Growing Together SimGuru/Maxis-Sourced Info

DESIGN PILLARS

From the Livestream:

• Family matters. Interacting with family feels different than with other Sims, including extended family across households.
  
• Deepening relationships across the game and making them more meaningful.
  
• The drama of life. Features where players can start off or trigger Sims dramatically, with interesting ways of relating. And something more like story prompts that could take you in a different direction if you say yes.
  

GAMEPLAY AND PERSONALITY

Newborns

From the Livestream:

• Have outfit choices.
  
• Will be more differentiated from each other.
  

more under Patch info!



Infants

for fun:

It has come to my attention that I can now post this forbidden gif from early Infant development. Enjoy.

- SimGuruConor tweet:

Carriers

Caregivers will able to carry them on their backs - blog

Are infant carriers only for prepurchase? No!
- SimGuruNinja tweet:

Feeding Infants

Infants (it seems from this) develop eating habits
- SimGuruSoph tweet:

Lots actually plays into how infants feel about exploring food (Basegame) & finger foods (Growing Together). For example: Infants with the Picky Eater Quirk are less likely to like foods, in general. Same with Sensitive Infants. However, Sunny infants will normally Like or Love.

- SimGuruMorgan tweet:

Fun Fact: Infants, in general, are super likely to Dislike Smashed Lemon and Love Ice Cream.
- SimGuruMorgan tweet:

The fix to high chair behaviour is part of the base game patch. - SimGuruNinja tweet:

You can feed these foods to infants m because they are meant for infants, but I have had my toddler walk up and swipe the finger foods from my infant and eat it. ? Some toddlers are wild.

- SimGuruMorgan tweet:

Are they playable?

Yeah! You can 100% play them like a full Lifestate.

- SimGuruMorgan tweet: https://twitter.com/SimGuruMorgan/status/1632074712229773313

They do crawl in Basegame. Growing Together has them sort of ramp up to all that they can do in Basegame as they unlock Milestones. We wanted there to be -plenty- to do with Infants if you just have Basegame.

- SimGuruMorgan tweet:

More under patch info!



Infant and Toddler Quirks

We are also adding 18 discoverable Infant Quirks that change an infant’s behavior. With three Quirks per infant, each infant is bound to be unique! Some quirks include: Self-soother, Early Rise, Messy Eater, Frequently Hiccups, Gassy, Good Appetite, Snuggly Sleeper, Happy Spitter, Free-Air Tinkler and more. - blog

Toddlers are getting quite the update in this pack. As with Infants, we are adding 18 discoverable Toddler Quirks that change a Toddler’s behavior. These are discovered over time and make each Toddler unique, beyond their traits! Some examples include: Aggressive, Picky Eater, Early Riser, Little Singer, Good Appetite, Loves Water, Hates Bedtime, Loves being Carried and more. - blog

From the Livestream:

• Infants and Toddlers will all have three discoverable Quirks from set of 18 each for Infants and Toddlers.
  
• Range from cute little thinks like sneezing a lot to being Aggressive.
  
• Things like wanting to sleep in someone's arms can affect how your other Sims interact.
  
• There is a new Pack Cheat to add and remove discoverable Quirks.
  
• Discovery happens when they do something related to that Quirk.
  

There's more detail on @EgonVM's post here: https://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/comment/18236133/#Comment_18236133

The designer for Toddler Quirks did some extra work around Occults and Toddler Quirks. You’re more like to get these quirks if you’re the corresponding occult:

Merfolk - Obsessed with Water
Werewolf - Destructive
Vampire - Aggressive
Spellcaster - Loves Books

- SimGuruMorgan tweet:

All Infants/Toddlers have them when they grow into that age. It’s more-so a matter of discovering the quirks they already have. It’ll sometimes happen naturally OR through specific interactions with them, and sometimes might require them to have reached certain milestones.

As an example: You might not discover your infant Likes Sounds unless you give them the tools to play with sounds - the new BG sensory toys, radio, etc. Or that your toddler Hates being Held until you pick them up to take them somewhere.

But an infant who is a Free Air Tinkler is probably going to use the bathroom while you’re changing them, and a Toddler who is Aggressive will probably act out on their own. It’s fun discovering them. The cheat is also available if you want to set your own for story.

