THE SIMS 4 REQUIREMENTS (13)

CAN MY PC PLAY IT? & SHADER MODEL 3.0 HELP

The Sims 4 does not require a particularly powerful machine, but some of the requirements may be beyond a budget PC or laptop's abilities. Here are the minimum and recommended requirements for running The Sims 4.

INTERNET REQUIRED

Please Note that The Sims 4 requires an internet connection for initial activation. You can play offline afterward, but will have to be connected in order to start the game for the first time.

SUPPORTED OPERATING SYSTEMS

• 1.64-bit OS is recommended but not required
• 2.Windows XP (SP3)
• 3.Windows Vista (SP2)
• 4.Windows 7 (Recommended)
• 5.Windows 8 or 8.1 (Recommended)
• 6.Windows 10 (Recommended)
• 7.Mac OSX 10.75 (Lion - Recommended)

THE SIMS 4 SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

• 1.Minimum Processor: 2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2.0 GHz AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-62 or equivalent. See notes on shader model 3.0 to find out how to see your processor model).
• 2.Minimum Memory: At least 2 GB RAM
• 3.Disk Space: 10GB of free space for game data, creations, and saves, more with each Expansion Pack (1GB+ each)
• 4.DVD-Rom: Only required if you bought a disk copy. DLC are added to the game via download.
• 5.Minimum Graphics Card: 128 MB of Video RAM and support for Pixel Shader 3.0. NVIDIA GeForce 6600 or better, ATI Radeon X1300 or better, Intel GMA X4500 or better
  If you have, for example, an Nvidia GTX 7800, it will be superior. See notes about Shader Model 3.0 below as it is 100% required for The Sims 4 to run.
• 6.Sound/DirectX DirectX 9.0c compatible. 99% will not have a problem with these unless using a very old version of windows. If you're on Windows XP, make sure your version supports it. Hit Start > Run, type dxdiag and press enter.

EA RECOMMENDED SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

See the minimums above, surpassing the recommended system requirements will allow you to turn the graphics up the more your system outranks them. You'll additionally experience better load times by having a faster processor and more RAM. You should never need more than 4-6 GB to run The Sims 4, even with DLC. See the next section for a post that explains the various components and helps to clarify how surpassing these will benefit your gameplay.

• 1.Processor: Intel Core i5+ or AMD Athlon X4 (see notes on shader model 3.0 to find out how to know your processor model.
• 2.Memory: 4 GB RAM
• 3.Disk Space: 10GB of free space for game data, creations, and saves, more with each Expansion Pack (1GB+ each)
• 4.Graphics Card: Nvidia GTX 650 or better. See shader model 3.0 below.

BETTER SYSTEM SPECS

Some of our staff have created a great post that indicates what system requirements should look like if you want an experience that allows you to set graphics on high while also supporting some of the more resource-intensive Sims 4 mods. You can certainly play with the specs that EA recommends, but it is more future-proof and mod-friendly to surpass them. See this post for more detail. This covers both The Sims 3 and The Sims 4. Thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Flynn for taking time to make this post in order to help people better understand how these work. These tutorials introduce you to the various computer components and how you can benefit from having a more advanced part.

MAC REQUIREMENTS

• 1.Operating System: OS X 10.75 to 10.9+ Required
• 2.Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4Ghz Required, Core i5 Recommended
• 3.Video Card: Nvidia GeForce 320M, 9600M, 9400M, ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro or better. Video RAM of 256MB or better.
• 4.Recommended Video Card: Nvidia GTX 650 or higher
• 5.Memory: 4GB RAM Required, 8GB RAM Recommended
• 6.Disk Space: 12GB Required, more with DLC

SHADER MODEL 3.0 - DOES YOUR CARD SUPPORT IT?

Your graphics adapter/onboard graphics must have the ability to draw with Shader Model 3.0 for the Sims 4 to work. This is not something you can add support for without having the proper graphics card. How do we determine what shader model the graphics card is capable of? One option is to hit start then type dxdiag (or run then type dxdiag) to run the DirectX diagnostic program. Go to the display tab from there, and you'll see your graphics card model and can now google it to determine shader model. Another option to get shader model version is to head to file explorer and right-click on This PC for windows 10, or my computer. Select properties from that menu. You can now go into the device manager in order to see a list of parts. Under graphics adapters (or something similar) you should see an Nvidia, Intel, or AMD Radeon graphics card model listed. Now google it with shader model or specs. This should tell you for sure if your card is capable of Shader Model 3.0, especially if you get a result that it supports version 4 or 5.

TIPS: BUYING A LAPTOP/PC FOR THE SIMS 4

If you're looking for a laptop or new PC to play The Sims 4 or other games, online and retail stores sometimes will not have the specific information that you need in order to be sure that it can run it. If you want to buy Sims 4 Expansions and such, you should have more than the minimum RAM (4 GB is OK, 8GB is great)- each expansion/stuff pack you add will put a bit more load on the game in my experience. Right now, if it's an $800+ PC/Laptop with dedicated graphics card it's fairly certain you will be able to run the game on medium to high graphics.

