More Awesome Than You!

Okay, I went to play Strangetown last night.  I was playing the Grunt household.  They were fresh from NL install, no backups or anything, General Buzz standing in the house by the fishtank, etc.  I placed the lot debugger and upgraded Gen. Buzz as he was a pre-uni sim.  He wants appeared fine.  But then Tank suddenly got 2 blank wants.  No text tip.  Next thing I know, Ripp is completely blank in wants and fears and so is the little kid whose name I can't remember now.  Gen. Buzz seems to keep all his wants and fears.  I exit to neighborhood and turn on the testing cheats.  I sent Tank downtown (I think this is when it happened... could have been re-entering their lot) and got an error message (attached) actually I got two of them about wants.  Reset twice did the trick. 

Then when  I went to a downtown lot (I think it was LuLu lounge) I got six errors that had to be deleted about a new_pool_light or some such.

When I sent Tank downtown from his residential lot, the downtown screen appeared to load fully while totally silent (columns lit up all the way across from left to right and then back to the left) and then the loading music began and it loaded again all the way across and THEN loaded the community lot.

Tank is unable to gain any skill points on a community lot and no one else is either.

A cheerleader did not gain skill points at Tank's house, but the non-controlled Sim he greeted from the sidewalk did.

 ???

edited to add:  have installed all green-lighted FFS hacks and all green Twojeffs that I had (I don't have all of Twojeffs, but most).  I have disabled everything else that is not FFS or TJ or that is listed as under investigation.

C

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I had the error about pool lights, even with nothing in my downloads directory, and dizzy suggested it might be a texture in an eyeshadow or something.  I deleted some makeup and stuff I didn't use that were in my SavedSims, and that fixed the problem.  The worst part is figuring out which one is causing the problem.

Here are links to the posts:
http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php?topic=558.msg26621#msg26621
http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php?topic=558.msg26624#msg26624
http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php?topic=558.msg26646#msg26646

If you have TwoJeffs want fixes, you may need to get his latest NL want fixes.  I had the want controller errors also until I got the newest ones.

I'm not sure about the blank wants, but sometimes they will come back if you satisfy a want or use boolprop to roll a few.  I also have used the Refresh wants function on the Insimenator with success.

Very strange. Something is conflicting with the Get a Job Want check tree.

I do have TwoJeffs want fixes, but they are all the updated NL ones.  Weird.

C

Sounds more like the "noretiredjobspam" (except that the hack should work fine with NL).

I know this is off topic, but does his no call to chat want hack for NL work for you? The first version gave me blank blue icons. The updated fixed version doesn't give me the blank icons but it doesn't seem to work at all as my sims keep getting the call to chat wants.

I'm running a lot of hacks and haven't noticed any issues with the new comm skilling, but I also don't usually run with testingcheatsenabled on so I could have had some errors and just didn't see them I suppose.

Same for me. He says the wants will only appear when it's relevant, like they're about to be friends or best friends, but my Sims still get them for no reason. It is working better than nothing. Without it, my Family Sim's want to have a baby wouldn't roll up because she wanted to call and then play with everyone she knows but the call to chat wants are still appearing without reason. I hate those wants more than I hate the plant and instrument (and now DJ booth) wants.

I have the most recent call to chat fix, and I haven't played at a house long enough to see if it's working.  I am going to try and disable it and see if that stops the blank icons.  It's weird that Dizzy says it has something to do with the "get a job" want because even Buck had the blank icons -- wants AND fears.  All of them.  Every single box was blank.  I deleted some of my eyeshadows that I don't use or didn't recognize and I'll see if that helps with the pool lights.  That's weird too.  :-P

edited to add:  I have 128 files in my hacks folder.  A bunch of those are currently disabled.  Do they need to be completely removed?  Or is disabling enough to prevent problems?
C

The original version of TwoJeff's call to chat updated for NL had been known to cause the blank icon bug so it's possible you got that version. He has since updated it to fix that and I no longer get the blank icons but it just doesn't work for me at all so I just yanked it out.

I have the one dated 9/25/2005.  That is the one listed on vs as the most recent. 

C

That's probably the update then. The most recent one is dated last modified on 9/25/05 at 6:34 PM and is 676 bytes. Sounds like you have that one.

It's possible it could be another hack causing it, but I'm almost certain that one of the hacks that deals with wants is causing your blue empty wants, though which one I couldn't say for sure.  :(

The reason I thought this had to do with the debugger is because it happened IMMEDIATELY after upgrading gen. Buzz to a uni grad.  As soon as the wants rolled, there were blanks.  Each time there was a roll, more of them were blank until poor Buck had no wants or fears at all.  Once I got Tank to a community lot, his wants were fine.  Haven't been back to the Grunt house yet.  I'll have to see what's going on there.  Tank has been fine at the University in his own house.


