Instead of having to alter each item to make it shiftable, couldn't one mod be made that would allow all items that automatically snapped to a wall or had the trait, 'this item must be placed against a wall'  to shift?  This way it would only need to be updated for each patch/EP/SP rather than every time the Store released things.  And it would cover in theory everything? 

I'm not a modder so I really have no idea if this idea is possible, plus it is really early and I have not yet had my coffee, but it just seems more logical to do it that way if it is.   

If not, I second the shiftable mounted fish idea 

Well I just got to experience the new teenage party feature.  The dad gets a pop up that he won a two day vacation and would he like to go?  So I choose yes, thinking (stupid me) that maybe since I have WA installed the parents might have received a trip to a WA destination free of charge. But no, they just get into a car and then their icons are grayed out. Oh and BTW, the pop up happened at 3am while they were sleeping.  The taxi arrived immediately after I accepted the vacation and they woke up at 3am to get in the taxi and disappear. 

The teenage daughter got a call as she woke up from another teen in town asking if she was having a party and I chose yes.  Then an interface appeared allowing me to choose the time and guests from a list.  Only teens were allowed to be invited and there were only two other teens in the town.  At the start time the two other teens showed up.  I had a radio going in the house and video games, but the two guests never came in the house. They just stood outside until my teen came out and just started talking to them.  A pop up appeared that the parents were coming home early and that the house better be clean when they arrive.  The party broke up with one guest saying it was the best party ever, and one saying the party sucked.  As the guests never entered the house, there was nothing to clean so the teen went to bed.  When the parents showed up, nothing more happened. 

If this is standard for the teen party it appears to suck as hard as every other type of party.

I've noticed this problem with certain sims lately as well.  ResetSim works for me.

Now that there are half wall options could it be done as a "halfwall" but make the mesh (cloned from a half wall) almost full wall height?  But it would appear under the half wall catagory?

I don't create CC either so I don't know but it's a thought.

Well it was true for that one sim.   But you are right it does seem to be borked because just today I had another sim get an opportunity for Doo Pea's, and there was no opportunity at Steve's Business Complex.  Not sure why it worked with one sim but not another one....

The opportunities one should not be a problem.  I had a teen who got the "work a Doo Pea's corporate tower for extra credit"  opportunity.   There obviously is no Doo Pea's Tower in Bridgeport but the opportunity icon showed up at Steves Business Complex and she was able to do it there.  It appears for me,  it's just the name of the building in the text box is incorrect, which is annoying, but not game breaking. 

To get around sims not going to work, just click on the building that they should be working at and a "tranfer job here" option should show up.  The sims will go to their
work building and it will ask you if you want to transfer you job here.  Once you click yes they start going to work normally. 

Posibly a stupid question- If I do not see the doll as a buyable item in game and I did a search on 0x038a68fe04da61a6aa65f939d77fbc37.package in my DCBackup folder and it is not found, it is safe to say I do not have this in my game?

I'm trying to install the new patch and it updated the base game fine, but is comming up with an error "file not found" when trying to update HELS.  I think it's happening when it gets to a launcher.exe file, but the thing flashes so fast I'm not totally positive.    

I checked my HELS/game/bin file compared to the base games and WA's game/bin folder and the previous two have both a S3Launcher.exe and a Sims3Launcher.exe file in them.  My HELS/game/bin folder only has the Sims3Launcher.exe file.   No S3Launcher.exe file in it.    

Could someone please check their HELS folder for a S3Launcher.exe file and if you have it post it please?  I have no idea how it could have gone missing, but I'm really hoping this will solve my problem.Thanks.  

EDIT- I copy and pasted the S3Launcher.exe file from the WA bin and put it it in the HELS bin, reran the patch and the error changed from "File not Found" to "Invalid File Found"  so I'm pretty sure it is the missing file and I just need the original HELS one to fix this.  

2nd EDIT-- So I realized I have the HELS disk and can pull original files off it.  (smacks self)   I pulled the file and it was still throwing errors.   Turns out patch doesn't like different timestamps on files?  The only way I got it to work was to copy and relplace the entire Game/Bin folder on my C drive with the one from the disk and move files around so it was set up the same as the original one on my C drive.   Then I ran the patch and it says it updated now.   Going to play a bit to see if there is any borkedness in game or not.   

Thanks for this.    I have the same issue and am running on Vista so it can not be a Windows 7 issue.   At least I know it's their fault, not CC.  In fact the ONLY file I have in my Mods folder is betterenergygainnofreepretties.package.

