Hey... first time poster, not so long time reader... After reading about these issues, I thought I'd throw my conclusions and experience so far...
Got the 2/15 update, started building Wiggum House on Saturday (knowing that people had the glitch, but I haven't really had any of these major issues except occasional crashing since I started playing in September). Wiggum House completed fine yesterday, but I noticed that I was only 2/3rds the way to the next XP bonus level before "accepting" the house, and then I got the next bonus level immediately (only got 1 donut from it, d'oh). I don't think building this house was worth that much XP.
So after reading some other stuff, I'm guessing that there is more an issue around XP handling for the bonus levels than anything else, probably an incorrect amount due to multiplier issues. Then I think there is some sort of race condition or something stuck in a loop. My guess is that if you are below a certain threshold of XP when it happens, you get bumped up to the next XP bonus level and are okay. If you are above that threshold, you get shot past the XP bonus level and then you have the harp issue. That is probably happening because there is a loop in the code, and the loop counter is not being checked properly to know when to stop, so it keeps going forever (to a degree). Now there's only so many bytes used for the number values, and they will go up until the number rolls over to 0 or a negative number (if it's signed or unsigned values). So that is probably where people get back in after 15 minutes or so, cuz that's how long it's taking to loop around. Again, this might have something to do with the amount the loop counter counts each time, because you could get into the same zone where you get back out of bounds and loop thru again. Or you don't, and you get in okay, and in some cases, get a lot of donuts, cuz it's effectively looped you around thru hundreds of levels.
I'm debating building El Chemistri (nearly have the money), any maybe I'll have the issue and get free donuts too. Or like most of the previous issues, maybe I won't have the problem. Or maybe I'll wait and build a temporary house farm for now (something I've never done).
Had the same problem and the following works: (1) Go to Settings-->General-->Auto Lock and set it to Never (2) Connect your phone to your computer and Log In so that you hear the harp freeze (3) Turn off the sound and let the phone sit for about 20 minutes on the initial Tapped Out screen. Eventually, your town will reappear.
After following these steps, I have no more freezes. Hope this helps.
Found the above solution on another thread and it works. Give it a try.
I'm sorry to hear about everyone's issues, but I built both the Wiggum house and El Chem without any issues. I haven't experienced the harp glitch yet and hope it doesn't happen.
As with all things TSTO, you are rolling the dice everytime you play...
It's so hard to know what is related to what. I completed el chemistri just fine and was in and out of the game. upon completing el chemistri I leveled up to the imaginary level 27. Things were fine for a while but then I exited and when I came back in I was stuck in harp hell. it's been several hours and I tried all the fixes people have mentioned except for finding an iPhone and letting it try to out last the harp. IPads won't stay with the game that long they flip you back to the app screen after about 10 minutes.
I saw this thread too late and now I have the glitch. Tried to leave it on but nothing. .
Edit: it's not from the building but you can get it after building it. I leveled up after it finished. It gave me way too much xp. I needed around 40g of xp to go. It crashed after it I opened the task bar for Ralph / wiggum. The task comes right after you finish building el chemistri. I don't think I would have had the glitch if I didn't get this enormous amount of xp from the building. I shouldn't have ever got that huge amount.
I saw this thread too late and now I have the glitch. Tried to leave it on but nothing. .
All, the bug is NOT specifically related to the elchem build as you can see even two posts above this one happened when someone just finished wiggams house.
Lyle, as most (and I include myself) don't take the time to read through all of the posts before responding, they simply read the title and the first post, can you edit your first post? I think it would be extremely helpful to all with all the new info you have gained since first posting.
My theory is, sa the harp sound is the level up sound and with the xp glitches and with how randomly this starts to affect people as time continues, those that are going to get it are going to get it anyway if they keep playing as they will continue to accumulate xp. This is just a theory but at the end of the day its an EA server side issue they have to correct.
Well I did the let it sit and after 13 minutes it let me in and then gave me the donut glitch for over 1,000 donuts. Which I promptly spent all buy 80. The only premiums I had were SVT from a while back and Shauna that I had gotten with my Christmas donuts, and I really like having characters...so I went on a shopping spree.
