THESIS: Custom Lifespan Option for Meaningful Multigenerational Family Gameplay

Abstract

This thesis explores the limitations of lifespan mechanics in The Sims 4, with a particular focus on the inability of elder Sims to witness the milestones of their grandchildren, even when children are born during a Sim’s teenage years. Despite the inclusion of expanded life stages, such as infants in the Growing Together expansion, the existing lifespan options (short, normal, long) fall short in accommodating meaningful multigenerational family gameplay. The thesis evaluates traits, aspirations, and in-game mechanics that extend lifespans, the impact of recent expansions like Life and Death, and advocates for fully customizable lifespan settings to enhance the game’s emotional and narrative depth.

Introduction

The lifespan mechanics in The Sims 4 are central to the game’s storytelling and player experience, particularly for those who enjoy multigenerational family gameplay. However, the current system limits players’ ability to explore the full narrative arc of their families, especially when it comes to elder Sims experiencing the milestones of their grandchildren. This issue becomes apparent even when Sims have children at a young age, such as during their teenage years. This issue is magnified by the addition of the infant life stage in the Growing Together expansion and the limited lifespan options (short, normal, long). This thesis explores the limitations of the current lifespan settings, examines the traits and aspirations that affect lifespan, and argues for the necessity of customizable lifespan options that cater to family-oriented players.

Lifespan Mechanics and Limitations

In The Sims 4, lifespans are divided into three primary options: short, normal, and long. Short lifespans accelerate a Sim’s aging process, making it difficult for players to focus on long-term storytelling. Normal lifespan offers a balanced experience but often falls short for multigenerational gameplay, especially when players want elders to live long enough to witness their grandchildren’s major milestones, such as becoming young adults, graduating, or having children of their own. Long lifespan, while extending the time for each life stage, still fails to fully address the issue. Even with this setting, the duration of the elder stage is typically insufficient for meaningful family interactions spanning three generations. According to the Sims Wiki¹, with the release of patch 142, some lifespans were adjusted again to accommodate the addition of infants. The normal lifespan for newborns was reduced from 2 days to 1. The normal lifespan for children was expanded from 13 to 14 days, young adults from 24 to 28 days, and adults from 33 to 42 days. The newly introduced infants have a normal lifespan of 5 days. However, these adjustments only exacerbate the need for manual intervention and do not inherently solve the challenge of elder Sims missing out on their grandchildren’s milestones.

The problem, which as mentioned earlier, is further compounded by the addition of the infant life stage, which was introduced with The Sims 4: Growing Together. The inclusion of infants makes the early stages of a Sim’s life longer and more detailed, as players now navigate through infancy, toddlerhood, childhood, and adolescence before reaching adulthood. While this depth enhances gameplay, with the lack of an expansion on elders, it delays the progression of younger generations and reduces the likelihood that elder Sims will survive long enough to engage meaningfully with their grandchildren. Players who aim to create rich family narratives must often rush through gameplay or compromise their storytelling, particularly if they rely on the standard lifespan settings.

Traits and Aspirations Affecting Lifespan

Some traits and aspirations in The Sims 4 offer limited ways to extend a Sim’s lifespan, but they are not comprehensive solutions. The “Long Lived” trait, awarded upon completing the Bodybuilder aspiration², significantly extends the elder stage, allowing Sims to live longer than the default elder duration. This trait provides some flexibility for players who prioritize physical fitness and achieve this aspiration during a Sim’s lifetime. Additionally, the Active trait, which boosts physical well-being, may indirectly contribute to a longer elder stage, as Sims with this trait are less likely to experience negative moodlets³ related to inactivity or poor health. However, the Active trait does not explicitly extend a Sim’s lifespan. Players can also use the Potion of Youth, a reward available through the satisfaction points system⁴, which resets a Sim’s age to the beginning of their current life stage. While useful, this potion only temporarily delays aging and requires repeated use to maintain a significant lifespan extension.

Impact of Expansions on Elder Gameplay

The release of The Sims 4: Life and Death expansion further expanded on elder gameplay by introducing themes related to aging, death, and legacy⁵. This expansion added new mechanics, such as enhanced death rituals and interactions with ghost Sims, which enriched storytelling opportunities for elder Sims as well. However, these features do not address the underlying issue of insufficient lifespan duration. Ghost Sims, while providing interesting gameplay options, are not widely favored by family-oriented players who prefer living Sims to play active roles in their families. Many players do not consider ghost Sims as fully integrated into their family narratives, particularly when it comes to multigenerational storytelling. As a result, the expansion adds depth to elder Sims’ post-death experiences but does little to help them remain active participants in their grandchildren’s lives.

The Case for Customizable Lifespan Options

The limitations of the current lifespan settings highlight the need for customization lifespan options in The Sims 4. While the expansion of other lifespans is a step is favorable, it does not fully address the problem unless players have the specific mods to significantly extend specific life stages, such as the elder stage. Customizable lifespan options could allow players to create a more immersive and meaningful family gameplay experience, ensuring that elder Sims have enough time to witness their grandchildren’s major life events. This would not only enhance multigenerational storytelling but also reduce the need for fast-paced or rushed gameplay, which undermines the emotional and narrative depth that many players seek.

Conclusion

The current lifespan mechanics in The Sims 4 fail to accommodate the needs of players invested in multigenerational gameplay. The addition of the infant life stage and expanded elder gameplay in the Life and Death expansion have enriched the game’s storytelling possibilities but have also exacerbated the challenges of creating meaningful elder gameplay. Traits like “Long Lived” and potions like the Potion of Youth provide temporary solutions but do not resolve the core issue of limited elder lifespans. Introducing fully customizable lifespan options would allow players to create slower, more thoughtful gameplay experiences where elders can witness their families’ milestones without compromise. By addressing this gap, The Sims 4 could better support the diverse play styles of its community and enhance the emotional depth of its storytelling.

References

1. https://sims.fandom.com/wiki/Lifespan
2. https://thesims4.fandom.com/wiki/Long_Lived
3. https://sims.fandom.com/wiki/Active_(trait)
4. https://sims.fandom.com/wiki/Potion
5. https://sims.fandom.com/wiki/The_Sims_4:_Life_%26_Death