CAS UI discombobulation

[Ricalynn]

I couldn't think of a better title for what keeps happening.  This has happened off and on for a while now.  It's not directly related to any particular file or EP.  It's random but lately it feels like it's been happening with a lot more frequency.

Here is a picture:


Her turning pink is along the lines of my Sims turning black sometimes.  This usually means I need to restart sims and it doesn't hurt to get rid of cache files.   The other half of it is the buttons on left where the outfits should be.  That's been happening since I got Sims 3 in 2009 when my computer was brand new and so was the game. 

Again this is always random but I was wondering if anyone knew why.  I can't figure out the wording needed to see if other people have this problem but I haven't found anything yet.

[Pam]

I'm just impressed with the word you used. 

[Gameactive]

Woah... It looks like the game doesn't like your graphics card.
I'm somewhat tech saavy, and what I see here is that it appears the game is placing the textures where they shouldn't go, therefore "discombobulating" the graphics.

[Figwit]

Oh my. 

My first guess would be bad custom content though if it has happened since 2009 it is doubtful if you even had custom content then.  It could even be something as trivial as bad eyebrows.  I am not sure about the rest of the body.

[Ricalynn]

I don't use any CC anymore.  So I know it's not CC related for this to have happened last night.

I'm actually on my second graphics card with this computer and it's done it on both of them so I'm hesitant to think that's the only problem.   It's not a major issue I guess as long as I remember to save before going into CAS to plan outfit or appearance.   It's just usually when the game is loading up all the thumbnails it has a bit of a ... I don't even know what to call it but I finally got a picture to prove it!

[Figwit]

Have you updated your video driver?  I'm sure you would have but doesn't hurt to ask.   

[Ricalynn]

I've updated everything I can think of unless you know a Mac trick to pushing for it that I'm not aware of.  I just realized I forgot to mention the Mac part.

[wednesday21]

Wow. This is weird. I've never seen this happen in mine or somebody else's game. May I ask you to tell us the models of your two graphics cards you've had this problem with? I also suppose you are on a Mac system (not very clear on that)?

[Ricalynn]

I've been on a Mac for years.  This is an iMac that I've had since 2009 I think.  Mind isn't what it used to be.  I'm more interested on if this is common.  The part over where the outfits should be is the part I wanted to show people.   

The Sim changing color isn't common - it's usually black with rainbow swirls on the rare occassion it does it.  Also this is the first time in a long time it's done it on a sim that wasn't red/blue/green.   This Sim was a milk chocolate color before the change to her face.

What fixes it is clearing the caches including the ones in the Thumbnails file.  Sometimes I get a crash report, sometimes I don't.  Is there a program I could get to figure those out?

As for my graphics cards, the first one was Nvidia 8600 and now it's a 8800 GS.

[KrispyNickyB]

I've read about this happening with the last patch. However since it's happened on and off for a while, I'm out of guesses.

[wednesday21]

According to the chart at Sims Wiki both the cards you have mentioned can only smoothly play the base game. Pets isn't supported as it seems, too (have a look at this thread) - weird.

Your problem could actually be connected to this exact issue. This is baffling.

[Ricalynn]

According to that thread, they don't know if any Mac cards are supported so it's hard to tell.

[wednesday21]

Really? Well, I wouldn't know. I didn't read the thread actually, just the first post.

[Ricalynn]

Yeah based on color coding all the author knows is that Mac cards are supposed to work the base game according to EA.  I haven't found anything that suggests problems with my card though.

If we can't figure out a fix, I'm not overly worried about it as I said a new computer is coming my way and I know it's card should handle it all. 

Thanks for looking wednesday.