In fact... I just went to look for my Mods folder and it and the resource.cfg file are in the Electronic Arts Folder, not TheSims3,TheSims3WorldAdventure or TheSims3HighEndLoftStuff folders.    And the mod still works.   Don't know if .package objects will work from there as I no longer use them, but that mod does.   

I removed my mods folder, resource.cfg, and all non-purchased store content  before installing the patch and it seemed to install OK.  All my CC installed through the launcher, both bought and third party is showing up in my game.   I went into buy mode clicked on the store button to see what would happen.   It launched and showed a free coffee maker to download.  I checked the store on the website and it is not there to download.  So I went and downloaded it. A popup said "Your item is now downloading via the game launcher" or something like that.     Game then proceded to choke.  Game sound skipping, lagging, couldn't scroll the screen, time was moving on the game clock, but my sims weren't.   Wonderful.   So I quit without saving.  Looked in my downloads folder and I've got not one, not two but EIGHT HotBeverageMachineModern.Sims3Pack files in my downloads folder.  WTF?    So I relaunch game, and all seems to be OK , it's playing fine now.   But if that's what happens when you use their "Download your items while in game!" feature ..... well why am I even surprised.


On a completly different note.   Has anyone else noticed a new file in their Downloads folder called  Nav.bin ?   It wasn't there before the patch, I'm positive.  I'm itching to delete it but I have no idea what it's doing or why it appeared after the patch.  

EA just released a bunch of free items.    Some are actually pretty nice.

They can be downloaded here if anyone wants to avoid the store site.  

http://www.mediafire.com/?nywmzdyt5nl

included is

The lips loveseat
The car loveseat
The new clock
A new female tank top
A new male top
A female coyboyhat hair
A male cowboyhat hair
A new pair of high heeled female boots

Enjoy

Edited to add -
I did not download the bunny thing wall decoration.  I personally think it's ugly and did not want it.  If someone else downloaded it, they are free to share.

No, I've never purchased a transporter ever.  The one sim that died was a technophobe, I do not think she would attempt to repair anything, even if she broke it.   There is a computer on her lot as she is an author though.    I did not realize you could die from electrocution. I think I've only seen once or twice a sim get electrocuted by fixing something.  And all it seemed to do was give the "singed" moodlet.   I've been on vacation and had a sim get electrocuted by a trap multiple times without dying.   Perhaps the traps are less deadly than common household appliances?

The only issue I have to report other than blue lots which is documented in another thread, is that I appear to now have a serial killer on the loose in my town.   Since installing WA, I have now experienced two random, non-age related deaths in my town.  I clicked on a house with a engaged couple and noticed it was only the man.   I figured EA's story progression just moved her out or something but when I went into the house, he had a broken-hearted moodlet that said "from death of lover" or something like that.  And he kept crying with her pic as the thought bubble.   I rolled back to an earlier save and tossed it up to random weirdness.    Then several days real time later I noticed the teenage son of a different family was missing.  Went into that house, checked the family tree and his pic is greyed out like he died.  And he's not in their relationship panel anymore.  

On one hand, I've always thought this game needed MOAR DEATH.  It seems much harder to kill off sims in TS3 than TS2.  And the randomness of it (neither were old) I suppose could add a bit of suspense and uncertainty to the game.  
But I want to be God dammit!  I want to decide who lives and dies.  And how they die!  
Anyone else have this happen?  A connection I do see between the deaths is that both families did go on vacation shortly before the "death".  One to Egypt, one to China.  But neither saw a mummy, so they couldn't have been cursed.  

I suppose I could just pretend one of my evil sims is on a rampage.... Just gotta decide which one.

The only time I was getting random CTD in WA was, I believe, due to a custom hair.   Been playing with out CTD's then suddenly was getting them.   Realized I had put back in a couple custom hairs around the time the CTD started. I've been feeding my CC back in a bit at a time to catch crap like this.    Took out one of them - an Abby pooklet'ed hair from GOS.   Kept getting CTD's.   Put Abby's hair back in and took out the file with Dreadlocks and Braided Ponytail, also from GOS but the name of the creator escapes me.   Haven't had a CTD since.   I was using the Dreads and Braided hairs before WA without problems.   *shrug* I give up on anything making sense anymore with this EP.

I had my first ever Save Error last night.  Error 16.  ( I feel so spechul! )

I also have the latest patch which was created to PREVENT this! (Yeah right)

I tried to save - Error 16.  I tried to do a Save As, Error 16, I quit and relaunched game - corrupt, greyed out save files.  Quit game, deleted them, restored the .backup file, relaunched them game and the restored .backup file was corupted and greyed out as well!.  I thankfully had a save file from about 5 days ago that I could fall back on.   I'm now doing save as much more frequently so that if something does happen, I have something to fall back on. 

