I've seen a few Sim Guru's comment that they'd like to see improvements done to Teens, this thread is to serve as feedback for that purpose.The only rule we're going by, is we are not changing the existing model. This means they will remain the same height. Re doing all of the existing animations would be too intensive. I'll begin first:There are two things I think would absolutely MAJORLY help make teens feel more like teens. 1: They need their own voice. Currently they just have a higher pitched version of whatever adult voice you select. Teens going through puberty need voices that crack. Re doing all the voice lines may be intensive, but I genuinely think this is 100% one of the best things they can do for teens. To make things easier, I honestly would be fine with having only 1 or 2 voice types per gender, let me know if you agree. 2: They need their own clothes. We have the tagging system for it. Teens will no longer automatically wear clothing deemed inappropriate for their age. They will also get a bunch of new clothing made specifically for them that only they wear. This is where the beauty of the tagging system comes in though. Do you still want to dress your teen in whatever clothes you want? Just uncheck the -teen- filter just as you would any other outfit category and the whole selection of cas becomes available to you. This way the choice is still there if you want it. Those are the two Major ideas I had that I think will seriously improve teenagers. The rest of these ideas are minor:Promcrushesgenetic acneobsessions (you could declare obsession for video games, music, food, art etc)different cliques such as Rebel, Jock, Prep, Nerd, Popular, Geek, inspired from sims 3 university but improved upon.after school activitiesThey need to properly show off the fact they are walking bundles of hormones and be desperate for a boyfriend/girlfriend, like most teens are.Graduation.College courses when university comes outThat's just a few of mine, share your ideas!

I just realized I put this in general discussion instead of feedback. Oops, sorry mods! D:

I personally really agree with you! I struggle with teens because they seem just like adults most of the time for me. I wish that they had more random feelings about things. Perhaps being sad, because their crush rejected them at school or their crush declined their invitation to come over. I know there are things similar, but I would like it to be more specific.Perhaps teenage traits, traits that are specific to teens, much like there are toddler specific traits. More rebellious actions. More hormonal/spontaneous actions.

I'm on the fence with the teen-specific clothes and the clothing filter. But I do agree about the voices (though I think that the game could use a lot more voices in general).If it were my job to "fix" them, most of my plans would revolve around animation work. I need a way for teens to be immediately identifiable as teens, even from a distance. Giving them their own walk styles, standing animations, idle animations, etc. These don't all need to be huge changes, sometimes little tweaks work fine (like the way teens kiss slightly different than adults do, it's a cute little detail that makes a big difference in how I perceive them)In terms of gameplay though, I don't really have anything to add. I don't play them very often so I feel like I shouldn't really have a say on what gameplay teens need.

I personally like teens as they are and play them as teens but improvements are always welcome.I totally love the idea with the obsessions - that would make gameplay a little different for teens. I also like the idea of the clothing filter too and I think some teen hairstyles would go well with that. the acne too but with a cream to treat it. Not all teens are rebellious or controlled by runaway hormones but that option would also be nice for teens with certain traits.I usually play with my volume off (hate to hear the same sounds repeatedly) so the voice thing does not matter to me.Teen hangouts would be nice and parents should be able to infiltrate and send them home if they are out too late without permission.Otherwise, all of your ideas are great!

I like all your ideas @Zeldaboy180 . I use the prom mod, and I've quite enjoyed it--just that addition already makes it feel like all the teens are really teenagers more. What I'd really like, but probably isn't that popular and would never happen, would be a set of second child aspirations that were unlocked by completing one of the basic four, which could then be continued as a teenager OR switched to one of the standard adult aspirations as desired. So, for example, completing the mental aspiration might unlock a Junior Scientist or Astronaut or Chess Master aspiration, so you could switch to one of the other three basic ones OR continue on with one of these through teenagerhood. Completing it might get you a boost when starting in the scientist or astronaut or business career, and maybe some minor reward traits too--A chess master would almost ALWAYS win at chess, astronaut would gain rocket science a little faster, scientist would have a lower chance for serums and other experiments going wrong, that kind of thing. With a little thought, you could probably come up with cool unlocks for all four basic child aspirations (well--only if kids could gain fitness after maxing motor, and painting after maxing creative too actually ;-P). But these aspiration would have to be completed before aging to young adult, then you'd have to pick an adult one. So it'd be a bit more challenging, but I think it would really help make teenagers eem like they have their own thing going on and aren't just waiting to age up and be adults already.

