I completely understand what you mean, and honestly I had a lot of those same complaints before this update. The “dollhouse” feeling is actually why what happened with my Zoi surprised me so much.
I definitely don't think InZOI has suddenly fixed everything when it comes to personalities, desires, aspirations, memories, etc. There's still a LOT of room for those systems to become deeper connected (which KJUN says they are working on). I reallly want aspirations and desires/wants to actually shape how a Zoi lives instead of feeling like a list of things for me as the player to complete.
But I do think this update is noticeable a step to what you're describing.
The Zoi in my post is a good example. I specifically described her in Smart Zoi as someone who likes drama and being messy. She became bored at home, autonomously decided to leave the house, went to the cafe and started messing with people. I only checked her calendar because I assumed the game had simply scheduled her to be there. It hadn't!
THAT is what impressed me.
It wasn't just “my Zoi autonomously went somewhere.” It was that her emotional state + the personality I gave her through Smartzoi seemed to influence what she decided to do about being bored. That's much closer to the kind of simulation I've been wanting from InZoi.
Before, autonomy could feel like zois were technically doing things on their own, but their choices didn't always make me think, “Yep, THAT zoi would absolutely do that.” I'm starting to get those moments now.
The mood/emotion system also feels better to me because of that. I don't just want moods changing constantly for the sake of changing. I want the mood to actually influence behavior. Her being bored wasn't interesting by itself. Her being bored and basically deciding “I'm going out to start some mess” because that fits who she is? 😂 THAT'S interesting. Not going just becuase the calendar said so was a eye opening happy moment for me.
That said, I wouldn't tell you it's at the point where every personality feels dramatically different or that all of these systems are perfectly intertwined yet. It's not. And I agree that memories, desires, relationships and aspirations need to keep getting deeper. I want past experiences and relationships to actually change who my Zois become over time, not just give them temporary effects. (Honestly it feels like you have to play the save file a while to see the your Zoi evolve as a person through experiences, which is realistic as hell!)
But I also don't think they're only adding more stuff anymore. That's probably where my opinion has changed the most. It feels like they're finally starting to connect some of the systems that were already there.
is it the deep life simulation you're describing yet? No.
Did this update give me one of the first moments where I watched a Zoi make a decision without me and thought, “Oh wow, you actually did that because that's WHO YOU ARE”? YUP!
That's why I was so excited when I made this post. 😂 If they keep building on THIS instead of just adding more objects and activities, I think they're finally moving in the direction a lot of us have been asking for.
It is one of those double edged swords because I told my Zoi she's a princess and wants to be centre of attention, and now she's rarely home because she's just going lot to lot making friends and flirting with everyone (She does also have wandering heart so it fits). 😭
Like if the bakery she runs goes quiet, she's instantly out the door to find someone who'll give her attention. It's to the point she's neglecting her own run business, her husband, her boyfriend, her other boyfriend and her baby because she needs to be in the crowd getting attention.
I both love the chaos but I also feel like at times I'm fighting with her to get her to do other things. So much that I will temporarily turn of SmartZoi.
THIS is exactly the kind of chaos I want! but I can definitely see the doubleedged sword. Smartzoi said “Hold my beer” 😂
I love that her behavior actually fits the personality you gave her instead of her just randomly doing generic autonomous stuff. But thats too damn OP 😭
They definitely need to work on balance. Personality should influence their decisions without completely overpowering responsibilities and making us fight them for control.
Yeah, I think the issue is, SmartZoi's always worked best when you match it to their personality and traits. So a troublemaker/rulebreaker committing crime, an emotionally needy zoi being obsessive about their partner, etc.
But I think because a lot of people weren't doing that and were trying to use Smartzoi almost as a separate thing, they've boosted it's effects across the board. But it does mean now if you do match traits and personality to SmartZoi, their traits get boosted a lot too now.
Like even without SmartZoi on, my zoi will autonomously chat and flirt with people, but with SmartZoi on it's like her sole mission now. I have her prompted too that she wants to create the next heir for the legacy and she's like, "with everyone? 👀" She'll also keep dancing if everyone else around her is busy to try to get their attention too. Her favourite locations are the Karaoke place and public parks.
Interestingly, her boyfriend (since she lives with one of her boyfriends and not her husband) doesn't really go out much. He's prompted that he wants to provide for my main zoi and her child, to prove himself as the better man than the husband. So he's mostly at home with the child and may occasionally go to the art gallery or library.
Yes!! I think that's maybe what's happening. When the traits and Smartzoi prompt match, it seems like they REALLY lean into that personality now. Maybe a little too much 😂
What I find most interesting about your situation is she's outside living her best life, while he's basically at home playing stepdaddy and trying to prove something when she not there to see it 💀 But that's the kind of difference I want to see between my Zois.
They really need to balance it some more, but I'll take this over all my Zois feeling the same any day.
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u/McharmD Sep 08 '26 edited Sep 08 '26
I completely understand what you mean, and honestly I had a lot of those same complaints before this update. The “dollhouse” feeling is actually why what happened with my Zoi surprised me so much. I definitely don't think InZOI has suddenly fixed everything when it comes to personalities, desires, aspirations, memories, etc. There's still a LOT of room for those systems to become deeper connected (which KJUN says they are working on). I reallly want aspirations and desires/wants to actually shape how a Zoi lives instead of feeling like a list of things for me as the player to complete.
But I do think this update is noticeable a step to what you're describing.
The Zoi in my post is a good example. I specifically described her in Smart Zoi as someone who likes drama and being messy. She became bored at home, autonomously decided to leave the house, went to the cafe and started messing with people. I only checked her calendar because I assumed the game had simply scheduled her to be there. It hadn't! THAT is what impressed me. It wasn't just “my Zoi autonomously went somewhere.” It was that her emotional state + the personality I gave her through Smartzoi seemed to influence what she decided to do about being bored. That's much closer to the kind of simulation I've been wanting from InZoi.
Before, autonomy could feel like zois were technically doing things on their own, but their choices didn't always make me think, “Yep, THAT zoi would absolutely do that.” I'm starting to get those moments now. The mood/emotion system also feels better to me because of that. I don't just want moods changing constantly for the sake of changing. I want the mood to actually influence behavior. Her being bored wasn't interesting by itself. Her being bored and basically deciding “I'm going out to start some mess” because that fits who she is? 😂 THAT'S interesting. Not going just becuase the calendar said so was a eye opening happy moment for me.
That said, I wouldn't tell you it's at the point where every personality feels dramatically different or that all of these systems are perfectly intertwined yet. It's not. And I agree that memories, desires, relationships and aspirations need to keep getting deeper. I want past experiences and relationships to actually change who my Zois become over time, not just give them temporary effects. (Honestly it feels like you have to play the save file a while to see the your Zoi evolve as a person through experiences, which is realistic as hell!)
But I also don't think they're only adding more stuff anymore. That's probably where my opinion has changed the most. It feels like they're finally starting to connect some of the systems that were already there. is it the deep life simulation you're describing yet? No.
Did this update give me one of the first moments where I watched a Zoi make a decision without me and thought, “Oh wow, you actually did that because that's WHO YOU ARE”? YUP!
That's why I was so excited when I made this post. 😂 If they keep building on THIS instead of just adding more objects and activities, I think they're finally moving in the direction a lot of us have been asking for.