Living In Bon Voyage Limbo - Page 2

Miros1 · 09-08-2007, 06:12 PM

The hyenas should remember the bad old days when the official tech support people said remove all your hacks and reinstall... I suspect that's still the party line, but I can't deal with the stupidity on the BBS anymore.

I don't have BV, but I run with testingcheatsenabled on all the time and no problems.

I've heard that BV is a pig, but then you hear that about every EP.

I do have a hack I got somewhere that makes the ladybugs and the bugs that infest your plants invisible, so you get a speed up that way. Wouldn't help on empty lots tho. (My laggy lots were fixed by a video driver update, btw.)

Greg · 09-08-2007, 07:54 PM

Oh, I'm sure Bon Voyage is a pig. Every expansion pack is, but based on what I've heard about it here, they've added lots more global code in Bon Voyage. And more objects. And options. And lots. An no doubt clothing. Global code is problably the biggest one because it has to try to execute during every simulation frame.

I don't think I use the Testing Cheats too often. For each session where I play the game, I make a point of only turn on the Testing Cheats once. In my startup file. And never turn them off.

Lesson learned: Do not believe horror stories about the Testing Cheats.

I have encountered only one problem with having the Testing Cheats running all the time. Once every few months, the game will hit an error loop that just won't quit. In that case, I have to turn them off and let the game find its own way out of the problem.

Miros1 · 09-08-2007, 11:43 PM

Yeah, I think Jase said something like 81K lines of global code... sheesh!

I turn on testingcheatsenabled in my startup file too...

Greg · 09-09-2007, 05:35 AM

So that's two data points about the Testing Cheats indicating there's no reason to fear them other than the possibility that you might do something stupid with them. Make it three if you count Danny, DMA Sims. He was the one who twigged me to the Testing Cheats and startup files in the first place, so long ago.

Miros1 · 09-09-2007, 06:27 AM

I started turning them on because the people at the bad place told me they needed an error log to help me with my problems...

Zirconia Wolf · 09-09-2007, 12:22 PM

Okay, I'll finally breakdown & ask:

Why is everyone but me so enamoured with having the "testingcheat" continuously running in their game??????

Seriously; what's the advantage??? I don't really need to be alerted to every little audio or graphic "hiccup" in my game (I can just checkout the Log Files if I'm curious) & there is nothing "teastingcheat" can do (that I care about) that I can't do quicker with InSim or another mod.

I use HDCU fanatically & already know about the "non-conflicting-conflicts" amoung my various mods, so what's the point of leaving that crazy testingcheat running all the time?

As to Kaylyn's querry: I've read a few (conflicting) reports about BV & lag time. Some people got good results by just turning off shadows, others say it still doesn't help...& still others have had no problems whatsoever.

I'm kinda wondering if it's a Vista problem?? I do know (from talking to several PC builders) that- when it comes to being a "pig"- Vista is the king, queen & whole royal family. I'm actually suprised it gave you decent results in Seaons with only 2 gigs of RAM; all the techs I talked to say it needs at least 3 gigs to equal 2 gigs of performance on XP.

I am (hopefully) getting close to installing BV soon & will- of course- be posting my findings. I have a custom built Dual Core (XP) with a 298 (or so) GB hard drive, nVidia e-GeForce 7600 graphics card & 3 gigs of RAM...so I'm hopefull I won't have any lag problems....nock on wood!

Miros1 · 09-09-2007, 01:11 PM

Because the actually ObjectError_N001_t(weirdnumber).txt files don't get generated unless you've got it turned on.

Greg · 09-09-2007, 01:20 PM

I have a simple answer to the complex question of why I have the Testing Cheats running all the time: I'm used to it.

And, of course, a much more complex answer to the simple question:

At the same time, I have no real incentive to turn them off. Alerts about hiccups in my game are extremely rare, perhaps because early on I noted the offending objects and removed them from my game.

Part of being used to the Testing Cheats is that I'm still learning what I can do with the Insimenator. F'rinstance, I edit the personalities of every sim in my game. (I just can't stand the behavior of slovenly, lazy, or sociopathic sims, so those "features" do not exist in my game.) For a very long time, I always used the Testing Cheats exclusively for that.