- SimGuruMorgan tweet thread:

there is an option to remove individual ones or all of them at once for ease. You can do this anytime or as many times as you’d like.

- SimGuruMorgan tweet:



Children

Aspirations

Children have received four new Aspirations: Slumber Party Animal, Mind and Body, Playtime Captain and Creative Genius. With all the new content for kids in this pack (the Treehouse, Splash Pad, Bike, Sleeping Bag, Slumber Parties, Friendship Bracelets, and more) there's plenty to aspire towards. - blog

From the Livestream:

• 4 new options found under "Multi-Skill"
  

There's more detail on @EgonVM's post here: https://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/comment/18236133/#Comment_18236133

Slumber Party Animal gives you a different set of goals that support Children who are focusing on both Social and Creativity.

SimGuruMorgan tweet:

they all have really cool unique reward traits.

SimGuruMorgan tweet:


Confidence

Just make sure to keep their confidence high! Or don't, but we know you'd never hurt a child's confidence. Right. Riiight? Because just like lost teeth, Childhood Confidence is also an aspect of growing up that every Child Sim faces in this pack! - blog

From the Livestream:

• Children start with neutral, can become low or high
  
• affected by her own gameplay and how caregivers interact
  
• low confidence might result in new fears
  
• Can lead to a Low Self-Esteem or High Self-Esteem locked-in Trait
  

Skills

The way Child skills work hasn’t always been my preference, so I have a mod for that. We did rework that in BG for Growing Together though. It’s different from the mod I use, but cooler imo. I can’t wait to remove the mod and play the updated way when it goes live.

- SimGuruMorgan tweet:

From the Livestream:

• separated out in UI for Children into Fundamentals and certain Adult skills
  
• Fundamentals gained quicker than before
  
• Adult skills gained slower than an Adult and are retained
  
• bicycle riding is now learned, and adults can help with that
  

Loose Teeth, from the Livestream:

• A child might lose a tooth by pulling it out, or it falling out, or a bicycle mishap
  
• Can wiggle it
  
• Gap shows in mouth
  
• Can put that tooth under your pillow and go to sleep. Tooth Fairy might leave you something in your inventory - eg certificate - and some money
  

Children can lose multiple teeth but at different times:
SimGuruNinja tweet:


new hug animation
- SimGuruNinja tweet:

You'll see this when celebrating learning how to ride a bike, but can also access this from a certain trait or a family dynamic.

1) Have over 90 rel and a certain fam dynamic
or
2) Have over 90 rel and have the Family Oriented Trait

- SimGuruNinja tweet:



Adult Life

Self-Discovery

Unlock and change personality traits throughout your Sims’ lives as they cope with midlife crises, respond to family requests to move in, and more. - pack description

Midlife Crisis
from the Livestream:

• for Adult Sims
  
• 4 types of Midlife Crisis, eg Desire for Adventure
  
• Appears in Aspiration panel with specific things to do, which are optional
  
• Fulfilling goals shrinks length of Midlife Crisis
  

Note from @EgonVM:

In addition, midlife crisis may make your sim's likes and dislikes change on their own without your input. You'll get a notification when that happens.

Work-related features

Workplace Rivals, from the Livestream:

• Can happen to a Sim in a career and can block promotions
  
• New options on at-work pie menu
  
• Can interact outside work to resolve the problem too
  
• "You could take care of Bella... any way you want to" - GrimSuruDoi
  

Fun note about workplace rivals: If you try to sabotage them, you'll get unique messages themed after every possible career. I wrote a decent chunk of them :D

- SimGuruNova tweet:

Burnout, from the Livestream:

• eg. if you're pushing a skill or work too hard
  

Layoffs, from the Livestream:

• Adults can be laid off (fired) at work
  
• You might get a warning of upcoming layoffs and might be able to avoid it
  

Marriage Certificates

Married Sims now get a marriage certificate in Growing Together, which you can then customize from these three designs in a variety of frames!
Sims can request additional copies via the phone or computer!

