Problems with Late Night

[lucidsounds13]

Hey guys,

I feel extremely silly now to get the new expansion pack, knowing full well that new games that are just out have all kinds of problems, but Late Night was just too tempting.. Well, everything went fine, the installation and everything... I went into it, made a family, but when it came to moving them in, it would kick me off after maybe 10 seconds of play time. I've done this at least 5 times and it is just SO disheartening!  I'm pretty sure my computer can handle it and I've uninstalled all the custom content, even restarted, and I'm at a loss of what to do. If anyone has any ideas let me know! Thanks!

Edit: Well, I don't know, but it might be my video card - I've never upgraded the one that came with my laptop. My video card is ATI M880G Radeon 4200.. Is it possibly my video card causing the problems - do video cards usually do this?

[Carl]

It's said a million times I know, but is the graphics card driver up to date? If I try to start The Sims 3 after a clean install of windows it won't even launch without a graphics card update.

[LlamaMama]

Since the update the in-game icon for Shop Mode spins, all sparkly and distracting, driving me nuts! Has anyone found a way to turn off that effect?

[Pam]

Since the update the in-game icon for Shop Mode spins, all sparkly and distracting, driving me nuts! Has anyone found a way to turn off that effect?

I believe there's a way to turn it off in Options from the ... button.  Or try clicking on the shop mode button and see if you get an option to turn it off.

[lucidsounds13]

You know what, I'm actually thinking the whole card in my laptop is not listed in the requirements! I'm so bummed! It isn't like I can change out my video card on a laptop so I can play the game. My laptop is hardly a year old, but I guess my laptop is not oriented for games. I guess a word of caution is not to assume that just because your computer can handle the previous games, make sure you buy something compatible! Thanks, Carl!

[LlamaMama]

I believe there's a way to turn it off in Options from the ... button.  Or try clicking on the shop mode button and see if you get an option to turn it off.

I figured out that it's a tutorial effect (look here!) due to my reinstalling the game. After clicking on the icon, it stops spinning and shining. Thanks, Pam.

@lucidsounds13: Do you know how to update the drivers for the graphics card? It's just software, not a changeout of the card.

If it turns out that updating the drivers doesn't work, keep in mind that some newer laptops permit changing the graphics card. It would be worth making sure of, if you believe your card won't handle The Sims. You may not need a new laptop after all.

[Pam]

@lucidsounds:

Have you been able to play the base Sims 3 game on this same laptop with no problem?

[Glic2000]

You know what, I'm actually thinking the whole card in my laptop is not listed in the requirements! I'm so bummed! It isn't like I can change out my video card on a laptop so I can play the game. My laptop is hardly a year old, but I guess my laptop is not oriented for games.

Unfortunately, most laptops are not oriented for games   (usually because of the video card differences).

[Lilygirl]

I have a bit of the opposite problem, but sort of the same.

My Mac laptop (bought a year ago with game playing in mind) runs all the Sims EP just fine, but my husbands PC, with Vista, has the same problem of crashing the game after only 10 seconds. It will tolerate nothing more than the base game, even updating that game causes it to crash, every time. Before you ask, my husband just updated everything in his computer this summer (he's an avid gamer.)

Anyway, what I'm trying to say is the problem has been around before LN and I've got no suggestions. My husband and I have purged our brains of ideas (and did an extensive internet search) and nothing has worked. Hopefully things go much better for you lucidsounds. Good luck!

[cndneh]

The same crashing 10 seconds into the game is happening to me as well.  My computer savvy nerdy bf is working on it but is perplexed as well. He updated everything on my computer (windows 7) and it doesn't work, but it does on his (earlier windows... vista I think).  Though he was busy updated all his mods last night so people (on different forum obviously) wouldn't whine, hopefully he gets to serious brain storming about this problem today for me.  I'll let you know if he comes up with anything.  (since I really really want to play this game!!)

That being said I should clarify that Bridgeport crashes for me, but I can still play the other towns (Sunset Valley etc).

[mtglady]

I read somewhere in the official Sims 3 forum last night that there are a couple of corrupt and / or blank lots that are causing problems in Bridgeport for some players.  Some believe it is happening only to players with Ambitions.
It was suggested to start a new game in Bridgeport, then go directly into Edit Town.  Don't go into CAS or pick a household or anything like that yet. 
The thread said to look over the town for gray lots - especially at 34 1st Ave.  Use the bulldozer to delete the lot(s) then save your game to use for the future. 
Some have also found that the firestation located at 357 4th Ave may be causing a problem.  They suggest bulldozing the building but not the lot, set the lot to Residential, then save your game.  A new firestation can be placed within the new game you start.
Use this 'Saved Game' anytime you start a new family/town until EA can fix the glitch. 

Note:  If you try to replace a gray lot after bulldozing it, the game tells you there is a routing problem.   

[Chris]

cndneh
I had the same problem yesterday and ended up reinstalling the base game and expansion packs.  After that the game worked fine and hasn’t crashed since.  However, others have reported that going to documents/electronic arts and renaming the folder “The Sims 3” to “The Sims 3 backup” also fixes the problem.  Once the folder is renamed start the game again and “The Sims 3” folder will be regenerated and the game should no longer crash in Bridgeport.  If this works you can exit the game and copy your saves and mods from “The Sims backup” to “The Sims 3”  Here is a link with more specific instructions http://www.modthesims.info/wiki.php?title=Game%20Help:Sims_3_Loading_Crashes#Remove_User_Files .  A few people also said deleting the fire station in Bridgeport and re-adding it to another location in town stopped the game from crashing after they entered Bridgeport (I’m not really sure why this would fix the problem but it’s the simplest and fastest of the three fixes I have found).  

[cndneh]

Thanks mtglady and Chris for the ideas, I've gone right into edit town and I did have a grey area (5154 Silverscreen Drive) and it worked, without moving the fire hall  (YAHOO!!)  so now I'm playing Bridgeport... well... so far!

*happy dance*

[Joria]

This is not a problem with Bridgeport but rather SV after installing LN.  I salvaged several items from the junkyard and called the repair person.  After several tries, each of which the repair person arrives, stands around nodding and moving their arms, (per usual), they say they are done, charge the standard fee and walk off, leaving NOTHING repaired.  Since this is one of the ways I cheaply remodel houses and gain income, it's a royal pain.  Anyone else had this problem or know if it's a bug or whatever?

[LlamaMama]

I'll try to test that for you in one of my games later today, Joria.