inZOI Another Life Simulation Game in Early Development

[Klinn]

@Kimi Yes, the interface feels a little disjointed, like they just added bits & pieces as features were developed. That small toolbar normally at the top-middle of the screen? I've accidentally grabbed and moved it so many times when trying to pan the view around. Finally got annoyed enough to move it to the bottom right where it's more out of the way.

BTW, remember back a few pages when my musical Zoi entered a "musical competition" which turned out to be 3 hours of staring at the sidewalk? At the time I mentioned that I wish the devs had added a performance space for those sorts of competitions, e.g. a stage set up in one of the plazas. Well, as my current Zoi explored Dowon it turns out there's exactly that kind of arrangement in Nuri Plaza. I have no idea if it actually works that way but it's an encouraging sign. My Zoi is not musically inclined at all so I can't check it out for sure. I didn't see any comparable space in Bliss Bay but maybe they'll add it later. Maybe down on the beach? BEACH PARTY!!!

My current Zoi relaxing at the end of the day with a bit of fishing. This is the edge of the playable map but the devs did a good job with all the world background spaces to give you the feel of a big city.

My Zoi is thinking of finally getting a job. Hmm, what would be most suitable?

 

[Kimi]

Fisherman!

That is a very pretty shot of the fishing action plus the background. 

[RedMallie]

I agree with Kimi!! That shot is beautiful!!! I am sure your Zoi got to relax before going home! 

[Firestaar1]

Very good job indeed on the spaces!

[Klinn]

Fall has come and gone in my current game and winter has arrived. As you can see below there's a fine layer of frost/snow on the grand piano, the loveseats (brrrr!) carpets and other horizontal surfaces. I don't think there will be much lounging in those deck chairs any time soon, and I think that bottle of spirits on the table has become ice wine. Most plants have become a bit grayer, I guess sort of a dormant phase.

 

Your Zoi does need proper winter clothing or they'll start shivering. "Proper" seems to mostly mean a good winter coat. Not all jackets are suitable but the one my other Zoi picked out did the trick. Amusingly, so long as they've got a nice warm coat they can wear their gold lamé bikini with no issues. 

BTW, this Zoi has been working out a lot and you can see she's become significantly more cut. The exercise equipment is mostly outdoors and Zois can change into their skimpy workout wear with no ill effects from the winter weather. Not just when they're exercising but also for little while after. They change outfits soon enough anyway.

Oddly enough I didn't have a single rain storm throughout the fall season so I didn't get to check how Zois would react in this Outdoor Living House. Drat.

[FzzyDg8]

16 hours ago, Klinn said:

so long as they've got a nice warm coat they can wear their gold lamé bikini with no issues. 

[BrianZ]

Well, in TS4 you can wear anything you want as long as it's designated your cold weather outfit!  Must be the same deal:  the game has no way of knowing what it actually looks like.

[RedMallie]

On 7/1/2025 at 2:47 PM, Klinn said:

has become ice wine.

Ohhh, I love ice wine!!! 

On 7/1/2025 at 2:47 PM, Klinn said:

so long as they've got a nice warm coat they can wear their gold lamé bikini with no issues. 

 

[Kimi]

As long as you have a coat! I mean, doesn't matter if your legs would freeze off or not.  

[Klinn]

.

My musical Zoi was relieved when the weather gameplay testing was complete and she could change into something more appropriate for the conditions.

The bad news is that she was invited to participate in a musical competition and it turned out to be the same old "disappear into a cab for 3 hours" routine. Dowon has an outdoor stage all set up with lighting and all, but so far the game does not actually use it. Maybe someday.

Apparently she did win the competition though (from the back seat of the cab ) and collected a prize of 1000 Mews.

[FzzyDg8]

5 hours ago, Klinn said:

Apparently she did win the competition though (from the back seat of the cab )

[RedMallie]

Don't judge her, @Klinn 

[TechCat]

OY!

no cabshaming 

[Kimi]

[RedMallie]

*hugs the adorable kitty* 

[Klinn]

First Day On The New Job

It was time for my main Zoi to get a real job. Cody Coder has maxed-out computer and critical thinking skills, so that means he should obviously become -- a fireman!

Got a spiffy new uniform with a disturbing lack of socks. Is the budget really that tight?

OK, off to work! You may remember the gameplay trailer that showed firemen wrestling with heavy water hoses as they tried to extinguish a small blaze. Yeah, sounds cool, let's go make a difference in this city. First task is to, umm, fill out some forms on the computer.

Well, isn't this thrilling. Maybe my cute coworker over on the other computer would like to chat. It's never too early to start hitting on your fellow employees.