Now that I've learned to adjust sims' personalities somewhat efficiently with the Insimenator, I usually use Insim; however, if using the Testing Cheats allowed me to keep some variety in Zodiac signs I wouldn't use the Insimenator at all.

The same is true for adjusting sims' interests. The way Maxis programmed sims reacting to a topic they're not interested in is beyond disgusting. (Can you imagine Sheba sticking Her fingers in Her ears and going "nyaaa, nyaaa, nyaaa" because one of Her children wanted to talk about snails when She wasn't interested in talking about them? Or for that matter, can you imagine any rational human being of any age doing that? Neither can I. It really makes me wonder about the people at Maxis.) So I eliminate that one by having every sim interested in everything. I regret the loss of that element of game play but rejoice mightily in never having to encounter the repulsive behavior that goes with it.

Insim wins when it comes to adjusting interests. Just spawn the Interests Adjuster and chose 100% for everything.

When it comes to tuning up a given sim's current mood, the Testing Cheats win over any hack. If I want to do everybody on the lot at once, I usually use the Multipainting. Insim's multiple menus are kind of clumsy in comparison with the Multipainting and neither is even in the same universe when it comes to the convenience of the Testing Cheats for adjusting the mood states.

There's one scenario where the Insimenator beats all other cheat objects, hands down: Going to an unimproved community lot. The ability to spawn a cheat object while downtown would make it worth the effort to install the Insimenator even if there were no other advantages.

Greg · 09-09-2007, 01:23 PM

Oh, and if Bon Voyage really needs that much computer power, I just might have to wait until I can afford a new machine before I install it. Golly.

Kaylyn · 09-09-2007, 02:15 PM

Hmm, I set shadows and lights to medium and had better results. Maybe I'll turn shadows off just to see. Although I hate to do that for picture taking purposes...looks less realistic...

Miros1 · 09-09-2007, 02:57 PM

I read something about "fresnel effects on the water." If you could turn that off, it would probably much improve any lot with a pond or pool!

Zenmistress · 09-09-2007, 10:54 PM

*pouts* Now I am yet another expansion behind....
there is no way my computer would handle BV. I'm not even sure it will handle Pets and Seasons (if I ever get around to installing those).

Those screenshots are cool, Kaylyn, thanks for posting them.

Greg · 09-10-2007, 02:28 PM

It sounds like your game is configured identically to mine, Sandy! Why mess with perfection?

Zenmistress · 09-11-2007, 12:48 AM

Yes, it runs quite nicely now. I would like new objects and animations and to be able to download stuff based on newer stuff, but the fear of what might happen should I install out-weighs my need for new downloads.

It helps to know I'm not alone.

Miros1 · 09-11-2007, 12:52 AM

Well, you could back up your 'hoods and try the newer packs. You'll know in minutes if you don't like them!

Greg · 09-11-2007, 01:19 PM

Sometimes I daydream about getting another machine and just doing a fresh new install of the unmodded game, just to find out out what it's supposed to be like.

Miros1 · 09-11-2007, 04:50 PM

All you have to do is rename your My Documents\EA Games\The Sims 2 folder and let the game recreate...

Greg · 09-11-2007, 08:29 PM

But if I want to revert to the current version, will the files under Program Files/EA Games/... be messed up?

Miros1 · 09-11-2007, 09:03 PM

I think you can just uninstall the newest EPs. Everything has its own directory now.

Zenmistress · 09-11-2007, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miros1

Well, you could back up your 'hoods and try the newer packs. You'll know in minutes if you don't like them!

Oh, I'm sure I'd like them...I just don't think my computer would.

09-08-2007, 07:54 PM	#22
Greg Da Guy Wut Owns Dis Joint Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 3,566	Oh, I'm sure Bon Voyage is a pig. Every expansion pack is, but based on what I've heard about it here, they've added lots more global code in Bon Voyage. And more objects. And options. And lots. An no doubt clothing. Global code is problably the biggest one because it has to try to execute during every simulation frame. I don't think I use the Testing Cheats too often. For each session where I play the game, I make a point of only turn on the Testing Cheats once. In my startup file. And never turn them off. Lesson learned: Do not believe horror stories about the Testing Cheats. I have encountered only one problem with having the Testing Cheats running all the time. Once every few months, the game will hit an error loop that just won't quit. In that case, I have to turn them off and let the game find its own way out of the problem. __________________ Who are all these people and what do they know?

