More Awesome Than You!

     I was at Wal Mart this morning, browsing the PC games when I stumbled upon a lone copy of High End Loft Stuff.  Of course I snapped it up and brought it home.  I thought I would share my experiences with everyone. 
     First, I backed eveything up and then installed.  The first thing the game does is update to Ver. 3.0.38.004001.  I just installed straight over my existing installation, which includes the following:  Awesome Mod, Twallan's Super Computer, and johna's sliders form MTS.  All of my other CC is condensed to 6 .dbc files and my resource.cfg is edited accordingly.  I also use 3booter and frame limiter.  I moved everything from C:\Program Files(x86)\Electrionic Arts\World Adventures folder to the newly created HELS folder.  I remapped the 3booter shortcut, double-clicked and . . . Nothing.  Can't say I was surprised.  I was pretty sure the pack would be worthless until Pescado worked his dark magic upon it, but I had to try. 
     Then I removed 3booter and the frame limiter form the folder, and used the standard shortcut.  The launcher opened normally.  I was able to log in at the exchange and all of that, but when I clicked the arrow to play . . . nothing again.  It's just like installing WA when it first came out.  The loading screen comes up but the progress bar never moves.
     Then I removed AwesomeMod and the game loaded up normally.  All of my CC showed and the body sliders worked.  I started a new game a played for a little, but my heart wasn't in it.  I mean, what's the point.  If there's anything anyone can think for me to try to get the game running with AwesomeMod, let me know and I'll give it a shot.  I can also answer any questions anyone might have about the game (new items, features) sans AwesomeMod. This is my first post here at MATY, but I've lurked for awhile.  I wanted to take this opportunity to salute those who do so much to make the Sims3 playable.  I welcome this is chance to do my part.
     I know the game will probably be unplayable until Pescado is able to update AwesomeMod, and I guess that's part of my reason for posting. Pescado, if there's any information I can pass on to give you a head start, let me know.
   

Mods always have to be updated whenever a new EP or patch is released. Pretty soon the torrents will be up, and more people will be able to get the SP, but until then, you'll just have to be patient.

Enough of the technical talk—what did it look like?  Will it rock our worlds?
How does the aquarium look? Are there more interactions than ‘feed' and ‘scoop out'? 
Give us the FLUFF news! Are there new songs for the electric guitar?  You know, we have to know about the love bed, too.

Did the lighting issues get fixed with the patch? And how many fish fit in the aquarium?

Lies and Propaganda!

Can you keep more than one fish in the aquarium? Is the vibrating bed still called More Romantic Than You?

I think you're on the wrong forum. MATY doesn't do "fluff". Anyway, this is a stuff pack we're talking about. They almost never include new interactions, the only exception being the last TS2 stuff pack.

They did say something about new moodlets and the vibrating bed "having consequences". Could all be L&P though.

     There's nothing earth-shattering.  Sigmund is correct.  There's a bunch of new furniture including sets for the living room, bath, study/office, kitchen, and outside.  None of it offers anything options that change gameplay at all.  The Juspresso XTi-French Beverage Maker allowas you to choose between several types of coffrr drinks, such as Double Soy Latte, cinammon capuccino, and a Lite Chai w/ White Chocolate Whipped Creme.   The aquarium looks cool enough.  It has four recolorable channels and holds six fish.  The interactions are Watch, Feed, Manage, and Feed all fish on lot.  "Manage" treets the aquarium like the fridge or bookshelf.  You can add and remove fish.
     The Das Kauker R86 electric guitar looks like a Gretsch Jet.  From what I saw, it pays the songs exactly the same as the acoustic guitar, but with a clean electric tone, of course.  I only played a couple songs, so that may not be true for all of them.  There is a warning in the manual that inexperienced sims playing the electric guitar may cause such a ruckus that neighbors will call the police.  One thing I noticed.  When you click on the guitar (both kinds) one of the options is to "Learn . . ." It seems to apply to any unknown song that you have the songbook for in your inventory.  I don't know if this new or not.  I never noticed it before.
     In my limited testing, the Vibromativ LN3000 was nothing special.  I had a hard time getting my two test sims to stay put.  they woo-hoo'd on it, but I didn't see any special moodlets as a result.  The vibration effect is pretty subdued and as soon as I turned it on, they got off out of bed.  I'm not sure which lighting issues Moryrie is asking about.  I hadn't noticed any, but I can be pretty obtuse sometimes.
     That's all I've got for now.  More play time is needed, but without AwesomeMod, I just don't have the urge.   :'(

Thanks for the info.