We get along reasonably well all things considered. I guess she was bored of the desk work too, so chatting was a nice break. BTW, while chatting I asked her that standard question about her career. She absolutely refused to tell me. Ahh, you do realize we're both in uniform sitting in the fire station, right? Fine, have your little secrets.

Ended up having lunch with her. Pizza for me, cake for her. Did you realize that you have to pay for items you eat out the "staff refrigerator"? Just how much of a budgetary shortfall is the Fire Service looking at?

After lunch it's time for some real excitement! We have to, umm, attend a meeting. 

Kinda sparse attendance. Well, I am the new guy.

Turns out you have to click on one of the meeting chairs and select the "Give Meeting" action. Yeah, that was obvious.

Attendance has picked up. I think the team leader is pointing out just how badly we're doing financially. Maybe we should start charging people per gallon of water we use to extinguish their fires?

Speaking of which, bring on the hoses! Yeah, let's show those fires who's boss! Nope, after the meeting is over my Zoi kills time by working out, checking the activity board (which shows no activity) and finally going home. Now granted it's only my first day on the job and I'm at the bottom rank but so far this job seems distressingly un-fireman-like. Ah well, he'll keep at it to see if it gets any more exciting later on.

 

[FzzyDg8]

[Rosewin]

Let's hope they had enough budget for those hoses. 

[Kimi]

One day he will be putting out the fires! 

[RedMallie]

if he doesn't get so bored that he starts setting them on!!!! 

[Klinn]

My Zois woke up to a snow storm today. Snow accumulated on the ground but not on the floor. I guess the devs never expected anyone to build an outdoor living house.

As you can see, your Zois can build snowmen. And wreck them too although I haven't tried that yet. Haven't found a way for them to have snowball fight yet.

It's easy to lose track of your white cursor in the middle of a snowstorm.

My main Zoi's second day on the job was even less fireman-like than the first. No little pop up tasks. These give you extra experience which is supposed to help your Zoi advance through the career faster. But zippo. Spent the day twiddling his virtual thumbs. Definitely no fighting fires or anything close to it.

Maybe tomorrow?

In an unrelated note, a guest came over and stayed for a day or so. She slept in the guest bedroom and oddly enough during the night there was a flash of light under the bed, or maybe under the covers. No idea what it was. Maybe an atomic fart? 

While wandering around the house, the visitor threw out one of my Zoi's treasured presents. I put these inside a locked room that in theory  she should not have been able to enter, but the lock was no deterrent. Tricky visitor. 

[RedMallie]

2 hours ago, Klinn said:

I guess the devs never expected anyone to build an outdoor living house.

They must have that type of floor heating system, huh? 

2 hours ago, Klinn said:

Maybe an atomic fart? 

 

2 hours ago, Klinn said:

Tricky visitor. 

Tricky indeed!!!

[Rosewin]

[Klinn]

.

Today was my main Zoi's day off but he went down to the Fire Department anyway, hoping to have more freedom to wander around and check things out. He discovered that the department does indeed have a budget for hoses, fire trucks, and more. But it seems that staff aren't allowed to use them.

Do we have to fill out some special forms for that?

While setting up to take that pic, my Zoi got a text from one of his girlfriends (yes, he has multiple) complaining she was sick and could he come over and take care of her. Of course he said he would and got an action in his queue to travel to her home. But first I switched to photo mode to take that shot. When I switched back to live mode, that whole incident was totally gone. No action in his queue, no way to text her and say he on his way, zippo. Disappointing that it would get dropped just because I wanted to take a screenshot.

Anyway, I knew where she lived and ran over there to be at her side. She and her roommates live in that huge penthouse I mentioned earlier. Oddly enough, despite all the luxury fittings, they didn't have a first aid kit. I added one via Build Mode and got her to drink some cold medicine which seemed to help.

She still seemed a little out of it though. Tried to eat something from the fridge, but walked past the dining room table into the adjacent bedroom and put the food down on a night table. That didn't work out so well. Went back to the fridge, got out some more food, went back to the bedroom and put the dish on the computer table. She sat down and was just about to eat when one of her roommates walks in and swipes the food from right under her nose.  The roommate goes to the dining room table and eats the food.  

I was hoping she would go over to the roommate and yell at her, but sadly no dramatics.  Instead she went back to the fridge, got out more food, went to the computer desk in the bedroom again and was finally able to eat her snack in peace. Third time lucky.

 

[RedMallie]

Weird and gunny at the same time!!! 

[Klinn]

.

Loaded up a save game to discover that my main Zoi has a new talent -- playing the piano sideways:

Not entirely comfortable but hey, we artists must suffer to produce great works. Or catchy cat food commercials. 

 

[Rosewin]

He seem really into it. 

