Character Creator - Design Vision

I'm late to this post by almost a year but I was wondering if you guys would separate gender from sex? Also include intersex as a sex along female and male. I personally would prefer this

Justice

No interrupting animations during character creation... have I died and gone to heaven?

Scrungler, The

I would love if in the outfits there was the possibility of layers, being able to put a coat above what your chosen outfit is!

Nelssie

Alex, can I help you translate this game into Indonesian?

Love the skin color wheel! I’ve always wanted to do a rainbowcy, and this would be great for it. My only hope is that there will be some interesting genetic ties to this feature. For instance, the child of a red parafolk and a blue parafolk could be red or blue...or purple!

I would love to see body hair in the game, thats a huge texture missing from the sims right now. Makin them look like hairless barbie dolls...

Jasper Hallows

Body markings, like freckles and scars and stuff to not make everyone's skin so perfect, and body hair etc would be amazing! Also, different disabilities would be nice. Both physical and mental, in the extent it is possible of course.

Freja Mikkelä

Also, for those of us who can't quite snipe our mouse at an 0.000001 millimeters within the entire hexcode table, maybe a more focused color wheel mode that shifts to human skin tones and the ranges in between?

Could we have a "slider code"? like the the hexcode, but made out of a numerical series of values that you can copy and paste for your para. Imagine being able to easily share a combination of slider values while chatting to a friend, or take an existing para's sliding values as a starting point, or mix and match sections of the code, "i want this para's face on this para's body"...

A height slider would be great and as I know mods exist in Sims4 for it, it cannot be an impossible thing to add to PL directly (instead of a modder creating it). However, the idea of having three different heights available instead of a slider is also a good idea. Whichever works for PL.

Larke Lockhart

someone proposed parabic i find it cool

sofst

I would love to see an ability to place freckles, scars, tatoos and moles anywhere on the body. It maybe far off yet, but maybe the hair moves with the breeze.

Kiddosdreams

Height would definitely be a bit tricky to tackle. But if instead of a slider you just had three options of like "short", "medium", and "tall" that might make things a bit easier.

Hope so too! Height sliders would be amazing! 😍

I'm having my fingers crossed for the height sliders! That's the top one thing I miss in the sims. Everyone is the same height! And while I do have a mod for it, it still doesn't work great. So thank you for at least trying to do this!!!! 💛

I’m curious to know what language they will be speaking lol

Yes! That's something I want to do! Someone suggested that before and I thought it was a great idea :)

Alex Massé

I guess this has been suggested before but to make sure there is real diversity in skin color, have you considered taking inspiration from some make up brands? Fenty Beauty for instance covers 50 different skin colors from very pale to very deep, with tons of subtones. I think it would be a nice detail to give some attention to deep skin tones, since usually presets for those tones are very limited.

How about instead of height sliders we get a few different height options like we had with weight in The Sims 2? Like 'short', 'average' and 'tall' would already make a huge difference in customization and then you wouldn't have to make different animations for each and every possibility!

EaselEar

Can there be a focus on Individuality of our Paras as well? I don’t know if Paras will have “traits” but something nearly all life simulation games lack are diet preferences! It was a bit unfair in the Sims game to have to take up a slot for ”vegetarian”, and there were no vegan options either! I feel like adding diet preferences as well not on only add more depth to the para but would additionally go hand-in-hand with the food options too. Other individuality options can include personalities, ambitions, fears, favorites and attraction systems. Perhaps their PARAfered clothing style, music genres and animals (if any).

Sara Attia

Will it be possible to add asymmetrical features? I find that the most limiting aspect of character creation in other games is that the faces remain perfectly symmetrical.

LitrallyAJ

Sam?

Why not call it the Studio? I'm not a big fan of bicapitalized or smashed names or abbreviations, Studio seems like a good alternative. And could match the other types of modes if those all get a name/designation.

Zedef

Could it be possible to customize the length of the clothings, so that you can have fewer meshes, thus maybe a faster game? Like you can do with the customizable beds and counters? Could you also have a colour wheel for the clothes?