And this thread (http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,17297.0.html) describes the lighting issues I was talking about, and has screenshots.

Nope, the lighting issue isn't fixed.  I never noticed it on building exteriors.  Until now. :-[  None of the items in any of my houses are like that, but here are a couple pics of one of my houses.

(http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac23/jecswp/th_Screenshot.jpg) (http://s882.photobucket.com/albums/ac23/jecswp/?action=view&current=Screenshot.jpg)

(http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac23/jecswp/th_Screenshot-3.jpg) (http://s882.photobucket.com/albums/ac23/jecswp/?action=view&current=Screenshot-3.jpg)

What does it update the base game and WA to? It doesn't matter what the stuffpack updates to, it matters what base/WA update to.

Damn. Someone who had seen the previews thought that would be fixed. It looks even worse if you're messing with high ceilings on the inside.. or just split-levels. All the lighting will focus on the foundation and not the upper level.

Feel like taking pictures of the new hairs/outfits?

It only did one update instead of the normal two.  It didn't use Version numbers either.  It just said something like "Your version of the Sims 3 will now be updated."  When it was finished it said "The Sims3 has finished updating."  Where would I look for the Version number of only the base game?

I second the motion for moar screenshots links.

Has it been listed anywhere how many new objects have been included in this stuff pack?

With TS2, it seemed the magic number was 150 objects in stuff packs. At least with TS2 they used to preview the objects in high resolution photos on the main website and not some useless "trailer". God I'm so fucking sick of their trailers.

According to this interview (http://www.simfans.de/specials/interview_luxus-accessoires/english.php) there are 40 objects and 20 outfit items.

So what's the moral of this tight pants story kiddlets? BACK UP YOUR CC AND MODS BEFORE ADDING EPS AND SPS. About half that paragraph wasn't required if you'd done the logical thing first...it's not like it's the new thing to do either - we've been removing mods and CC to update since TS1 days.

I'm still calling L&P until we get solid evidunce though.

It doesn't give a number on the case.  40 items are specificaly listed in the manual, including the special ones.  Add five hairs, two pairs of shoes, and a few outfitsits somewhere between 50 and 60.

And as requested . . .

(http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac23/jecswp/th_Screenshot-8.jpg) (http://s882.photobucket.com/albums/ac23/jecswp/?action=view&current=Screenshot-8.jpg)


(http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac23/jecswp/th_Screenshot-12-1.jpg) (http://s882.photobucket.com/albums/ac23/jecswp/?action=view&current=Screenshot-12-1.jpg)

(http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac23/jecswp/th_Screenshot-9.jpg) (http://s882.photobucket.com/albums/ac23/jecswp/?action=view&current=Screenshot-9.jpg)

(http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac23/jecswp/th_Screenshot-13.jpg) (http://s882.photobucket.com/albums/ac23/jecswp/?action=view&current=Screenshot-13.jpg)

(http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac23/jecswp/th_Screenshot-10.jpg) (http://s882.photobucket.com/albums/ac23/jecswp/?action=view&current=Screenshot-10.jpg)

Look for "Gameversion" in Game/Bin/skuversion.txt for each of them.

Hmm I seem to remember, since ye olde TS1 days well into TS2 days anyway, that they counted those things as well as walls and floors as objects too.

Ick. I only see one hair that I like, and it looks like a peggy hair I already have. And that white suit looks like a tackier version of the one from WA... Is that... all? .. the outfits/hair?

And I'm not seeing aything modern about these outfits. The last female one reminds me of the 1950s for some reason.

