Sprinklers

[rlf]

Hi! I have been playing Sims 3 for a while and I learn a lot about it from different sites like this one. Everywhere I see stories about the sprinklers, their use, their being made automatic, but - shame on me - I couldn't fix sprinklers for the simple reason that I don't find them in any part of the buying section. Could anyone help me?

[Metropolis Man]

Yeah, I remember having a hard time finding them the first time too. They're in the Outdoor section.

[DLSpurlock]

The sprinklers are under Appliances (Miscellaneous). Took some digging for me to find them too.

Dave

[Pam]

I find sprinklers under the Outdoor tab, on the football picture (Outdoor Activities).  Which is weird because I wouldn't think a sprinkler is normally an activity.

[Metropolis Man]

I find sprinklers under the Outdoor tab...Which is weird because I wouldn't think a sprinkler is normally an activity.

Ha ha. Yeah, here's my 3 girls:

Claire: "Dad, can we go to the children's museum?"
Emily: "Dad, can we go to McDonalds?"
Megan: "How about we all do sprinkler?"
Me: "Sprinkler it is. Okay, Claire, show me your butt-shaking sprinkler move."

[Swede1992]

Sprinklers are just as horrible as the barbecue pit!
They're definitely an activity, because even when the sim is practically dead from starvation, it can't find anything better to do than play with them!
Why waste thousands of simbucks for a flat, HD, 400 inches TV set with surround system, when you can have a sprinkler?

[Pam]

Hehe.  Well, I did say sprinklers aren't "normally" an activity.  When I first wanted one, it was to water the yard and I had no idea my Sim would be so attached to it.  But I guess even watering the yard is sort of an activity.  It's not lawn decoration or a grill, so I guess the activities tab is as good a place as any to put them.

[Grandpa Muleskinner]

They're definitely an activity, because even when the sim is practically dead from starvation, it can't find anything better to do than play with them!

Sims obsessing over sprinklers 24/7 is a real bother. I've been trying to work the 'Perfect Garden' challenge. With lots of plants. If I install sprinklers to decrease 'tend garden' time, my sims spend the rest of their time, day and/or night playing in the sprinklers. If I don't give them sprinklers, then my sims spend a lot more time watering and the plants seem to suffer in spite of all the watering by hand.

Oh, and they have plenty of toys and other stuff too.

So here's me question. Does anyone know if this is definitely a glitch (to be fixed someday)? Or do my sims obsess over sprinklers because of a trait characteristic or perhaps something else?

p.s. I've even gone so far as to place a (locked) gated hedge around the entire garden. My sims still get the sprinkler thought bubble and grumble/stomp their feet because access to the sprinklers is blocked (locked off).

I know, I know... I'm mean!!! But it's my way or the high way. After all I'm a grumpy ol' grandpa man.  

[wildredchild]

If they have the Loves The Outdoors trait, then they will constantly want to play in the sprinklers I am afraid.

[Metropolis Man]

Wild's right, Grandpa — the culprit is Loves the Outdoors. But, the easy solution is just to keep Sims busy. If they've got a full agenda, then no problems. It's more micromanagement for you, but as long as you keep their butt out of the water and doing other more productive things, then all is good.

[Swede1992]

I never have love the outdoors, but they still can't see the fun in a 4500 inch plasma TV!

[jestina]

I never take the outdoors trait just because of the sprinkler.  Even without that trait they still have a hard time resisting.

Oh look i'm starving, exhausted, and it's four in the morning what will I do...go play in the sprinkler of course.

[Grandpa Muleskinner]

Wild's right, Grandpa — the culprit is Loves the Outdoors. But, the easy solution is just to keep Sims busy. If they've got a full agenda, then no problems. It's more micromanagement for you, but as long as you keep their butt out of the water and doing other more productive things, then all is good.

If they have the Loves The Outdoors trait, then they will constantly want to play in the sprinklers I am afraid.

Thanks for the info. I had only a hunch that "Loves The Outdoors" might have something to do with this phenomenon. I might be spending some of my sims LTR during gameplay this evening to replace "Loves The Outdoors" with something else to see what happens. The sims family I'm playing at the moment have already achieved 10 in gardening. Now I want to get them going on nectar making. 

[Grandpa Muleskinner]

I never take the outdoors trait just because of the sprinkler.  Even without that trait they still have a hard time resisting.

Oh look i'm starving, exhausted, and it's four in the morning what will I do...go play in the sprinkler of course.

Well then, I may just have to install some dart and fire traps. LOL <kidding> I'm very fond of my little pixelated peeps. 

[jmz95]

Wild's right, Grandpa — the culprit is Loves the Outdoors. But, the easy solution is just to keep Sims busy. If they've got a full agenda, then no problems. It's more micromanagement for you, but as long as you keep their butt out of the water and doing other more productive things, then all is good.

Personally, I've never seen the Play with Sprinkler interaction autonomously because I'm all about micromanagement. I always have my sims doing something and I pause A LOT.