IllusoryThrall's Blog
:
November 2012
Project 1 and 2 Updates:
POSTED ON
11/20/12
Project 1, Step 1 (Reinstalling all Store content and settings) Complete!
Step 2 - probably about 10% through - all the collections are made and organized, the list of what goes where is done, I simply have to complete the tedious task of putting everything into their designated collections. I've started on it, but as mentioned, it's tedious, boring work.. so I keep bouncing back to my other project for breaks.
Project 2 (Sunset Valley), I finally broke down and organized into smaller steps, usually four lots to build/update/test per step, then a couple of clean-up/double and triple check steps, and a step of checking and updating the residential lots as well. The good news, I've finished 2 out of the 10 steps, and working on the third step now. Some of the "testing" - especially for the showtime and late night lots is pretty time-consuming, as I'm trying to make sure every single thing on those lots works the way it's intended. I think the hardest part will be making sure that not only can a band PLAY on the stage built for the late night lots, but that it will appropriately spawn a gig opportunity... which means leveling up a band to test it... which is harder than it sounds.. and then waiting for the gig opportunity to pop up. The one bar I have up currently, the band isn't high enough level to allow the gig to spawn correctly yet, but the stage and everything else in the lot works great so far. The vampire lounge I built looks REALLY good, but it's not uploaded yet because I'm still working on making sure EVERYTHING works on the lot - since it's built based on the Gothique Library, it's a rather complex lot and many things to test. I've already found and squashed some bugs and annoyances, but I'm fairly sure I'm going to find some more before I feel comfortable uploading it.
Anyway.. done with break. Back to work. :)
Project 1 Update, Project 2 Announce..
POSTED ON
11/17/12
So, Project 1:
Step 1 - reinstalling all Store Content, getting rid of ALL Custom Content so I can very very carefully install a select few items (mostly worlds and lots without CC)
Step 2 - sorting all of it into easy - to - use (and find) in-game collections.
The update: Successfully uninstalled all store and custom content, returning game to factory settings. Got my in-game options set up again, and have finished a good 40-50% of re-downloading and installing bought Store content. I'm doing it VERY slowly, and double-checking everything installs correctly, for the simple reason that one of the reasons I decided to do this was a lot of store content that said it was installed, but was nowhere to be found in game. Uninstalling/reinstalling it never did any good, the game refused to notice the items were even there. So far, so good.
While working on this, loading and testing the items, etc.. I went ahead and started on the before-mentioned "town-organizing" projects. The first town I'm tackling is Sunset Valley - because, hey, it's the first town... logic, organization.. ok, so I'm going a little bit overboard, but at this point in my life, I desperately need some order somewhere. So, in a nutshell, Project 2 is Sunset Valley. First, I loaded up the town, deleted all "auto-placed" lots.. (thanks EA).. and started making lists and organizing. I think I've pretty much figured out what needs updating for which expansion pack, what lots need building, and where they're going to go. I also have a pretty good idea of a concept for each lot - the idea is to make each town and neighborhood as unique-feeling as possible - so I'm going to attempt to re-use as few lots as possible. Which means, building matching lots for each town - and since this is about organizing, I'll do one town at a time so the items will be easier to find in the lot bin (they organize by the time they're saved, far as I can tell.)
The benefit for me? A plan and stuff to do, .. and more things organized. The benefit for everyone else? .. once I test the lots in game (by having sims interact with them and making sure they work) .. I'm uploading them to the exchange so other people can use them in their towns. The plan is to use absolutely zero custom content, and keep the requirements for each lot as simple and low as possible. I tested and uploaded the first one - the Sunset Valley Pictures (Film Studio). Good thing I did test it, because the initial version apparently had the door blocked... duh.. all fixed, correct version on the exchange. Expect more as I bounce back and forth between projects. :)
Project 1 - Sorting Store Stuffs...
POSTED ON
11/17/12
Okays. My OCD is acting up, and after the recent death of my real-life mother (still less than two weeks ago on 11/6 - it was very sudden, and she was one of my very best friends...) .. I need a project. I have been putting off a million Sims projects, but after having a million issues with Store content not showing up, or not being able to find stuff in my horribly jumbled restored Sims 3 backups, I decided to start with this one. Basically, I'm resetting to factory settings, and re-downloading each store item separately, then setting up a collection for each "set" or "theme" - so they're easier to find in-game. Then, and only then, will I re-install my save files from their backups, and get to work on my next project - town-sorting! ... I'll explain that one later, I think.
Wish me luck!
*Cry* Sims hates me!
POSTED ON
11/04/12
So.. the reason I've been so very absent lately.. is that upon starting college, I was required to upgrade my computer's Operating System.... which went more or less alright. Then the main hard drive crashed. Fixed that with few issues... only I had to completely reinstall everything - Windows, programs, etc... and Sims 3 promptly goes belly-up. The launcher simply won't run. I could bypass it, but without a lot of work and manual patching, it was still tough to play, and all my store and exchange and bonus content was completely un-reachable. :( ... So I started searching for fixes. I found many. None worked. Appealed to the tech forums for help. Nobody's fixing ideas changed a thing - it still crashed. Did a full manual uninstall/reinstall (with all the expansions and stuff packs, mind you - this takes DAYS!) ... that didn't work. Called EA support, spent all day on the phone, and I thoroughly stumped all of the technicians and managers in the call center that day - so they "escalated" my call to the "experts." I get an email with a link telling me how to go mess with the registry for a complete install - and nothing else. Finally, I decide the limited playing I can do wasn't enough, so I tried yet another manual uninstall, this time including a lot of registry and other nonsense.. that again, didn't work. By this point, it's been over a month since my ticket was "escalated" .. so I contacted tech support live chat today. After three techs (and tickets) and a multitude of "fool proof" "solutions" that.. again, didn't change anything.. I finally, on the third tech, managed to get someone with a brain. The problem is - I am now informed that they're not even supposed to be working on the issue as techs because it's been turned over to the "experts" and I'm supposed to still be waiting for them. 0.o ... SERIOUSLY???? Almost six weeks in the list to be contacted by them, and nothing.. aparently they're "very busy". By this point, I've thoroughly had it. I wish I could log in to sims and commit Simicide in a multitude of ways... but nope. So.. in a "I don't give a rat's rear" moment, I decide that since I really wanted to switch my new Windows 7 version to the 64 bit from the 32 bit (to allow all my memory to be recognized) - which requires a .. yep.. again, fresh install of my operating system. Going to keep my fingers crossed, but with the base game and World Adventures, the launcher is again working and patching, etc. I have my backups ready to install.. and my "order" finger is itching to order Seasons (which I didn't want to do if my sims wouldn't work at all!) .... so, I am truly holding my breath that the rest of the expansion packs install alright. ... Moral of the story, barring an epic disaster, it appears something in the actual Windows installation was killing my Sims Launcher.. eeeeks!
