Unicorns: Finding & Befriending

I don't have all the unicorn data, but here's what I've read and experienced.

You have a hidden "Wildlife" skill that can get up to level 6.  Your easiest way to level this is (I'm guessing) finding the Wild Horses and hanging out with them.  Make them your friends.

After petting maybe 3 deer and befriending 2 wild horses on my Sim, I ran into a unicorn.  He appeared in a shower of rainbow sparkles in the middle of the wild horse herd at around midnight (they seem to congregate at public fishing spots, i.e. Appaloosa County Water Treatment), and when I went into Map View, a big old rainbow cloud hovered over that lot while showering (you guessed it) sparkles.  So, when a unicorn appears, apparently it's really easy to spot on your map.

See?  Easy!

My wildlife skill was apparently high enough that he's willing to hang out with me (I've read that it needs to be at 6, but I don't know how high mine is/was).  Once you're Best Friends, you'll get an "Invite Unicorn to Join Household" option.  :)

"Be my unicorn?"

"Sure!"

Named him Shadow Dancer.

Only complaint is that I wish you could tell the gender of wild/stray animals before you adopt them.

Appaloosa Plains Special Seed Locations

• Cinnamon Crest Falls
• Small Brownish Clearing -- (identifiable by huge rock & hollow tree stump with eyes inside) -- NE of "Adventure Landing" if Water = South
• At back of the Equestrian Regional Training Grounds -- (on the assumption that the road enters at the front)
• The walking path that cuts through the mountains from the crossroads to end at the water tower behind the Appaloosa County Water Treatment lot.

Since I just got the xpac, I'll add to this list and make photo maps later. Right now, I'm focusing on playing and not seed locations.

Hidden Springs Special Seed Locations

These are not necessarily all of the spots you can find Special Seeds in Hidden Springs. They are, however, the places I have found Special Seeds.

The Fountain of Youth is NOT automatically in Hidden Springs. You need to edit a lot (community or residential, your call), purchase it for $495,000, and place it.

Sort by Room -> Outdoor -> Lawn Ornaments
Sort by Function -> Decor -> Sculpture

Origin Beta: Code Cannot Be Redeemed Here, #2 (Solution)

On 9/18/11 I found support.ea.com, which has a live chat with a queue that you can get into.  Unlike the live chat (aka "Busy Signal") on the origin help site.

Support Links > Contact Us:
Filled out the form, used subheaders Account/Registration > Product Registration.

Then it gives you a choice between a phone call and live chat.  I picked the live chat.

Took about 5 minutes to get through a 20+ person queue.  The customer service person asked about my issue, I said "Can't download legally purchased games, tried on Origin and activate.ea.com several times."  Was asked for the game names, the digital rights codes (find them in your confirmation email from when you bought the games), and the email used.

That particular session ended when I was upgraded to level 2 and never got a level 2 specialist (I waited 2 hours only to have it cancel on me, saying there were no specialists available and to try again later).

Tonight, I got another person and we resolved the issue.  The problem?  I'd bought the games under a different email account than the one I used for my Origin login.  So I had to create a new Origin login using the email I'd bought the games under and there they were, waiting for me to download them.

There is currently no way to combine Origin accounts, but maybe they'll do that sometime later, eh?

Origin Beta: Code Cannot Be Redeemed Here, #1 (Problem)

I just reformatted my computer to make my Sims run smoother.

But when I put my (rather old) digital download codes in the Origin "Redeem Code" box, it gives me "cannot be redeemed" and links me to my account page on TheSims3.com, which has nothing to do with downloading anything (except overpriced chairs).

When I go to activate.ea.com, which has worked for some, it gives me a "code is already in use."

Well, duh.  I own it.  I use it.  (Allegedly, this is a problem that happens when you register your game on TheSims3.com?  But there's no way to unregister them, of course.  That would be way too convenient for the customers!)

The help desks are abysmally unhelpful pits of "Everything will be fine, buy our games!"

And, of course, the last screw you on this big pile of getting shafted is that "Live Chat" for the customer service center is busy (probably helping others who can't download their games) and there's no, like, line to wait in.  I just have to stalk the page until someone becomes available.

I'm going to have to freaking pirate games I bought legally if I ever want to play them again.

*crankycrankycranky*

[Edit:] Found an actual help topic targeted to this problem -- it does not, however, offer any new information.  I'm still getting "this code is in use" messages.
http://support.ea.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5515/kw/The+Sims+3+World+Adventures

Twinbrook Special Seed Locations

These are not necessarily all of the spots you can find Special Seeds in Twinbrook.  They are, however, the places I have found Special Seeds.

Not including Sunset Valley or Riverview because others have already done those.

Pets Yay

We're getting pets!  Yay!  This is the one I've wanted the most since the basegame.  ^_^

Confirmed animals:

♦ Cats
♦ Dogs
♦ Horses
♦ Lizards
♦ Turtles
♦ Birds
♦ Snakes

From what I'm reading, Seasons and Magic are the next most-wanted expansions (I'm dying for Magic, personally, though I wanted Pets more).  And from the way the expansions have been coming out, it will work like this: Big expansion, Small expansion, Big, Small, Big, Small, Big.  So, after pets, we'll get another small expansion like Ambitions or Generations and then another big one.  What that will be?  Who knows!

Carter Siblings

Mark & Mary-Lynette

Minimal Custom Content

Like the Redfern Siblings, these are characters from LJ Smith's Daughters of Darkness.

(As usual, please note that I use Lady Frontbum's default skins and Cutthroatdollie's default eyes, so these Sims will look different in your game.)

Redfern Siblings (Vampire Household)

Back Row: Ash, Kestrel, Rowan
Front Row: Jade

Minimal Custom Content

This is a group of characters from LJ Smith's Daughters of Darkness.  I will update the file when the pets xpac comes out to include Jade's cat, Tiggy.  And if the xpac has goats, I'll add their Great Aunt's goat.  ^_^  Hee.

(As usual, please note that I use Lady Frontbum's default skins and Cutthroatdollie's default eyes, so these Sims will look different in your game.)

Flaherty Household

Top Row: Margaret, Ruby, Robert
Front Row: Tiffany

NO CUSTOM CONTENT!