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'Filler life stages' and how they could work
Huiiie_07
Posts: 1,200 Member
After soo many discussions about potential new life stages, mostly preteens, I just had an idea HOW they could be implemented.
I am not really someone who supports preteens to make it into the game, but I am not fully against them either.
Why are so many people against the implementation of them?
Because they wouldn't add any new gameplay and don't have much potential. You can't deny it, it's just the truth. Every single idea for preteen gameplay I've seen so far could easily be added to the child or teen life stage, sounds like a waste of time and recources, right?
Well, wait a minute. There's a simple reason why many people here want preteens, not necessarily because of the gameplay they could add, but because of the huuuuge height difference between children and teens.
For this problem, there would be two solutions that come to mind right now:
1.Making the teens smaller Smaller teens would mean that the height difference wouldn't be so huge anymore. However, it is more than clearly that the teens we have now represent more older teens, I would say 16-19 years (however, this can be seen differently from person to person). I actually like it that older teens are represented in the game. So IF the height of the teens would get untouched, there's another potential solution:
2. Adding a 'preteen' or 'tween' life stage Like stated above, they wouldn't bring any new gameplay to the table which would justify them in the game.
So what should they do? I actually posted this idea in an other thread already, but I share it with you again: Filler Life Stages.
They would be listed as normal life stages in CAS, but wouldn't have unique gameplay to them, so they could also be called 'Semi-Life Stages'. Like the name suggests, they would only serve as fillers to make aging look more gradually.
Besides preteens, another filler life stage could be Middle-Aged. They would have some more hair color options, like the greying colors we already have, but with more variety.
Take note that a young adult is also just a 'filler life stage', as they aren't any different in gameplay, but make aging look more gradually and realistic. The same could be for preteens and middle-aged sims.
What do you think about this idea? The only one of these life stages that would need some extra work are preteens, because they have a different height than children and teens, and they would have listed middle school instead, and they would need some new animations, but middle-aged sims on the other side are just adults that look a bit older, but still younger than elders.
I am not really someone who supports preteens to make it into the game, but I am not fully against them either.
Why are so many people against the implementation of them?
Because they wouldn't add any new gameplay and don't have much potential. You can't deny it, it's just the truth. Every single idea for preteen gameplay I've seen so far could easily be added to the child or teen life stage, sounds like a waste of time and recources, right?
Well, wait a minute. There's a simple reason why many people here want preteens, not necessarily because of the gameplay they could add, but because of the huuuuge height difference between children and teens.
For this problem, there would be two solutions that come to mind right now:
1.Making the teens smaller Smaller teens would mean that the height difference wouldn't be so huge anymore. However, it is more than clearly that the teens we have now represent more older teens, I would say 16-19 years (however, this can be seen differently from person to person). I actually like it that older teens are represented in the game. So IF the height of the teens would get untouched, there's another potential solution:
2. Adding a 'preteen' or 'tween' life stage Like stated above, they wouldn't bring any new gameplay to the table which would justify them in the game.
So what should they do? I actually posted this idea in an other thread already, but I share it with you again: Filler Life Stages.
They would be listed as normal life stages in CAS, but wouldn't have unique gameplay to them, so they could also be called 'Semi-Life Stages'. Like the name suggests, they would only serve as fillers to make aging look more gradually.
Besides preteens, another filler life stage could be Middle-Aged. They would have some more hair color options, like the greying colors we already have, but with more variety.
Take note that a young adult is also just a 'filler life stage', as they aren't any different in gameplay, but make aging look more gradually and realistic. The same could be for preteens and middle-aged sims.
What do you think about this idea? The only one of these life stages that would need some extra work are preteens, because they have a different height than children and teens, and they would have listed middle school instead, and they would need some new animations, but middle-aged sims on the other side are just adults that look a bit older, but still younger than elders.
Origin ID: Huiiie_07
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Comments
Because they wouldn't add any new gameplay and don't have much potential. You can't deny it, it's just the truth. Every single idea for preteen gameplay I've seen so far could easily be added to the child or teen life stage, sounds like a waste of time and recources, right?
That's your opinion which is your right but I completely disagree. Not every feature for preteen can just be passed off to kids or teens the kids just scale very young and the teens scale way to old there no changing that preteens would come in and take the content that fits neither and do it a lot better.
And what features exactly? I am really curious about it because everything I've seen so far wasn't really exclusive to preteens and could easily be added to child or teen.
By the way, I find the jump between adult and elder almost as bad like from child to teen, the adults look like 40-45, while the elders look like 70. Another reason to add, IF preteens would get added at all, another adult life stage is that nothing would get out of balance. When a preteen life stage would come, how would kids grow up without their parents becoming elders too fast?
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At the moment, we have three life stages that feel pretty much the exact same to play. And poor elders still have nothing special to do.
Teen height does not concern me one bit, but the teens need to walk, talk, and act like teens. YA and Adult have practically no gameplay differential between them aside from appearance. The current lifestages need a lot of work before they would start adding to the problem.
