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poppingmythik's avatar
poppingmythik
Seasoned Rookie
25 days ago

Ariel Walsh randomly disappears (along with Xavier Alvaro) in Isla Paradiso

I decided to try out the Isla Paradiso map, but for some reason, halfway in the game, the NPC sim Ariel Walsh (along with Xavier Alvaro) disappears halfway in my playthrough. And by disappears, if I go into Master Controller, I maybe click the "Reset Sim" tab, and go down the list of Sims in that world, they are not on the list (i.e: not clickable). I thought it was a result of my many mods, so I took some out but they still disappear; even when they befriend the Sims I was playing.

Is there a way I can still salvage my game by bringing them back?

2 Replies

  • Ariel Walsh & Xavier Alvaro Disappearing Bug (Isla Paradiso Fix Guide)

    Players sometimes find that Ariel Walsh and Xavier Alvaro vanish mid-save in The Sims 3: Island Paradise.
    This is caused by routing and population data errors in EA’s original world file.

    Here’s what’s happening and how to fix or recover your Sims.

    Why It Happens

    Isla Paradiso’s world data is corrupted. Broken routing, underwater lots, and stuck houseboats cause Sims to vanish.

    NPCs like Ariel Walsh and Xavier Alvaro can be deleted or stuck off-map. Story Progression may remove them entirely.

    Mods like NRaas can make the issue appear faster when the world data is already damaged.

    Fix & Recovery Options

    1. NRaas MasterController – Add Sim
    Try to recover them manually:
    NRaas > MasterController > Add Sim
    Choose Type of Sim: Dead / Service / All
    If they appear, re-add them to any household or lot.
    Download NRaas MasterController

    2. “Total Annihilation” + Restore workaround
    If they’re not listed at all:
    NRaas > MasterController > Advanced > Total Annihilation
    Then manually re-import them from your Library if you have them saved.

    3. NRaas Overwatch + ErrorTrap
    Install or update both. They automatically fix stuck Sims and clean corrupted data each night.
    NRaas Overwatch

    NRaas ErrorTrap

    4. Use NRaas Porter (Move to a New World)
    If the world is too broken, move your household to a fixed Isla Paradiso version.
    Porter preserves household ties, jobs, and skills.
    Download NRaas Porter

    5. Download the Fixed Isla Paradiso World
    A community creator, Ciane, repaired the world’s routing and population data.

    Download links:

    Isla Paradiso Fixed – Mod The Sims

    Backup listing – The Sims Catalog

    Extra info – Snarky Sims Blog

    Installation Steps

    Download the .world file.

    Place it in:
    Program Files (x86)\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\GameData\Shared\NonPackaged\Worlds

    Delete the cache files in:
    Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\WorldCaches

    Restart the game – the fixed world will replace the original one.

    Moving Your Household with NRaas Porter

    Step-by-Step

    Install NRaas Porter in:
    Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Mods\Packages

    Load your old save.

    Select your active Sim > NRaas > Porter > Pack Household / Pack Sims.

    Save and quit.

    Start a new game in the fixed world.

    In Edit Town mode, choose a lot and click:
    NRaas > Porter > Unpack File

    Pick your packed file and confirm.

    Your family and relationships will respawn in the new world.

    If you also want their house, save it to your Library before moving.

    Extra Mods for Stability

    Overwatch
     – nightly cleanup

    ErrorTrap
     – catches corruption

    Register
     – controls role Sims and paparazzi

    Traveler
     – link multiple worlds

    NRaas Suite Main Page
     – full mod collection

    Tips

    Always back up your save before making changes.

    Porter only keeps relationships between Sims moved together.

    Use Traveler if you want to keep both worlds playable.

    After unpacking, let Overwatch and ErrorTrap run a few days to stabilize the new world.

    You can check if Ariel and Xavier are restored via:
    MasterController > Sim > Basic > Family Tree

    A mouthful sorry :)

  • poppingmythik's avatar
    poppingmythik
    Seasoned Rookie
    24 days ago

    The only thing is that they don't disappear mid-save. They disappear from the town completely mid-gameplay.

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