You should do this anyway to make sure you're getting your money's worth, but it's more important when shopping on a budget. Look up the model number of the computer or laptop you want to buy. We want to know if it has a dedicated graphics card, as those are usually better. If it's integrated type, we want to know what kind and that the processor is well over minimum so that it can handle both processing and graphics at once. Go to the manufacturer's site after googling it and look at the product specifications. You mainly want to look at the graphics adapter, as that is sometimes not shown in detail. Now you can google the graphics adapter that comes with that model of laptop and ensure it's capable of shader model 3. The graphics card/processor are the big bottlenecks that slow down the game or make it unplayable.

THE SIMS 4 HELP ARTICLES (12)

TUTORIALS AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR SOLVING COMMON PROBLEMS

People come to my site to learn about The Sims 4, but many players also experience problems. This is a list of resources found on the guide that may help you solve those problems. You can also Go to our Forum or search the guide site to see if others have had a similar issue, or start your own thread if the question has not been asked before. Doing that, your problem with the game may be solved and help others in the future.

Using Mods and Custom Content (CC)
This guide covers usage of mods and CC and provides some links to help you get started downloading a massive collection of clothing, objects, and gameplay mods that can improve your experience with The Sims 4.

Backing up Sims, Saved Games, and Creations
This covers exactly what the title says: backing up your saved games in case of hard drive failure or when you need to reinstall your operating system. This can help you to save the Sims and homes that are most precious to you from being deleted or corrupted.

Improve Performance and Fix Problems: Clearing the Sims 4's Cache and Backup/Restore Saves
Learn what files are safe to delete in my guide to clearing the game's cache files. This can solve many gameplay issues, especially when the game has just been patched and things seem strange. It won't solve everything, but it's a good place to start.

How to Move Sims
This helpful faq covers moving Sims in and out of households, or moving entire families to a new lot. The game doesn't explain this process well (at least no in an obvious way) so I created this to help players know how to move.

Placing Lots
A simple tutorial that teaches you how to place lots in The Sims 4.

Sims 4: Controls & Hotkeys
Learn the game's controls and all the hotkeys that can help to save you time.

Building Tutorials
Learn all about The Sims 4's build mode and get help with some common design problems. Also listed are the game's building cheats, so that you can make things look how you want without the usual constraints.

Making a Hangout in The Sims 4 Get Together
If you own the Get Together DLC, you may want to make your club a special lot where they can meet and hang out. This tutorial will teach you do just that.

Using the Gallery
Need help using The Sims 4's Gallery? This tutorial teaches you the basics of sharing things, using Sims you download from the gallery, as well as placing homes you've downloaded. You'll also find a link to download The Sims 4 Gallery App for your Android or Apple mobile device.

Our Forum Can Help!
My Forum doesn't require email activation for you to join, and it's easy to ask a question. Just choose the correct board and fire away. We have sections that cover technical help, general gameplay, and expansion-specific questions. We're also a kind community who are welcoming to newcomers. Be sure to heed our rules (primarily be kind and not vulgar) and you'll have a good experience there.

THE SIMS 4 CHILDREN GUIDE (11)

SCHOOL, CHILD SKILLS, ASPIRATIONS, AND RAISING KIDS

In this article, I will explain how to successfully raise a child in Sims 4. There is much more to raising a child than in Sims 3 and I personally find them to be much more enjoyable. Their interactions are cute and this helps to make up for the absence of toddlers in the game. They will keep you busy, though, so be ready!

Aspirations
Once a baby ages to child, the player will be able to choose a Childhood Aspiration and one Trait. There are 4 Aspirations to choose from: Artistic Prodigy, Rambunctious Scamp, Social Butterfly, and Whiz Kid. Of course, it's a good idea to choose a trait that goes well with the Aspiration. For example, Art Lover is a good trait to pair with Artistic Prodigy. A Sim will be a Child for 7 days on the Short lifespan, 14 days on Normal lifespan, and 52 days on Long lifespan.

School and Homework
Children will start Grade School on the first weekday after aging up to Child. Class is from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. While at school, the child will have the options for Normal, Leave School Early, Make Friends, Study Hard, and Slack Off. Unlike in Sims 3, the Make Friends option doesn't seem to actually add anyone to the child's relationship panel. It just increases the Social need.

There will be tasks for each level working toward getting an A. The child will start with a C. To reach a grade of B, the tasks are to reach level 2 in 1 of the 4 available skills (Creativity, Mental, Motor, and Social), and Attend School while Focused. The easiest way to get into the ideal mood of Focused is to ponder moves on a Chess table just before going to School. This will give a moodlet that lasts for four hours, which is enough to accomplish the task. Completing Homework is the daily task, which functions a bit like a Career. It will help the bar move faster. Once the tasks have been completed and the meter bar goes all the way green to the right, the child will get an increase in grade.