09-09-2007, 05:35 AM	#24
Greg Da Guy Wut Owns Dis Joint Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 3,566	So that's two data points about the Testing Cheats indicating there's no reason to fear them other than the possibility that you might do something stupid with them. Make it three if you count Danny, DMA Sims. He was the one who twigged me to the Testing Cheats and startup files in the first place, so long ago. __________________ Who are all these people and what do they know?

09-09-2007, 12:22 PM	#26
Zirconia Wolf Reticulated MoonBat Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: My trusty computer in Issaquah WA, USA. Posts: 848	Okay, I'll finally breakdown & ask: Why is everyone but me so enamoured with having the "testingcheat" continuously running in their game?????? Seriously; what's the advantage??? I don't really need to be alerted to every little audio or graphic "hiccup" in my game (I can just checkout the Log Files if I'm curious) & there is nothing "teastingcheat" can do (that I care about) that I can't do quicker with InSim or another mod. I use HDCU fanatically & already know about the "non-conflicting-conflicts" amoung my various mods, so what's the point of leaving that crazy testingcheat running all the time? As to Kaylyn's querry: I've read a few (conflicting) reports about BV & lag time. Some people got good results by just turning off shadows, others say it still doesn't help...& still others have had no problems whatsoever. I'm kinda wondering if it's a Vista problem?? I do know (from talking to several PC builders) that- when it comes to being a "pig"- Vista is the king, queen & whole royal family. I'm actually suprised it gave you decent results in Seaons with only 2 gigs of RAM; all the techs I talked to say it needs at least 3 gigs to equal 2 gigs of performance on XP. I am (hopefully) getting close to installing BV soon & will- of course- be posting my findings. I have a custom built Dual Core (XP) with a 298 (or so) GB hard drive, nVidia e-GeForce 7600 graphics card & 3 gigs of RAM...so I'm hopefull I won't have any lag problems....nock on wood! __________________ Long Live All Wild Canines! Leader Of The Moon-Bat Revolution!

09-09-2007, 01:20 PM	#28
Greg Da Guy Wut Owns Dis Joint Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 3,566	I have a simple answer to the complex question of why I have the Testing Cheats running all the time: I'm used to it. And, of course, a much more complex answer to the simple question: At the same time, I have no real incentive to turn them off. Alerts about hiccups in my game are extremely rare, perhaps because early on I noted the offending objects and removed them from my game. Part of being used to the Testing Cheats is that I'm still learning what I can do with the Insimenator. F'rinstance, I edit the personalities of every sim in my game. (I just can't stand the behavior of slovenly, lazy, or sociopathic sims, so those "features" do not exist in my game.) For a very long time, I always used the Testing Cheats exclusively for that. Now that I've learned to adjust sims' personalities somewhat efficiently with the Insimenator, I usually use Insim; however, if using the Testing Cheats allowed me to keep some variety in Zodiac signs I wouldn't use the Insimenator at all. The same is true for adjusting sims' interests. The way Maxis programmed sims reacting to a topic they're not interested in is beyond disgusting. (Can you imagine Sheba sticking Her fingers in Her ears and going "nyaaa, nyaaa, nyaaa" because one of Her children wanted to talk about snails when She wasn't interested in talking about them? Or for that matter, can you imagine any rational human being of any age doing that? Neither can I. It really makes me wonder about the people at Maxis.) So I eliminate that one by having every sim interested in everything. I regret the loss of that element of game play but rejoice mightily in never having to encounter the repulsive behavior that goes with it. Insim wins when it comes to adjusting interests. Just spawn the Interests Adjuster and chose 100% for everything. When it comes to tuning up a given sim's current mood, the Testing Cheats win over any hack. If I want to do everybody on the lot at once, I usually use the Multipainting. Insim's multiple menus are kind of clumsy in comparison with the Multipainting and neither is even in the same universe when it comes to the convenience of the Testing Cheats for adjusting the mood states. There's one scenario where the Insimenator beats all other cheat objects, hands down: Going to an unimproved community lot. The ability to spawn a cheat object while downtown would make it worth the effort to install the Insimenator even if there were no other advantages. __________________ Who are all these people and what do they know?

