When Do Sims Blow Out the Candles? A Comprehensive Guide to Aging in The Sims 4
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So, you’re wondering exactly when your Sim transforms from a sprightly Young Adult to a responsible Adult, or when your adorable Toddler finally masters potty training and becomes a Child? The answer, in its simplest form, is: at the end of their birthday. But as any seasoned Sims player knows, the aging process is more nuanced than a simple calendar date. Let’s dive into the details and clear up any confusion about Sims aging in The Sims 4.
The Birthday Trigger: When the Magic Happens
In The Sims 4, a Sim’s birthday acts as a trigger for aging. When the in-game clock reaches the end of your Sim’s birthday, assuming auto-aging is enabled, they’ll automatically transition to the next life stage. A notification will usually pop up reminding you about the impending birthday.
However, this doesn’t necessarily mean your Sim immediately ages up as soon as their birthday begins. The actual age-up process usually requires some form of action, most commonly interacting with a birthday cake. Your Sim, or a family member, needs to bake a cake, add birthday candles, and then have the Sim who’s aging up blow out the candles. This is the standard, celebratory way to age up your Sims.
If you miss the birthday, auto-aging will kick in eventually, usually the next in-game morning. The Sim will still age up, but they might experience a temporary sad moodlet because their special day wasn’t celebrated.
The Auto-Aging Toggle: Your Control Over Time
The key factor that influences the timing of age-ups is the auto-aging setting. This setting is found in the Game Options menu, under the Gameplay tab. You have several choices:
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Auto-Aging (Played Sims): This setting controls whether the Sims in your active household age up automatically. If it’s enabled, your Sims will age up on their birthdays (or shortly thereafter). If it’s disabled, they’ll remain in their current life stage indefinitely until you manually age them up.
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Auto-Aging (Unplayed Sims): This determines whether Sims in other households in your game world age. If this is turned off the game can become stagnant as no one ages, reproduces, dies or moves.
By manipulating these settings, you can customize the pace of your game and the lives of your Sims.
Manual Age-Ups: Taking Matters Into Your Own Hands
Even with auto-aging disabled, you can still manually age up your Sims. The most common method is, as mentioned, through a birthday cake. You can bake a cake and add candles at any time, regardless of whether it’s actually your Sim’s birthday.
Using the Birthday Cake:
- Click on a refrigerator or stove.
- Select “Bake a Cake.”
- Once the cake is baked, click on it and choose “Add Birthday Candles.”
- Have the Sim who’s aging up click on the cake and select “Blow Out Candles.”
Using Cheats:
For those who prefer a more direct approach, cheats can also be used to instantly age up a Sim. Here’s how:
- Open the cheat console by pressing Ctrl + Shift + C.
- Type “testingcheats true” and press Enter.
- Type “cas.fulleditmode” and press Enter.
- Click on your Sim and choose “Modify in CAS“.
- In Create-A-Sim (CAS), you can now directly change your Sim’s age.
Keep in mind that this method can sometimes be buggy, so it’s wise to save your game before using it. Also, you cannot change an Elder Sim’s age.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Sims Aging
Here are some common questions and answers about aging in The Sims 4.
1. Do Sims automatically age up if I ignore their birthday?
Yes, if you have auto-aging enabled for your played Sims, they will age up automatically, usually the next in-game morning after their birthday, even if you don’t bake a cake or throw a party. They will receive a sad moodlet for missing out on their birthday celebration.
2. What happens if I turn off auto-aging?
If you turn off auto-aging for your played Sims, they will not age up automatically. They will remain in their current life stage until you manually age them up using a birthday cake or cheats.
3. Can I age up an Elder Sim?
No, you cannot age up Elder Sims. Once a Sim reaches the Elder life stage, they cannot be made younger, even with cheats or birthday cakes.
4. How do I know when my Sim’s birthday is?
You can use the in-game calendar to find out when your Sims’ birthdays are. The calendar displays all important events, including birthdays, for your household.
5. My toddler isn’t aging up, what do I do?
Make sure you haven’t accidentally turned off auto-aging for your household. Also, ensure that the toddler has completed the necessary skills and milestones to age up. If all else fails, try baking a cake and having the toddler blow out the candles, or use the “testingcheats true” followed by “sims.addbuff buffAgeUpReady” cheat, then bake the cake.
6. Why is my newborn not aging up?
Newborns will automatically age up into infants within about one in-game day. If they are not aging up, double-check that auto-aging is enabled.
7. Can I age up a Sim who isn’t in my household?
Yes, if you have auto-aging enabled for unplayed Sims. They will age in the background as the game progresses. You can also visit their household and use a birthday cake to age them up manually if you want to influence their aging directly.
8. How long are Sims pregnant?
Sims are pregnant for approximately 3 in-game days.
9. What is the lifespan of a Sim in The Sims 4?
The lifespan of a Sim depends on the lifespan setting you choose in the Game Options:
- Short: Each life stage is significantly shorter.
- Normal: This is the default setting, offering a balanced lifespan.
- Long: Each life stage is considerably longer, allowing for more time to complete aspirations and build skills.
10. Why are my Sims aging up too fast?
If your Sims are aging up rapidly, particularly after using Create-A-Sim (CAS), it might be due to a bug related to the long lifespan setting. Try switching to the normal lifespan or avoiding frequent trips to CAS.
11. Can Teen Sims get pregnant?
Teen Sims cannot “Try for Baby,” but there are mods available that alter this restriction. In the base game, they must age up to Young Adulthood before they can become pregnant.
12. What happens if I don’t celebrate my Sim’s birthday?
If you don’t celebrate your Sim’s birthday and auto-aging is on, they will still age up automatically, but they will get a sad moodlet because their birthday wasn’t acknowledged.
13. Can Sims die of old age in The Sims 4?
Yes, Sims can die of old age once they reach the Elder life stage. The exact timing of their death is somewhat random, but it generally occurs after a certain number of in-game days.
14. How can I prevent Sims from dying?
You can extend a Sim’s life by completing certain aspirations or purchasing potions of immortality. Turning off aging altogether is the most effective way to prevent death by old age.
15. How do I use cheats to change a Sim’s age?
To use cheats to change a Sim’s age, open the cheat console (Ctrl + Shift + C), type “testingcheats true“, press Enter, then type “cas.fulleditmode“, press Enter, click on your Sim and choose “Modify in CAS“. In CAS, you can change the Sim’s age.
Mastering the Sands of Time
Understanding the aging process in The Sims 4 is crucial for managing your Sims’ lives and creating compelling stories. Whether you prefer a hands-on approach with birthday cakes and parties or a more laissez-faire style with auto-aging, the game offers plenty of flexibility to suit your play style. So go forth, experiment with the settings, and craft the perfect lives for your digital families!
Learning through games is a powerful tool, and The Sims 4 is a great example of how simulation can engage and educate. To learn more about the intersection of games and education, visit the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.