How can we make Teens stand out? | EA Forums

42 Replies

Luckylunayre
Seasoned Ace
8 years ago
I just realized I put this in general discussion instead of feedback. Oops, sorry mods! D:
caitzel
8 years ago
I personally really agree with you! I struggle with teens because they seem just like adults most of the time for me. I wish that they had more random feelings about things.

Perhaps being sad, because their crush rejected them at school or their crush declined their invitation to come over. I know there are things similar, but I would like it to be more specific.
Perhaps teenage traits, traits that are specific to teens, much like there are toddler specific traits.
More rebellious actions.
More hormonal/spontaneous actions.
kaeyresky
8 years ago
I'm on the fence with the teen-specific clothes and the clothing filter. But I do agree about the voices (though I think that the game could use a lot more voices in general).

If it were my job to "fix" them, most of my plans would revolve around animation work. I need a way for teens to be immediately identifiable as teens, even from a distance. Giving them their own walk styles, standing animations, idle animations, etc. These don't all need to be huge changes, sometimes little tweaks work fine (like the way teens kiss slightly different than adults do, it's a cute little detail that makes a big difference in how I perceive them)

In terms of gameplay though, I don't really have anything to add. I don't play them very often so I feel like I shouldn't really have a say on what gameplay teens need.
sweetonsims
Seasoned Veteran
8 years ago
I personally like teens as they are and play them as teens but improvements are always welcome.

I totally love the idea with the obsessions - that would make gameplay a little different for teens.

I also like the idea of the clothing filter too and I think some teen hairstyles would go well with that. the acne too but with a cream to treat it.

Not all teens are rebellious or controlled by runaway hormones but that option would also be nice for teens with certain traits.

I usually play with my volume off (hate to hear the same sounds repeatedly) so the voice thing does not matter to me.

Teen hangouts would be nice and parents should be able to infiltrate and send them home if they are out too late without permission.

Otherwise, all of your ideas are great!
Fanphoria
Seasoned Ace
8 years ago
I like all your ideas @Zeldaboy180 . I use the prom mod, and I've quite enjoyed it--just that addition already makes it feel like all the teens are really teenagers more.

What I'd really like, but probably isn't that popular and would never happen, would be a set of second child aspirations that were unlocked by completing one of the basic four, which could then be continued as a teenager OR switched to one of the standard adult aspirations as desired.

So, for example, completing the mental aspiration might unlock a Junior Scientist or Astronaut or Chess Master aspiration, so you could switch to one of the other three basic ones OR continue on with one of these through teenagerhood. Completing it might get you a boost when starting in the scientist or astronaut or business career, and maybe some minor reward traits too--A chess master would almost ALWAYS win at chess, astronaut would gain rocket science a little faster, scientist would have a lower chance for serums and other experiments going wrong, that kind of thing. With a little thought, you could probably come up with cool unlocks for all four basic child aspirations (well--only if kids could gain fitness after maxing motor, and painting after maxing creative too actually ;-P). But these aspiration would have to be completed before aging to young adult, then you'd have to pick an adult one. So it'd be a bit more challenging, but I think it would really help make teenagers eem like they have their own thing going on and aren't just waiting to age up and be adults already.
Movotti
New Spectator
8 years ago
School uniforms.
Between 8am and 5pm on weekdays, any teen (or child) out and about should be in their school uniform, same with the teens on your school lot. Should also come with an on/off switch, so those who don't like the idea, don't have to use it.
For me it would add a certain layer of realism, as kids an teens 'round here wear uniforms, all the schools have them.