C

So it's only with Buzz and no one else? I've upgraded several non uni sims to uni status via the lot debugger and have not had problems.  ??? Weird.

I guess the only thing I can suggest is the ever tedious task of taking out hacks that you suspect (lot debuggers, want hacks) one by one and trying to locate the culprit. :(

No, General Buzz is the only one I upgraded and the only one that DIDN'T get blank wants  ???  Everyone else on the lot -- Tank, Ripp and Buck, got blanked wants and fears in varying degrees, Buck being the worst affected with every slot blank.

C

Okay, further testing on the Smith house.  Entered the lot.  First time played with fresh install.  Disabled a few more hacks that were found that are not TJ or FFS.  Entered lot.... all is well, no errors.  Placed lot debugger, upgraded PT #9 and wife.  Checked everyone's wants..... and Jill (the child) her wants and fears all blanked out before my eyes making the same sound as the upgrading pre-uni sim sound.  Went to LuLu Lounge... no error with the pool lights.  So that's fixed by deleting some eyeshadows (?).

Went back home to Smith house and on entering lot got ONE wants error (attached).  Jill's wants & fears still all blank.  Forced error on Jill (attached) and reset.  No change.  Deleted Jill and reloaded lot after deleting debugger, now everything seems okay for the moment.  I forgot to mention earlier that as soon as I deleted the lot debugger, the wants reappeared.  The debugger is from 7/20/05 and I don't see an updated version.

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Those error messages are strange. I wish I knew how to read them better. The part about the error with the wants controller is kind of obvious, but what the heck does a layer cake or "career exclusive" have to do with any of that? Do you have any custom foods or careers?

Well, I did but I took them out.  I can look again to make sure they're all out though.

edit to add:  no foods left, but TJ's casual romance mods for bed and hot tub; JMs Encouragificator and JMs Macrotastics launcher and Skillinator all show up as careers.

C

At this point, it looks like the debugger's upgrade pre-Uni sims may need to be updated.

So it's not a rogue hack or a wayward lipstick?   :D I can stop digging in my d/l folder for now?

C

Just a guess, but it is the common element in all your complaints, so far.

Oh, bummer.  I thought you could tell something from my error logs.  Do those not tell hat the problem is?  I don't know how to read them at all.

C

About the error logs, the relevant info is hard to understand.

"Error: Stack number out of range." <-- usually a parameter problem

The thing is, the Check Tree for "CT - Test - Enter Career Exclusive" is defined with 6 params. The error log also says:

"Params: 102 16896 -12871 0 31629 -13152" <-- 6 params

So, I can only conclude that the Simantics iteration pointer is somehow executing code that expects 7 or more params (either the code itself has been modified that way or the processor path is FUBAR by bad data/whatever).

I know what it is. :P

"     6: Verify - Person ID(neighbor in stack object person instance id (0x0)); true: 5, false: false"

For some weird reason, the game is checking whether random menu items (like "Food - Dessert - Layer Cake - Menu") can have Want a Job wants. The above line of code will also give the "Stack number out of range" error because it assumes that stack object (which is from param 0) is a neighbor ID (which is clearly not the case).

So, the Wants controller is freaking out over some bad data or something like that. It's only natural to assume that some previous action has caused the Wants controller to misbehave.

Actually, now that I think about it, the error log was just misleading. 102 should be a good value for neighbor ID. I honestly have no idea what's going on there. :P

Motoki said:
I've upgraded about 27 and have had no issues with it at all.  I've had no blank wants since before NL, and those were traceable to dumping uni sims into pre-uni houses. *Shrug*

could this be..... what?  I have not played this house with any custom objects in place, only the hacks aforementioned, so is it looking for something and not finding it?  Any ideas where I could start?  Should I just ignore it?  Or will my game burst into a BFBVFOS?

C

I'm thinking you have some larger issue to deal with than the Lot Debugger at this point. I have no idea what it could be. Maybe you had a bad install or something.

So, try a fresh install?  I really haven't had much play time so I wouldn't be losing much.  Maybe I"ll try that.  I'll let you know.

C

I hate to be a pessimist but somehow I doubt that will help. It seems to be Maxis-ese for 'I have no friggin clue what's wrong with your game or what to do about it'  :P But if you don't mind spending a little time doing it, I suppose at very least it couldn't hurt.

