Aging for "Active Household only" works not as expected -- an experiment in rotational gameplay
Okay, so I did an experiment with rotational gameplay. First I did a "save as," so I could return to my original family if this did not work.
For auto-aging, the setting was "Active Household Only," and for unplayed Sims it was "off."
I made note at the time I left my original household. It was in-game Saturday at 8:37 p.m. Female sim had 3 days left before aging to adult, and had just become pregnant. I noted the days to age-up for other family members as well.
I went to another house. It was in-game Saturday at 8:37 p.m. when I arrived. Single resident had 9 days left until age-up. I played there until in-game Tuesday at 2:58 a.m., at which point he was 6 days left until age-up, then returned to my original household.
At the original household, it was Tuesday 2:58 a.m., which surprised me because that's not how it worked in Sims 2. Female Sim had given birth (I was warned by others that this would happen). Her days left to age up was now 2, but I guess that's because I left them at 8:37 p.m. on one day and returned at 2:58 a.m. on another day, crossing the midnight line? All other Sims in the household also had their days to age up reduced by 1. If I had returned at at a time before midnight, I wonder if the aging would have been affected. I'll have to go back and try that in the next round.
So: it would appear you CAN engage in rotational play. However, things will not be frozen where you left them. Aging should not be affected, I guess, unless (possibly) you pass the midnight line; more trial needed on this one. Might be good to try to rotate at the same general time each time (like 5 a.m. or 10 p.m.). Also, pregnancies are not suspended. Sim will give birth.
For auto-aging, the setting was "Active Household Only," and for unplayed Sims it was "off."
I made note at the time I left my original household. It was in-game Saturday at 8:37 p.m. Female sim had 3 days left before aging to adult, and had just become pregnant. I noted the days to age-up for other family members as well.
I went to another house. It was in-game Saturday at 8:37 p.m. when I arrived. Single resident had 9 days left until age-up. I played there until in-game Tuesday at 2:58 a.m., at which point he was 6 days left until age-up, then returned to my original household.
At the original household, it was Tuesday 2:58 a.m., which surprised me because that's not how it worked in Sims 2. Female Sim had given birth (I was warned by others that this would happen). Her days left to age up was now 2, but I guess that's because I left them at 8:37 p.m. on one day and returned at 2:58 a.m. on another day, crossing the midnight line? All other Sims in the household also had their days to age up reduced by 1. If I had returned at at a time before midnight, I wonder if the aging would have been affected. I'll have to go back and try that in the next round.
So: it would appear you CAN engage in rotational play. However, things will not be frozen where you left them. Aging should not be affected, I guess, unless (possibly) you pass the midnight line; more trial needed on this one. Might be good to try to rotate at the same general time each time (like 5 a.m. or 10 p.m.). Also, pregnancies are not suspended. Sim will give birth.