Kearney, Hans, Dr. Nick, BumbleeMan
Then buildings with people
Lair, brewery, lab, school bus
I have 84 donuts left, so here's hoping I can trade some hearts for donuts to get KrustyLu studios.
Lots of players - myself included - are locked out of the game due to a glitch by confirming the build of the El Chemistri restaurant (level 26 - This Little Wiggy Pt.3).
To prevent any other innocent players from suffering this fate - DO NOT click on the tick icon once the El Chemistri building has finished its 1d12hr construction - until further notice on these forums.
(I realise this is mentioned in other threads, but thought I'd make it concise with a clear eye-catching title that people can read at a glance I'm so annoyed by this glitch and don't wish any other avid players to have this happen to their towns)
Lots of players - myself included - are locked out of the game due to a glitch by confirming the build of the El Chemistri restaurant (level 26 - This Little Wiggy Pt.3).
To prevent any other innocent players from suffering this fate - DO NOT click on the tick icon once the El Chemistri building has finished its 1d12hr construction - until further notice on these forums.
(I realise this is mentioned in other threads, but thought I'd make it concise with a clear eye-catching title that people can read at a glance I'm so annoyed by this glitch and don't wish any other avid players to have this happen to their towns)
Replies
Got the 2/15 update, started building Wiggum House on Saturday (knowing that people had the glitch, but I haven't really had any of these major issues except occasional crashing since I started playing in September). Wiggum House completed fine yesterday, but I noticed that I was only 2/3rds the way to the next XP bonus level before "accepting" the house, and then I got the next bonus level immediately (only got 1 donut from it, d'oh). I don't think building this house was worth that much XP.
So after reading some other stuff, I'm guessing that there is more an issue around XP handling for the bonus levels than anything else, probably an incorrect amount due to multiplier issues. Then I think there is some sort of race condition or something stuck in a loop. My guess is that if you are below a certain threshold of XP when it happens, you get bumped up to the next XP bonus level and are okay. If you are above that threshold, you get shot past the XP bonus level and then you have the harp issue. That is probably happening because there is a loop in the code, and the loop counter is not being checked properly to know when to stop, so it keeps going forever (to a degree). Now there's only so many bytes used for the number values, and they will go up until the number rolls over to 0 or a negative number (if it's signed or unsigned values). So that is probably where people get back in after 15 minutes or so, cuz that's how long it's taking to loop around. Again, this might have something to do with the amount the loop counter counts each time, because you could get into the same zone where you get back out of bounds and loop thru again. Or you don't, and you get in okay, and in some cases, get a lot of donuts, cuz it's effectively looped you around thru hundreds of levels.
I'm debating building El Chemistri (nearly have the money), any maybe I'll have the issue and get free donuts too. Or like most of the previous issues, maybe I won't have the problem. Or maybe I'll wait and build a temporary house farm for now (something I've never done).
Found the above solution on another thread and it works. Give it a try.
As with all things TSTO, you are rolling the dice everytime you play...
Edit: it's not from the building but you can get it after building it. I leveled up after it finished. It gave me way too much xp. I needed around 40g of xp to go. It crashed after it I opened the task bar for Ralph / wiggum. The task comes right after you finish building el chemistri. I don't think I would have had the glitch if I didn't get this enormous amount of xp from the building. I shouldn't have ever got that huge amount.
All, the bug is NOT specifically related to the elchem build as you can see even two posts above this one happened when someone just finished wiggams house.
Lyle, as most (and I include myself) don't take the time to read through all of the posts before responding, they simply read the title and the first post, can you edit your first post? I think it would be extremely helpful to all with all the new info you have gained since first posting.
My theory is, sa the harp sound is the level up sound and with the xp glitches and with how randomly this starts to affect people as time continues, those that are going to get it are going to get it anyway if they keep playing as they will continue to accumulate xp. This is just a theory but at the end of the day its an EA server side issue they have to correct.
Kearney, Hans, Dr. Nick, BumbleeMan
Then buildings with people
Lair, brewery, lab, school bus
I have 84 donuts left, so here's hoping I can trade some hearts for donuts to get KrustyLu studios.
didnt get any bug from making it.
I did not either until I got the quest