Add Preteens!

Prov31Simmer​ The idea that TS4 will reach a point where it “no longer requires updates” is not realistic. EA is still adding content, still adding features, still patching systems, and still monetizing the game. Even if the pace slows, they’re not going to freeze development on a title that still prints money.

This is a 12‑year‑old game. If someone can find the forum, they can clearly use Google. Players aren’t helpless — they already know how to look up cheats and workarounds. What they’re asking for is actual content, not a reminder to “use imagination.”

UberDrew1​, There are many players that do not know all the cheats or workarounds to get the game to simulate life. What you call condescending, I call honest. I gave an honest answer and explained how I used what was already provided in-game currently to simulate it. 

Honestly, blunt would be fine. What you’re doing now is actually way ruder — instead of just explaining why you don’t think something would work, you default to condescending reminders about cheats, workarounds, and imagination, like people haven’t already been doing that for years.

UberDrew1​, At this late in the game's life cycle, adding a new in-between lifestage would not be cost effective. Would you rather I be more blunt? All new CAS assets and even simple animations do have a high pricetag.

They are finally attempting primarily bug fixes, fixes to simulation lag, fixes for the game crashing, and minor assest tag fixes. I would much rather they get the game to a state where it will no longer require updates. With the game being 12 years old, it needs to just be fixed instead of adding new bloatware.

Also asking for things already provided gave me the impression that they were unaware those features were available already. Some people also need reminding that  certain request also would not fall under the game's current rating too.

I feel like you’re being condescending for the sake of being condescending. Most players don’t need a reminder to use their imagination or cheats — people already know how to roleplay. When someone asks for a feature, they’re asking because they want the game to support it, not because they forgot imagination exists.

UberDrew1​, I answered the "what you think" question honestly. I said that their  need for roleplaying lifestages could be done via gameplay and CAS assets that are already available to players in-game. Some people do need a reminder that this game is also about imagination since it is about storytelling. I also shared how I roleplay the stage between young child and older teen by utilzing the normal lifespan days. It can be done in the short or long options too. The other suggestions in the post are also we things provided in an EP already and one of the suggestions does not fit the the current game rating. 

While I personally think adding a separate pre-teen life stage might be a bit overkill, I genuinely don’t understand why, Prov31Simmer, your solution to nearly every request isn’t to support the person asking for more content or a solid suggestion, but to tell them to “just use imagination” and work around it.

Imagination is great, but it shouldn’t be the default answer to every gap in the game. People are allowed to want actual systems, life stages, and features instead of endlessly patching things with headcanon and CAS tweaks.

We don't need Preteens. Infants, Toddlers & Child Sims are already very overlooked in terms of content as it is. Preteens would just be another life stage that gets barely anything at all.

I also don't think the team needs to waste money and resources on this as they would have to re-work hundreds of animations.

Plus like Prov31Simmer has said, acne already comes with High School Years as well as Shaving.

I think that you can already simulate that stage through gameplay and imagination with the stages we already have available in-game. As an example, the kid stage is 13 days and the teen stage is 21 days on the normal lifespan setting. 

What I do is through CAS assests and gameplay have the first 6 to 7 days as the kid stage appearance look younger and they notmally do not get skills higher than level 5.  For the next 7ish days, I use CAS to make them look older as the appearance looks like a young pre-teen. Their skills they are working on are normally at 6 to 10 in level. 

After they sim ages up to teen, I use CAS to make them look like a young teen, they will be just starting the regular skills too. After 7 days, I use CAS to make then look older and I might do that a third time after another 7 days too. Since the teen stage is a whole week longer changing it once per sim week is doable. 

Btw, adding a menstrual cycle will be too much for the teen game rating. That would make it M for mature, which isn't the target audience. Oh and acne and shaving were already introduced with the High School Years ep.