All foreign friends went missing

[Alexandria_]

I was playing my dynasty game yesterday, and decided to call one of the many foreign friends that my family has. However, when I clicked on the friends tab none of them (there's 8 people in the house) had any foreign friends.
I know that one of my sims had 10 best friends from France and China, but they don't seem to show up anymore.
I reset the game, but they're still not there.

Do you know what causes this bug?
And if I go back to France or China, do you know if they would appear as friends, or would I have to start over again with the friendship?

Thanks.

[Pam]

Is it possible that the foreign friends died?  They are a little differently than local Sims.

[Alexandria_]

It could be possible, but I would think it highly unlikely - between my whole household there was around 40 foreign friends.

[gerrr00]

It has been awhile since I have had foreign friends, but I would get the notice if they were about to pass from old age.  I don't think I ever got a message about an accidental death.

[TheChronicR]

Pam is right. Their aging settings are not the same as your Sims' and townies'. Most foreigners age up a whole (or half) life stage when you travel to the place for the second time, i.e., you traveled and there was a toddler in that country, then you travel for the second time to the same country, the toddler is now a child, same for teens. Young adults and adults age up a bit slowly than toddlers and children. I don't know if foreigners die when you're not in their country, though. I'll have to check the Sims wiki.

[Alexandria_]

I've only visited China once and France twice.
Not even the children are showing up - surely they can't have all died too?

I don't think it's likely that 40 sims all died at once in both countries. Oh well, it's not affecting me too much. It's just odd.


EDIT: I just remembered that even though all the people have gone missing from the friends tab, my sims still get wishes to call or invite their foreign friends over.

[TheChronicR]

I've only visited China once and France twice.
Not even the children are showing up - surely they can't have all died too?

I don't think it's likely that 40 sims all died at once in both countries. Oh well, it's not affecting me too much. It's just odd.

Can't you just revisit China or France, to check if the sims in question are alive or not? If they're alive, then you'll have to befriend them again, if they're dead, then you'll have to find new friends.

[Alexandria_]

Can't you just revisit China or France, to check if the sims in question are alive or not? If they're alive, then you'll have to befriend them again, if they're dead, then you'll have to find new friends.

Yes, I can do that.
I was just wondering if there was a glitch associated with this problem, otherwise I wouldn't have posted this topic.
But it seems that it isn't a known problem.

[Schipperke]

I've never heard of this problem, Alexandria.  But I'd sure be curious to know what happens when your sims travel to one of these destinations.  It seems unlikely the foreign friends would all be dead - I know you get notices when a foreign friend is about to die of old age, and that many accidental deaths is pretty unlikely.  It seems it must be some sort of glitch.  The question is, will the foreign friends show up again in the relationship panel when your sims travel?  Or maybe just restarting the game will fix the problem.  If it doesn't and you decide to take your sims travelling, please let us know what happens.  Good luck.

[Alexandria_]

I've never heard of this problem, Alexandria.  But I'd sure be curious to know what happens when your sims travel to one of these destinations.  It seems unlikely the foreign friends would all be dead - I know you get notices when a foreign friend is about to die of old age, and that many accidental deaths is pretty unlikely.  It seems it must be some sort of glitch.  The question is, will the foreign friends show up again in the relationship panel when your sims travel?  Or maybe just restarting the game will fix the problem.  If it doesn't and you decide to take your sims travelling, please let us know what happens.  Good luck.

Thanks, I'll definitely let you know what happens. I haven't had the chance to travel for a bit because I've being trying to organise the hectic lives of 8 sims
But when I go to France or China next, I'll let you know whether the people are alive, if they show up as friends or if I have to befriend them all

[TheChronicR]

Yes, I can do that.
I was just wondering if there was a glitch associated with this problem, otherwise I wouldn't have posted this topic.
But it seems that it isn't a known problem.

I've personally never had this problem, but the game is full of all kinds of glitches and bugs... 

[Alexandria_]

I've personally never had this problem, but the game is full of all kinds of glitches and bugs... 

Yes, that's true. I've read of quite a few to do with WA and travelling, so I'm always a little hesitant to travel. But we'll see what happens when I get the nerve to

[TheChronicR]

I just googled this, and according to people on the official forums, foreign Sims DO age, but only when you're on your home lot. They don't age at their home town for some people, but others have reported that they do. Others say that they got a notice that a foreign Sim would die soon. I've personally never got such notice, probably because aging is off in the save file I think of I might have got. So, only when you're at your home lot, and only if all the Sims in question are elders, they may die like your normal Sims. This is an uncommon, yet existing bug you got. Sorry.

[Alexandria_]

Thanks for looking all that up ChronicR
However, a few of them where kids, so I'm not entirely sure that they would have died. But it's always a possibility. I'll have to take my sims on a vacation soon, it seems!

[TheChronicR]

Thanks for looking all that up ChronicR
However, a few of them where kids, so I'm not entirely sure that they would have died. But it's always a possibility. I'll have to take my sims on a vacation soon, it seems!

You are very welcome.
Can you tell me when you've met them? If it was long ago, they might have died from Old Age, but if happened just a week ago, then it's not it. Remember, locals age up when your Sim is at home (Sunset Valley, Riverview, Twinbrook, etc), they do not age up when you travel, and have access to them. It's weird, I agree. If all this fails, then be sure that this is a glitch.