If this is in response to my OP, I'm not sure where you read that I'm having any problems.  Perhaps the title sounds a little bitter, but I meant in more wryly.  This isn't a OMG!!!! EA BROKE MY GAME! WHAT DO I DO????? thread.  I fully expected the SP not to work with AwesomeMod, but it never hurts to try.  I'm completely at peace with my situation.  If you read my post, you'll see I did back up my entire installation and could be playing it, without the SP, in a matter of seconds.  However, I'm just messing around, experimenting and answering questions.  I know Awesome Mod developement takes time, and I'm perfectly willing to wait.  Would I like to be playing it right now with Awesome Mod?  Of course, but [Austin Powers] I also want a toilet made made of solid gold, but it's just not in the cards, baby. [/ap]
     My only real goal was to see if me having the game early could facilitate the developement of the next version of AwesomeMod.  How?  I have no idea.  But Pescado is infinitely more wise than me.  That's why I directed part of my post directly to him.

Base Game: 1.9.22.004001
WA:  2.3.33.003001
HELS:  3.0.38.004001

Oi! there is a MODIFY button, you should use it in lieu of double posting.


It's the poodle skirtishness of it, I think. I want more historical meshes, personally. I, for one, am sick of crinolines and bell shapes - my pudding ladies need their panniers.

I have no issue with historical clothing. It's just... this is supposed to be.. high tech. Not retro-tech. I was also very displeased with the 'victorian' store crap that gave one a ladies pair of PANTS!? Yet no skirts? Senseless. I think they need to hire some historical fashion expects before attempting to do any 'period clothing' again.

That would certainly be a worse situation for TS3 in that there is no need for new Walls and Floors because of CAST, and 5 new patterns doesn't really fill that void. Well, to me anyway. The only reason I'm inquiring about this is, in my 5 years of simming this is the first item I actually put my monies down on. I was thinking that it was about time but am still feeling like I'm not getting the value of this pack. Overall, 20 bucks is a small amount to pay for 5 years and 3 iterations of this game, but as far as this stuff pack is concerned, I feel I've wasted my money. Also, I read that thread on the BBS forum about some guy who got this pack early at a Walmart, registered it and got 1,000 free points. That 1,000 point award turned out to be the standard EA PHAIL (the website thinking that this guy was registering World Adventures and not a stuff pack) and will have since been fixed by the time the pack is released. That 1,000 points is what really convinced me to buy this pack and now that I don't get that, I'm super "eh" about the whole deal.

Sorry, I didn't think.  I saw Pescado's message as I was finishing up the first post.  I had to go look the numbers up, but I wanted to get it out there first.  It never occured to me to just modify the first post.  Won't happen again. 
I'm with you .  I was completely underwhelmed.  Especially with the hairs.  If I could think logically and wasn't compelled to buy every new SIMS product the day it comes out, I would have no problem waiting for AwesomeMod compatability issues to be resolved before purchasing this.  AM > High End Loft Stuff.

(http://www.epicallyfunnypictures.com/FunnyPictures/ORLY/srsly-40515.jpg)

I didn't even look further when I saw the thumbnails on snootysims then since I saw no bell silhouettes etc. Of course I was initially annoyed that they went for "Victorian" in the first place - it's not my favorite period personally and I think it's overrated but it'd've been a nice addition for the rest of us players. But seriously - PANTS, wtf? It just proves that they do less and less with each product since they won't even consult with teh wickerpedia even.


This is why
(http://cats.moreawesomethanyou.com/piratecat.jpg)

Don't forget to press the Thanks! button.

No, we need people like jecswp so Pirate Cat doesn't have to pay for his downloads.

60 items? Goes to show how cheap the whole thing has become.

Actually, Stuff packs have always had around 60 items. So really, that hasn't changed. I'm not sure if they counted walls, floors and object recolors as part of the 60 or not, but I remembered it being advertised for most, if not all of the packs, that there were 60 new items in them.

I'm pretty sure they didn't count walls floors and recolors in that total. But you are right, most stuff packs did have about 60, some more, some less. Kitchen and Bath was a huge exception to that though, with 103 new items.

I want the aquarium. Like really really want the aquarium. I don't have any sims who fish really. Mainly because it looks stupid to have over 9000 fish in the house in tiny bowls all over for those sims wishing to have a private aquarium. And some of the objects are cute, but seriously who designs the clothes? The hairs look like hairs that were put out by the community months ago as well. But EA is notorious for "borrowing" ideas already out there.

I called my local walmart and they claimed to be sold out: i.e. they have no idea what I am talking about and wish for me to stop bothering them so they can get back to reading their periodicals.

I've not decided if I'm plunking down money for it or not...I'll make up my mind when Pes gives the 'all clear'.

