Do Sims Townies Age Up? A Comprehensive Guide to Sims 4 Aging
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Yes, Sims 4 townies do age up, but only if you have the correct settings enabled. The game differentiates between played Sims (those in households you actively control) and unplayed Sims (townies and NPCs). For townies to age, you need to ensure that auto-aging for unplayed Sims is turned on in your game options. Without this setting active, your townies will remain in their current life stage indefinitely, leading to a static world where the newspaper delivery person never grows up and your Sim’s high school crush remains a teen forever.
Understanding Aging Mechanics in The Sims 4
The Sims 4 offers a flexible aging system that allows you to customize how time progresses for both your active household and the wider Sim world. This system is controlled through the Game Options menu, specifically under the Gameplay tab. Here, you’ll find settings that dictate whether or not Sims age automatically.
Auto-Aging: The Key to a Dynamic World
Auto-aging is the primary mechanism that governs how Sims progress through their life stages. There are two separate settings for auto-aging: one for played Sims and one for unplayed Sims.
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Auto-Age (Played Sims): This setting controls whether or not Sims in your active household age. If disabled, your played Sims will not age unless you manually trigger a birthday.
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Auto-Age (Unplayed Sims): This is the critical setting for townies. When enabled, Sims in unplayed households will age along with your active Sim, maintaining a sense of progression and change in the world. If disabled, townies will remain frozen in their current age.
Lifespan Options
The Sims 4 also allows you to adjust the length of each Sim’s lifespan. You can choose from short, normal, or long lifespans, affecting how many days each Sim spends in each life stage. These settings can further fine-tune the aging process and affect how quickly or slowly townies age up.
Consequences of Disabling Auto-Aging
Disabling auto-aging for unplayed Sims can have a significant impact on your gameplay experience. While it can be useful for creating a static world where certain characters never change, it can also lead to inconsistencies and a lack of realism. For example, your Sim might age from a teen to an elder while their high school friends remain perpetually stuck as teenagers.
Mods and Aging
It’s worth noting that mods can also affect aging in The Sims 4. Some mods can alter lifespan lengths, introduce new life stages, or even completely overhaul the aging system. If you’re experiencing unexpected aging behavior, it’s essential to check your installed mods for any conflicts or settings that might be interfering with the game’s default aging mechanics. For more on the educational aspects of gaming, check out the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Sims 4 Townie Aging
1. How do I turn on auto-aging for townies in Sims 4?
To enable auto-aging for townies, go to Game Options > Gameplay and check the box next to Auto-Age (Unplayed Sims). This will ensure that Sims in unplayed households age along with your active Sims.
2. Why are my Sims aging too fast?
If your Sims are aging too quickly, check your lifespan settings in Game Options > Gameplay. You may have accidentally selected the short lifespan setting. Also, certain glitches can cause rapid aging, especially after game updates. Restarting your game and clearing your cache can sometimes resolve these issues.
3. Can I control which townies age up with my Sim?
Unfortunately, The Sims 4 doesn’t offer a direct way to choose which specific townies age up. All unplayed Sims will age according to the auto-aging settings you have enabled. The Sims 2 had an option with the Freetime expansion pack for choosing which NPCs age up, this option does not exist in Sims 4.
4. Do Sims age when I’m not playing them?
Yes, if auto-aging for unplayed Sims is enabled, they will age even when you’re not actively playing their household. The game simulates their lives and ages them accordingly.
5. How do I stop a specific townie from aging?
The easiest way to stop a specific townie from aging is to add them to your active household. Once they are part of your household, you can disable auto-aging for played Sims, or manually control their aging using birthday cakes or potions. You can then move them out into their own household. Alternatively, mods can offer more granular control over aging for individual Sims.
6. What happens if I turn off auto-aging completely?
If you disable auto-aging for both played and unplayed Sims, the entire world will freeze in time. No Sims will age unless you manually trigger their birthday.
7. Can babies age up naturally in The Sims 4?
Yes, babies automatically age up to infants after about a day in the bassinet. From there, they age like normal Sims.
8. Do Sims die of old age in The Sims 4?
Yes, Sims can die of old age once they reach the elder life stage. The length of the elder life stage can vary depending on their traits and lifestyle.
9. Can I make my Sim immortal?
Yes, there are several ways to make a Sim immortal in The Sims 4. The easiest method is to purchase the Potion of Immortality from the rewards store using aspiration points. Additionally, Sims can become immortal through gameplay related to certain packs, such as becoming a vampire.
10. How do I trigger a Sim’s birthday?
You can trigger a Sim’s birthday by having them blow out candles on a birthday cake. Alternatively, you can click on the Sim and select the “Age Up” option when it’s their birthday.
11. Why is the aging bar not progressing for my Sim?
If the aging bar isn’t progressing, ensure that auto-aging is enabled for played Sims in Game Options > Gameplay. Also, check if the Sim has consumed any potions or has traits that might affect their lifespan.
12. Can I change a Sim’s age in The Sims 4?
Yes, you can change a Sim’s age using cheats. Open the cheat console (Ctrl+Shift+C) and type testingcheats true, then cas.fulleditmode, then open CAS by typing cas.fulleditmode. You can also change their age in Create-a-Sim (CAS) using the full edit mode cheat.
13. Do pets age in The Sims 4?
Yes, pets age in The Sims 4, but their lifespans are typically shorter than Sims. You can adjust pet lifespans in Game Options > Gameplay and even purchase treats to extend their lives.
14. How do traits affect a Sim’s lifespan?
Certain traits can affect a Sim’s lifespan. For example, the Long-Lived trait can extend a Sim’s life, while the Active trait can help them stay healthy and live longer as elders.
15. Can NPCs get pregnant and have children in The Sims 4?
Yes, NPCs can get pregnant and have children in The Sims 4 if “Fill Empty Homes” is enabled in the game settings. This allows the game to populate the world with new Sims, adding to the sense of a dynamic and evolving community.