I honestly think when it comes to character customization , wheelchairs would be the largest accomplishment - if possible. You never see it in role-playing or simulation games. As for the creation of Paras.. I like ParaLaunch. Or as somebody else mentioned , ParaProduction

PixelPerfect

I feel like we should have layers for Clothing so you can put shirts on your para folk and then put on a jacket but keep the shirt on still on... t hat doesn’t make sense but I hope you get the idea Same with that hair thong I like that to!

Trishy

This is such a good idea!!!

Morgan Soto

Nesting because I'm spamming big time: Makeup opacity. The Sims 3 offered that and I feel like it was such a HUGE step backwards to take that away. Instead of 5 eyeshadows that have varying degrees of intensity, you could just have one with adjustable intensity. It's better pragmatically speaking.

And to finish the spamming, a suggestion for paras' hair: Some talented sims modders have added bangs as an accessory (yes, regular hair bangs, but you can take them on/off). This gave me the idea that maybe hairstyles in Paralives could be comprised of several parts that you can combine? That way, the game can feature several pre-made hairstyles that are actually completely subject to modification, AND you could adjust the length of each hair part individually! My Time At Portia does that with the length, but doesn't allow you to mix-and-match hair chunks.

Oh god I have so many suggestions. Can we PLEASE be allowed to choose our para's pronouns regardless of their assigned sex? Currently the sims chooses for you based on something like that, and they don't even offer they/them pronouns.

Plus, since The Sim's building tools are called Build Mode, I don't think you could use that for Paralives' building tools anyway, right?

Also, I LOVE the idea of the color wheel, but I have a suggestion for it: I don't know if you've played My Time At Portia at all, but although their character creator is pretty basic, there's something I REALLY liked about it: You can choose the main skin color AND the undertone of the skin. I think it does SO MUCH to make every character look distinct and adds to their skintone's uniqueness ♥

This is so exciting! I'm SQUEALING. Okay how about BAP (Build A Para)? Kinda like the Build-A-Bear thing?

Both names are nice. Paralives Studio is nice too. Maybe Para Maker too.

I love the name ParaLives Studio (PLS) from melanie . I really can't wait to see the Parafolk 😍

Thanks for your comment on my post Shannon :) It was appreciated!

Thanks Melanie for the ideas! A spine curvature option could be really useful! I'll write the idea down and see if it's possible on the technical side without breaking the animations too much. Thanks again!

Alex Massé

Yes, you will be able to save color/texture presets! It should be pretty easy to import textures/images into the game as mods to make T-shirts and picture frames. There will be tutorials on that when the game comes out!

Alex Massé

I hate the appearance of bicapitalised names (when two words are both capitalised and shoved together with the space removed) e.g. ExxonMobil, YouTube, PlayStation, ParaLives. Whatever name you choose, please no bicaps.

Tom Lu

I love Melanie's suggestion, ParaLives Studio. I can see how focusing on how ParaFolks look and how the PF creator will work is your focus. But after that I hope there will be a way to affect how the PF think, feel and act. Will there then be traits that make the PF even more unique? So far I am absolutely loving what you are doing here Alex. I have been eagerly awaiting how things develop and am keeping an eye on news about the game all over, Steam included. Keep up the fantastic work! You've got a real gem here! <3

Larke Lockhart

ParaLives Studio or PLS for short. *Welcome to the ParaLives Studio. Here you are encouraged to create your ParaFolk and populate YOUR world YOUR way. PLS enjoy!* And talking about the creation portion of game, here is a question Alex. Would it be possible to add spine curvature to our Folks? I have a friend who loves to play but has Never been able to make herself in a game due to her spine curvature. So, I told her I'd ask you and see if it would be a possibility or at least could be checked out by the team. Elders could be another type that this would fit. **My grandmother after YEARS at a sewing machine developed spine curvature** I'd love to bring her into my ParaFolks world!! :) Thanking you and the team in advance :)

I hope physics will be a part of character design or at least ability to have it modded. Is it possible to have a section to save colors and textures when creating paras that could be labeled as favorites? For clothing,hair,eye,skin. And also what about being able to import png photos that could be added ontop of T-shirt’s ? I think that would be so cool! Will mod support have tutorials on steam or the hub for people who want to learn and are new to it? Including making clothing.

