4 years ago
Improvements to Aging
The aging system in Sims 4 is one of the biggest reasons I stopped playing. Sims basically go from two-years-old to five-years-old to sixteen-years-old. I fully understand why people feel like we need a preteen stage. I’d honestly love to see it. We haven’t gotten a new life-stage since university was introduced in Sims 2. The Parenting pack would have been the perfect place to introduce such a state. It was a wasted opportunity. Yes, some of the clothes children have been more preteen-ish. But I’d still like to see it be a real state where they develop crushes, ask questions about babies, and be socially awkward middle schoolers. Teens in Sims 4 suck. They are the most boring life-stage minus babies. They act like PG version of young adults. Teens in previous games were rebellious, moody and otherwise a pain in your behind. I miss that. Anyways I’m going to list what I’d like to see added for the different life-stages.
Babies
Variability in how much they cry. Some babies just cry more than others and seeing that affect the development of future relationships with caretaker sims. (I don’t see this happening but I’d love to see it)
Baby objects: changing tables, baby swings, baby pen, baby toys, ect.
These are high order items: being able to walk around with the baby, baby slings, strollers, and being able to play with the baby on the floor. (I don’t pretend to understand how the game engine works for Sims 4. But it doesn’t seem like it should be that hard since we have toddlers.)
Toddlers
Less crazy need spikes
Strollers, baby swings (outdoors like the ones in parks), and more toys in general. It’s basically the same toys for children and toddlers.
A preschool you can send your toddler too. Toddlers make it impossible for sims to work and build their skills. I’d love to see a preschool you can send your toddler too while your sims work and still get good needs. I really hate that they push this concept that being a stay-at-home parent is the only way to develop good children.
Favorite toy/blanket
Toddler activities/classes they go to such as gymnastics or ballet
For Children to Teens
More afterschool activities: dance (not just ballet), martial arts, basketball, baseball, softball, track and field, hocket, gymnastics, swimming, football/soccer, rugby, lacrosse, volleyball, tennis, chess, science, battle of the books, debate, student government, student newspaper, photography, video editing, ect. I miss this from Sims 3 so much. I’d love to see kids not as limited and be able to do team sports.
Children
Lemonade and Bake Sale objects. Bake sales were a huge part of Scouting so I wish they’d bring back the kid’s oven.
Dressing up without having to do it in CAS. So, if a sim really likes knights and princess they’d dress up as either. Or if they like ninjas. Ect. With likes and dislikes being added this is so much potential.
Weening kids away from their favorite toy or blanket they take everywhere. This is a huge part of growing up for many kids.
Being more jealous of babies and toddlers getting attention unless they have good trait.
Preteen (potential)
Random events that affect relationships. Like a fight with their best friend to where you decide if they make up or not. Developing crushes on friends that would change the relationship to where they might date as teens, stay friends, or grow apart. Or an event where they are socially awkward and accidently loose a friend.
Caring about appearance. Wanting to wear makeup, get new clothes or change their hairstyle.
Caring for babies and toddlers. It’s weird to see kids caring for toddlers. Less likely to be jealous.
Wanting to be teen like but still acting kid-like. So, like cartoons but not wanting to be treated like a ‘baby’ if they are coddled by their parents. Liking to play with toys but will get embarrassed if caught playing by another sim.
Wanting to be with friends versus their family.
Whims like going to see favorite band, see a movie, hang out with friends, play video games, ect.
Teens
Sneaking out, skipping school (it’s weird that kids can do this. Preteens maybe but not elementary students), throwing parties (while parents are gone for the weekend), cheating on tests, and other rebellious behavior.
Not wanting to be with their family or younger siblings. Most teenagers are this way but not all. It should be changed if they have the family-oriented trait or the good trait.
If they get caught sneaking out, playing hooky, or throwing a party the police can show up and arrest them.
Parent-teen interactions where they can create expectations for their teens, push them to do well in an activity or in school, ect.
Prom, dances, concerts, team competitions, battle of the bands, and other social events that define the teen years.
Young Adults and Adults
More careers. If you have university you should get overall better pay in all jobs if you have a degree.
More part-time jobs
Young Adults
Getting a whim or moodlet to feel pressure to go to university
Social Clubs (not the same as Get To Together), but groups that meet at random locations developing skills
Less of a desire to get married, have kids, ect
Adults
Mid-life Crisis: desire to change careers, buy expensive things, ect. Partners could talk to them about their mid-life crisis either helping them through it or taking a huge relationship hit depending on their relationship before that. This should be random. Sims could also randomly decide the want to get married and have a family.
Worse reaction to ‘juice’
Getting a tense relationship from clubs or bars
Elder
Canes and walkers
Offering to babysit grandchildren event
Showing off or bragging out grandchildren
Grandparents’ day at school for kids
Reminisce about the old days, playing board games with their grandchildren and sharing stories about their youth.
Can move to an elder community lot much like an apartment where their expenses are lower
Wills to divide their possessions, money and even who takes care of their pets when they are gone. (This would be great for adults too)
Social clubs (much like young adults) such as knitting, book club, golf, chatting at the local pub, ect.
Less likely to die from exhaustion. It’s rather ageist to have them be so ‘weak’. Their health could be included bit their fitness skill though where if they have low fitness, they can be winded as elders therefore more likely to die from exhaustion.
Having it overall be a less depressing life-stage.
Babies
Toddlers
For Children to Teens
More afterschool activities: dance (not just ballet), martial arts, basketball, baseball, softball, track and field, hocket, gymnastics, swimming, football/soccer, rugby, lacrosse, volleyball, tennis, chess, science, battle of the books, debate, student government, student newspaper, photography, video editing, ect. I miss this from Sims 3 so much. I’d love to see kids not as limited and be able to do team sports.
Children
Preteen (potential)
Teens
Young Adults and Adults
Young Adults
Adults
Elder