It reminds me of those videogames I used to play, where the creators would add more classes without balancing the old ones. It doesn't make the game healthier or better at all.
This is a new game (well, latest Sims game. Not exactly "new") and it deserves to have a chance to get new life stages. The teens' appearance won't be changed. Height is not going to get reduced as it would interfere. @Karallyne @ChadSims2 How do you know these life stages do not add gameplay when you haven't even seen it? Kinda sounds vague to me. I, for one, cannot assume something without seeing/experiencing it. Its like saying all dogs will bite you when you haven't been around dogs. Yes, I believe the current life stages such as babies, teens and elders need a little bit of work. I agree with you @Huiiie_07 Some of us want filler life stages to make aging more realistic.
Babies
Toddlers
*gap*
Child
*gap*
Teens
Young Adults
Adults
*gap*
Elders
Not everyone is satisfied with the aging of Sims. That's something people are going to need to understand. Sims 4 opens up the door for new possibilities. We got multi-tasking and new CAS features. A Sims 4 dev said preteens are very possible. Heck, we got freaking toddlers! New life stages are certainly possible. Not sure if they are considering making extra life stages right now, but I hope we get them. Preteen, middle age, and young child are the three most wanted life stages.
I don't get how something explicitly stated and explained can be interpreted as vague.
> BuzzBuzz wrote: »
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> @Karallyne How do you know these life stages do not add gameplay when you haven't even seen it? Kinda sounds vague to me.
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> What sounds vague about it to you? This topic was about the OP's idea of implementing new life stages specifically (not implementing lifestages in general, so I don't know why you're trying to overtake it for your own agenda), and in their own idea they said themselves that no gameplay would be added. I didn't pull the statement out of thin air, I simply offered my criticism on their idea.
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> I don't get how something explicitly stated and explained can be interpreted as vague.
Well, it is a bit unclear to me how something that doesn't exists yet and you say it doesn't add anything?
I'll say it again. We are here in this topic to evaluate Huiiie_07's idea on how new lifestages should be implemented. (Not lifestage implementation in general).
In Huiiie_07's own words regarding their own idea:
can you explain to me what it is you aren't understanding? Because frankly I don't get it. How can you sit and say that someone's proposed idea, which they do not intend to add gameplay, will add gameplay? If you have an idea on adding new lifestages in a way that would add gameplay, the beauty of that is that you can go and make your own topic about it, instead of hijacking one that doesn't have the same purpose.
> BuzzBuzz wrote: »
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> > @Karallyne said:
> > BuzzBuzz wrote: »
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> > @Karallyne How do you know these life stages do not add gameplay when you haven't even seen it? Kinda sounds vague to me.
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> > What sounds vague about it to you? This topic was about the OP's idea of implementing new life stages specifically (not implementing lifestages in general, so I don't know why you're trying to overtake it for your own agenda), and in their own idea they said themselves that no gameplay would be added. I didn't pull the statement out of thin air, I simply offered my criticism on their idea.
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> > I don't get how something explicitly stated and explained can be interpreted as vague.
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> Well, it is a bit unclear to me how something that doesn't exists yet and you say it doesn't add anything?
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> I'll say it again. We are here in this topic to evaluate Huiiie_07's idea on how new lifestages should be implemented. (Not lifestage implementation in general).
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> In Huiiie_07's own words regarding their own idea: ...but wouldn't have unique gameplay
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> can you explain to me what it is you aren't understanding? Because frankly I don't get it. How can you sit and say that someone's proposed idea, which they do not intend to add gameplay, will add gameplay? If you have an idea on adding new lifestages in a way that would add gameplay, the beauty of that is that you can go and make your own topic about it, instead of hijacking one that doesn't have the same purpose.
Hijacking isn't a good word to use. Do you remember what happened on 9/11? Anyway, I wish to make my own topic but I can't just yet. I guess I did not read through about gameplay.
When we got toddlers, the Get to Work expansion pack allowed alien toddlers and adds a new alien diaper for them. That's it. They can't join in clubs, they can't blow the bubbles and more from previous stuff, game and expansion packs. If the new life stages were added to fill in the gaps of existing ones, they must be animated in order for them to use these objects. Lazy work here will lead to awkward animations. Also think about all these hair styles and clothing. If these new life stages are added, they will immediately need more clothing. Or will they share with younger/older life stage.
That's why I don't believe they would be in The Sims 4. They might take up this challenge in The Sims 5, but that makes me worry about the CAS items as the older games show that female adult sims get the most clothing.
Sorry for this negative comment.
They said Preteens were possible. I dunno though.
I have to admit, there’s nothing in terms of gameplay I’m dying to get from another life stage. It’s not about the way the family functions, it’s about how it looks and feels.
I have to admit, there’s nothing in terms of gameplay I’m dying to get from another life stage. It’s not about the way the family functions, it’s about how it looks and feels. [/quote]
Just to add to this, I wouldn’t be at all upset if new gameplay options WERE added. I’d definitely enjoy them. But I do see how this is much easier to implement and hopefully more realistic in terms of developers being able to accomplish!