S&M Gonzalez

I like the name Parastudio or para studios for create a character name :)

S&M Gonzalez

I think a slider for hair length would be pretty cool! Sometimes when I play games, I really love one of the hairstyles but they are either too long or too short.

Thanks Meg for the ideas! We are still testing this :)

Alex Massé

Oh scarves would be nice! I'll see if we can do it! Layering clothes is something we want to try but can't confirm yet :)

Alex Massé

Not sure yet, but it's something we want to try! It's a technical challenge though but we'll do our best :)

Alex Massé

We want to add that, if possible! Can't confirm it yet though

Alex Massé

or just have a separate natural color wheel, i guess the unnatural one is not necessary

could we have one color wheel for natural colors and another one for unnatural colors? (for hair and skin) just so it is easier, finding natural skintones or haircolors can get tough sometimes....

ParaMaker would be cute because it is different from you know, the Sims

Gina Ayars-Ritchey

ParaMaker would be cute I think!

I definitely like the idea of the name starting with “Para” - my favorites are ParaMaker or ParaStudio :)

I like ParaMaker, ParaPrep, and ParaBuild

ParaStudio or ParaMaker is good too.

Parasemble sounds awesome

My favorite name ideas so far: Parasemble, Paragenesis, ParaStudio and ParaPrep. A lot of people also seem to like ParaMaker.

Melissa Toothman

Or how about ParaPrep?

Marie

I can't wait to see more. :)

Gary Hardt

So freaking excited !!!!!!

I too like Paramaker (maybe Pam or Par for short?). As for height, I think having tall, average and short for each age group would do the job, if a slider would cause issues, this seems a more viable compremise and should satisfy the masses. Having more sliders+pull & tug options for body and body parts would be a major plus, and please make eyelash sliders for both length and thickness, as well as for finger nails too. You guys are doing an amazing job so far and I am happy to be a Patreon member.

TnT_Terry

All I can say is I can’t wait to see them with these Paraeyes...

Can't wait to see all this come to fruition 😊😊😊😊😊😊

What about FolkCreator?

Kelsey Griffith

Height differences would be an absolute revolutionary game changer for this genre!! I understand why that would be difficult to make functional, but man, that would be just 🎉🎊

Kelsey Griffith

I like both of those. Additional ideas. Parastudio (PS), Paradesigner (PD), Paracreator (PC).

Support for animated accessories would be a real game changer. There could be endless possibilities for modders. I'm thinking of things like wings or robotic body mods.

Hm one of my comments seems to have disappeared ? Here's hoping I clicked delete by accident when I was fixing typos in it earlier. I was saying that I'd love to have different heights, that names too similar to That Other Game feel dull, and that individually customizable limbs (arm that can be turned into a fiberglass prosthesis, or leg that can be turned into a wooden peg leg) would further the creation of unique characters AND allow for the representation of some physical disabilities.

ladyteruki

I also like the idea of starting it with Para. Paragenesis, Parassembly, Paramaker, something like that. Height sliders would be great, but having a few pre-set height options would also be great if sliders don't work. Finally, please, please, please give us some method of searching clothing and accessories other than an endless scroll. I would actually prefer fewer options if a search function isn't possible, because endless options + no search ability = scrolling nightmare.

I'm so excited for this game! I second everyone saying Paramaker, it fits! Also, I'm so relieved to hear sliders will be available as well as the push and pull options, it will make creating diverse characters much easier!

Stacey Dunnachie

as someone who's been a simmer for over 10 years, it's kind of disappointing seeing so many people compare this game to The Sims. EA does not own the life simulator genre they just happened to be the most successful when coming to simulators. I am extremely excited for Paralives, the biggest thing that differentiates the game to me is the fact the creator really listens to his fans feedback.

zoe

With the challenge of the height sliders, maybe a good solution would be to have two or three set height options (tall, short or tall, average, short) instead of a fully customisable slider so if there's animations that are height affected you only have to make X sets of animations instead of many variables. Only if it is easier to do that and there's not some other workaround, I'm no expert.