The only thing I could think of was that I had gone into China and did the 'testingcheatsenable true' and replaced the cashregisters in the market because I was getting the bug where the stores were "closed" and I couldn't buy anything in China.   I probably should have saved right away after that but I didn't and did a TON of stuff between then and trying to save.  I have maybe used the testing cheat only once or twice before that.  I'm wonding if that had something to do with it.

I thought it was pretty much confirmed that the only hope for anything decent in the Sims is from the modders in the community.   

Are you positive?   I have this item installed on my "clean" game with no problems.  Just to be sure, I placed the flowers on a lot, saved, exited, reentered the game and didn't get any blue lots.   I don't understand how I could have it in my game without issue and someone else couldn't. 

On a more positive note, not that anyone cares but me, I found a  SunsetValley.legacy file in my recycle bin and on a hunch restored that to my game.  Sure enough it was my original hood I thought I had lost.  That's what I've been playing the last couple days with the limited CC I've tested and have had no blue lots with multiple saves, changes of households and multiple vacation trips.   

The CC files will not cause the blue lots if they are simply in the Mods folder when the game is launched.   The item must be placed on a lot and the game saved and relaunched before the blue lots will show up.   I saved and relaunched with lemoncandy files in my mods folder before I put them in a house.  I was fine.  I put a fig tree on the lot, saved and relaunched and got the blue lots.   

Interesting testing everyone

Just so you guy know.. once you pull up a saved game and the lots are blue when the game loads, no amount of Save As or removing CC will bring it back to normal.  You must restore a previous "good" save file to remove the blue lots.   I've tried everything to get my original game that I spent 5mths developing back to normal to no avail.    Or maybe that's what you were trying to say Shower-Scream.  

I did test 3 of Baba Yagas "lovely clutter" items  The geode, the pagoda, and the chinese doll, saved and exited to main menu, re-entered and no blue lots.  

EDIT - I did a test of the rest of Baba Yaga's lovely clutter items feeding them back in a bit at a time.  NO blue lots.   I then tried adding several custom windows.  Got Blue Lots .

MTS_leesester_980255_Leesester_WindowMissionCounter_Height CAUSED blue lots, just placing a single one on a lot, saved, rentered game.   I'll continue to test the rest of my windows.  

HugeLunatic_WindowColonialArch2X1Dormer
HugeLunatic_WindowColonialTallArch2X1FullHeight
HugeLunatic_WindowColonialTallSquare2X1FullHeight
HugeLunatic_WindowColonialTallArchShort
HugeLunatic_WindowColonialTallArch2X1Short  -- These windows did NOT cause blue lots when placed on a lot, saved, rentered game.  

Death Jester - I'd try removing my whole Mods folder and try feeding back your CC in a bit at a time.   Just having the file in the Mods folder isn't causing the blue lots, it actually placing the object in a house in buy mode then saving the game and reentering.

I tested just adding a pool to a lot, saving and reentering and did not get blue lots. 

If you are positive you removed all lemon candy's items and are still getting blue lots, I will guess that there is other CC in your game that is also causing it.

Place a few CC items on a lot, Save As, go to main menu, reload neighborhood.  No blue lots?  That CC you just put in your house should be OK, Blue lots?  CC is borked. 

I have to go to work now... will be back later.

Death Jester are you running a completly mod/CC free game and still getting the Blue lots?  I have confirmed that lemoncandy's files are causing blue lots by running a CC free game with no problems, then placing a singe one of her plants and getting the blue screen.

If you are not running CC free, I would suggest you take everything out and run the game for a while, see what happens.  

Would you by any chance be using any other CC that was taken extracted out of Sims 2?  

I will try to test the pool thing to see if I can duplicate, as soon as I'm able, but I have to work today.  


You are correct that the patch/EP has affected some CC.  But this is expected.  It has been happening since the days of Sims 1.  Not all CC/Mods will be compatible moving forward and some will need to be removed until the creator can update them.   EA cannot resonably be expected to test a patch/EP with the thousands of files of CC out there avaliable on hundreds of different websites.  

Now the fact they released a patch resulting in save errors.  THAT's something we can bash them on.  NOT applying new features of the patch EP like recolorability on stair and fences to their PREMIUM (snert) Store Content,  lets call that a screw up.   Or perhaps you're right and everthing is EA's fault and they evil, horrible, and all around stupid.    I just woke up and haven't had any coffee yet, so that's entirely possible too.