To reach a grade of A, the child must Get 1 Skill to Level 4. Once the kid has an 'A', it's fairly easy to maintain. It's possible for grades to fall if the minimum amount of work is not done, which is to go to school every day and complete homework.

A parent can help with homework by clicking on the child once he/she has started working on it. Unassisted homework takes a little over 1 1/2 hours to complete. Having the parent help with homework cuts the time in half. The homework will be in the child's personal inventory at the time of aging up, so you can get a head start on school if you wish. Extra Credit Work becomes available after completing the regular homework if the child has at least a B grade. Just click on the homework again and it will show up. A parent may also help with Extra Credit. If homework has been missed, Makeup Homework shows up instead of Extra Credit.

Sim Children benefit from having higher Skill levels when it comes to Homework. Each Skill that they get to level 10 will increase the rate homework is done by 70%. When all Skills are maxed, Sim children will finish homework 8x faster! Thanks to DarkWalker from our Sims Community for sharing this info!

Skipping School

If you cancel the Go to School action at 8:00 a.m., the child will stay home. The principal will call around 10:00 a.m. and again at 3:00 p.m. every day that the child misses school. His/her grades will gradually drop first to a D and then to an F by the time grade school is finished. I didn't get any negative moodlets until my child dropped to an F and then he had an Embarrassed moodlet. It was only for a couple of days, though, because he was ready to age up to teen. There were no other negative reactions at all. When he aged to teen, I was still able to choose his Aspiration and next trait. He started high school with a C, just like everyone else. The benefit for keeping him home was that he completed his Child Aspiration of Artistic Prodigy and gained a lot of Satisfaction Points as a result.

Child Skills
As already mentioned, children have 4 skills during their childhood years. These skills are Social, Mental, Creativity, and Motor. If a child is able to reach level 10 of any of the skills, related adult skills will be unlocked for children to get a head start or a special moodlet will be given.

Here are the Adult skills that are unlocked (allowing you to gain XP) by maxing the associated Child Skill:

• 1.Mental: Fishing, Logic, Video Gaming.
• 2.Social: Charisma, Mischief
• 3.Creativity: Piano, Violin
• 4.Motor: none.

If you complate an Aspiration, you will get a 20% boost to learning all Adult Skills in the appropriate category when they age up. This means they can then learn the missing skills they can't yet level, like Comedy and Painting, faster.

For the Social skill, a child needs to have conversations with other Sims. Other ways to increase the Social skill are to play with the dollhouse and talk to the large stuffed animals. Reaching level 10 will unlock the Charisma and Mischief adult skills. The child will be able to gain skill points in these areas before aging to teen.

The Mental skill is gained by playing chess and using the science table. Children can also use the observatory to stargaze. Level 10 of this skill will unlock the adult skills of Logic, Video Games, and Fishing. Again, points for these skills may be gained by children before they age to teen.

Creativity is gained by using the Activity Table and by playing with the dollhouse. As a child increases creativity, more kinds of drawings will be available on the Activity Table. Reaching level 10 in this skill will open the Piano and Violin skills.

The Motor skill can be built by using the monkey bars and jungle gym, and also by practicing typing on the computer. Adults can also have a bit of fun with the jungle gym by pretending to be a monster while children are playing. Reaching level 10 in this skill does not unlock an adult skill. It will, however, give an extra moodlet while playing on the monkey bars.

I found it very difficult to reach level 10 on any of the Child Skills while playing on the Normal lifespan and dealing with needs at the same time. To make this happen for my twins, I had to use cheats to keep their needs full and even had to make them skip the last day of school in a desperate push to get the last things completed in time. Playing on the Long lifespan setting will give you plenty of time to do everything you want.

Child Aspirations
Children have their own Aspirations to work on before they tackle their adult Aspirations. The Child Aspirations are Artistic Prodigy, Rambunctious Scamp, Social Butterfly, and Whiz Kid. A child's Aspiration is chosen at the time a baby ages to child, at the same time the first trait is chosen. Some detail follows.

ARTISTIC PRODIGY

Total Satisfaction Gained: 1,100

Reward Trait: Creatively Gifted Children who achieve this Aspiration will build adult Creative skills faster (Painting, Instruments, Writing, Cooking).

Milestone Objectives: Have an Activity Table, and draw 2 pictures while Inspired. You must then level the Creativity skill to 5, and play with 3 toys. In the end you'll have to play instruments for 5 total hours, draw all 5 picture types on the activity table, and max the Creativity Skill.

RAMBUNCTIOUS SCAMP

Total Satisfaction Gained: 925

Reward Trait: Physically Gifted Learn Adult Physical Skills faster (Fitness).