Oh! If it's possible to implement a "back" slot for modders, that would be excellent. The base of it could include backpacks or similar, but I know lots of modders like to make wings & such and that would go a long way to help them not have to use some other "slot".

A colour wheel for skin tones, hair, AND makeup??? Genius. Also, what about MAP (Make a Para?) Basic, but I like MAP lol. Can't wait to see the designs and I love the ideas for the Paras so far Alex!!! <#

I love Design a Para/DAP <3

I would personally call it Paracreator :) . But still, I’m so glad to see a color wheel again :D ! I already asked this but I’ll try again. What do you think about adding layered clothing (for example, choose separate shirt, jacket and coat on top)?

Stermatical

I like this! It's simple and has that little extra bit of alliteration with Paralives because of the L.

Casey

yeah with "Para" being at the beginning of Paralives and Para Folk, it does feel right to keep with that convention. Para is just really easy to say before pretty much any word that starts with a consonant, hahahaha.

Casey

my simulation heart is jumping through my chest 😩 i’m ready !

I vote Paraformer becomes the official name for terrain tools :P

ladyteruki

I like the middle name/nickname option !

ladyteruki

I wonder if hair could dissociate "style" from "texture" ? That would be such a nice step forward to have hair texture dynamically implemented on each hairstyle.

ladyteruki

it makes me so happy how inclusive the game is! it’s so annoying how in the sims majority of the hairs are “white people hair” and the more diverse hair textures are not even that good. plus the makeup only looks good on tan white female sims. also i saw a comment saying “parasemble” for creating a para and i really like that idea! thanks alex for everything you do!

Paramaker sounds good. Kinda wanna move away from being like the Sims.

Kartoon Management

Yeah it's like the Sims are bored and want you to hurry up and finish

Megamusic

Does it have to have para in the title .? For some reason creation station came to mind . I don't know ???

Megamusic

I have seen a few comments about using para as the first word for the character design e.g. paramaker . I think this is a good idea to make it less simish .

Megamusic

If that was me I definitely will be using can't cook trait :)

Megamusic

Thank you so much for NOT including yawning animations when creating a character. That is seriously the most annoying thing when changing your face in sims!

Vegard Myklebust

Would we be getting a traits system similar to the sims but more expansive and and more in detail but also allowing a flaw system (i.e. can't cook, hydrophobic, etc.)

Hmmm... ParaMaker might be nice and simple. I liked a previous idea for "Parassembler", but that might have some unfortunate associations with the Avengers haha. In the interest of contributing suggestions, maybe something along the lines of Parasigner/Parazyner (Para/designer)? Ohh!! Maybe ParaFormer?? (like terraforming but for paras haha)

Also are we going to have options to play with genetics and also set relationships? Not only husband or sister but also like girlfriend, fiancee, best friend, enemy, ex husband/boyfriend, cousin, uncle, grandmother etc etc etc.

Rosalía Ruíz

I just started a game called My time at Portia and the hair has a slider to select the length, maybe that's something you can add in the future, or use that idea for something else! I kind of like the "Parasemble" idea Melissa Toothman gave!!

My suggestion is to call it Parasemble (to play on conjoining words Para and Assemble 😍). Also, I'd love to have the option of middle names or nicknames. I could name a para William, but have his nickname be Bill.

Melissa Toothman

Agree that CAP and DAP are too similar to Sims. So far the design ideas surpass them and the names should too. Maybe name the space that you design them in rather than the mode of gameplay? Like Shape Salon or Para Parlour.