[RedMallie]

1. He looks cute.

2. He seems to be enjoying his piano practice.

3. I bet he just didn't want to miss the photo opportunity!!! 

[Firestaar1]

Playing sideways is quite the talent lol

 

[Klinn]

Now that has me wondering if sitting at any of the other items will screw up positioning when saved / reloaded. Must experiment!

So Sally wanted to meet up at the park and as usual took her sweet time appearing. While waiting I built a few snowmen. Good thing she bought a hot coffee to offset the winter-inappropriate mini-dress and strappy heels. >shiver<

Anyway, discovered that the snowmen come in a variety of styles, including traditional … 

 … and party time!

Wonder how many variations there are. Collect the whole set! 

[RedMallie]

[Rosewin]

Love the winter wear. 

[FzzyDg8]

[Klinn]

Some random observations from recent play:

1. All of a sudden my game takes twice as long to save and load as it used to. No idea why it changed. I recently added some plants for my main Zoi to take care of, growing crops and harvesting them, but deleting the plants didn't improve the save time. Dunno. 
2. My main Zoi was staggering around like he was drunk. Things got screwed up when he participated in a comedy contest and came back (the old taxi cab routine) late at night with his motives maxed. The next morning he started staggering around. Amusingly, while he couldn't walk properly he could run full speed no problem.  Had to force him to sleep two complete cycles before he finally recovered. Fixing this did not fix the slow save / load times though. Sigh.
3. My main Zoi was promoted to Lieutenant. Still no sign of any fires or fire fighting. Although on the second day of his new position I did see a new employee wandering around in full fire fighting gear, so maybe there's hope yet.
4. After the promotion about half the staff changed. The woman my guy had been chatting up was one of the ones who disappeared. Not just from the building but from my Zoi's relationship list too. It's like she never existed.
5. Discovered that after the emotion "Joyful" your Zoi can reach a "Gleeful" condition. Got a special dialogue topic "Be happy feeling like everything will go well" which was kinda cool, although the wording needs a bit of polish. 

[FzzyDg8]

Uh oh, it sounds like they might be taking advice from EA/Maxis. 

[RedMallie]

 

 

[Klinn]

Took my FireDude all the way up to the top rank. No fires. No practice with hoses. No driving the fire truck erratically around town with sirens blaring. No way to secretly set fires in the middle of the night. Just a bit of variety in the type of paperwork you have to fill out. Exciting.

As mentioned, colleagues will come and go as the days pass. Interestingly, one day a teen shows up for work. I didn't think the firefighting career was available for teens. Also, when she arrived she was granted the rank of Captain, not Trainee. Hmmm, I wonder if there was some nepotism at play here? 

Roommate update: One morning I cooked a hearty breakfast of Tteokbokki in the rush to get ready for work, sat down to eat it, and my roomie swiped the plate and ate it herself. Didn't even say thanks. OK then. The next day I was browsing through the Pocket Market and bought a Useless Rock. That's what it's called. Does nothing, I think it's supposed to be a gag gift. I placed right in the middle of the living room rug. Roommate ignored it, practically tripped over it a few times but she didn't throw it out like she has with so many other things. I went to bed, drifted off to sleep, and then she throws it in the garbage. Sneaky. Next morning's conversation: "Hey, where's my rock?"  "What rock?"  

BTW, if a female Zoi is working at the computer and moves her hand across the keyboard, not only the hand and arm move but also the shoulder, and in turn her breast actually moves a bit. Yes, I notice these details.   Purely from a game design and development perspective of course.

[Rosewin]

[FzzyDg8]

3 hours ago, Klinn said:

BTW, if a female Zoi is working at the computer and moves her hand across the keyboard, not only the hand and arm move but also the shoulder, and in turn her breast actually moves a bit. Yes, I notice these details.   Purely from a game design and development perspective of course.

  A little body movements sound okay, but only as long as they don't flap in the breeze.

[RedMallie]

7 hours ago, Klinn said:

Yes, I notice these details.   Purely from a game design and development perspective of course.

Of course you do!!!! I still have your mod for TS3, and it's all in the boob dynamics, isn't it? 

[Klinn]

.

While we're on the subject of breasts there's something else that's bugging me. Don't worry, I'll tie it back together. 

My female Zoi has yoga as one of her favorite activities, and she does a fair amount of other exercising as well. Over the weeks the game has made her "fit" all right but to an exaggerated degree in my opinion. In particular her legs look sorta stringy. Even fit female cyclists I've known didn't have thighs like that. I'm pretty sure I didn't make her this thin at the start, the game seems to have not just added muscles but also subtracted weight.

So bringing the subject of breasts back into play, hers seem to be a little smaller than originally created, again looking like the game reduced her body weight. It's hard to be sure since I don't do those giant balloon breasts you sometimes see on characters.

