|
Sims game patches have a long and storied history of breaking the hell out of your game. I installed the first five game patches without problems (unlike a lot of other people) but the most recent patch to version 1.7.9. did me in. The music from the final loading screen kept playing, instead of transitioning to the sounds on my family lot. And the lot ran really slowly.
I tried everything – switching to Buy Mode, switching to Edit Town, backing out and restarting my computer and loading a different family; just about everything I could think of.
It was soon clear that I would have to completely uninstall and reinstall the game. (Technical details for current Sims players are at the very end.) Doesn’t that sound like a fun way to spend a Saturday night? It took about four hours from “Oh man I’m hosed” to “Yay, I’m back where I was before that damned patch broke everything.”
Of course, after uninstalling and reinstalling the game, I had to restore my files from my most recent backup. I created my last backup on November 9th, immediately after the Sims-Sunday-before-last.
In fact, when I re-entered the game, I found that time had frozen right after the last picture in that post.
Baby Olivia had just been delivered. Nick didn’t have a mustache, and was not yet a mayor.
And Mandy had just gotten the Opportunity to resurrect a ghost.
Best. Broken EA game patch. Ever.
This time through, I didn’t mess about. I sent Klango out to build his Fishing skill.
Oh, and gave Nick his mustache, even though he isn’t mayor yet.
And sent Cletus on a study track to learn the Handiness skill, so that he could make Mandy’s schprinklers auto-water. (Thanks for that tip, everyone!)
Soon Klango hit Fishing Level 7, and had brought home a backpack full of Death Fish. Then he had to get to Cooking Level 10. Then he had to learn how to make Ambrosia.
And prepare it, while I held my breath and crossed my fingers…
The first thing he wanted to do was paint.
(I’m trying not to be disappointed that it isn’t a creepy pink bunny.)
The next thing he wanted to do was “Fall In Love.”
Oh, and Olivia, right, the heir.
“So you were dead, huh? What’s that like, Great-Grandpa Klango?”
“It’s not as inconvenient as you’d think.”
Technical Details for Current Sims Players
1. Back up your Sims files early and often! On Windows, go to Documents/Electronic Arts copy the folder “The Sims 3″ and paste it wherever you want to keep your backups. I do this at least once a month.
2. To uninstall the game, follow the instructions here.
3. After reinstalling the game, you need to install some updates. For one thing, in order to download the Riverview neighborhood, you have to be patched to at least 1.4. To download and install the patches manually start from the bottom of this page and work your way up as far as you want to go.
4. I continue to be amazed and heartened by the worldwide community of Sims players who (e.g.) take the time to type out the uninstall instructions step by step, or archive every single Sims 3 patch when EA won’t.
Tags: Sims Sunday
Comments (12)
TrackBack
« Back
| First | Home | RSS |
Forward »
|
Yay Klango! I’m glad your patch-hitch worked out
Comment by Melsa —
November 22, 2009 @ 1:13 pm
--------------------------
I’m happy klango is back!
Comment by Jen o —
November 22, 2009 @ 1:59 pm
--------------------------
That’s awesome! I’m so glad that worked out. Too bad you can’t bring Makoto back.
Comment by aimalyn —
November 22, 2009 @ 2:35 pm
--------------------------
You got your take-back, without breaking any rules! YAY!
Comment by Dani B —
November 22, 2009 @ 3:54 pm
--------------------------
That is awesome! (and I don’t even play Sims…but I sure have enjoyed reading Sims Sunday)
Comment by Tari —
November 22, 2009 @ 4:58 pm
--------------------------
This was the most unexpected twist so far. Hooray!
Comment by Slager —
November 22, 2009 @ 5:05 pm
--------------------------
Wow, this is epic! I laughed with delight the whole time reading this. Hooray for Klango!
Comment by Sara L. —
November 22, 2009 @ 6:55 pm
--------------------------
What an emotional roller coaster!! Glad you got Klango back!
Comment by Aesox —
November 22, 2009 @ 8:11 pm
--------------------------
Woohoo! Guilt-free Klango!
Though you earned him, with all the uninstall/reinstall horror…
Comment by gayle —
November 23, 2009 @ 4:32 am
--------------------------
re: his painting:
“I dreamed I was Venus….in my Maidenform bra.”
Glad to see he’s back among the living.
Comment by fillyjonk —
November 23, 2009 @ 5:33 am
--------------------------
KLANGO KLANGO KLANGO KLANGO KLANGOOOO!!!
Now I’m happy even though I’ve got to write a paper.
Comment by Catu —
November 25, 2009 @ 12:48 pm
--------------------------
Loving the peacock-drapes and the reptilian chair behind the slightly satanic-eyed Olivia in the yellow pjs…
Comment by kt —
November 26, 2009 @ 2:55 pm
--------------------------