Examples
Spoiler

Some schools here have uniforms like this:
https://i1.wp.com/www.nararavalleyhigh.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Uniform_3.jpg?ssl=1#
http://reservoirhs.vic.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/uniform-image2.jpg
http://www.howickcollege.school.nz/uploaded/Yr13%20uniform.jpg
http://intra.aphs.sa.edu.au/static/uploads/Junior_Uniform.png

Some schools have a more sporty look
https://www.school-news.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/SNAU05-ADMIN-Uniforms-6-660x330.jpg

Most schools give you multiple options to choose from, which would work great in game, it's a uniform, but it's not uniform!
http://www.stives-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/documents/66729205/66736620/uniformshopgrouppix2017.jpg
kaiwryplays
8 years ago
I don't know about the teen specific clothing because teen style can also blend in with what young adults wear. But I guess a tagging system wouldn't be so bad because then you could just unchecked it.

One thing that I liked about teens having same clothes as adults is that when they age up I don't have to change every single outfit and some can be the same.

I think they're should be specific traits like rebel, moody, people pleaser, outcast, gossip, and one where they are desperate for a partner (I want this to be trait based since not all teens are like this) should be added

I also like the obsessions idea
Kathykins
Seasoned Ace
8 years ago
Really a lot of great ideas for teens :) I do feel they should have some special features to set them apart from young adults, as right now I don't really see any difference. Teens can even live on their own now, which was really surprising to me when I started playing TS4. Teen clothes and haircuts would be a good way of making a difference. I don't really know much about teens nowadays, so can't add much more. Its been too long since I WAS one :smiley:

"FanPhoria;c-16580367" wrote:
What I'd really like, but probably isn't that popular and would never happen, would be a set of second child aspirations that were unlocked by completing one of the basic four, which could then be continued as a teenager OR switched to one of the standard adult aspirations as desired.

So, for example, completing the mental aspiration might unlock a Junior Scientist or Astronaut or Chess Master aspiration, so you could switch to one of the other three basic ones OR continue on with one of these through teenagerhood. Completing it might get you a boost when starting in the scientist or astronaut or business career, and maybe some minor reward traits too--A chess master would almost ALWAYS win at chess, astronaut would gain rocket science a little faster, scientist would have a lower chance for serums and other experiments going wrong, that kind of thing. With a little thought, you could probably come up with cool unlocks for all four basic child aspirations (well--only if kids could gain fitness after maxing motor, and painting after maxing creative too actually ;-P). But these aspiration would have to be completed before aging to young adult, then you'd have to pick an adult one. So it'd be a bit more challenging, but I think it would really help make teenagers eem like they have their own thing going on and aren't just waiting to age up and be adults already.

Just had to quote this. I've only played since May last year, and I'm already so tired of the same aspirations over and over again. I like the thought of carrying a childs aspiration over to teenagedom (?). It would crate a great sense of continuity, at least for me. I usually do all child aspirations, except Social Butterfly (my sims hardly leave their house, they are too busy with work/school and self improvement). I'd grab any chance to play through some new aspirations, and teens would be a great place to add them.
Jonomi28
8 years ago
I think teens will get better it’s just a case of waiting until they release the content In a few years time I think teens will be better than previous sims games
ra7orrat
8 years ago
I would like more teen things to do (which adults can't do), going to school dances, worshipping idols (singers/bands/actors/tv shows) could be a social interaction too, visiting fansites on the computer, writing fanfic ...

Maybe a teen specific collection like magazine clippings of said idols/collecting comicbooks/collecting CDs or Idk what teens these days collect B)

Also to get a lot trait that makes a lot only accessable for teens (the teen neighborhood does not do that), I created a "park" that was ment to be a teenage hang out, but adults always show up there...

teenager whims that take there traits into account like geeks have a whim to stay up all night playing videogames, bookworms want to stay up all night reading and so on, binge watch a tv-show, sneak out to a concert (rabbithole) or sneak out to visit boyfriend/girlfriend (if they got one) at night.

A sweet sixteen party and maybe a "no parents party/secret party" last one cant be at home (the teenager only lots would come in handy for that), they would drink "grown up juice" and try to act like a grown up or/and an idol (social interaction).

A hobby which only teens can do...don't know what yet...doing web-shows (turorials on make up or game tutorials, fanvideos, depending on their traits) on the computer (a new computer plus chairs and desk created for that action), could be something they can do together too.

and teen aspirations too, like promking/queen (being popular), being an outsider (maybe something creative), nerd for life (geek/genius) or something like that.