Emma J

While I can understand how the abbreviation would be cool, MAP does have some pretty negative connotations in meaning other things, so perhaps MAP in particular might not be the best... I like the thought process though

Does it have to use the “a” part? I’ve always liked ParaMaker or ParaBuilder. That’s just me. I love how the progress is going on this, it looks great :)

Sounds awesome! I think "Make a Para" could be good for a couple reasons: 1) It's super fun to say fast. 2) It would abbreviate to MAP. Like you're mapping out a character. You're setting the course for their future life. You're workshopping their appearance and attitude. "Map" works as a noun and verb so there's a lot of flexibility for potential community colloquialisms to develop :)

Casey

Para Lab (as in laboratory) XD

A potential height slider.... *faints from excitement*

It is AMAZING what you do! However long you take: make it great! ;) I would have a suggestion / plead: please, please, please, please consider making a search option in the creation! Or somehow make the things more sort-able, like per alphabet... or being able to give personal TAGS (like "creator", or "sexy", "angel", ...) ... that is what I miss the MOST in CAS... the hourlong search for one specific item I know I have x.x and since I know Planet Zoo... yeah... xD

MadhattersTwin

Very exciting! Looking forward to getting a look at the character creation system (visually).

big fan of the mod integration!

Marie

Suggestion: Prepara Mode/Tool or PrePara Mode/Tool (I feel like not every name should be modeled after Sims - Paralives should be a game in its own right)

Marie

Ahh ! I’m so excited 😁 I really like MAP (Make A Para). It sounds really unique and it’s catchy ! Height is so ambitious, I can’t wait to see how that turns out! I hope the bangs/front and the rest of the hair aren’t connected to more versatility with hair. Also I think it would be cool if there was something like The Able Sisters from animal crossing where you could pay and customize certain clothing items. Keep up the great work guys :)

This is so exciting! It would be awesome if the front of the hair (bangs) would be seperate from the rest for the biggest amount of options!

It took me a second the realize what you meant by 'anatomically correct' lol xD

Manon Grandjean

I would love for potential heights to be inherited, not just as an average height of the two parents but slightly randomized within that range, so it's realistic!

Manon Grandjean

Aaaaah I love this! so excited to hear that custom content and modding will be so welcomed.

Manon Grandjean

Are their gonna be genetics to pass down through para parents?

Nadine Poplawski

I like to call the creator "Para Spawn"

Amongst other things, yes :)

Can't wait to see my Yellow-Simpson-Based's Parafolk I liked the CAP ( Create a Para ) or Para Maker

We're considering it, yeah.

Para Maker or PM might be good. Rolls off the tongue too

This sounds so amazing <3 Is there going to be an option to add a jacket over an outfit? Like you could put a jacket over a full body dress if you want to. And are there going to be scarves?

Alex, everything you describe here sounds great. Can you also make it possible to copy/paste outfits or parafolk in the creator? Would also love to be able to organize the outfits/items my own way, for example making my own folders or categories to easily access items for different uses. Another thing, I play with anatomically correct sims--I realize you can't do that due to the Teen rating. But bear in mind that some modders will add that.

Slippers

That would be so great <3

Yes, MAP is perfect!

Slippers

So Exited!

Everything sounds amazing. I can’t wait to finally see the para-folks. 😍 I recommend MAP- make a Para-folk.

Diana H

I love this one!

Faith Faldas

I think that because we associate CAP with create a pet, it would be good to stay away from having the name *too* similar to things in the Sims. Both games are already very similar, it wouldn't be great if paralives just ended up looking like a knock-off.

Cant wait to see the Parafolks😍

Don't know man, I think we should strive for realism

Option to mirror the hair, (if the fringe is longer on the right can flip it to be longer on the left instead)!

perish

MAP is the best variant I think 😊

Make a Para!

perish

Wow! I'm more excited than ever)) Can't wait to see parafolks 😊

Prefer CAP personally. This is great!! Excited about the possibility of height sliders since I'm 6ft7 and my best friend is 5ft2. Love the idea of custom content. I'd love to be able to great my own clothing designs in game somehow. Love other people's suggestions for Parafolk with disabilities or "imperfections" What are the plans for nudity when folk are using the shower etc. ??

I like the idea that your person would have to go get their tattoos at a shop.