Re the clothing: I think the whole thing with 'Victorian' is that they think it 'blends' with the Goth and SteamPunk stuff (in EA's mind, not mine). It's moot as far as I'm concerned, not the looks I use in game except for an occasional teen.

I wouldn't put my money down for a stuff pack, EA no longer deserves my money. When they get things right I'll gladly put down my cutlass.

I'm glad the Love Bed looks just as tacky as it did in Sims 1 and 2.  I'd really hate to have objects I'd actually want to use.

All "high tech" stuff ends up being retro-tech. Turns out that fashion can be rather resistant to change, particularly in the men's department. Are you aware that men's fashion is fundamentally unchanged from over 150 years ago, other than the addition of color? About the only way you can identify a man's suit as being over a hundred years old at a glance is the fact that it's not in color, because color hadn't been invented yet. And even then, it's hard to tell!

You're right Pes. Men's clothing doesn't change. But female clothing changes all the time. It's honestly not fair, though there doesn't seem to be much that can be done about it. Yet still.. they could borrow ideas for furturistic clothing from.... something else. Whatever they're using now just reminds me of the Jetsons, which is not what I think of when I think of 'futuristic'.

Anyone know if the new patch is available to download anywhere? I bought my HLS from the EA Store, it was only around 300Mb, and doesnt include a patch. It tells me I need to update the game before installing it, yet the launcher says there is no update available. I assume the disk version comes with the required patch?

If, by change, you mean "there is less of it"...the rest of it just goes in circles.

Patch came out a little while back. It doesn't seem to be very comprehensive, according to the few notes up about it.

http://www.thesims3.com/community/news.html?selMonth=1&selYear=2010#-1685031622

What a joke.

Patch is 27.3mb, and 33.1mb respectively.
http://akamai.cdn.ea.com/eadownloads/u/f/sims/sims3/patches/Sims3_1.9.22.004002_from_1.8.25.003002.exe
http://akamai.cdn.ea.com/eadownloads/u/f/sims/sims3/patches/Sims3_2.4.7.004002_from_2.3.33.003002.exe

Now I'm really glad I didn't run out to Best Buy this morning and buy a copy of HELS. After what I've seen and read here, it kind of seems like a waste of money. Not to mention, I'm not going to sacrifice being able to use AM just to have a few shitty outfits, hairstyles, and objects. When AM is updated and no longer supports the 1.8/2.3 patch, THEN I'll buy it (off of eBay for about seven dollars because that's about all I think it's worth).

The clothing is a joke. That is some of the ugliest crap I've ever seen. EA PHAIL! 

The EA forums are down, probably due to a flood of "HALP MAH GAMEZ IZ BROKEZ!!!" posts.  I wonder how many other people are having problems and what EA managed to break this time with this new patch.

There's my two cents, going back to lurk mode now.

On TPB... http://thepiratebay.org/torrent/5329998/
4.4gb - looks like I might have to part money for this one, since it is cheaper to buy than my bandwidth.
Rapidshare links: http://www.oneddl.com/games/the-sims-3-high-end-loft-stuff-vitality/

It's a Vitality release posted by someone with a pink skull badge; it's almost certainly real. It's in over 50 parts, indicating that it's a multi-rar and thus a little smaller in size than its extracted version. I'm guessing it's a DVD image, so it doesn't matter how big the actual package is.

I'm downloading it now, but I won't install it until AM works with the new patch.

lol.. Did anyone tried it out already?

Does it broke anything else? I'm downloading the stuff pack, but I don't want to update to the stupid 1.8.25/2.3.33 because of my ton of CC...
Unless this stuff pack comes with new interactions, I don't think it's directly related with the base game.

I can't even get 2.4 to install. 1.9 did though. Blasted "Invalid File Found" error, despite having removed everything.

The 2.3 patch doesn't break all CC. I keep seeing people say this, but I have the 2.3 patch, and the only thing I had to do differently is copy my .dbc files over to my Mods folder to get the downloaded Store content to show up. All the other cc I had before then, and all I've installed since then has been fine.

How can an SP be 4.4 gb? I don't get it.... ???

Hm.. thaks for the info, what about the .Sims3Packs through the launcher, are ou able to install them there, or you must run the Delphy's tool to get it work?
I don't know about you, but I remember when I got more .packages than .sims3pack and my game was always slowing down..
Maybe it could be a specifically .package, I don't know tough..


