The Sims 4

Prototype Info Prerelease Info Notes

Anti-Piracy#

Watch on YouTube

In versions released prior to the adoption of the Free-to-Play model (v1.0 to v1.65 to be specific), if the game is able to detect that it has been pirated or tampered with, once a Sim performs an action that induces the "mosaic censor" effect (showering, using the toilet, etc.), the mosaic will permanently expand to the entire screen, eventually turning the game into a nearly-unplayable pixelated mess.

Inaccessible Lot Traits#

The following traits exist within the game's code with proper descriptions but are inaccessible:

• Cheap: Rent is cheaper than average for this Apartment.
• Low Deposit: The deposit for this apartment is suspiciously low...
• Pricey: Rent is higher than average for this Apartment.

If hacked in, only the Pricey trait has any effect, indefinitely granting a Happy moodlet bonus to Sims called "Only the Finest."

Debug Cheats#

To do: More documentation: Check which of these cheats works on console. A list of all cheats can be found here. A spreadsheet of cheats can be downloaded here.

Use the cheat console (Press CTRL+⇧ Shift+C on PC, or hit all four shoulder triggers simultaneously on console) to enter these cheats...

Smoke Test Cheats#

These cheats were used to help the game run by itself without any human intervention, so developers could just leave their machines on overnight.

• households.autopay_bills - Automatically pay bills.
• ui.dialog.auto_respond - Automatically responds to any dialog boxes with "Cancel". If Cancel is unavailable, it picks something at random.

Soak Cheats#

These were used to stress-test the engine during development. Simply put, they summon in random Sims that perform the role of services.

• soak.enable_soak_handyman_situation - Enable a Handyman
• soak.create_soak_handyman_situation - Call a Handyman
• soak.enable_soak_maid_situation - Enable a Maid
• soak.create_soak_maid_situation - Call a Maid
• soak.enable_soak_party_situation - Enable a Party
• soak.create_soak_party_situation - Call a Party

Buy Debug#

Enter bb.showhiddenobjects into the cheat console. Then enter the word "debug" into the search filter in Build or Buy mode to view and buy all unbuyable objects, ranging from forks to fishing ponds.

Testing Cheats#

As with every Sims game since the second, there is a testing cheat that enables more advanced debug features. Enter testingcheats on to enable these features...

Shift+Click Commands#

These commands will appear if you hold SHIFT and click one of the following...

The Ground

• Teleport Here: Warps your currently-selected Sim direct to that tile. Only works on tiles Sims can move around on, naturally.

A Sim

• Add to Family: Self-explanatory.
• Cheat Motive > Disable Need Decay: Stops motives from decaying. Never poop again!
• Cheat Motive > Enable Need Decay: Resumes motive decay.
• Cheat Motive > Make Happy: Sets all motives to full and puts the Sim in a happy mood.
• Modify in CAS: Pulls the Sim into the editor.

An Object

• Reset Object: Revert the object to its default state.
• Make Dirty: Self-explanatory.
• Make Clean: Self-explanatory.

Additional Cheats#

These cheats are unlocked by enabling testing cheats:

• cas.fulleditmode - Enable editing existing Sims using the full, unlocked Create A Sim editor.

Unused Textures#

TEXTURE	PREVIEW	NOTE	REF
		USED IN Prerelease	ref:00B2D882!00000000!BB2E48CFE9F835C1 same as new instance!
		USED IN Prerelease in cas thumbnail full body	ref:3453CF95!00000000!3F759FB9B7BF816B
		USED IN Prerelease in cas thumbnail for faces	-
		USED IN Prerelease in cas thumbnail for faces	-
		USED IN Prerelease in cas thumbnail full body	-

Development Textures#

REF Dev for diffuse map UV:

Unused Development Icons#

Unused UI Elements#

Image	Name	Reference
	TESTCURSORUIDEV	00B2D882!00000000!92DBDBC511B08814
	PHINFTEST	0x00000000!0x58968F75FF239640 0x00B2D882