Milestone Objectives: Play on a Jungle Gym while playful, and hit level 2 Motor Skill. The next stage requires you work on the Motor Skills (level 5) and Practice Typing 3 times. In the end you must master Motor Skills and make it across the monkey bars 3 times, while earning a high score on the Typing Game.

SOCIAL BUTTERFLY

Total Satisfaction Gained: 975

Reward Trait: Socially Gifted Learn Adult Social Skills faster (Charisma, Mischief, Comedy Skill).

Milestone Objectives: Make a Friend and meet 5 new Sims. Achieve level 5 in the Social Skill while also making a BFF. At last you must be friends with 3 other Children and 2 Adults, while also mastering the Social Skill.

WHIZ KID

Total Satisfaction Gained: 1,175

Reward Trait: Mentally Gifted Lets the Whiz Kid learn adult Mental Skills faster (Rocket Science, Logic, Fishing, Video Gaming)

Milestone Objectives: Be read to by an adult for 2 hours and play 3 games of Chess. Next, they will need to reach level 5 Mental Skill and Finish Homework 2 times while Focused. Your Child must ultimately achieve an A in School, craft 3 Emotional Potions and master the Mental Skill.

Managing Large Families
Many players like to have large families. This is entirely possible in Sims 4. The parents simply need to keep Trying for Baby to have as many kids as they want. It does add a lot of complexity to the game and it's much more difficult with a lot of children. The best thing is to stay organized. Keep all of the kids on a schedule with sleep, meals, showers, and school. Be sure to send them to bed with all needs in the green. Otherwise, they will get up in the middle of the night for something and then will be tired for school the next morning because they won't go back to bed on their own. Sometimes it will be better to have showers in the morning so that the kids can get the moodlets they need for school. The same goes for mornings. Make sure the children have all needs met before leaving for school so they'll have a better day. A parent or other adult can make breakfast and dinner, and use the Call to Meal interaction to get everyone to the table. This will keep the entire household on a schedule and they'll be able to take care of school, homework, and tasks with little problem. If you find you're unable to make a new meal for breakfast and dinner, try making several meals at once and storing them in the refrigerator. That way, at least the kids can get leftovers and stay on schedule.

I don't recommend a maid for helping around the house at this time. Things were getting backed up in the house with dirty showers, dirty sinks, and trash on the floor. I hired a maid for a single day's service at a price of $40 plus $20 per hour. I didn't even see her in the house, but when she left I was charged $120 and everything was still dirty. I honestly didn't see anything different at all. So, I suggest that the family members help out with chores around the house.

Keeping everyone organized and under control will become even harder if your mother keeps having kids. A family with 2 parents, a teen, and 3 children can be kept on track by feeding everyone with a good and social breakfast, getting showers as needed, then setting each Sim to a task on days when there is no school. The teen can be painting, one child playing a computer game, and twins playing chess together. They are busy and also working on important skills. It gives the parents a chance to garden together or have a nice work out in the home gym.

THE SIMS 4 BABIES GUIDE (10)

GETTING PREGNANT, HAVING A BABY, AND CARING FOR THEM

HAVING A BABY

Adopting a Baby or Child
In The Sims 4, babies can be produced using Try For Baby or using the computer to adopt. (Choose Household, then Adopt). Adoption costs $1,000 and the player gets to choose between a baby and a child. You also get to pick the one you wish to adopt. The computer will show pictures and names of the available babies and children. Click on the one you want. My Sim chose a baby named Savannah. She immediately walked out of the house and disappeared at the street. About an hour later, you'll get a notice that your Sim is bringing home a new family member. You'll also be given the option to change the name of the baby/child. Your Sim returns with some confetti and the baby is magically in the bassinet. Adopting a child works the same way.

GETTING PREGNANT

To have a baby naturally, a Sim who is able to be pregnant (male or female via CAS options) will have to find a suitable partner/spouse and go through all of the necessary friendly and romantic interactions in order to successfully Try For Baby. My Sim had the Romantic trait and her Aspiration was Soul Mate, which meant that she eagerly sought the Sim who would be the father to her baby. I found that Try For Baby came up sooner than in Sims 3, so less time was needed for the couple to interact romantically. The parents were married and had maxed their friendship and romantic bars, and Try for Baby often came up as a first option without having to do any romancing before hand. Sims can also have a male appearance and have the ability to become pregnant, or be female in appearance and able to make others pregnant - see transgender section below for how to do this.

There are no longer pregnancy chimes at the time your Sims Try for Baby. Instead, the mother can do a pregnancy test by clicking on the toilet afterward. The cost is $15 and results are immediate. Either it will say she's eating for two or to try again. She will immediately start to show a little after getting a positive pregnancy test. Otherwise, if you do not do a pregnancy test, the game will inform you after a day that the mother is pregnant. Luckily, the mother will wear her same clothes throughout the pregnancy. There's no spinning into ugly maternity clothes!