It must have many updates stored there, specially MAC, it updates are really big... I'm not sure tough..

I've been able to install .Sims3Pack cc through the launcher just fine with 2.3. Just not the store stuff. But I was able to convert the new store items to .package files and those work fine. When there's a choice, I usually choose the .package format because it's easier to delete if needed, plus I have all my .package downloads really organized so I can find stuff really easy.

Problem with individual package files is the time it takes to load then all up, sims3pack puts all into a nice big file that reduces loading time.

Its true that package is great for a lot of things if you dont mind dealing with waiting for all of then being loaded up by the game.

I don't know how EA can justify a 4GB stuff pack. What the hell is even in there?

60 items, a couple of patterns, and patches, can't be anymore than 1~2GB.

I have the new patch without WA or the stuff pack, and all my .package files work perfectly fine, but there's a significant increase in loading save games/new games for me. The initial startup takes about the same time.

Again, the ARR'd copy is just the disk image of a DVD, always going to be 4.7 gb in size. EA just used a DVD when they probably could've used a CD. Of course, they're more flimsy and kind of out of date. The disk could also be bloated with old patches, as well.

A copy I found was about 1GB to download, and the directory for the stuffpack itself only takes up 266mb. Not sure if my .package files load or not, I gave up after 1 minute of loading, new patch/stuffpack has really screwed me over.

An image file, regardless of whether it is a DVD or CD, would be relative in size to the actual data.  A 10 MB file burned to a DVD would not create a 4.7 GB iso, nor an other form of an image.  Something else is contained within that ViTALiTY release image, possibly previous patches, although they do not equate to the large size.  

I guess we'll find out when enough people are seeding. Right now I'm getting "Seeds: 1 out of 63 connected".

SEED, YOU BASTARDS!  :D


Edit: Restored errant comma.

To think, we are anxiously waiting to get a release, armed with the knowledge that it may FUBAR our installs...

We must be gluttons for EA Punishment  :(

It's the mac updates that are huge, that folder on the disk is 3.45 GB. Windows updates are 771 MB. The actual installed game folder is just 270 MB.

Everything operates normally here. Note that this version is an 01 region, although I had no difficulty installing it over an 02 region Base/WA. Keep this in mind for future patches, though.

Exactly, without the MAC updates there's just 1GB on the ISO.
Without the Windows updates the ISO is just 320Mb.. \o/

I'm scared to install this...
Don't want to crush anything in my game with the patches...

You mean WILL, right? ;)

And isn`t it great that all the stuff EA is releasing is packed with updates and patches, and not the content itself? HELS my ass, this one should be named "TS3 - We screwed up and you will pay for it" stuff pack.

HELS? You know what, EA?

(http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kx3lobcmcl1qaz998o1_500.jpg)

Wheres this 1gb version? My arr is more down-low than download  :P

http://thepiratebay.org/torrent/5332607/Sims_3_High_End_Loft_Stuff_%28No_Mac_Updates%29

Here you go.

1 seed and 0 leechers...this will be fun.
EDIT: It works

Thank you.

The good thing about having an on-going project that would be hurt by having new game objects available is that I'm barred from downloading right now. Cursing at myself for having to build on a 22x32 lot is preferable to cursing at the PtB because my game no worky.

I'm still waiting on my download to finish. It's been stuck at like 96% for quite some time now because it's connected to 0/106 seeders. I guess it's not so bad because I'm planning on waiting on installing until I know for sure it's ok to install and will work with the mods I use.

Do the .dbc files with arrr'ed CC still show up in-game?

EDIT:  It does show in-game.  Don't know about installing stuff, though.

Is it English only, or a Multi-language version?

EDIT;

Okay...English only. I guess, I have to wait... Great!

Have the expansion but I can't seem to see the fish? Other than that everything is working fine.  Please help!

Do you have the NoMosaic mod from MTS? I know that causes the fish and probably other things to not show.

help, got the game. no problem until i put fishes n the tank. can't see them! help! 

I just installed High End Loft Stuff and I have a problem whit CAW. I can´t save after I edit the world in the game. A few hours before installing High End Loft Stuff I didn´t had that problem. :-\

Have you tried removing your mods and/or custom content and doing a test world and save?  You need to narrow down all possible reasons why you can't save.

