The "generic" lots definitely cause the eventual "mapping-out" glitch but it's one in many.
I got my game working again, Origin had me at 110 hours before I got the got the first mapping issue (fridge glitch right before), I was able to fix it with a combination of suggestions on here.
I got the glitch again this morning (sad); Origin had me logged at 210 hours game play so got a good amount of play before the bad. Since I was able to fix it again with these steps, I wanted to share.
(Sorry if someone posted this workaround or if they tried it and didn't work.. the map issue was my main problem caused by fridge glitches and probably non-residential lots from the gallery).
- Make sure you have a shortcut of the Sims 4 on your desktop (no more starting game through Origin, you can be logged in but do NOT start from Origin)
- Back up your saves, tray, and options from the Sims 4 file folder in My Documents onto your desktop – there are directions how to do this, think Crin has one somewhere.
- Delete the Sims 4 file folder in My Documents
- Repair game in Origins by right clicking on the Sims 4 tile
- Go to your shortcut on your desktop– right click and go to Properties click on the Compatibility tab and check the box for ‘Run this program in compatibility mode for’ and select Windows Vista and hit Apply. I know this sounds weird, I am on Windows 8 but this is what worked for me. Someone posted this fix on this thread, so thank you person, I can’t find your name at the moment.
- Start the game through the shortcut, I started running it as admin, but double clicking worked too. Not sure if admin makes a difference.
- While in game, always good to see if you can TEST start a new family and play in a lot. If you can, exit without saving. If not, sorry!
- Time to move saves back, if you backed up like a 100 saves, COPY your top five (do not pick any saves with known fridge glitch, you’ll need to back track and lose some progress), more saves can cause more trouble. Make sure you COPY, keep all backups on your desktop even ones with the fridge/oven glitches because a future patch might fix them. Move selected saves into Sims 4 saves folder.
- COPY tray and paste into the game folder, same with your options file – okay to replace the file
- Delete the Scratch folder in the saves folder.
- Delete caches too – localthumbpackage.cache. Then .cache extensions in the Cache folder; and the spotlight in cachstr folder. Skip this if you’re not sure you should or uncomfortable doing it; I am iffy about the spotlight one. Any suggestions? I know Crin has something on this too.
- With fingers crossed start game through your desktop’s SHORTCUT, admin or double click, up to you. It must be a shortcut on the desktop, NO pin to taskbar stuff.
- Blah blah, click through your rewards… hit the play button with toes crossed.
- Okay in neighbor select your house; if this is not a save with a fridge glitch/maybe generic residence it should work.
Note: Before I got the game to work (after first time I had the map glitch) I tried all the steps above sans the Windows Vista/Shortcut one – I really think these steps were the catalysts to get my game working again.
Tips:
If this works for you, here are some tips that got me an extra 100 hours of game play:
- Save often and NOT just save over and over one save; you must SAVE AS often to protect your game and the culmination of hours. The game doesn’t like to be saved over itself over and over again in one file. It’s okay to have 4-5 saves that you rotate around; don’t do marathon sessions with cheat codes/parties over and over itself.
- Always Turn cheats to false when you save – just a caution.
- If you notice oven/fridge glitch – do NOT SAVE – EXIT game and do not look back, forget it.
- Avoid anything holiday pack and those animal hats, for now. Don’t place it in your lots, just a caution, but I find a direct correlation with the mapping out and these items.
- The glitch this morning happened when I was in normal change appearance via the mirror with my sim, I gave him a tiger hat for his party outfit. When I hit the check mark it loaded right to the map, couldn’t get back into the lot – exited right away, did not save, and did the steps above. I went back only two small saves ago, didn’t lose much progress this time since I have been diligent about my save as.
- It’s okay to download lots from gallery; just be save to Save AS before and after and change the lot to the right thing before moving anysims in (default type is “generic”.
- Last night the oven glitch happened to me when I was at a neighbor’s house that I placed and forgot change to residence. Again exit, do not save. Go to last save and evict the sims and changed lot type ASAP. Even though the game broke for me this morning, I still got a lot more hours before it happened with salvageable saves.)
- Don’t break your game to fix it. I just got lucky, I tend to go crazy when I am in “sims mode” and then forbidden to play due to some dumb glitch, seems like a tradition). If you’re uncomfortable with any of the steps just don’t do it. Just don’t – you’ll be a lot sadder if you break it, especially if you delete saves you didn’t let yourself think about first; just keep them in a folder for a rainy day, and who knows, a patch might be on the horizon.
I find that parties too, especially b-day ones, make the game wonky; I did have a b-day on the lot a day before I had his tiger hat issue. Same with the fridge the first time, it was right after a party – maybe too many sims queuing to get into the darn thing? Also sims queuing to celebrate at cake is annoying, can’t blow out candles. Hope this helps someone.
Edit:
In retrospect, this is a workaround not a real fix, just want to say that, feels important. It did let me play my game, but the glitches need to be patched.
Also, the first fridge glitch I had started Jan. 4th, the day after I downloaded the x-mas pack and the animal hat thingy. Also, Jan. 4th was a week ago today, a Sunday, and the glitch happened that morning like it did today, Sunday, Jan 11th... probably just a coincidence.
Golden Kitty Meow Luck to you all!
