Game Help Talk:TS3 Patching:Patch Download/Current

To save you some time, ella :) -whiterider 23:30, 30 November 2010 (UTC)

Added later, I must sleep now. http://db.modthesims.info/showpost.php?p=3384894&postcount=10

Thanks, whitey. Info transferred and the rest updated. ~ ellaCharm3d 02:54, 1 December 2010 (UTC)

Changes from SOP starting from 1.22

The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) EA has established since patch 1.5 for WA is that each base game + last-released-installed pack, need to be updated in turn. However, most of us had patched all installed packs in the middle as well, as that procedure appears to reduce crashing and other weird issues. So, MTS staffs' advice has always been to keep all your games on the same patch level. This is because the patched files are stored in the last-released-installed pack's folders as well as each pack's own folders.

In 1.22 however, the patched files are stored in base game's folders and it does appear that games with unpatched packs can be started just fine even if one does not have the last-released pack that goes with that patch version (eg Base Game on 1.22 minus Generations on 8.0). But reports I've read have been mixed with myriad of stories. I believe this is true if you start the game via TS3W.exe in /Game/Bin or via Launcher, and the unsuccessful reports are from those who start their game from TS3?P0#.exe. Still, time will tell...

~ ellaCharm3d 02:15, 4 June 2011 (UTC)

1.26 Incremental Patches

In all seriousness, you shouldn't use these unless Origin or The Sims 3 Patch Downloader directed you to them. If you are missing just one patch between 1.19 and 1.24 for any of the expansion/stuff packs, these will error!

From 1.23

1.23 is only available on the Town Life Stuff disk.

• 1 North America
• 2 Europe
• 3 East Asia
• 5 Japan
• 7 Worldwide

Maybe wise to put the EP patches on the "Current" page?

Mostly for those that haven't gotten them previously (e.g. fresh install). The update manifests for 14 still list them all because they are "current." I assume you'd just copy and paste the archived bits so I'll just put the manifest links here:

EP01 SP01 EP02 SP02 EP03 SP03

Those six updates will probably always have to be listed along with the base game updates in the future. Basically, those updates patch the EPs and SPs to support the new base-game patching system so they're pretty important now and into the foreseeable future. I assume everything Generations and after will no longer get any updates. --FordGT90Concept 00:56, 18 August 2011 (EDT)

Uh, NO!

That would totally break the levels numbering system and understanding of same, and confuse people further. Which is the last thing they need - more confusion. In the case of a fresh reinstall, if they had updated ALL their EPs to be on the same level as BG 1.22 prior to the uninstall, as we (MTS Staff and me especially) had been harping since the release of HELS back in Feb 2010, wouldn't the .exe files already been downloaded since early Jun 2011? Why would they need to redownload again? If they had not kept the executable files, then clicking on the Archived link for that level number in the Game Help:Patch_Table would bring them to the Archive pages easily enough. And should probably start listening to us for a change. :)

~ ellaCharm3d 11:04, 18 August 2011 (EDT)

The important thing isn't the "level" in the patch version, it is the manifest it came from (currently, 14). Previously and to date, you want to have as high of a "level" as available. Currently, for the base game, that's 12 and for expansions, that's 11.

It is the links they found on this (Current) page that they will use irregardless of "levels." I think they should appear on this page (because they are still current) but with a note that you may not need these if they were installed previously (check versions on the launcher). Even if they happened to download them all again when they don't need to, you're only talking less than 50 MiB.

It might not even be necessary to keep the archive section anymore (less the 6 EPs)--or at least obscure the link on the Patch Download page. All of the current patches are now super patches so past versions (before 1.21 if incremental updating) are quite irrelevant. --FordGT90Concept 13:46, 18 August 2011 (EDT)

Ah! Now I know where this is coming from. If we say the Packs' patches are Archived, means that going forward, as long as only SuperPatchers for BG are released and only update required, that would make your Patch Downloader obsolete, does it not? ;)

And I do concede the point, however that people who need to patch the Packs may not even bother to read and look for them in the Archived pages, so I've linked them in each cell in the Game Help:Patch_Table.

And are you still going on about "levels" versus "manifests"? That is so funny and sad...I'm still however going to maintain using "level" as that is the number CAW looks for to be compatible with BG. And Archived pages are just that - archived versions of older patches. We may have someone wanting to experiment what patch 1.8 does, that is different from patch 1.24 for instance...

~ ellaCharm3d 17:21, 18 August 2011 (EDT)

I think it gets over 100 downloads a day and it still performs the task better than EADM/Origin. There's still so much interest in it, I had to recruit someone else to help polish the GUI for the ground-up release that came out on Monday (I think it was) so nope, not obsolete. :)

Do most people look at the Patch Table if they need to patch their game? Just a quick glance at the page and I couldn't see where the links were. I had to look at the history to figure it out. If that's where the help staff on MTS point people to get patches and they know to click the numbers, excellent. Otherwise, it isn't very helpful.

I have no objections with keeping it "level." It isn't technically correct but as discussed previously, "Game Help" isn't technical. Add the fact that really doesn't matter anymore and...meh. Tomato or Tomäto? ;) --FordGT90Concept 19:32, 18 August 2011 (EDT)

Sure, there's an audience for the thing. But to trade in EADM/Origins for another app that needs constant updating is not for me, the reason why I update manually in the first place.

The Related Pages section showing the links are so obscured, are they? That's a matter for you and your optometrist to settle, I guess. And no, I link them to the Current page and the Table page, if you must know. But most people are aware of these pages by now, anyways. Just the odd new crop of newbies to the site, every patch cycle. You seem to be the only one having an issue with this, do you notice? Not many or any of these so called "people" that you think cannot tell the difference between links and non-links who showed up in Help has complained of not being able to find the patches after we link them...plus, the numbered links were just added in response to your seeming to think people need to know, in yet another method, where the Archived links are.

Yep, matter is closed.

I should really have learned my lesson and ignore all these seemingly "helpful" hints of yours and not get in the middle of a pointless debate. But I still strive to be fair and let everyone voice their opinions and have their say. More fool me.

~ ellaCharm3d 09:38, 19 August 2011 (EDT)

It's completely web-based (it was from day one). It only needs an update if I make improvements in the core application (like add multithreading, ability to list old updates, etc.) just like EADM/Origin. If you downloaded it now, it should theoretically work a year from now unless EA makes major changes in their patching system (in which case, Origin would be updated too). I update it server-side (change the 14 to 15, for example) so it finds new patches and games when they come out. Try it, you might like it. ;)

Those 6 patches aren't archival material--they're current (see the manifests and EADM/Origin behavior). Meh. If people want to make 100% sure they got all the available patches, they can go use Patch Downloader and Uncle Ford will take care of them. :) --FordGT90Concept 15:19, 19 August 2011 (EDT)