What's the point in asking multiple times if you're not going to bother to read the responses you get? After you asked the first time I answered your question, then you just ignored my post and asked again.

Does your video card or chip support pixel shaders?  If it doesn't, that could be your problem.

Still no MULTI Language version out there? I mean in iso form? Please let me know, if you see it somewhere!

Unless you need it in another language other than English, it shouldn't matter. It installs fine over the multi-language version of the game.

Thanks! But yeah, I need it in another language.

WTF? Dude, did you read the FAQ? Go read it, and don't tempt fate; there are sporks to be sharpened.

This is MATY. If we don't have anything nice to say, then we're sure as hell going to say the mean things anyway, whether you like it or not. Grow a pair, or GTFO.

It's so simple to do some searches to find the answer you are looking for. Someone actually did go to the trouble of responding to your poorly written post, and you just completely ignored their suggestion and then flamed them for pointing this out. If you cannot help yourself, then we cannot and absolutely will not help you.

Show some respect, for fuck's sake. Being rude and then asking for help will not going to fly around here. It never does, and it never will do.

I did deserved the beatdown. Which I might add, I really enjoyed it. Anyway, enough already  :-[ I did it myself, thank you very much. I just updated my drivers and the fishes are now showing up. I promise to be a good girl from now on. U guys r truly the best. :D ;D 8)

Speak human.

Is there a way to install the objects without having the game automatically updated?

Turn off Automatic Updates.

I think the trick is to patch, remove AwesomeMod and  THEN install HELS. My friend that manages an EB finally managed to pirate cat one off the shelves for me and I patched the base game and WA before I installed HELS and it all went through without a hitch - my patches went through perfectly, HELS installed no problems and then I just had to make to drop my packages back into my mods folder with my resource.cfg files. Obviously because I didn't reinstall from scratch I have to have AM updated to HELS compatibility before I can get playing again, but that's no biggie.

I just installed. I didn't remove anything. So...all that crazy crap you're doing is totally irrelevant.

It's a force of habit to remove mods to an alternative folder before you update not only because it can potentially cause borkage but also because EA used to be hit and miss on whether or not it would wipe out all your CC when you installed new EPs and SPs.

???
Where would I turn it off? Wouldn't the disc simply update me either ways?

Is there a complete list of new things in this stuff pack with pictures? The official site does not have anything. Nor does snootysims. I don't like what i have seen on the few screen shots. I'm trying to decide if it's worth the trouble to get it.

The game will automatically change your game version to 3.xx because it's the 3rd exe. But the disc does not contain the 1.9/2.4 patches.

Just a heads-up, the RS version appears to be a corrupt ISO, but it's really not an ISO at all.  It's a bunch of 95MB rar parts sequentially concatenated together into a single file.  To unpack it, I used HxD (http://mh-nexus.de/en/hxd/)'s file split function and split it every 100000000 bytes.  Giving it a destination filename of blah.r will cause HxD to automatically name the parts blah.r01, blah.r02, etc which WinRAR will unpack correctly.

Aha! That's very good to know. I thought the disc had the patches and I'm very glad it doesn't. Whew! I'll make sure to back everything up though just in case. I haven't even patched up to 1.8 and that other one (2.2 or 2.3?) and I'm not planning to do so untill they release a patch that's worth it or I decide to install AM.

Actually this information is completely wrong. The disk does update to the latest patch.

well . . . lookie at what HELS did to moi >.>

(http://i47.tinypic.com/28jzmms.jpg)

Well fucking hooray -.- . . . im very quickly losing patience with EA.

So, anyone know a fix? Or is it back to removal and re-install >.<

WTF is going on with my custom hairs?

My sims keep going bald, I have to move my .package files around from HELS to the base game's folder. Is getting super annoying. I've the latest patch and AM.

i also have the same problem. T_T And I can't play my save files because it was on riverview.

A new No Mosaic updated for HELS was posted on CrazyTown yesterday. I just DL it and am about to test it out...

I LOLed.

EA just owned everyone here with the ultimate in phail "photoshops".

Sorry guys, I guess I'm just not awesome enough...

