sims can easily turn a conversation into a funny one, embarrassed Sims can turn it into awkward one etc.
When starting a conversation with an another Sim, a tab will appear on the screen. The tab shows the opposing Sims emotions and mood of the discussion. Usually at the start of a conversation the tab says "Casual Discussion" and will develop into other types of discussion such as "Pleasant Conversation", "Suggestive Conversation", or an "Offensive Conversation". For example, if a Sim uses the same social interaction over and over again on the other Sims in the discussion, it will turn into a "Boring Conversation", or if a Sims jokes fail many times, the conversation can become tedious and makes the Sim with the failing jokes embarrassed. Sims who also flirt with a Sim who is not interested, makes the discussion an "Awkward Conversation" or a "Very Awkward Conversation". Greeting strangers with a funny introduction, can start the conversation as a funny one or having a rude introduction can start it as an unpleasant one. Other introductions such as a flirty greet or a charming introduction can be gained when leveling up the charisma skill.