Flashing 'Loading Neighborhood' Screen Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz (2 CPUs) Memory: 512MB RAM Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Free Hard Disk Space: 103GB Total Hard Disk Space: 147GB DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c Graphics Card: RADEON 9200 SE Display Driver: ati2dvag.dll Version: 6.14.00010.6378 (English) Date: 8/13/2003 05:34:00 Approx. Total Memory: 128.0MB Games Installed: Sims 2 Deluxe, Open For Business, Pets and Seasons. I played the Sims 2 last night with absolutely no problems. But today, when I tried entering 'Riverblossom Hills' I think its called...? (The 'Sims 2 Seasons' neighborhood) all is fine until it finishes loading. The loading neighborhood screen is constantly flashing, refusing to show me the neighborhood BUT I can still click on lots--just can't see them, the blue explorer thing (with the create-a-family, etc.) does show up and I can still click its options. Here is a picture if it helps: http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a131/eternal_darkness14/simsgamebug.jpg Even after entering a lot or going to create-a-family, the screen is still flashing. I have not done a thing to this game (or my PC) since I played last night and I don't have the same problem with the other 3 neighborhoods. I have all patches for my expansions installed, so I have no idea what's going on or have the slightest idea how to solve it. ._.;; Help, please?
Try downloading and installing the latest driver for your graphics card: http://ati.amd.com/support/drivers/xp/radeon-prer300-xp.html Report back here to see if that corrected the problem.
So, I entered the game and played with no problems for about 30 minutes. Then I went back to neighborhood to create another family, which I was able to but afterwards when it was saving the family and going back to the neighborhood... The screen started flashing, same as before.
Ok, I read a little into what other people that are having this problem. Apparently, Seasons is a little more graphics intense than the other expansion packs. Have you had this problem before with Seasons? Did it do this before you installed Seasons? All I can think of is either you might need a new graphics card or need to remove Seasons...
Ack, new graphics card? >.< Long ago last year, I did only have the Sims 2 (The 4 CDs one), University, and Nightlife installed with annoying lagging and freezing up--but no flashing--which is when I changed the graphics card and added more memory. When I uninstalled Seasons, I was left with no neighborhoods. So when I tried to make a new one... It started its flashing again, persistently. Then I reinstalled it. I played again for like 2 hours, switching from lot to lot and it didn't screw up once until I exited the game and loaded it up again after several hours, where it then began flashing after loading a community lot and kept flashing when I tried loading a lot, a family or another community lot. Then I waited an hour, got back in the game and played with no problems. So, I haven't really been having a problem with loading the neighborhood anymore; just other random things at random times. It's kinda of... annoying. o_o ^^ Thanks for trying to help me here, @_@ though I do hope I don't have to change my graphics card again.
