Author Topic: Can't Excavate (Read 10740 times)

Mrs.Laphalot · « **on:** June 17, 2010, 05:16:10 PM »

I had my sim go to Egypt and China and she isn't able to excavate at any location. $:-\$ She just stands there and complains that she can't reach the spot, even if I put her to standing directly on it. Anyone else have this problem?

Schipperke · « **Reply #1 on:** June 17, 2010, 06:15:55 PM »

I also had this problem in China - couldn't excavate anywhere. It was the first time I'd had a sim travelling since I got Ambitions, and I thought Ambitions might be causing the problem. However, a sim in that same game was recently in France and had no problem excavating there. I haven't tried in Egypt.

Joria · « **Reply #2 on:** June 17, 2010, 06:50:31 PM »

I think it may have something to do with their age level. My adult Sims and older can excavate, my young adults and younger can't. Haven't tested it but so far the older folks can excavate at each country but the young adult can't.

Saltypaws · « **Reply #3 on:** June 17, 2010, 06:52:38 PM »

I am having the same problem too, it is with all ages so far and in Egypt and China.

Pam · « **Reply #4 on:** June 17, 2010, 09:18:20 PM »

I'm having this problem, as well. My adult Sim was unable to excavate in Egypt. There was one place, though, that he could excavate: in the underground copper mine on the little island. There are tons of rubble piles to clear with metals and gems under them, and a couple of excavation site. I have no idea why he could excavate undergroung, but not above ground.

wildredchild · « **Reply #5 on:** June 17, 2010, 09:28:16 PM »

I, too, was having this problem after installing Ambitions. I ended up uninstalling everything and then reinstalling. Seems to have fixed the problem as my Sims are able to excavate now.

Mrs.Laphalot · « **Reply #6 on:** June 17, 2010, 10:41:13 PM »

Quote from: Pam on June 17, 2010, 09:18:20 PM

I'm having this problem, as well. My adult Sim was unable to excavate in Egypt. There was one place, though, that he could excavate: in the underground copper mine on the little island. There are tons of rubble piles to clear with metals and gems under them, and a couple of excavation site. I have no idea why he could excavate undergroung, but not above ground.

That's one area I didn't think to try... underground.

Quote from: wildredchild on June 17, 2010, 09:28:16 PM

I to was having this problem after installing Ambitions. I ended up uninstalling everything and then reinstalling. Seems to have fixed the problem as my Sims are able to excavate now.

After all the uninstalls/re-installs I've been through the past two days, I'll deal with not being able to for now. I'll have to muster the stomach to do that again.

Glad there's hope that the problem can possibly be resolved this way though. Thanks bunches for letting me know.

I'm actually have to much of a 'blast' with my inventor at the moment and it's hard for me to pull away from the game.

Esther1981 · « **Reply #7 on:** June 17, 2010, 10:49:57 PM »

Quote from: Mrs.Laphalot on June 17, 2010, 10:41:13 PM

I'm actually have to much of a 'blast' with my inventor at the moment and its hard for me to pull away from the game.

I remember my first day with an inventor! A cop car went BOOM! It was hilarious! I was showing my brother-in-law, and I was laughing so hard I was having trouble hitting the detonate button!

Pam · « **Reply #8 on:** June 17, 2010, 11:30:11 PM »

Quote from: Mrs.Laphalot on June 17, 2010, 10:41:13 PM

After all the uninstalls/re-installs I've been through the past two days, I'll deal with not being able to for now. I'll have to muster the stomach to do that again.

Ugh! Me, too! I just can't think of a reinstall right now. I'll hope for a patch from EA to fix it.

Joria · « **Reply #9 on:** June 17, 2010, 11:34:56 PM »

Quote from: Saltypaws on June 17, 2010, 06:52:38 PM

I am having the same problem too, it is with all ages so far and in Egypt and China.

Yep. Just tested it out in China and it doesn't seem to be age related. Couldn't excavate.

NalaOwl22 · « **Reply #10 on:** June 29, 2010, 10:20:53 AM »

Same problem in my game too - I've heard rumours that excavation sites within lots are working OK, which would fit in with the Copper Mine. I haven't had chance to try this out further as yet but I will try to.
Nala

Schipperke · « **Reply #11 on:** June 29, 2010, 05:24:36 PM »

I'm now having the same problem in France. Now my sims can't excavate in any of the travel destinations.

simfulicious · « **Reply #12 on:** June 29, 2010, 05:42:43 PM »

I can't do this either. I will hopefully fix it on an uninstall/reinstall, when I get my new pc that is currently being built (I can hardly wait!!!)

jdratlif · « **Reply #13 on:** June 29, 2010, 09:27:34 PM »

I have been reading that it is a problem with ambitions.