SimGuruDoi tweet:



Elders

Most Sim Elders enjoy a good power walk around the park, a puzzle at the Recreation Center, or their role as caretaker of the family Keepsake Box. They're the best at Giving Life Lessons, Reminiscing on Good Times, and sneaking treats. Sometimes they even have a favorite grandchild! Speaking of grandchildren... - blog

Your in-laws can visit for a temporary stay
- The Sims tweet:



Milestones

The Sims 4 Growing Together Expansion Pack will add more choice and opportunity for your growing Sims by bringing up a Sim through new infant milestones. These milestones both highlight the way your Sims are growing up, as well as gain new abilities that open up the world around them for social interaction and exploration. - blog

Through Sims’ experiences and relationships, players will begin to encounter Milestones, which will provide a way of showing players their Sims’ current growth, as well as their lifelong touchstones that continue to impact them as they age. These include overcoming a career obstacle, getting let go from a job, having a midlife crisis, having the family move in and so much more.

Bringing up new Sims will be filled with new Infant Milestones that highlight the ways in which your Sims grow up and provide a guide for players through the new infancy gameplay - making each Milestone feel like a brand new and exciting experience every time. - blog

From the Livestream:

• Visible in Simology panel
  
• Dotted outline, grey milestone shows what might be next
  
• Infants have fine motor and gross motor milestones as well. "More specific... than a skill bar" for tracking Infant development - GrimSuruDoi
  
• Infant milestones can open up other interactions. Eg, Infant can't explore food in high chair until they can sit up; need to be able to grab things to eat finger foods.
  
• Firsts, Life, Social milestones at other ages and are more focused on tracking important events.
  
• Can go into Milestones panel and look back at earlier ages.
  
• Decorative items you acquire for some Milestones, eg., marriage certificate, baby handprints.
  
• Milestones can include where something happened (eg, first fire, first bladder failure), which can affect how the Sim feels on that lot at times.
  
• Can make a Self-Discovery and gain an extra Trait - offered the Trait and can accept or reject. Might also be given opportunity to replace a trait with its opposite. Cap of 6.
  

When you become an occult you get one, but there are also ones for memorable moments like fighting Greg.

- SimGuruMorgan tweet:

We considered them but didn’t feel like any of the quirks felt so specifically alien-aligned that we wanted to support them in the same way we did other occults.

- SimGuruMorgan tweet:

There is an open up button on the UI to see them all if you don’t have space in the Simology panel. There isn’t a limit on how many you can get.

- SimGuruMorgan tweet:

I don’t know if there are Milestones specifically from Parenthood or not, but there are a lot from other expansions. I do know we did a lot of cross-pack compatibility work with various features in connection with Parenthood.

- SimGuruMorgan tweet:

DamionFandom asked if Milestones are like Memories:

Personally, I think they are but amped up. Not only do they track special moments, but for infants they unlock interactions, they sometimes give physical rewards like a marriage certificate, and (for some) your sims remember where things happened and it’ll affect their mood.

- SimGuruMorgan tweet:



Social Compatibility

Our Growing Together Expansion Pack also includes a new social compatibility feature, which introduces new ways of socializing that will feel different with each Sim, leading to deeper, more meaningful relationships with family and friends. Maybe specific family members are jokesters together or maybe they are competitive. - blog

Your Sim will now have preferences that determine who they are socially compatible with and who are their sworn enemies! As your Sim experiences life, there will be opportunities for both drama and unity that will ultimately affect family dynamics and your Sims’ relationships. - blog

Sometimes Sims just click. Your Sim might have natural social chemistry with a Sim they meet at a party – or they might naturally clash. Your Sim will now have preferences that determine which Sims they are socially compatible with, and which Sims are more likely to become their enemies. - pack description

New relationships are getting more dynamic too. If your Sim goes out to meet new people, they might find someone they instantly like who they could be friends with for life. Or they could meet a lifelong enemy. Social chemistry will make some Sims click and some Sims clash, and how they navigate these feelings is up to you. - trailer description (link is to Youtube)

From the Livestream:

• Sims Characteristics, new like/dislike - based on traits (including from packs), likes/dislikes, lifestyles
  
• Conversation Topics, new like/dislike - tied to remapped pie menu - options are about what a Sim wants other Sims to do
  
• These new factors are the pillars of Sim compatibility, which is calculated based on both Sims
  
• Social Compatibility is platonic (not only romantic) and Child up
  
• 50 Likes/Dislikes (base game update)
  
• Puzzle piece icon in relationship panel in LIve mode show compatibility has been calculated and if it's good or bad.
  