CAS Options - Make Sim Transgender
During Create-a-Sim, you can select '...' beneath the gender settings to make your Sim however you desire. Sims can have masculine voice and feminine appearance, and you may also select whether that Sim is capable of becoming pregnant regardless of gender. You must pick one or the other - Sims who can become pregnant can't get others pregnant. You may also choose neither, indicating that Sim can woohoo without any baby being born.

Male Pregnancy (via Alien Abduction)
If you have a male Sim in the household who is from Young Adult to Elder in age and have installed the Get to Work Expansion, Alien Abduction can result in your Sim getting pregnant. You can make this happen by joining the Scientist Career, and working your way up until you can build the satellite. You can use the satellite on your home lot to contact aliens. This makes them more likely to visit, and thus abduct your Sim. Conversely, you can use the satellite to stop alien abductions to prevent your male from getting pregnant.

Influence the Baby's Gender
A patch made it so that we can influence the gender of babies, so we can make the chance large that a baby girl or boy is born:

• To have a baby boy: Eat carrots and listen to alternative music on the radio.
• To have a baby girl: Eat strawberries and listen to pop music on the radio.

Doing both of these things during your pregnancy will increase your odds of having a boy or girl.

Influencing the Pregnancy - Twins and Triplets
The pregnancy will typically produce a single baby. To increase the chances of twins or triplets, use the Fertile Reward. It's available from the Rewards Store for the price of 3,000 Satisfaction points. You can also cheat to have twins or triplets, see below.

With the Spa Day Game Pack, Sims can get a Fertility Massage at the Spa or from a Sim who is practiced in the Wellness skill. You must own a massage table to get one at home, but this is reported to increase the rate of twins and triplets as well.

THE PREGNANCY

Being Pregnant in Sims 4
A pregnancy lasts approximately three Sim days, no matter which lifespan setting the player is using. The mother will have morning sickness and make trips to the bathroom to vomit. It's pretty gross, so beware before you zoom in for a close up! The toilet will need to be cleaned afterward. During her pregnancy, the mother will have backaches that may or may not be helped by a massage from her partner. I didn't notice my Sim getting any whims for a massage. The mother will be able to Share Big News and Invite to Feel Baby. Hover over her pregnancy moodlet to see how far the pregnancy has progressed: first, second, or third trimester. By the third trimester, the mother is HUGE! She's also quite uncomfortable and ready for the baby to come

Preparing the Nursery
In Sims 4, the only baby item is the bassinet. You may purchase one prior to the birth, or one will be provided by Social Services when the baby is born if you don't own one. The bassinet doesn't take up much space and can easily be kept in the mother's bedroom if you don't want to bother with making a separate nursery. Considering that Baby is the only stage before Child, I just had the baby stay in the parents' bedroom.

Giving Birth
When the time arrives, the mother will go into labor. It will last about three hours and the mother can do anything she wants during this time. She can eat, have conversations, go to the bathroom, even sleep. She'll have a +40 Uncomfortable moodlet during this time, however, which is too large to really overcome by normal means. If you like, you can avoid long labor by simply clicking the option to deliver at hospital from the Bassinet. The father in my game would sometimes have pre-parental panic and run through the house. He had the Hates Children trait, so that was a possible cause, but other fathers may experience this as well. Nobody else in the house (teens and children) had any reaction.

When it's Go Time, the mother will go to the bassinet for the actual birth, or you'll be taken to the hospital for surgery with the Get to Work Expansion (if you chose the hospital route). This is when we get to see her faces and listen to her groan. It doesn't last long and before you know it, you've got a brand new baby. The little darling will be dressed in a one-piece jumper: green for boys and yellow for girls. No traits are chosen at the time of birth, so it doesn't matter if the mother has a smooth pregnancy. The first trait and Aspiration is chosen at the Child stage.

CARING FOR THE BABY

Baby's Needs
The baby cannot be the active Sim and the player cannot see his/her needs. You have to judge the situation from visual and audio clues. but they have a hidden hunger, fun and hygiene need that must be met. The baby will sleep automatically when well cared for. You can develop the relationship by using the limited socials that are available, while also satisfying the baby's needs for entertainment and socialization. A green cloud means a dirty diaper and crying means the baby needs to be fed and/or you should played with the baby. My Sims were fairly attentive to the baby without being told, but this might not always be the case. All interactions are found by clicking on the bassinet and the baby never leaves that immediate area.

When feeding, the mother has the option to bottle feed or breast feed. Everyone else can only bottle feed. Males pregnant with an alien baby can breast feed, however. The other interactions besides changing the dirty diaper are: Bounce, Coo At, Make Silly Face, Rock, Talk, Shoosh, Show Off To, and Age Up. Children will be able to Coo At and Talk to the baby. To use the Show Off To interaction, make sure the bassinet is not up against a wall. The person looking at the baby will stand at the head of the bassinet.