I can excavate in france in the celtic ruins, but have never been able to anywhere else. I've only found a few sights though, as I don't have the eyes of horus.

I have tried it on two different machines, one running XP and one running Windows 7, so I don't think an uninstall/reinstall will help. Seems unlikely that both m installs went terribly wrong. It has also happened to me on different games, so it doesn't seem to be a save game issue.

What would happen to my save game if I decided to uninstall ambitions? I guess I would lose my washer/dryer, but they don't have any of the new professions. Would my game even still work? I don't really want to start over right now, but I've barely done any exploring.

Esther1981 · « **Reply #14 on:** June 30, 2010, 10:24:03 PM »

Quote from: jdratlif on June 29, 2010, 09:27:34 PM

What would happen to my save game if I decided to uninstall ambitions? I guess I would lose my washer/dryer, but they don't have any of the new professions. Would my game even still work? I don't really want to start over right now, but I've barely done any exploring.

I'm not positive about this, but if you do choose to remove Ambitions, make SURE you remove anything that it has in it BEFORE un-installing! Why I say this is when I un-installed WA and couldn't re-install right away, I tried to play my saved games with only the base game, but because I had WA things in the saved games, it would only load about half-way and refused to go any farther. I didn't try it without WA stuff because once I got my code there was no need.

JahloveAngel · « **Reply #15 on:** July 01, 2010, 12:42:19 AM »

I do not have Ambitions installed (just the base and WA) and have been getting this problem. I've tried to excavate in all three locations been unable, although I haven't used multiple age levels. I don't believe I've tried to excavate on a lot either. That is something I'll try next time.

Branr · « **Reply #16 on:** July 02, 2010, 08:26:00 AM »

One workaround I found is to use buydebug to add excavation spawners to the unbuilt vacation home lots. This spawns the excavation spots where you can use them, even if you don't own the lot.

JahloveAngel · « **Reply #17 on:** July 02, 2010, 11:39:50 PM »

Quote from: Branr on July 02, 2010, 08:26:00 AM

One workaround I found is to use buydebug to add excavation spawners to the unbuilt vacation home lots. This spawns the excavation spots where you can use them, even if you don't own the lot.

I can't believe I didn't think of that. Thanks for the tip!

Yeshanu · « **Reply #18 on:** July 06, 2010, 10:23:38 AM »

Thanks for that tip, Branr!

I've found three excavation sites that work with Ambitions--the burial mound in France, and the copper mine and Queen Hat-whatever-her-name-was' tomb in Egypt, and they're all within lots. I've posted on the Sims 3 forum asking for that bug to be fixed in the next patch, but it's not too much of a priority for me right now. I might try the uninstall/reinstall route, though, or I might try Branr's solution, though I hate using anything but build cheats.

jestina · « **Reply #19 on:** July 12, 2010, 07:32:28 PM »

They fix one thing and break several others.

At least I don't do much excavating but that's still kind of irritating.

lianne · « **Reply #20 on:** July 27, 2010, 10:50:04 PM »

You know those little excavation sites you find around the world adventures locations? The ones that usually have a few ribs sticking out of the ground and when you dig them up you find relics and other stuff?

Well it seems that I can't excavate them anymore, with any of my game files. I used to be able to do it but for the last few weeks none of my sims can do it, they just stomp around and shrug as if they can't get to it. They clearly can get to it though and I've tried it with all 3 destinations and various different dig sites and sims.

Has this happened to anyone else?

Saltypaws · « **Reply #21 on:** July 28, 2010, 01:20:57 AM »

I am going to merge this one with another one, same topic.

wildredchild · « **Reply #22 on:** July 28, 2010, 02:05:25 AM »

Lianne it is happening for loads of players and we are waiting on EA to fix it in a patch. If you go through this thread, you will find a couple places that you can still excavate and also a workaround.

lianne · « **Reply #23 on:** July 28, 2010, 07:39:40 AM »

Sorry, I can't believe I totally missed this topic!

Saltypaws · « **Reply #24 on:** July 28, 2010, 09:14:38 AM »

No problem. We all do it at one time or another. You can still excavate on the burial mounds in France. I was just there and I found three excavation sites on that little mound. One is hidden in the grass and I would not have found that one if I hadn't seen someone else there digging. The locals and explorers are always on that mound digging, so you usually have to share. I start a conversation with them to draw them away from the site and then start digging myself. lol

winnow · « **Reply #25 on:** August 03, 2010, 01:12:45 AM »

One tip (related to Branr's) is to level the ground that the excavation site is on. If the ground that the spawner is on is completely level, it will usually spawn but it might take a few game days. I don't level the whole lot (unless it's not built on yet), just the area that the spawner is on.