Grace Sivils

Please, please, please let us design the characters our way without limits. Some like ultra realistic and some like very cartoony. Let people create those huge disney eyes if they want or get that subtle nose bump or asymmetrical lip curve.

BreakingGaia

when you say flexible gender options do you mean we'll be able to choose their pronouns?

MAP would be so good!

I can't wait to see what they look like!

This is all so awesome!!! Yes, I would love to vote on a poll! Thank you guys for creating something exquisite!!!:)

Para-Maker!

I agree. Using a different name to further differentiate Paralives from The Sims would probably be better in the long run

Katie Ballinger

I like "Design A Para". Also, this may be for a separate post but tattoos please. Piercings, birthmarks, all of those little things that make them unique would be a great addition.

What about "Make a Para" or MAP

ooh i'm all for Paraduction

This sounds great I'm so excited!

Queen Alyssa

Create your Para suggested by other patrons should definitely be a contender!

I agree. Genetics are genetics, if my Parafolk wants a new nose it's going to cost her lol

Also I don't know if it could be done, but once the Para Characters are finalized and confirm, could you lock it so they can't make any bodily adjustments? Or create some sort of "Schedule Plastic Surgery" option so we'd have to "pay to change" our Para's body structure or add tattoos or take away freckles, etc.

That sounds amazing. I seriously cannot wait to play this game. Excited to make dapper parafolk in DAP.

DAP would probably be better so it doesn't sound like you're copying "Create a Sim." However, I like Paraduction (production and para combined).

Phoenix

Or like have eyes that are uneven, one thigh that is bigger than the other. and overall just make it possible for the para to have small “imperfections”

MiKA

Maybe Para Creation Center (PCC)?

This game is going to blow simulation games out of the park and I can't wait!!

Destiny Wasson

I like CYP ❤️

Yeah CAP is pretty great

How about "Create Your Para" (CYP)? It sounds a bit more personal and welcoming. However it might sound a bit like only creating yourself...

Constantin A.

An idea. I liked the Sims 2 Cas style (CAP in this case) where the background was like a closet. I would love to see that incorporated in ParaLives!!

Could we also have tattoos and birthmarks that we can move and change in size?

When you talk about gender flexibility, does the "sexual orientation" is an option? Like if a paras is homosexuel he/she can only have the flirt option with the same sex person? And if they turn out to be straight the interaction automatically fail?

Zacking16

What about “Make a Para”? Create a Para sounds too close to Create a Sim and some might see it as “copying”. Just a thought...but as usual I am so impressed and excited!!

It'sMike64

This sounds so fun already! My suggestion would to not call it Create a Para as it sounds too close to Create a Sim. I feel like Make a Para (MAP) would be really cool! I also like design a para (DAP)!

Para-Picker, Para-picturizer (it doesn’t have to be a real word, be whimsical =p)

I like “Create a Para”

Rivers

This is great! Sounds promising. I’m really excited for this. I like CAP 🤩

Will there be options to make parafolk slightly asymmetrical? Like say you want someone with a crooked nose, is there any chance of something like that being included?

Morgan Soto

When you said color wheel I screamed 😭😭

And, I like CAP 😁

So amazing! I’m so excited!

I get more and more excited with every post you make 😄

Will we have freckles for the entire body as a cap function?

Judi Dielman

It seems amazing and promising!! I'm very excited about this!! About accessibility. Why not include sort of handicapped Parafolks? Like hearing devices or wheelchair users...

Love love love that both push/pull and sliding mechanisms are being brought in. So excited

Morgan Soto

I like DAP

Simplicity

This sounds amazing, I'm sure a lot of simmers are over the moon for that color wheel!

I'm so excited! Thank you for keeping us updated! I like CAP if we had to choose between the two :)

I’m so excited! You’re doing amazing! ❤️

I love this Alex ❤️

Simplicity

So hypppedddd

Zo

I'm getting even more excited already 😍

onlyabidoang

This all sounds so promising! Thank you for all your hard work and for involving us all in your decisions :) And I like CAP!

so exciting 🎉🎉

HauntedMinistry