That said, a 6 year old is very, very different than a 12 year old, and NOT the same way a young adult is different than an adult. I don’t think it’s necessarily the best solution, but I’d be okay with it if it was the only way to get another life stage!
But I do still like the idea of their filler life states. I mean it's a good middle ground between getting it and not getting it.
Getting crushes could also be a part of this, as the "child" life state doesn't have crushes but it wouldn't make sense for the teen life state because by the time you're close to young adulthood you tend to stop getting crushes every other week.
This could work something like phases did in parenthood.
These are just a few suggestions for that lifestate but I do see a lot of overall potential, and hey, you don't know if it's a bad idea unless you fully explore and implement it.
As for the midlife stage. The phases could pop back up again here as a mid life crises, they could have interactions with the mirror like "pluck or dye grey hairs"
and potential negative side effects like turning their hair some horrible shade of green or turning their grey bits bright pink, or losing an eyebrow (something my mother in law did recently actually) this one would be ok for a more in between one I guess but it could certainly be built upon, it would be interesting and new thats for sure.
As for babies I think we do need an in between life state that comes after the newborn one but before the toddler one where the baby learns to crawl and babble and things like that, but we could also fix that by unlocking the babies from the crib and adding some prams and stuff like that.
That's actually the only reason I would like to have some additional younger teen state. Even though the height of the teens doesn't bother me, the problem is more the transition between child and teen that doesn't look very smooth due to the height difference between these two life stages. However, I don't think the devs will change anything of the teens appearance wise anymore after they changed their faces a bit to look younger (you can see it on game-generated teens), because some people like the teens as they are (me included, I think they look more like teens while the teens in previous games looked more like 13 year olds).
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I take your meaning, though. You prefer an older teen? I think that's where young adults kind of come in. In a way, they could have filled that gap from older teen through college and into the early years of child-rearing. That's kind of how they were used in previous games. YAs were college students. In TS4, I don't understand their purpose.
I wish that we would have had younger looking teens and that YAs had been given things, like college, entry-level jobs, etc. to differentiate them from older Sims. Right now, that age plus adults is superfluous. Really, it's just a sleight of hand to make us think that there are separate age groups when there really aren't. Teenager/YA/Adult. They're all the same in TS4.
By definition yes, but I mostly don't see them as teens due to how they act and look. I don't know, thirteen year olds look more like children to me (and act like children too in most cases). The age I first recognize people as teens is 14 or 15 - but everyone sees it differently and there were so many discussions about this topic already.
YAs were college students in TS2, that's why they added them. However, this wasn't the case in TS3, due to the fact that they were there from the base game on. If I'm serious, I can't see any additional gameplay YAs have and what differentiates them from adults either... Young Adults are, since TS3, a filler life stage too. So why not just add preteens and middle aged adults? It would just be an aesthetic thing like YAs. They could even just add them in the last patch for TS4 in a couple years so they don't waste recources on them while developing the game.
And what you said, that YAs, Teens and adults are all the same...yeah that's right, but the difficult part is: What really differeciates them in real life? It's quite obvious that the TS4 teens are meant to be older. Teens with 16+ years really don't act or look this different form young adults. In my class at school are people from 16 up to 20+, and I can't really see a difference in the way they act.
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In any case, as before, I understand and agree with your point. I don't care for the huge leaps in time that take place either. I would like teens to become smaller or to add another age that can somewhat bridge the gap between the children and those very adult-like teens.
Right now, I'm about to age up a child in the game. He's been a child for two real-life years. However, I'm loathe to do it because I don't want him to turn into a giant man-child. It will feel like I've somehow glossed over all of his years of growing up. Yet, if I leave him as he is and then I age up the sibling who was born years after him, both kids will appear to be the same age. Twinsies. Bah.
For me, the most obvious solution would have been to have smaller teens from the get go. Teens who are distinct, fun, and still learning the ways of the world. If that had happened, the community wouldn't have needed to have this same discussion, again and again. However, that ship has sailed, never to come this way again -- not in The Sims 4, at least. I think that we're stuck with what we have.
Edited to add: Sure enough YAs came with the TS3 base game. How could I forget when I made a copy of my TS4 family in TS3 not that long ago? Meh. ::grumble::
Pre-teens-
Preteens have a lot of energy, short attention spans and are fast approaching the teenage years. They’re going through major changes in every area of their lives: socially, physically, spiritually and mentally. When you put a group of them together, expect the unexpected.
I can see where people would think these things could easily be attached to teens but really the teens look like adults and act like adults that they don't feel like teens at all and even with parenthood it just feels like something is missing. I would like to see pre-teens make an appearance with their own traits and quirkiness.
Traits could be
These could be earned if the sims as a child didn't have good experiences or chosen.
@auroraael14 Well one thing and I'm going out on a limb here and assume you know middle schools I was in a disagreement with a fellow simmers saying they didn't know anything about middle school since in their school it's primary and secondary school no middle or junior high and middle it's generally an American thing. See to myself and quite others probably feel like Preteens should matter because of that very reason it's like they are skipping the most important part from being a kid to a teenager.