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DigitalSympathies
5th Jul 2012, 2:35 AM
Hi. I share my game with a couple of people, we each have our separate neighbourhoods on the same computer. Can I Run This put our computer as far to the right ("fast!") as it can go. We're on an nVidia GeForce GTS 450 Limited graphics card. This is NOT a graphics issue from my own experience and research, as this only started to happen in this game after we installed the lots.

Changing settings doesn't work, and I can't see this problem covered anywhere after a while of Googling . . . sigh. All EP's/SP's including Store and Holiday Packs, Windows 7, and this persists on the many computers I've booted this game off of. I have all of the latest drivers as I just updated last week from the prompt that nVidia gave me.

Long story short, an (ex-)employee installed a shittonne of non-scanned lots from T$R and now everything randomly flashes pink. It's not limited to CC but covers both Maxis and CC objects. Mirrors render the scene correctly, but in non-mirrored view, they're . . . this.

I think it may be a hack that snuck in, but I've just wrapped up many hours picking through the downloads folder with clean installer (like just after this started to happen) and I don't see anything that perks my ears up. Another theory is a hack conflict. HCDU can't scan this folder as 1) it freezes, and 2) I'm using AnyGameStarter and it doesn't have an option to set the destination point, sadly enough.

Figure one. The apartment building built fine, but when I load it up, this happens.

http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg228/scaled.php?server=228&filename=snapshot3cbc0a3ddcc0406.jpg&res=landing

Figure two. The sims (including their portraits) were pink, but if I drag a mirror on over, you can see them just fine.

http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/8397/snapshotfca0b99afca1f10.jpg

Figure three. A new, empty neighbourhood, and a reasonably small-sized lot (I've noticed this happening on bigger lots more frequently, so I decided to load up a smaller one) and the entire thing goes pink.

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/4192/snapshot0000004b1ca1f41.jpg

Figure four. The tree displays fine without a light shining on it, but when I go to night view and shine a light near it, it starts flashing pink

http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/3121/snapshot000000589d00926.jpg

Not pictured, but I've also noticed:

- Flashing pink puddles when it rains. (Not all, just some.)
- Flashing pink sims, but when you force error on them, they return to normal.
- Flashing pink sims which cannot be force error'd back to normal.
- When you move said brand-new, never-been-used sims into a NEW lot, they return to normal.
- The larger the lot, the more likely this is to happen.
- When I place certain items, such as a bed whose frame used to flash blue (but I finally got the textures for), its bedding now flashes pink.
- In the catalogue, when I Ctrl + Click to refresh a thumbnail on a pink lot, all of them will turn into their pink counterparts when clicked, except for the ones which (CC or Maxis, it's a mix), for some odd reason, are exempt.
- Pools and mirrors, which I try to avoid in my game to keep the framerates high, have ZERO effect on the framerate.
- The temperature of my computer doesn't change anything, nor does disabling Avira or anything else. I only run the game on windowed mode, and every other AnyGame that I have runs just fine. I haven't done anything to corrupt my neighbourhood (and have taken precautions against it), and this is a game-universal problem that effects all 'hoods.


Help? :|

Mootilda
5th Jul 2012, 3:26 AM
You can use the HCDU with the AGS by running the AnyGame registry file, then immediately running the HCDU:
http://www.modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=453018

However, the Game_Help:Game_Problem FAQ should solve your problem. Specifically, backup your game and remove all of your CC. Assuming that your problem disappears, you can then do the 50-50 method to find the problem files.

Since those "can you run it" websites are notoriously wrong a lot of the time, you should also provide us with your system specs. That way, we can determine whether your computer is really up to playing the game.
http://simswiki.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:System_Specs

DigitalSympathies
5th Jul 2012, 5:02 AM
I've done the FAQ, sorry for not stating that. Taking out the CC didn't solve the problem, reinstalling M&G did nothing, etc, etc.

The specs, however, vary - I'm running it on many computers, the only similarity being the graphics cards. I know it's fit to run the game with no lag as I've stated the specs of our main backroom model at least five times with no complaints - 16 GB DDR3 RAM, Intel Core 2 Quad Processor, Windows 7 x64 Home Premium, the original computer is approx. 7-ish years old, maintained daily, with a lot of upgrades (the processor came with it and I see no reason to upgrade - this computer can run some pretty system-tough games without a whine or a whistle). The test was given to me by a guy at nVidia support so I think that they're pretty reliable - that, and I backchecked it against the official requirements.

I did manage to solve this, though. Thank you for the HCDU link. A hack that's notorious for screwing people's games over made its way in that I missed, I deleted it, and problem solved, bye bye pink flashies! :)

Mootilda
5th Jul 2012, 2:26 PM
Great. I'm glad that you were able to solve it. Which hack was it?