Leaving the House and Neglecting the Baby
Sims can all leave the house when there's a baby, no problem. The baby automatically gets sent to Day Care while the parents and others are away at work, or just out exploring to collect items. If a baby is neglected for a period of time, the baby will be taken away to safety. The baby will simply disappear in a green flash of light. This didn't seem to negatively impact the mother's ability to have more babies later.

Aging Up to Child
A baby can be aged up to Child at any time after the birth by clicking on the bassinet. However, if you wish to wait until the normal aging time, you may wait it out by caring for them until this happens automatically. The only real benefit to letting the baby age on its own is to increase the relationship between the baby and other Sims in the house, while also giving you time to prepare to care for a Child properly by giving them their own bedroom. All of the interactions your Sims can make with the baby will increase the relationship bar. When the time comes, the baby will age straight to a child who is mostly self-sufficient. The duration of the baby life stage will vary depending on which lifespan you're playing. On the short lifespan, it's about 1 1/2 days to age up to Child. On normal lifespan, it's about 3 days. My baby seemed to be bugged on the long lifespan because he was getting close to two weeks and still hadn't aged up. We'll update this later with more definitive information on babies on long lifespan.

Speed up Pregnancy Cheat
You cannot directly use a cheat to get pregnant, but you can cheat to get it over with faster. This works only when a Sim is pregnant, otherwise it makes them go through the labor without producing a baby. Type testingcheats on, followed by Sims.add_buff buff_pregnancy_inlabor. This works when males are pregnant with alien babies, as well.

Try for Baby Cheat (By Raising Romantic Relationship Levels)
If you want to cheat to make your Sim have a high romance standing with another in order to try for baby, type modifyrelationship yoursimfirst yoursimlast targetsimfirst targetsimlast 99 romance_main - for example, modifyrelationship alex wilkis christy mooney 99 romance_main will make them have a near-max romance bar, which is capable of trying for baby with or without building friendship first. Use a few romance socials successfully, then hit try for baby and you're good!

Forcing Twins, Triplets, and more...
Twisted Mexican has provided a cheat that will force multiple births. These requiretestingcheats on. First, you need to get your Sim's ID after they've been made pregnant normally (see above to max romance).

Type sims.get_sim_id_by_name firstname lastname to get the ID of the pregnant Sim.

Now you can influence how many births they have at once. It may work up to 7, but keep in mind that the maximum household size is 8. So do a little addition, and save your game first. It may hang quite a bit generating all these babies. Use the Sim's ID you got from the first cheat, for example 1341302010235.

Then type pregnancy.force_offspring_count 1341302010235 5 So pregnancy.force_offspring_count ID (number of babies). My example would produce 5 babies, but you need your Sim's actual ID number (that one's made up). Thankfully, the ID will stay in the box while you work on typing out the cheat! I tested this with the force labor cheat, and it does work. It's best to use the forced labor cheat right away after using this one. Without it, they will have the babies at the normal time, not right after using the cheat, but you'd have to stay home the whole time. Traveling breaks the multiple births cheat, so speeding up via fored labor keeps you from having issues. Save first to give yourself another shot if something goes wrong.

Problems with the Cheat
This was possibly added from a patch, so cannot be used on out-of-date games. Players who have a pirate copy are likely left out on this one. Additionally, the cheat will not work if you reload the file after entering it. You are overriding what is already determined when the Sim gets pregnant - the number of babies to be born, so you'll have what the Sim was meant to have. On leaving the game file, you'd have to enter it again, and anything that messes with the status of testingcheats may render the command invalid (such as entering create-a-Sim). So, if you use these, plan to stay home and save during the third trimester, andsave just before using them. If the cheat was entered correctly, you can immediately go into labor using the speed up pregnancy cheat, so that nothing can go wrong in the meantime.

In Closing
This should help you get pregnant and care for your baby properly. If more information on boosting the odds of Twins/Triplets without cheating comes up, we'll share it here. From here, you can go on to learn about Raising Children and Getting Good Grades in School.

THE SIMS 4 COLLECTING GUIDE (9)

COLLECTIBLE LISTS AND HOW TO FIND RARE TYPES

The Sims 4 Base Game features 13 types of Collectibles that can be gathered by Sims. Each of them are found in different ways, so each deserves its own Guide with lists to help you figure out what's missing. Here you will find the basic information on how to collect each of these, how many there are and where/how rares are found, and a link to in-depth information on prices for every type of collectible. As Expansions and Game Packs add more types to Collect, I'll gradually expand this list so that it always remains helpful for players who want to find everything.

General Collecting Tips for Rocks and Plants
While other types of Collections are completed at home or via Fishing, travel, etc. the biggest burden a Collector faces is completing the Metals, Fossils, Crystals, and MySims Trophies collections. All four come from the same Rocks, and Elements are harvested by sending off Metals and Crystals, so there is a huge variety and thus low chance of you finding one you are missing. Finding more and more of these is necessary to polish off these Collections. Some plants must be found in the wild and introduced to your garden, so these tips apply to those as well.

