@shellyfoxg This sounds like a Sims 3 64-bit Mac issue, but please let me know if that is not the case. Please also let me know if you restarted the computer after enabling object hiding, and how frequently this problem appears. And it would be helpful to know the specs of your computer too: everything under About This Mac including the operating system and except for the serial number.
@puzzlezaddict You're exactly right about the 64 bit and Mac computer, which is a little disheartening since I can't change either of those things
The info you asked about is:
MacOS Big Sur
Version 11.7.7
MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2014)
Processor 2.5 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7
Memory 16 GB 1600 MHz DDR3
Graphics NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M 2GB Intel Iris Pro 1536 MB
Also, I HAVE restarted my computer since making the changes I was told to make.
Let me note here, and I have no idea how to prove this, but I'm certain that lights, walls, and roofs tend to make the biggest impact on that dreadful red flashing screen.
Thank you for taking an interest. No one else has, including EA and Origin.
@shellyfoxg As far as I've ever seen, the roof has no effect on this issue. But what does have an effect is going up a level or two from whatever item is causing the problem, so you may not see it until you're viewing the roof. Other possibly problematic objects include mirrors and doors with glass or some other stencil in them, e.g. Mags's Door or whatever it's called, and definitely some lights. I'm not sure whether windows are a problem too; my last tests were a long time ago.
Have you tried disabling Advanced Rendering yet? If not, it's worth a test. The game won't look great, but it would be useful to know whether this helps. If it does, or did, we can try changing individual settings in GraphicsRules.sgr to improve the graphics while avoiding the red flashing.
As for your hardware, Sims 3 should be able to run fine on your Mac. But the game itself has its issues on any system, unfortunately, and it can take some work to get it stable
@puzzlezaddict I disabled the advanced rendering and turned the lights, mirrors, and water details all completely off. Not because I wanted to run the game that way, rather to see the difference. The red still appears each time I have to zoom out. As someone that gets the most fun out of the building and design aspect of the game, this problem is debilitating.
Is it all a total loss at this point?
@shellyfoxg I don't think it's a total loss, but you may need to work around the problem. Is there a distance where you can see the whole build but that isn't far enough to cause the red flashing? Are there builds that are only one or two stories that don't have this issue?
If you really can't play like this, I hate to suggest you get a new computer... but on the other hand, the Windows version of Sims 3 doesn't have this issue, and the right $400 laptop (or a bit more in other currencies) can run the game on high graphics settings. It might be worth considering at least.