One of the easiest ways to do this is to put the spawners on vacation home lots or, e.g., the Landgraab estate in France. Excavation sites not spawning on uneven or sloped ground seems to be a common problem since Ambitions. BTW, Saltypaws, I could not excavate on the burial grounds until I leveled the ground. I guess where you can excavate must vary. But I can't excavate anywhere unless the ground that the spawner is on (and generally the whole area that the green square is when you place the spawner, although IIRC sometimes it's ok if the corners are not completely level) is completely level.

Does anyone know how many of which level of spawner is in the various vacation countries? I usually add spawners on level ground to my vacation areas. However, I'd like to have approximately the same number of low, medium, high, fragment, general (etc.?) sites as an unmodified game would have if it were working properly.

GenTheHen · « **Reply #26 on:** October 01, 2010, 09:25:18 PM »

It's nearly been 4 months since I have been able to excavate (other than 3 spots mentioned here)
Seriously, is there ever going to be a patch for it?

Pam · « **Reply #27 on:** October 01, 2010, 11:32:23 PM »

Quote from: GenTheHen on October 01, 2010, 09:25:18 PM

It's nearly been 4 months since I have been able to excavate (other than 3 spots mentioned here)
Seriously, is there ever going to be a patch for it?

I feel safe in saying that, yes, they will eventually have a patch for it. We're about due for a massive update, so hopefully it will be soon.

Leto85 · « **Reply #28 on:** October 02, 2010, 01:27:27 PM »

Quote from: Pam on October 01, 2010, 11:32:23 PM

I feel safe in saying that, yes, they will eventually have a patch for it. We're about due for a massive update, so hopefully it will be soon.

You mean the update that comes with Late Night?

Pam · « **Reply #29 on:** October 02, 2010, 08:13:50 PM »

Quote from: Leto85 on October 02, 2010, 01:27:27 PM

You mean the update that comes with Late Night?

I wasn't referring to that one specifically, just that there are so many issues currently in the game that EA must be working on some big patches. It would be great if it gets fixed with Late Night.

billythegreat · « **Reply #30 on:** January 06, 2011, 03:02:36 PM »

Nope 2011 is on but the bug still exists.

Schipperke · « **Reply #31 on:** January 06, 2011, 04:47:08 PM »

Quote from: billythegreat on January 06, 2011, 03:02:36 PM

Nope 2011 is on but the bug still exists.

Yep, I can confirm that. It's still not possible for my Sims to excavate.

Welcome to the forum, billythegreat!

Meecha3 · « **Reply #32 on:** January 13, 2011, 01:14:46 AM »

Hi.
I registered on the site just to also confirm that the issue is still....not fixed. And pretty sure a uninstall/reinstall will not fix problem as I recently installed all my games on a new laptop from scratch and am fully updated to patch 6.1, currently playing in Egypt and having no luck.....

malteser60 · « **Reply #33 on:** January 13, 2011, 10:59:26 AM »

I have a feeling this one is not going to be fixed, which is really annoying. I thought EA would get onto it straight away as it's part of the whole WA tomb raiding-relic finding theme of the expansion set. I'm mad about stuff like that, so WA is so far is my favourite, but I do feel a bit let down with the excavate bug still not fixed. Just seems like such a big thing in the gameplay to ignore.

Monolito · « **Reply #34 on:** November 20, 2011, 08:39:56 AM »

I've been able to excavate since the day I installed World Adventures and up to Ambitions. After I ditched an old save and installed Generations everything seems to be bugging out - the game freezes and excavation sites are not accessable :/

samoht04 · « **Reply #35 on:** November 20, 2011, 08:51:08 AM »

Quote from: Monolito on November 20, 2011, 08:39:56 AM

I've been able to excavate since the day I installed World Adventures and up to Ambitions. After I ditched an old save and installed Generations everything seems to be bugging out - the game freezes and excavation sites are not accessable :/

Are you patched up? Apparently the latest patch or one of them was supposed to fix the bug?

EDIT: It was Patch 1.26 that was supposed to have fixed it.

Monolito · « **Reply #36 on:** November 20, 2011, 08:53:23 AM »

I've encountered a bug not allowing my sim to excavate stuff during vacation. This is a major fail because I LOVE to excavate stuff :/ I've looked around the net and there doesn't seem to be a fix, except spawning new dig sites :/ Are there any fixes to this problem? I can guess EA doesn't care since they already registered Sims www sites up to part 7 (!) and are busy thinking of new ways to drain money from people.

samoht04 · « **Reply #37 on:** November 20, 2011, 08:59:25 AM »

I replied in the other thread but I'll say it here as well:

Are you patched up? Apparently the latest patch or one of them was supposed to fix the bug? It was Patch 1.26 that was supposed to have fixed it.