• 1.Collecting Starts at Home - There are spawners in every Neighborhood. Before you set out to look in other areas, check around the homes in your own Neighborhood. By the time you are done elsewhere, these may have respawned.
• 2.Pause the Game - For Rocks and Plants, there's no need to have your Sim aging while you the player are looking around for collectibles. Scan the borders of an area then look toward the middle for spawners you may have missed. Looking from another angle can help as well, because there will always be trees, bushes, and houses in the way. There are not many spawners on actual homes' lots, but rather around them, so use this knowledge to help you save time.
• 3.Run a Pattern - Look around several Neighborhoods as your Sim's Energy allows. You can pause the game and watch for the sparkles of plants, the shapes of rocks, and gather at least a few collectible items from each Neighborhood you visit.
• 4.Day by Day - Spawners create items in an area about once a day. Head to Neighborhoods you haven't yet explored, and certainly visit the areas of Sylvan Glade and, with Level 10 Handiness, Forgotten Grotto. These areas have a higher chance of Rares, and some items will ONLY spawn there.
• 5.Visit the Parks - Oasis Springs' Park has had up to 8 dig spots for me on a visit, and there are usually several in Willow Creek as well.
• 6.A Nature Aspiration Helps - Selecting any of the Nature Aspirations at Sim creation will give you the Collector Bonus Trait, which will make finding Rares a little more likely. This is helpful, but not required.
• 7.Know the Collections - Some Collections, like Space Prints and Aliens, can be completed without ever leaving your home lot. Microscope Prints requires minimal travel. Others like Gardening will require you to gain at least level 5 in a Skill, and others higher. The list of Collections below includes the Skills necessary to complete them and how Rares are found, so this should be helpful if these tips aren't!

SIMS 4 COLLECTIONS LIST

Aliens: 10 Collectibles
Aliens are found via the Rocket Science Skill's adventures in space. Do enough of these missions, and you're sure to finish this Collection in due time. It is a bit harder than Space Rocks, given there are 10 types, and is likely to take longest of the two, simply because of the need to find more of them. Rocket Science is a Skill that takes some time and money investment, as Rockets aren't cheap, so you should do this with some other source of income to keep your bills paid! All Dead Aliens produce a Confident aura when placed in a room with the Aura Enabled, while living ones contribute to a room's Decorated bonus.

Crystals: 20 Collectibles
Crystal are found while digging up rocks, spread around each Neighborhood. Each Crystal you get gives off an Energized Aura, which can be helpful to place near Fitness equipment to help your Sim gain that Skill faster. These may take a while, as you must travel to various neighborhoods to get them, and wait on Rocks to respawn. The tips above will likely be of help to you. Crystals will help finish the Microscope Prints collection via taking samples, as you can analyze them to get Rares. You'll also need to occasionally 'Call Geo Council about Sample' to determine the Elements a Crystal is made of, and consider whether sending it in for $20 to possibly get one of those Elements in the mail to complete that Collection.

Elements: 15 Collectibles
Collecting Elements means digging up rocks for Metals and Crystals, then sending them in to the Geo Council to have an Element send to you via Mail. Each Element will cost you $20 to get, as you must ship it to the Geo Council. Clicking them in your inventory will let you call the Geo Council and find out what Elements the Crystal or Metal are made of. The Element you get in the mail is based on the Elemental composition of the Metals/Crystals you send in. You get one of the two or three Elements from each sample you send in, so it may take multiple tries on a single item to get the Element you're missing. Naturally, if a Crystal is made of an Uncommon and Rare Element, you are more likely to get the Uncommon.

Fish: 22 Collectibles
Look to our Fishing Guide to learn more about catching all the types of Fish in the game. Completing the collection requires a trip to Forgotten Grotto, so you'll need level 10 Handiness. Knowledge of Fishing Spots and Bait the fish desire will help you polish off the Fish Collection with ease!

Fossils: 15 Collectibles
Found via Digging, then carefully extracting them from Limestone by clicking it in the Sim's Inventory. The Fossil you get is random. You will have to dig up many rocks in order to finish this Collection. Taking Samples from Fossils can help you finish the Microscope Prints Collection. Fossils give off an Environment bonus, contributing to the overall Decorum score of the area in which they are placed.

Frogs: 25 Collectibles
While all Frogs may be found via searching in Logs, Water Pumps, and caught at Ponds, the Rares can be a challenge to find due to the low chance of them being caught. To compensate for the rarity, players may take Frogs they have found and breed them to produce a new type of Frog. This is doable every so often, and Frogs aren't lost in the process. Check out our Guide to learn about Frog Breeding so you can get the Rare types you're missing. Each time you Breed two frogs, you'll have a 25% chance of it being the missing type, so long as you breed the right kind. All Frogs provide Environment +3, so serve as decent Decor for your Sim's home.

