More Awesome Than You!

I must say I have not missed anything that the patches could have provided.  I wondered how others felt about this experience, too?

Well, after a number of reinstalls, and this last time a while back now, I made the decision to leave out all the patches and take my chances.  I downloaded all the must-have hacks and mods, that I always use and whenever I came across a new problem.  I have many that just make game play more exciting.

I have to say the most annoying thing has been the heavy hit on motives - What is up with that?  I create my Sims with at least six points in neat and active and you would think they were pregnant, lazy, sloppy and elderly all at the same time.

Thank you for responding with your thoughts,

SM

The patches in many cases fix things that could make your game otherwise end up in a BFBVFS (a.k.a., a big fiery ball visible from space).  Plus, some of the more recent mods and hacks assume that the game is patched, and may work in unpredictable ways if it isn't.

No, it's a good idea to patch the game.

I'm playing an unpatched OFB--I have no owned comm lots because of this --and I don't really like because it seems like half the things OFB has to offer I can't use. Yet. I am impatiently awaiting for the second patch.

So why don't you just install the first patch?  It really does fix the worst of the community lot/owned lot bugs.

im currently playing a unpatched game. and everything seems in working order . well at least theres no big fire balls ,

I'm stilly playing an unpatched OFB b/c I'm afraid of the undeletable CC effect that some pple have reported. So far, no patch related problems that I've seen.

Because I use the delete function to delete recolors etc too often and I don't want to lose that. Also, I'ver heard that the patch doesn't fix everything -- I'll wait.

Yep, Venusy, that's what I'm saying exactly. Very good to point us to a thread delineating the other glithes with the patch. That's why I'm waiting.

Just have to chuckle. If you are waiting for Maxis to create a patch that fixes *everything*, you may be in for a very long wait.  :D

Where is this link by Venusy?  I don't see it.  ???

Venusy Mumta removed it. :) It was the 'is the patch working for you blah blah' thread

I don't expect Maxis to fix ALL the bugs, are you kidding?? But I do want to have the delete thing AND the ability to own comm lots without my sim disappearing. I'm just picky I guess... ::)

From what I understand, this "fix" will be in everything going forward, so you'll get it sooner or later, with any patch or new EP/SP.

My game is unpatched for the pure and simple fact that everytime I try to download the bloody thing, it fails.  I don't know what is failing, precisely, but the patch won't download.  So far, my game has not launched into a fiery ball :) I do get the stuck-on-a-community-lot bug, but really, it's workaroundable by taking a taxi :) Otherwise, smooth sailing.

I wonder if it's possible to get the patch on a CD or something, for those people who don't have good reliable internet on their Sims2 computer?

Not that I have that problem, mind ye, but I've thought about getting a computer with good RAM specifically just for The Sims 2. Cuz quite frankly, the game runs so SLOW for me.

Actually, Staroverthebay, I have recently bought myself a computer for my games that is not connected to the net. I have downloaded the patches to a flash drive, they transferred over without problems. I download everything to my flash drive, scan it with Nortons and plug it into my computer. So nice not to have to fight the family for computer time when I want to play for hours!

But I do get your point. It is hard for those without internet access, Just about every game needs to be patched these days. Though Maxis must hold the record, needing to patch a stuff pack  ;D

Well I don't know about OFB so much, but I do know I was ready to fall on my knees and praise Heaven for the NL patch that finally fixed the terrain-plagued house packager!

I wouldn't consider playing an unpatched game, but if you WANT bugs in your game, go ahead. It's your BFFBFS.

I tend to fix things that are broken.

I'm actually playing an unpatched game too. No fire balls either. I didn't patch mainly because I use a lot of hacks, both here and MTS2, and I don't even want to start to check compatability. Luckily, I can own community lots. I'm basically waiting for the Pets EP. Because it is easier to see if a hack works for certain EP than certain patch of an EP. I'm going away for the most of this summer so I won't play much.

That's the boat I'm in too.  Most problems I've had in the past weren't covered by Maxis patches.

Fireballs tend to build for a while before exploding.  Who knew TS2 in it's virgin state was a BFBVFS waiting to happen until people started playing it and then problems started popping up?  Besides, if the modders whose hacks you use have the patch, then it would be wise to have the patch as well because they've written their hacks assuming that certain aspects of the game code will behave in a certain way, and if yours is different, well, you shouldn't be surprised if you have problems.

There's probably some people out there that don't install Microsoft Windows updates because they see no need for them.  Also, these are probably the same people that think Microsoft is watching them.  These same people also complain when Microsoft actually tries to do anything about these problems, whining that they're copying of MacOS X.  Whatever.

Back on topic, I keep my game patched mostly for compatibility and issues that modders won't even bother with anymore.