Update- I place the following CC into a house, saved and exited and returned to an OK game

TS2toTS3Converswion_HolySimolyAmaranteLoungeSuite- includes chair, loveseat and sofa - from Club Crymson
MTS_HugeLunatic_1025062_HL_KarlstadSeating- includes chair,loveseat and sofa from MTS
MTS_Menaceman44_1027305_MM_PlainBlinds - single tile and two-tile blinds - from MTS
Xerendipity_FantasySwirl- coffee table from Sim National
Xerendipity_Bathtub+Japanese
Xerendipity_Romantic Tub - both baths from Sim National

All were able to be placed on a lot and saved with no blue lots. 

I have also confirmed that at least one of lemoncandy's items - if placed in a house-  WILL result in 90% of the hoods lots turning blue after reentering the game after a save. (See my other post for details if you wish).  The item I specifically tested was the fig tree pulled from the Sims 2.  Possible other items extracted from the Sims 2 may be affected.  Moar testing required.   

OMG slymenstra, you may be on to something.   I also am obsessed with LemonCandys plants and clutter.   Try the plants i think first.   I'm pretty sure the last blue lot save  I had placed one of her floor plants that was extracted from Sims 2, the fig tree floor plant maybe? in one of my houses just before I got a blue lot save, after having many saves before that with no problem.  

I had eleminated about 3/4's of my CC (obscure creators, hack/mods)  but had kept her stuff in because she was such a "known" creator and has such quality work.  Plus I love it to death.  

I also had some clutter from BabaYaga that I believe they extracted from sims 2 as well.  Or at least it looks like it came directly from Sims 2.  

I also need to go to bed now but will start testing this after work tommorrow.    

Shadow - if this is indeed a problem with CC files it is not (in this single case) EA's fault.   There are plenty of things you can blame them for, but this may not be one of them.  

YES! YES! YES! YES!   It's lemoncandy's files.   I put ONLY Lemoncandy's stuff in game.  Launched it, everything was fine.   Edited a house.. added plants, changed colors .. did everything BUT place one of lemoncandy's plants.   Saved and exited.   Reentered the game and it was fine.   Then I placed a single lemoncandy plant.  The fig tree that has the description "From Sims 2.".  I did nothing else. I saved and Quit, reentered and BLUE LOTS.  I've never been so happy to see a blue lot.  I'm now going to start retesting all my other CC, but I think that's it.  I too am wondering if any object regardless of creator, could cause the blue lot issue if they were extracted from the Sims 2.  

Update- I place the following CC into a house, saved and exited and returned to an OK game

TS2toTS3Converswion_HolySimolyAmaranteLoungeSuite- includes chair, loveseat and sofa - from Club Crymson
MTS_HugeLunatic_1025062_HL_KarlstadSeating- includes chair,loveseat and sofa from MTS
MTS_Menaceman44_1027305_MM_PlainBlinds - single tile and two-tile blinds - from MTS
Xerendipity_FantasySwirl- coffee table from Sim National
Xerendipity_Bathtub+Japanese
Xerendipity_Romantic Tub - both baths from Sim National

All were able to be placed on a lot and saved with no blue lots. 
I will start a post in the "good CC" thread as I continue to test.   

Aeval - I do not use testing cheats enable EVER and I get blue lots.   I do use kaching, motherlode, fadeobjects off, and moveobjects on.   These are not testing cheats however.

I have now after getting blue lots again after the 2nd patch, removed all my Resource.cfg and Mods folder completly. I also removed all my Non EA created CC from the game, via deleting the caches yet again, and reinstalling only EA created objects.   I do have custom homes installed but they do not contain any CC, so I left them.  

Edit to finish my post-

First thing I noticed after restarting.  Up till now the spawn rate for collectibles in Sunset Valley was crap.   Before WA I had collectables all over the place, pretty easy to find.   After I installed WA, I could barely find any bugs or rocks or gems anywhere. They were there, just very few of them.   I thought it was a new game thing, like EA now wants you to collect on vacation or something.    After removing all non EA downloads and restarting, I right away noticed that all the rocks and gems were spawning as normal.  I cannot fathom what CC would have caused this to happen as I only had objects installed in the game before this.  NO MOD files.   And no modified Objects either.  Just basics like tables, chairs, decor and CAS stuff like shoes,hair and makeup. 
I reloaded the previous "good" save and sent the same sim to china again.   Kept her there the full time, returned and no blue lots.   I will continue to keep playing this until I either blue lot again or I feel that I can say that something CC wise is causing this. 

Oh and for what it's worth, I have the latest patch and am still getting .backup saves in my Sims3 folder.   So the very latest patch doesn't seem to be stoping that from happening.

I just returned with my Sim from China after updating to 1.7/2.2  and the neighborhood was nearly all blue lots again.   I was so hoping the new patch would fix that but I should have known better.