[AA] Getaway ends immediately
Issue Description:
When creating a Getaway via the phone, if the scheduled end time is set to a time earlier than the current in-game time, the Getaway fails to start properly. The player receives a notification that the Getaway is ending before it has begun. When the player attempts to extend the Getaway, they are charged additional money, and if they cannot afford the extension, the Getaway ends immediately. The player has effectively paid for a Getaway that never occurred and may lose money attempting to salvage it.
Expected Behavior:
According to the official Getaway guide, players can "select how many nights your Getaway will last, what time it begins and ends" . The game should prevent scheduling an end time earlier than the start time, or should automatically adjust the schedule to a valid timeframe. The Getaway should not attempt to start if the end time has already passed.
Steps to Reproduce:
- On a residential lot, open the phone and select "Plan a Getaway" .
- Select a location (Custom Venue Lot or existing lot).
- Set the end time to a time earlier than the current in-game time (e.g., if current time is 2:00 PM, set end time to 10:00 AM).
- Attempt to start the Getaway.
- Observe the result.
Actual Result:
- A pop-up notification appears stating that the Getaway is ending (before it has started) .
- Options presented: "Extend" or "Go Home."
- Selecting "Extend" charges the player additional Simoleons.
- If the player has insufficient funds for the extension, the Getaway ends immediately with no refund.
- If the player has sufficient funds, they must pay extra for an experience that should have functioned correctly from the start.
Additional Notes:
- The game's Getaway planner allows players to select the end hour on the final day but does not validate that this time is after the current game time .
- The Getaway system is designed so that "Sims are brought there, where they'll stay and live until the Getaway ends" . When the end time already passed, the game attempts to end the Getaway immediately.
- The player's specific observation—that this occurs when the end time is earlier than current game time—is consistent with the reported behavior and appears to be the root cause.
Workaround (if any):
Manually ensure that the scheduled end time is later than the current in-game time when creating a Getaway. Pay careful attention to AM/PM and the current time before confirming the getaway schedule.
Impact:
Moderate to High. Players may waste Simoleons on Getaways that never happen, incur additional charges attempting to fix the issue, or abandon the Getaway feature entirely due to frustration. This is especially problematic for players with limited household funds who cannot afford unexpected extension fees. The issue undermines trust in the Getaway planning system and disrupts gameplay flow.