Monolito · « **Reply #38 on:** November 20, 2011, 09:34:50 AM »

I'm afraid the game will mess up even more. It seems not to solve my random game freezing problem and the excavations sites were simply moved somewhere else. I can use some cheats to delete and move excavation sites on my own :/
I've chickened out and I will not patch up. I had to reinstall the whole Sims 3 game a few weeks ago and I don't want to go though it again :/ Last time I tried to use patch 1.26 it said it's the wrong language and then the whole game just couldn't start, saying some service is not able to start. I wasted 2 hours to bring bars and such into Hidden Springs - I can waste some more time to kill bugged excavations sites and spawn new ones. Thanks for you help thou. When I'm sure 1.26 is safe I'll use it.

BTW I didn't install EADM with my sims and when I installed it now the launcher says EADM in unable to start. Should I just manually start it?

MoMoll · « **Reply #39 on:** November 20, 2011, 10:49:38 AM »

Since the patch I've had no problem with excavations, even on uneven ground.

samoht04 · « **Reply #40 on:** November 20, 2011, 10:54:50 AM »

So far 1.26 has only messed up the Fishing with Bait. Other than that it seems to be fine.

Ricalynn · « **Reply #41 on:** November 20, 2011, 11:47:14 AM »

Quote from: Monolito on November 20, 2011, 09:34:50 AM

When I'm sure 1.26 is safe I'll use it.

BTW I didn't install EADM with my sims and when I installed it now the launcher says EADM in unable to start. Should I just manually start it?

EADM is now Origin and it's not what it used to be. Patching up completely will bring back your excavation. Plus be really careful what you say - you did some EA bashing and that's not allowed on this forum.

Monolito · « **Reply #42 on:** November 20, 2011, 12:27:47 PM »

I know I did bash EA. Had a notice from Pam about it but I can't pretend all is fine and dandy if it isn't. If you release a product this big you have to make sure it works fine. The whole bashing comes from frustration because I really love this game and my favorite features are messed up

As for the bait problem it's a big one for me since I like to fish as well. I'll just add some new excavation sites on my own. I wonder how long will it take EA to fix the bait problem.
BTW My sim is also an active gardener so lack of perfect vampire fish is a major disadvantage.

Ricalynn · « **Reply #43 on:** November 20, 2011, 12:31:58 PM »

Not everyone has lost the ability to fish with bait and that's in a different thread. As for the subject of this thread, excavation is fixed automatically if you patch up.

Pam · « **Reply #44 on:** November 20, 2011, 06:53:04 PM »

@Monolito:

You did indeed bash EA in this thread and by your own words, I've already warned you about it. Just because you feel frustration about a situation doesn't mean you are allowed to bash the maker of this game here. To add insult to injury, you asked if there's a way to fix the excavation sites and when you were told about the latest patch that does exactly that, you refuse to install it. What else did you think EA would do to fix the problem besides a patch? Of course it's fixed with a patch. If you want excavation sites fixed, then install the patch. End of story.

Your last comment about fishing is off topic and I removed it. If you want to find out about the fishing with bait issue, you can search the Forum for it.

Pam · « **Reply #45 on:** November 21, 2011, 05:10:33 AM »

Quote from: Monolito on November 21, 2011, 04:48:29 AM

I installed Origin...again. I'd like to patch the game up but when I got to updates in Sims 3 launcher it only gives me an option to update Sims 3 store content (I don't need it :/). I was thinking about updating manually but I can't find the info on which regions is SKU 2 in system registry. I think it's euro/UK but I'd like to be sure. Last time I did a blind update it messed up my game I didn't install EA Download Manager and went straight to Origin.
I forgot to mention my base game is in verions 1.21.

This is off topic for this thread. Please check the Technical Help thread to find information about installing updates. If necessary, start a new topic for it.

Pam · « **Reply #46 on:** November 21, 2011, 03:44:14 PM »

Quote from: Monolito on November 21, 2011, 08:26:01 AM

I can't fish with bait anymore...seems I have the same bug as many people. He just stand there and the interaction is disappears At least I can fish without bait.

Monolito,

You continue to post things that are off-topic for this thread. There are already threads for the fishing issue. Please post your comments there. This thread is exclusively for the issue of excavating.

Monolito · « **Reply #47 on:** November 21, 2011, 04:16:20 PM »

Excavation sites have been corrected - I can confirm. Not all of the sites have been removed. In China for example there's a site near the Hot Springs. I couldn't use that site before applying the patch and now I can. Guess it wasn't the elevated ground problem entirely.

Pam · « **Reply #48 on:** January 17, 2012, 04:24:35 AM »

Quote from: Ricalynn on November 20, 2011, 12:31:58 PM

Not everyone has lost the ability to fish with bait and that's in a different thread. As for the subject of this thread, excavation is fixed automatically if you patch up.

I can't find the thread about not being able to fish with bait. A link would be awesome.