Yup. And those are the same idiots who are responsible for keeping trojans and viruses alive, since they refuse to plug their security holes out of misplaced paranoia.
If they really were THAT anti-Microsoft they'd not be running Windows (but if they were competent enough to run something else, they'd realize Microsoft is relatively harmless… nice dilemma).

Fortunately with games like TS2 the only one suffering is the person refusing to patch himself.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

Anyway, you'll generally get the patches with expansions whether you want them or not. The lengthy list of things that each patch is supposed to fix is enough to convince me.  I think it's a bit optimistic to assume that because those things aren't causing obvious problems right now, they won't bite you later.

I don't, and they are!

Windoze *IS* a security hole. That's why you never leave a Windoze machine directly exposed to the Internet. Remember, it's not paranoia when they really are out to get you.

Sadly, games do not run on Linux or MacOS. Or I'd have defected by now. As it stands, Windoze machines are treated with suspicion and firmly watched by their Linux-equipped chaperones.

Is that why I keep gettting this message? 

No, you're getting that because you are thieving scum. And dumb, since why wlaw would you admit to theft on a public forum?
Alternately you're ignorant, and your software reseller or computer manufacturer is a stupid thief.

Granted MS is overcharging Windows, but there are legal ways to get Windows cheap (student licenses, corporate licenses, etc.).

That sorta sounds like a spamware message.  You know those weird spammy popups that come up from time to time when you're online?

Jordi _ I don't think you read the *sarcasm* in my post  :-*

Oops. Detecting written sarcasm can be difficult, without smilies.

S'ok :) I thought I'd typed a  ;) at the end but I think inserting the *quote* lost it

The MS WGA "tool" falls under the definition of "spyware."  Check this out:

http://labnol.blogspot.com/2006/06/wga-notification-phones-home-during.html

Not really, since it does not enable itself. You must at least once have installed it and accepted the EULA which does state it will connect by itself. It is not automatically installed.

It is not necessary, it is not good, but it ain't spyware either.

If it phones home in a shifty and ilicit manner, regardless of what shady things they bury in not-entirely-legal EULAs, it's spyware. Period. Keep in mind it is not necessary to accept a EULA in order to install the product, since you can easily replace the contents with anything you wish prior to hitting accept. Not to mention that by the time you get to that part, you've already bought the product, which certainly had no such contract at time of sale. And it's totally acceptable for me to vandalize the EULA. After all, I've bought the product, and I haven't agreed to any terms, of questionable validity or not, until I actually accept the EULA. Which I don't do. Until it's been replaced with text extolling the virtues of cheese. Which I don't at all find objectionable and therefore accept.

If it's not necessary and not good, then it is spyware. Period. Hell, simply being NOT GOOD makes it malware. It's SPYING on you. It's SPYWARE. How much more literal do you need?

Couldn't agree more, JM!

BTW, what distro(s) do you run on your Linux boxes?

Well, "distro" implies it's distributed, which isn't entirely accurate, but I run Black Hat Linux.

I don't think the delete option as it used to be is ever going to be back. From what I've read, Maxis has announced that it's the way they wanted to be and they have their reasons. You can still delete objects with the design tool even with the patch installed, you do know that, right? Buy the object onto a lot, use the design tool and delete the recolors from there.

I would not consider playing without patches with OFB bug of getting stuck on a community lot if you arrived in your own car and saved at some point.

Strangely appropriate name....:D
But you're right, that is not a distro, that is just software and information about how to protect yourself.
Unless you build your own Linux version?

This (http://www.ishkur.com/posters/linux.php) is how I feel about Linux after watching my husband get frustrated with his version of it  :P. Well, I do feel some national pride for the original inventor of Linux being Finnish, but that's as far as it goes.

Yes, it IS frustrating but what a rush when it finally works!  ;D

That's what I had to do - I now have 1Gig of Ram and a 128Mg video card.  The video card has become outdated by Maxis recommendations, but I don't care it still works great.

SM

Jordi, really, speaking for myself, I was stating just how wonderful a job that the hacks and mods do for the game 'as is'.  Like Rainbow said, I just roll with the games and use the updates included with each new expack.



I have many and I have not run into a compatibility problem yet.  I am careful what I choose and I run the compatibility tool as a guide.

SM

I really don't see what is so great about Linux.  It's not any "easier" to install them, and I've had less errors in Windows XP than in Ubuntu.  Kubuntu wouldn't even install.  Fedora Core took the entire 20GB partition I made for it for itself, I couldn't reduce the size of it afterwards like the 70GB partition that Windows resided on.  Not to mention that they bundle FIREFOX in those distros.  You'd think if they cared about security and speed they would have ditched it for Opera.

Other than SP1 clothing, has Maxis ever fixed a critical issue that wasn't fixed by the 3rd party? 

Not really, and some things STILL aren't fixed. Even though they messed with the relevant BHAV, they STILL didn't fix the "parent of child on phone shows up and hangs around like deranged stalker" bug. Which has been the Phone Hack fixes since the original game.