09-09-2007, 01:23 PM	#29
Greg Da Guy Wut Owns Dis Joint Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 3,566	Oh, and if Bon Voyage really needs that much computer power, I just might have to wait until I can afford a new machine before I install it. Golly. __________________ Who are all these people and what do they know?

09-08-2007, 06:12 PM	#21
Miros1 Goddess for Life Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: NY State Posts: 3,303	The hyenas should remember the bad old days when the official tech support people said remove all your hacks and reinstall... I suspect that's still the party line, but I can't deal with the stupidity on the BBS anymore. I don't have BV, but I run with testingcheatsenabled on all the time and no problems. I've heard that BV is a pig, but then you hear that about every EP. I do have a hack I got somewhere that makes the ladybugs and the bugs that infest your plants invisible, so you get a speed up that way. Wouldn't help on empty lots tho. (My laggy lots were fixed by a video driver update, btw.)

09-08-2007, 11:43 PM	#23
Miros1 Goddess for Life Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: NY State Posts: 3,303	Yeah, I think Jase said something like 81K lines of global code... sheesh! I turn on testingcheatsenabled in my startup file too...

09-09-2007, 06:27 AM	#25
Miros1 Goddess for Life Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: NY State Posts: 3,303	I started turning them on because the people at the bad place told me they needed an error log to help me with my problems...

09-09-2007, 01:11 PM	#27
Miros1 Goddess for Life Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: NY State Posts: 3,303	Because the actually ObjectError_N001_t(weirdnumber).txt files don't get generated unless you've got it turned on.

09-09-2007, 02:15 PM	#30
Kaylyn Rescuer of Kittens Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Shreveport/Bossier City, LA Posts: 125	Hmm, I set shadows and lights to medium and had better results. Maybe I'll turn shadows off just to see. Although I hate to do that for picture taking purposes...looks less realistic...

09-09-2007, 02:57 PM	#31
Miros1 Goddess for Life Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: NY State Posts: 3,303	I read something about "fresnel effects on the water." If you could turn that off, it would probably much improve any lot with a pond or pool!

09-09-2007, 10:54 PM	#32
Zenmistress Solar Max Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 153	pouts Now I am yet another expansion behind.... there is no way my computer would handle BV. I'm not even sure it will handle Pets and Seasons (if I ever get around to installing those). Those screenshots are cool, Kaylyn, thanks for posting them. __________________ Sandy All my life, I wanted to be somebody... now I see that I should have been more specific.

09-10-2007, 02:28 PM	#33
Greg Da Guy Wut Owns Dis Joint Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 3,566	It sounds like your game is configured identically to mine, Sandy! Why mess with perfection? __________________ Who are all these people and what do they know?

09-11-2007, 12:48 AM	#34
Zenmistress Solar Max Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 153	Yes, it runs quite nicely now. I would like new objects and animations and to be able to download stuff based on newer stuff, but the fear of what might happen should I install out-weighs my need for new downloads. It helps to know I'm not alone. __________________ Sandy All my life, I wanted to be somebody... now I see that I should have been more specific.

09-11-2007, 12:52 AM	#35
Miros1 Goddess for Life Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: NY State Posts: 3,303	Well, you could back up your 'hoods and try the newer packs. You'll know in minutes if you don't like them!

09-11-2007, 01:19 PM	#36
Greg Da Guy Wut Owns Dis Joint Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 3,566	Sometimes I daydream about getting another machine and just doing a fresh new install of the unmodded game, just to find out out what it's supposed to be like. __________________ Who are all these people and what do they know?

09-11-2007, 04:50 PM	#37
Miros1 Goddess for Life Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: NY State Posts: 3,303	All you have to do is rename your My Documents\EA Games\The Sims 2 folder and let the game recreate...

09-11-2007, 08:29 PM	#38
Greg Da Guy Wut Owns Dis Joint Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 3,566	But if I want to revert to the current version, will the files under Program Files/EA Games/... be messed up? __________________ Who are all these people and what do they know?

09-11-2007, 09:03 PM	#39
Miros1 Goddess for Life Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: NY State Posts: 3,303	I think you can just uninstall the newest EPs. Everything has its own directory now.