I've actually just noticed a sim tonight (who is a regular graduate, not an upgraded one btw) with blank wants and I've gotten rid of the TwoJeffs call to chat fix which didn't work for me anyhow, so it isn't that. I have a sneaking suspicion it's some other hack but I'm not sure which and am not ready to go back to using none since I've been carefully putting them back in one by one.

I know a lot of the creators and other people are saying certain hacks are okay, but this expansion is really new and I'm not certain we can be 100% sure about that in all cases yet.

Actually, one thing I forgot to mention is that "noretiredjobspam" is one of the updated hacks. You might want to make sure you're using the new one.

I'm actually sort of glad that you're having the same problem Motoki, only because it means I didn't necessarily do something idiotic.  I was thinking last night that maybe I FUBAR'ed the game when I tried to replace my backup AFTER installing n/l so I decided to go ahead and uninstall, restore the backup to uni, then reinstall n/l.  We'll see what happens.

I haven't seen any response yet to why I get no comm-skilling.  I haven't played since the fresh install last night, so I'll see if it is working at all now.  Also, any ideas on the double loading screens?  (see original post)

edit:  well, it's not the debugger.  This time, I got the error before even entering the house and starting with Gen. Buzz down to Buck, they had increasing blank wants -- by age (!) until Buck had none.  Gonna go start taking out all want hacks and adding in one by one.  :-P

C

Fun, isn't it?  :( I've done it more times than  I care to admit.

I've been very anal about putting all my stuff in subdirectories of subdirectories so that actually does help a bit to keep things organized like that. I have a Downloads/Hacks/J.M. Pescado a Downloads/Hacks/TwoJeffs etc. lol

I'd check too but I have a flight in a few hours and will be going out of town for a week. I hope you figure out what's causing it without having to spend too much time on it. :(

Okay, I've just come to the conclusion that something in Pescado's "commlightson" hack causes pool lights to get corrupted.

If you go to Sim Center South in simless build mode with the hack in, you'll see what I mean. It gives a nonsense "Stack number out of range" error and you are forced to delete the pool lights in order to get into the lot. If you then quit and remove the hack, the lights will still exhibit the error until you replace them.

I'm starting to think that other problems (like errors with Wants check trees) may be similar in nature. I just have no idea how or why this corruption is taking place.

I'm still getting the blank wants, although they are not always on loading the lot anymore.  Example.  Was playing the Specter house.  Upgraded Olive Specter to uni.  I did NOT have the testingcheats enabled.  She went downtown with Nervous and Pascal that night, satisfied several other wants (like hire a maid).  I locked her want to retire.  The next day when she woke up, I had her call work and retire.  As soon as the wants spun, three of the six went blank.  Ophelia's wants were still fine at the moment.  Deleting Olive and reloading the lot temporarily solved the problem, but I've been unable to isolate it because putting the hacks in one by one I couldn't find it on loading.  I'd have to play for a while one at a time :-P  Not a fun thought considering there are 130 files in my hacks folder.  Bleh.

C

Yeah I know it's a pain, but its somewhat easier if you do like groups of 10 or so instead of one at a time.

Yeah, that really sucks. :( I'm at my sister's place now for a week, but when I get back and if you don't have it narrowed down I can try and help.

I think what Rainbow suggested was a good idea. You could even play with one half, then if that doesn't trigger it play with the other half of hacks, then when it's triggered, half that group again and so forth. I've narrowed things down that way before. It still takes some time that way, but better than one by one, especially if you can't narrow it down right away on the lot loading.

That's actually how I started.  I put in all the "A's" then all the "B's" and so on.  If there weren't many of one letter, I'd put in about 6 or so at a time.  I thought I had it narrowed down to the N's, but then removing them all to the point where it was last working properly didn't make any difference.  So I backed up further, removed more, and starting taking out one at a time.  I still didn't find the culprit so I just gave up and deleted the sim with the blank Icons and reloaded the lot.  But I certainly don't want to have to do that every time.  I still think it's possibly related to the "upgrade pre-uni sim" on the debugger because it has only happened on lots where I have done that.  It might just be a conflict of some sort with something else.  Another interesting tidbit.... The ONLY want that was still showing in Ripp's wants at the time was "go to college" and I had not yet added a college to the neighborhood, but the "nocollegeobsession" hack was installed.  That made me think it might be that, and I've been playing tonight with that one removed.  So far, no blank icons, but I haven't been back into the upgraded sims lot yet.

C