Gardening: 32 Collectibles
In order to complete this Collection, players will have to invest heavy time in Gardening. Getting all of the plants requires you to know Grafting Combinations that produce the rare and uncommon plants that aren't found in the world. You will need to take cutting from plants that are not ready to harvest, then graft those to plants at home in order to be efficient. The link leads to the Gardening Skill guide, where you can learn all you'll need to know in order to find these.

Geodes (Get to Work Expansion Pack): 6 Collectibles
Geodes are found on the planet Sixam, a hidden area included in the Expansion Pack. Each has an environment rating of 3. You can find these either via levelingRocket Science to 10 and upgrading the rocket to enter wormholes, or reaching a high level in the Scientist Career.

Insects (Outdoor Retreat Game Pack): 21 Collectibles
Collecting Insects requires a keen eye, more so than any other type. Insects are found throughout the Forests in Granite Falls, Outdoor Retreat's Vacation area. While there, you can find flying and crawling insects. Each spawner will produce different types of insects depending on the time of day. Some types can only be found during the daytime, while others are available at night. A visit to the Deep Woods, where the Hermit lives, will give you a better shot at finding some of the rarer flying insects. Insects in terrariums give a Decorated bonus to a room, contributing to its overall score.

Metals: 20 Collectibles
Metals, like Fossils, Crystals, and MySims Trophies, are found via Digging up rocks. Rares could be anywhere, so the only way to finish this is to scour neighborhoods, parks, and Sylvan Glade/Forgotten Grotto to give yourself the chance to dig up enough to finish it. Because of the possibility of these other types, Metals and Crystals can be quite difficult to complete. On the plus side, you're working on four Collections at once (Five with Elements). You can call the Geo Council about a piece of Metal to determine the Elements it is comprised of, and spending $20 to send it in will give you a chance of up to three Elements arriving in the mail the next day. Metals give an Environment bonus, contributing to the Decor of a room when placed in the game world.

Microscope Prints: 12 Collectibles
Microscope Prints are found via using the Microscope, with or without a slide to use. To use a slide, you need to take a sample from a Crystal, Fossil, or Plant. While out Collecting, take samples for your Microscope from wild Plants. This can be done safely without destroying them. Six of the Prints can be obtained without Slides, but you'll get a much better rate of Uncommon types while using Slides. In order to get the hardest to find prints, you must take samples from Crystals, Fossils, and Plants and analyze them. You are able to do this every few hours, so only need one type of Crystal and Fossil to get the Rares. It is simply faster with more objects from which to take samples. Microscope Prints give off a Focused Aura when placed and enabled.

MySims Trophies: 20 Collectibles
MySims Trophies are found in Capsules, which are occasionally unearthed while digging for Metals and Crystals. Opening them from your Sim's Inventory will yield Common to Uncommon types, while Rares are unlikely. You will also sometimes find Treasure Maps while digging. Each Treasure Map gives you a shot at a Rare. These are consumed when you select a rock and 'Dig for Treasure'. This is the only reliable way you'll find all of the Rare MySims Trophies. These Trophies can give off a Playful Aura when placed in the game world.

Postcards: 14 Collectibles
Postcards may be collected by finding Pen Pals on the Computer and requesting them. Simply go to the Socialize menu on the Computer, then Find a Pen Pal. After several hours, check for responses. You may get a Pen Pal from Bridgeport, Sunset Valley, or other locale. Then, write to that Pen Pal. After a short time, you can ask for a Postcard from that location. You may have a number of Pen Pals at once, and it may take several tries asking for a Postcard to get one in the mail (especially for the Rares). When displayed in the home and with auras enabled, these can make Sims Inspired. They are thus perfect for Writers, Artists and Chefs to have in their respective work areas. Postcard corkboard may be purchased that will allow you to organize these on the wall, and with all 14 you will get an Inspired +2 Aura in that work area.

Space Prints: 15 Collectibles
This requires you to purchase an Observatory for your Sim's home lot. Finishing the Space Prints collection will naturally level your Sim's Logic Skill via using the Observatory. Doing this while Focused may yield better collecting results, while also leveling Logic faster. In order to finish it, you simply need to use the three different types of Observatory interactions - Observe the Sky, Stargaze, and Search for the Truth. Each type of Print comes from one specific interaction. Space Prints, when placed on a wall, can give off a Focused aura should you enable it by clicking.

Space Rocks: 4 Collectibles
As with Aliens, Space Rocks are found via the Rocket Science Skill and adventures in space. Do enough of these missions, and you are sure to get all 4 types of Rock. It may take a number of missions, because there is quite a variety. Thankfully, many of the rewards are random so while you may not have found one on a previous trip, the same mission may award you a Rare Space Rock. These Rocks help decorate a room, giving off an Environment bonus.