Placeholder Images#

Placeholder Map UI#

Placeholder Dream Graphics#

CAS Test Preset Previews#

Map Areas#

Placeholder	Preview	Description	Accessible?	Reference	DLC?
	N/A	N/A	NO	5200367149e1439b	N/A
	N/A	BGDebug_MegaLotsTestWorld	NO	000000000001C9BF	N/A
	N/A	PERFTEST_GD_GardenCommunity_01	NO	0000000000007B5C	N/A
N/A	N/A	Chiron_OneLot Test World	NO	0000000000005299	N/A
N/A	N/A	sqeEmptyLotArea Test World	NO	0000000000005297	N/A
N/A	N/A	sqeGameplayProfileArea3 Test World	NO	000000000000529A	N/A
N/A	N/A	Chiron_OneLot_Cliff Test World	NO	000000000000529B	N/A
	N/A	Magalog_9lot_World_01	NO	000000000000F534	N/A
N/A	N/A	GalleryLotBuildWorld	N/A	000000000000F535	N/A
N/A		GP08_MagicRealm_01	YES VIA PORTAL	00000000000365C2	YES GP08
		EP01_ScienceLab_01	YES BE SCIENTIST	0000000000011C11	YES EP01
N/A		Plumbob Pictures: Where the Magic Happens! AKA EP06_Studio_01	YES BE ACTOR	0000000000030421	YES EP06
N/A		EP10_BaseCamp_01	YES BE IN EP10 MAP AND CLIMB to the Mon	000000000003C81B	YES EP10
N/A		EP10_BaseCamp_02	YES BE IN EP10 MAP AND CLIMBto the Mon	000000000003C89F	YES EP10
N/A		EP10_BaseCamp_03	YES BE IN EP10 MAP AND CLIMB to the Mon	000000000003C59E	YES EP10
		EP01_CivicCenter_01	YES BE DETECTIVE	0000000000011B13	YES EP01
		EP01_CivicCenter_02	YES BE DOCTOR or give birth	00000000000158A1	YES EP01
N/A	N/A	SeasonsArtTestWorld	NO	000000000002AC8B	N/A
		EP01_AlienWorld_01	YES NEED BE HIGH GRADE SCIENTIST AND BUILD PORTAL	0000000000011C10	YES EP01
N/A		GP01_HermitDwelling_01	YES FIND CAVE IN Forest	00000000000101CD	YES GP01
		SO_RBH_Cave_01	YES LV10 HANDY AND GO TO THE CAVE IN SO	000000000000BB21	NO BG
		GD_RBH_glade_01	YES TAKE CARE SPECIAL TREE GD	000000000000BB22	NO BG

Unused Animation#

Watch on YouTubeA download to restore the rangeOfMotion animation to adult models can be found here.

Unused Characters#

Unused VFX#

To do: Full VFX list here.

texture	prev	ref
		0x00000000!0xBFFF77F4CBF88118 0x00B2D882

Unused Models#

Unused Gizmos#

These gizmos exist in the game, but go unused:

Unused MODEL OBJ#

Type Spawners & Gizmos#

OBJECT	USE CASE	TEXTURE	REF
	Main spawner / secondary spawner / Spawner Arrival		WIP
	Spawner used to bypass sim or exit/ALT spawn sim. Spawner Walkby / Spawner RearWalkby / Spawner VisitorArrival		WIP
	Spawner effect can be access with debug mode but to use it requires "special advance debug" ***(EDIT MODE)***		WIP
	Spawner effect can be access with debug mode but to use it requires "special advance debug" ***(EDIT MODE)***		WIP
	Used to attract specific sim/pet based the instruction to use it requires "special advance debug" ***(EDIT MODE)***		WIP
	Used to attract specific sim base the instruction but use no obj only bm to use it need "special advance debug" ***(EDIT MODE)***	N/A	WIP
	Spawner effect can be accessed with debug mode but shaped like gizmo, to use it requires "special advance debug" ***(EDIT MODE)***		WIP
	Spawner effect can be accessed with debug mode but shaped like gizmo, to use it requires "special advance debug" ***(EDIT MODE)***		WIP
	Gizmo light, to use it requires "special advance debug" ***(EDIT MODE)***		WIP
	Gizmo light, to use it requires "special advance debug" ***(EDIT MODE)***		WIP
	Gizmo vfx & SFX, to use it requires "special advance debug" ***(EDIT MODE)***		WIP
	Gizmo marker	N/A	WIP

Block Models#

To do: Is this more pre-release material?

Development Text#

****************************************************************
* The Sims 4
* Copyright 2021 Electronic Arts Inc.
***************************************************************/

   widgetlist.xml is used to define all widgets that are loaded into the game.

   A  should be defined as a new element inside .  Widgets are ordered by name.
 are individually defined and each contain a list of valid widgets.  
   A  can define its visibility and positioning per gamestate. 
   GameState widgets are ordered by layering priority (top to bottom).

   Below is an example of the xml structure used.
   Optional elements/attributes are marked with '#' and contain their default values.
   If a platform is specified, the widget definition will only be loaded on that platform. If platform is not specified the properties 
   apply to all platforms.
   Current supported platforms are "PC" & "CONSOLE".

   /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
   //                      !!!! PLEASE READ !!!!
   //
   // Whenever a widget is added its telemetry event names must be added to 
   // the telemetry data dictionary so that the changes are correctly
   // interpreted by the BI team.
   //
   // This document is located in perforce at:
   //   //depot/Sims4Projects/Docs/Engineering/Telemetry/Data Dictionary for Telemetry events.xlsm
   //
   // If you have any questions, please ping the UI engineering group or
   // the Maxis BI team.
   //
   /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Revisional Differences#

To do: But wait, there's more! This deserves its own page due to the sheer number of changes this game got between 2014 and now. This video will help.

In 2019, the game (and the Sims franchise as a whole) received a brand refresh, which included a new logo and Plumbob design, among other things. The splash screen and some menus were changed to accommodate this.

Patch 0-81	Patch 82-present