The Exchange

[TheChronicR]

And how do you find trusted creators? I have not had much problem in my game, except for the same glitches everyone is complaining about (parents not returning from vacation; some lag in movement; etc.).

How do you uninstall it? and how do you know if you have it?

Well, "trusted" creators are usually the ones that don't use much CC or don't use it at all, but I am not aware of any but a few. That's the main reason I started this thread.

You can find more info about the wicked doll and how to get rid of it if you have it here, not to drag the thread off-topic.

[RunAmokSims]

Seabidy, I've heard of this Girl doll dressed; but, don't quite understand what it is about. I have downloaded a lot of things and my game works with the same quirks as everyone else. The usual glitches everyone seems to be having.

I used to belong to a subscription site and had loads of CC....never had a problem. Then I noticed things/glitches in my game. Then more things. Then  I got the doll.  I had mutant and invisible babies, these large, gray dagger shaped  things across my screen and glitches in my buildings. I uninstalled all my games and refused to use CC any more. My game runs great. I spend a lot of time building my towns and it's not worth it to me to gamble with CC.  

As far as the exchange, I downloaded some Sims from there that crashed my game. Every time I would open one of them in CAS my game crashed. And, oh yeah, even though it orginally came from another site, the Exchange is were I picked up the girl doll.

 

[MoMoll]

I haven't seen any doll anywhere. I saw from Chronic's link that there is a doll you can SEE? I'm confused. Presently my game is running fine, except that my vampire turned human is still maxing skills like a vampire.

[TallStar]

I remember the terrible Girl Doll Dressed.

I haven't seen any doll anywhere. I saw from Chronic's link that there is a doll you can SEE? I'm confused.

The Doll was originally a toy or something I think for toddlers. Or maybe it was decor? Anyway, it was an in-game object that carried a virus.

[Hosfac]

Anyway, it was an in-game object that carried a virus.

The girldolldressed was a failed attempt at adding an interaction mod to a remesh of an existing object.  The failure of the creator corrupted the doll so horribly that it caused catastrophic damage by corrupting any other file it came into contact with.  It did not carry a virus, however it acted very similarly to a virus.  It was only harmful to the game and not your computer.  Viruses are malicious software.  This incident was a terrible and unfortunate accident.

To answer your question, Chronic:  every active Sims site on the internet (including the Exchange) did a massive purge of any downloadable content that contained the doll or that was uploaded by anyone who had it.  This purge was completed a couple of years ago, so for someone to get this doll they'd have to download something from a website that has not been maintained for a very long time.  Today, instances of people ending up with this doll are unheard of for the most part.  This doll is no longer worth worrying about.

[MoMoll]

Well, so far I haven't had missing babies, or stuff. Just the normal glithches like parents not returning from vacation, etc.
If I get any major glitches, I'll re-install and not add the downloaded sims.

Thanks to all for your advice.

[TheChronicR]

Thank you Hosfac. That helped us much. So that means that we can download from the Exchange without the fear of getting the evil doll. Well, of course the CC is all spread there, but that's another subject. Thanks.

[jeanamariex3]

For me personally, I try to avoid most of the lots all together, due to the doll. However, when I do download Sims, it has to be one or two pieces of hair, makeup and that's it. I don't like the skins that make a Sim look more "realistic" or "normal" because it's really creepy. Big hair glossy lips and a few accessories are fine in small doses but that's it. Patterns and hair color are the only thing I fully trust.

So really, if you do download a Sim, check the Sim carefully before proceeding. If you know the item used on the Sim caused issues in the past, you know not to download it. If it's got glowy skin, realistic eyes, and shoes you wouldn't wear swimming, it's a no go for me. 

[Hosfac]

For me personally, I try to avoid most of the lots all together, due to the doll.

For the record:  you were able to get that doll from virtually anything that was uploaded by someone who had it.  I got it from downloading tattoos from The Exchange.  I didn't download houses because I would rather build them myself, and at the time I didn't know enough about things to download anything from anywhere else.

But the point is pretty much moot.  That doll has been eradicated from the internet for more than 2 years, and avoiding downloading anything for no other reason than a fear of that doll doesn't make a lot of sense.

[jeanamariex3]

The doll isn't the primary reason for me to avoid the Sims from the exchange. A more legit reason I mentioned before, is that I simply don't like the look of Sims looking more "realistic" or "human." It's too weird for my taste. That and it can sometimes be too risky. My personal stance on third party content is slightly more liberal than this forum's, however I still respect Carl's personal stance and will follow the rules, of course.

Of course, I do have third party patterns, such as the Spongebob pattern that came with the redesign of the "Country Fried Counter" (the cheapest default counter top).

[TallStar]

The doll isn't the primary reason for me to avoid the Sims from the exchange.

I understand your reasons there.
I do not like downloading things from the exchange with third party CC on them because I have no idea where that CC came from. They could have made it themselves, it could have come from somebody inexperienced, it could come from the homeless guy down the street that yells 'boo' whenever a kid walks by him. When it comes to third party CC, I only download things from websites I trust, know, and have seen used before.

Even though the Doll has been gone for a long time, it could linger on someone's computer files and easily attach to anything they put in the exchange. I just don't download from the exchange that much anyway. The only thing I have is a haircolor and a few houses from a trusted and well-known builder who does not use CC of any kind.

[CarlosLordofTacos]

"Realistic" sims really creep me out too! They aren`t meant to be human, they`re meant to be sims!

[Hosfac]

Yes, I can understand that I suppose.  To be honest I have a tiny bit of 3rd party custom content myself (2 or 3 items).  And none of those "realistic" skin tones.  While they might look good in the pictures, they never look right in my game.  

I was just trying to put your and everyone else's minds at ease about that doll.  Sure, the possibility mathematically exists that you could end up with it, but the odds are so remote these days that it's not really worth your effort to worry about.  

[VampirePlasma]

That famous Doll was some reason to  stop downloading things and clean my game completly. I don't trust any downloads unless they are from the store. Never going thorugh that again.

[Joria]

Normally, you can safely download items from the exchange other of OUR forum members have uploaded.  Those who have used 3rd pty cc should just say so if they upload to the exchange.  I often check the patterns section but that section is often rife with sexually explicit pictures, so be aware of that.  EA is getting better at getting rid of them.  Must be fed up with my angry emails.  I also have downloaded some hair.  Then I figured out how to create my own!  I have downloaded some houses from exceptional and VERY well known builders who use zero CC in their builds.  Yet, I did wind up with the doll!  Of course, I'm clean and clear of it now and have no idea which file gave it to me because at that time I was only downloading hair and patterns.  As Hosfac has said, it was able to attach to everything.  Anyway, it's gone, and I'm still cautious.  Better safe than sorry, and the rules of THIS forum say "no cc or mods".