I recently bought HELS and decided to install it this evening as I wanted to be sure I wouldn't be forced to play the game without AM. I took out all of my CC, installed, patched, updated my mods and everything seemed to be just fine, until I wanted to try it out. I started the game and just like jecswp described in the beginning of this thread, the loading screen came up, but was missing its background music and the progress bar never moved.

I then decided to take out all of my packages, the game started just fine. I deleted a few mods I thought which might cause a conflict here and put my packages back into the Sims 3 folder - again no background music and no moving progress bar. I ran my mods folder through delphy's dashboard tool and found my merged package
 files conflicting with some dbc01 and dbc02 files I somehow put in there while reading on MATY I had to do so in order to get my CC and store content to work with WA.

So, I put those out - still no background music and no moving progress bar. I'm totally lost. I guess I'm just not awesome enough.

Anybody got some advice? 

Did you copy d3dx9_31.dll into the C:\Program Files\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3 High-End Loft Stuff\Game\Bin directory?

Ahhh no, I didn't... Shame on me... I'll try this out. Hope it finally works.

edit: WOW! It works! THANKS! I hope EA had mercy with all of my CC and it still shows...

 :-\

I got the digital download of HELS. Backed up my CC and removed Mods before install. The game was f**cked. None of the hacks I had work with it, and the launcher wouldn't install Sims3pack files 1/2 the time. So, I uninstalled HELS. Still messed up, crashing, won't install CC, ect. I uninstalled the base game, HELS and WA. I reinstalled the base game and WA, but not HELS. It wouldn't let me play WA until it patched, so I had to let it patch. The game is still screwed up. I can play it, but none of the hacks work, and they are all updated for WA.  I am about ready to toss the game in the garbage can. I have had to uninstall and reinstall this game more than a few times. It sucks. Now they are coming out with the new EP, Ambitions, and I really think the EP would be interesting, if it works. The latest patch, whether you have HELS or not is a kill joy. wtf?

Your botched mods issue sounds like a SEARCH & READ FAIL error.  This has been discussed to death in many threads on this board.  It is quite possible that your issue is simply, you forgot to put the framework in the HELS Directory, and primarily the d3dx9_31.dll file...  If this isn't the case, then you seem to have left out much needed information for people to diagnose your situation.  Also your Sim3pack issue is another SEARCH & READ FAIL error.  This has also been discussed to death.  After a particular patch sim3packs installation was botched by EA.  SEARCH MOAR for the fix to it.  Also throughout all this reinstalling, did you remember to put the framework back into the game directories?

All the Store Stuff on mine is missing after the install. The game runs fine, and anything non-store in a .dbc format shows up in-game, as well as .packages, etc. I uninstalled and now have TS3 and WA, but the Store stuff is still missing. :\

Same with me. I however have given up on The Sims 3. EA don't care about your problems, they just want moneyZ. To spend on hookers and make more games to fuck your computer.

Mine did that as well. The easiest fix is to simply remove all your bought store stuff from the download/install screens and then go to the sims3 website and redownload them. That is the only thing that I have found that works, time consuming, but is relatively easy.

My opinion of HELS is that it was a waste of twenty dollars.

M`kay, I fail. I got HELS. Well, you know..."got" got  ::) Finally managed to install it (don`t ask), and then I remembered there`s a new patch for it. I usually get my patches from http://www.simswiki.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:TS3_Patching:Patch_Download#The_Sims_3_.28Retail_version_1.0.631.29 , butfor this particular one the region 2 is missing. So, If anyone could link me to a Patch 3.1.7 region 2, I would really appreciate it. Untill I get it, I can`t be awesome...*emo*

I only buy original base game for registering in TS3 website to download free store content. For, WA and HELS, I yarr'ed them!

As far as I can tell, there is no region 2 for HELS.

Try the region 1 patch from here http://www.simprograms.com/the-sims-3-patches/patches-the-sims-3-high-end-loft-stuff/

Australia has region 2 for BG and WA, but region 1 for HELS.  Maybe EA decided they had too many different versions and settled for 2 this time, english and non-english versions.

If in doubt, bring up your launcher after installing HELS and check the version number, you might be surprised, otherwise, you could try letting the launcher run the update.

Wizard_Merlin - Thak you, you were right. HELS is region 1. I do, however, wonder...base game, WA...will the future patches reduce to regions 1/7 for them as well...?