To the best of my knowledge, at the moment there's no way to undo these changes. But you can prevent them from happening in the first place. In the game's Options --> Simulation tab there are two settings: "Dynamic Body Weight" and "Dynamic Muscles". Both of those were turned on by default and this is the result.

For my next game I'll turn those options off. Basically it's an interesting idea but I think the devs went too far with it.

 

Edit: BTW on that same Options --> Simulation tab you can also control Zoi aging which is handy.

[Rosewin]

That does seem a little extreme. 

[RedMallie]

She does look stringy, as you pointed out, @Klinn   

Like you said, this is a good idea, but I think that the ratio of (Zoi time exercising to weight loss to muscle gain) might be the issue here.

For example, if I want a Zoi to work as a professional athlete, I would like him or her to EVENTUALLY get as fit as your Zoi, for general sports, let's say. It'd still be exaggerated, but, well, Zois seem to be dedicated once they get into something, I guess.  

But that 'eventually' would not happen overnight, or even after only a few weeks.

How long did it take for you to notice the change in your Zoi? And how much time was she on the yoga mat everyday?

Were you secretly training her for the next Olympics? Did you put any steroids in her water? 

[Klinn]

I'm going by memory here, but I think she developed that physique in about 25 to 30 days. She didn't do yoga every day, sometimes she would work out with the punching bag or on the treadmill. There were no free weights or exercise machines in the house.

Heh-heh, if I added any steroids she would have bulked up more like body builders rather than getting very lean.

The problem is that there's no way of specifying that a Zoi wants to achieve a specific level of fitness and then once there, any exercise is just for maintenance, not to become more extreme. If a Zoi is interested in exercising, their autonomy is going to get them to do that whether it's how you envisioned the Zoi or not.

[RedMallie]

Would that mean that then, in order to maintain a certain weight / look, devs are considering that the player should make the Zoi stop exercising? 

That would be quite realistic, in a way, but not something I'd like to be thinking about in my game. 

I think that having an option to decide which level of fitness to achieve, and how to stay on it, would be a VERY interesting and demanding challenge for the developers, right? If I remember to go into Discord, I'll propose it in your name, @Klinn or if any other inmate is interested in posting this for the InZoi devs to read, please, that's even better. I rarely go into Discord.

[Klinn]

But because of Zoi autonomy it's pretty much impossible to stop them from exercising if it's one of their favored activities. You can't really watch over them all the time, e.g. when you're taking care of another Zoi in a different location. I think that, as you mentioned previously, it would be good for the devs to just tweak the rate of muscle / weight change. Or possibly make the limits lower so Zois don't go overboard.

The alternative is what I'll be doing. Adjusting the Zois' physiques as I want them when creating them, and toggling off the Dynamic change options mentioned above so they can exercise as much as they want without getting into the freak zone. 

At least we've got those options. The devs are busy enough with many many other things -- like letting my FireDude actually put out fires!  From what I've seen most of the careers still need to be filled out with appropriate activities. The joys of early access.

[RedMallie]

47 minutes ago, Klinn said:

The alternative is what I'll be doing. Adjusting the Zois' physiques as I want them when creating them, and toggling off the Dynamic change options mentioned above so they can exercise as much as they want without getting into the freak zone. 

It is the best option at the time, but if they are selling us InZoi as they are, this is something that they should look into. Also, from what I've seen, it is possible they are already working on this.

And yes, active careers that work are a priority, I get it. 

[Kimi]

I'm still catching up on all of the posts, but dang! She's ripped and almost too ripped. 

[BrianZ]

Marathoner body.  I wonder if any life sims will ever be smart enough to develop a character according to what sort of training they've been doing, and not one "ultimate fit" body.

[Klinn]

.

Started a new couple of Zoi roommates in a new house in Bliss Bay. They have heard rumours of an island resort opening in the near future and thought Bliss Bay would be a good stopover to soak up some sun while waiting. Also, if you recall, my last game became very slow to save or load so it seemed like a good time to start over.

 

They hit it off pretty quickly even though they're kind of an odd couple. Ian Islander is looking forward to a relaxed artsy life in Cahaya while Ingrid Islander is more a socialite who enjoys a quicker pace of life and with lots of friends and attention. Will their differences ultimately cause drama?

 

They took a selfie to commemorate their new relationship.

Ingrid's wearing a very discreet jacket -- it doesn't quite show everything. 

I'm going to be building up Ian Islander's gardening skill with an eye towards possible farming on Cahaya island. Also the usual painting and musical skills to get some income rolling in. They're pretty much broke at the moment, the new house cost them a bundle. Ian's also quite athletic, which Ingrid may be tempted to take advantage of. 

Ingrid's personality is such that she forms new relationships quickly. I'll be curious to see how quickly her list of friends grows.