There's more detail on @EgonVM's post here: https://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/comment/18236133/#Comment_18236133

The new likes/dislikes are exclusive to Growing Together, but the max to 50 is part of update.

- SimGuruNinja tweet:

The Preference for Conversation Topics connected with it is Growing Together, but the Pie Menu UI is a Basegame Update.

- SimGuruMorgan tweet:



Family Dynamics

You'll be able to set in Create a Sim, but through enough interactions, they could change on their own

— source: Sims tweet:

With the Growing Together Expansion Pack, family is at the center of a lot of the choices and milestones your Sim will be faced with. For example – will your Sim let their parents move in with them? Saying ‘no’ will impact that relationship and saying ‘yes’ could make life at home a lot more complicated. What if your Sim’s parents don’t get along with your Sim’s partner? Choose whether you want to keep the peace or stir up some drama. —blog 2

Your Sims’ family tree will now reflect more complex family relationships. - blog

There's a correction on the blog:

(A note for clarity from The Sims team as of 2/6/2023) The Sims family tree is a functionality that already exists in game. In an earlier version of this article, this sentence stated that the family tree will reflect more complex family relationships.

From the Livestream:

• Set between any two household members in CAS (in Household Relationships), or gained in gameplay "adventure moments" or in a new option discussed later (I missed the name of it)
  
• e.g. Difficult, Jokesters, Supportive, Distant, Strict
  
• Gives unique interactions, affects autonomy (e.g., Distant will avoid each other, be awkward together, call less often after one moves out), affects pie menu suggestions
  
• Purchasable reward potion to remove the dynamic
  

New features impact autonomous behaviour
- SimGuruNova tweet:



Interactions across Age Groups

From the Livestream:

• new cross-age interactions, especially new Elder interactions
  
• Life lessons from Elders can have added effect with Parenthood installed
  
• family kiss between most Sim ages
  

Stay Overs

Stay Overs are available for Infants and up

- SimGuruConor tweet:

from the Livestream:

• Sims visiting bring a suitcase. Suitcase is also in the catalog. Has dresser functions.
  
• Can present itself as an opportunity with a call, eg. extended family, family friends, long-lost family member trying to reconnect
  
• Calendar shows how long the Sim(s) visiting will be there.
  
• You can ask visitors to help out.
  
• Can use Calendar to initiate a temporary stay by inviting someone over, select length of stay
  

I'm rewatching the stream, and I see a lot of questions about if someone who is coming over for a Temporary Stay needs a bed. You can certainly assign one to them, but they'll actually whip out a sleeping bag if you don't have one.

- SimGuruMorgan tweet:

You can schedule any other event while a Stay Over (planned by you or NPC-initiated!) is running! The temp stay will continue running in the background.

- SimGuruNova tweet:

You can choose Sims from multiple households too. All Sims you know that live in other households are available.

- SimGuruNova tweet:

It can be one member of a household, or all of them - up to you (I'd make sure you have space for them to sleep though hehe)

- SimGuruNova tweet:

You can assign them beds, you can form a group with them, you can take them to other lots! You can ask them to relax or help out! You just can't control them since they're in a different household.

- SimGuruNova tweet:

Stay Overs are not goaled events

- SimGuruNova tweet:

NPC-initiated stays are fixed length but can be ended early whenever you'd like

- SimGuruNova tweet:



New Goaled Events

Baby Shower

So let’s celebrate our new infants with a baby shower event! - blog

From the Livestream:

• doesn't require pregnancy, eg, you might have an adoption story
  

there is a new bassinet as a reward item for a Goaled Baby Shower Event

- SimGuruMorgan tweet:



Family Reunion
From the Livestream:

• Reward picture frame set you can add different photos to
  

For Family Reunions, the invite list isn't restricted to strictly members of the family tree. Found family, in-laws, and family friends can be invited too

- SimGuruNova tweet:



Slumber Party
From the Livestream:

• Not stopped by being during a stayover
  

There's more detail on @EgonVM's post here: https://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/comment/18236133/#Comment_18236133

This is a Slumber Party Reward object, "an animal-themed sleeping bag for toddlers!"
- SimGuruMorgan tweet: https://twitter.com/SimGuruMorgan/status/1632436638965182464

Don't worry! There is also a basic toddler sleeping bag that isn't a reward you can get directly from Build/Buy anytime.

- SimGuruMorgan tweet: