Some downloading for ts2 and reading some news.

Well, i started to play the sims 2 again actually. Installed it on my laptop since my main computer is more or less out of order. Needs a bit cleaning, including the processor.
But next to ts2 i also play Beyond Good & Evil, Sudeki, The Longest Journey, Wizardry 8, Heretic Kingdoms: the inquisition (original title is kult: heretic kingdoms)
and Drakensang: The River of Time. Also played couple of VN's like Analogue: A hate story. And played Bully scholarship edition a bit (was first known as canis canem edit).

Don't rely on can you run it. You can't trust it and it isn't accurate.
Better just test the demo yourself and also just look what kind of pc you have. If you ain't sure, then use hwinfo or speccy or aida64.
And then compare it. Also, keep in mind that with onboard chips they are less powerfull then a seperate card. And if it's a laptop, then keep in mind that everything is shared and it works different.

Oh sure,as well as a dozens of dlc's, most day one.
It's a basegame yes and then some things aren't there, but this is quite ridiculous. Toddlers should be there, as it is a lifestage. I remember the slogan back on the box of the basegame of ts2. "they are born, they go death. everything between it you decide".
We got spoiled with the sims 3 basegame, as it had already cars, pools, etc. It was more complete that the ts2 basegame.
And now they decide to strip the basegame for ts4. But in return you got double drm. Origin activation stuff plus sony dadc drm.

So far i haven't bought TS4, let alone play it. The biggest issue which holds me to buy it is the double DRM crap. Double yes. Next to origin it has the sony dadc drm. Read about it here: http://www.reclaimyourgame.com/showthread.php/2798-RYG-Evaluates-The-Sims-4-EA-Origin-and-Sony-DADC-DRM
You can also read then about EA's nice surprise of delivering securom with that free the sims 2 ultimate edition.
So even the sims got activation stuff, just like earlier with spore and simcity 2013. EA just don't get it and act like a stubborn mule. Probably they go for the third title of worst company in a row. I wouldn't be proud of it if i were them.
Next what holds me is that i read about stuff which was in previous games is now removed. No pools for example, no toddlers and also no cars? I guess those will be added with day one dlc's and you may pay for it. Seems like EA now all goes bonkers with the dlc stuff. They do the same now as what ubisoft does. So it seems another franchise that got killed by them, after simcity and command & conquer. And all have in common that they were originally developed by someone else, but got bought by EA.
I still got emails from EA that there are gifts for me waiting for the sims 4, because of my previous purchases. Yes, i have purchased some premium items in the ts3 store.
As for the previous games: i don't agree that the sims 3 is bad. Actually at a couple of points it is better then the sims 2. One of my complaints with ts2 is that it still feels a little bit static. The story progression in the sims 3 is a great improvement in my opinion. I also like it that you play in an open world. It all feels more dynamic. And you now can visit your neighbours all the time, which can't in ts2. I find the CAS overall in ts3 also better,as you can finetune a sim more and it is more divided. In ts2 a sim is actually cut in 2,which leaves you with less options to dress them. In ts3 you can mix and match more. And yes, in ts3 sims ain't the prettiest ones around or so, but can't say that they are in ts2. Have seen some real uglies in ts2, some sims with very wide mouths and spike hair.
Anyway, i like both ts2 and ts3. ts2 has more of those little things which are better and ts3 is better at other things, as mentioned earlier.  At this moment i have ts2 installed on my laptop and ts3 on my main computer.