Okay guys here we go !
Take your time and READ, as this might help preventing a lot of frustration !!

When a new patch becomes available, this usually means a new EP or SP is gonna be introduced by EA in the next couple of days.
The patch is necessary as most of the times the new EP (Expansion Pack) will bring new features or new functionality to the game. In order for your game to be working (both with or without that EP or SP), your game need to be prepared / updated in order for your game to keep working.

That's the "EA side" of the story. Most of us however also use Third Party creations or mods in the Sims 3 game. Sometimes these need to be updated and sometimes they HAVE to be updated in order for your game to be working.

I think some of you need help with this or advice.

When a patch comes out, what NEEDS to be updated ??
- The answer is "core" mods, but that's just a general term.
* A slider hack is a core mod
* Awesome mod is a core mod
* The NRaas MasterController is a core mod.

If you're using one or more of these in your game, these ALWAYS NEED to be updated when a new patch is released by EA.

* Awesome mod is a mod which can help or adjust all kinds of settings in your game and is probably the most elaborate and "complex" of them all. This mod also features a slider hack functionality. If you're only looking for a slider hack only, this is definitively "overkill". You can find download and update HERE.
Please make sure you have the latest version of the mod installed, matching the patch you have installed for your game !

* A Slider hack. This mod allows you to use all (or more) sliders in CAS both EA created as well as added 3rd party CAS sliders. Sliders themselves don't need updating normally (maybe only if there are FUNDAMENTAL changes made by EA in CAS).
There are several options available for a Slider Hack.
Awesome mod by Pescado (see above)
NRaas MasterController by Twallan (see below)
XCas by CMarNYC (available HERE) You either need the XCAS basics, or the XCAS full version there (!)
Slider hack by S-Club (aWT) (available HERE)
Please make sure you have the latest version of the mod installed, matching the patch you have installed for your game !
If the slider hack isn't updated yet to the last patch, you either have to wait with patching, or patch and taker out the old slider hack and do without all the sliders working in CAS (and wait), or patch and use an alternative slider hack which is updated and replace the mod when it is updated.

* The NRaas MasterController, this mod is in some respects similar to the Awesome mod, as with this mod you can also adjust settings in your game and it also has a built in slider hack. The default setting for the MasterController is normally enough to help your game more smoothly or add more or better functionality to your game (without having to program or adjust anything). Together with the MasterController Integration mod this is an easy combination with probably the most "benefits" to the Sims game (but that's also a bit clouded by my own judgement ). The NRaas MasterController is available HERE. You'll need the Base-Mod from there and I can definitively recommend the Integration mod from there as well.
Please make sure you have the latest version of the mod installed, matching the patch you have installed for your game !

If you're using one or more of these mods, these ALWAYS NEED to be updated when you've patched your game to the latest spec !!

Sometimes EA adds new or other functionality to CAS (like for instance Create A Household, which creates sort of 2 CAS layouts, one for sims and one for Pets - added with the EA Pets EP). In these cases other mods might need updating as well, like showing more skins, freckles and or beauty marks, but these mods don't always need updating. However these mods won't cause your game to crash or not work at all, if they get "outdated" by a new patch.

I hope this information helps clarify and smoothing things out for simmers having problems, when patching.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate and ask and I'll try to help !!

Best of luck and happy simming !!

and make sure you did download the newest version , not the old version. sometimes we download the old version by mistake ooops.

Thanks for mentioning that again as it's real important simmers (always) have the correct version installed (equal to the last patch they'e installed) !!

Bookmarking this, Eva!

Thanks so very much Eva!! I just arrived in Georgia about 2 hours ago and have yet to even begin to unpack anything so I won't be in game until probably tomorrow or Friday. It probably is my slider hack...at least I hope, I've never seen my loading screen do that weird thing so I hope it all is slider hack related.

Thanks guys !! I'm glad I can be of help ! ;)

@ CeCe it could be all slider hack related the issues with your game. If I patch and don't update my slider hack, my game won't even start up.
It's always important to have these mods up to date !

I agree!! The last update I couldn't figure out why my game was acting so silly and it was something so simple as the slider hack. I just checked S-Club and they have not updated yet. I hope they do soon...I will be ready to go in game probably this weekend and can't wait to see the new additions ea has added. Not getting Supernatural....just not feeling it, but the ep looks fun for those that do enjoy that sort of game play!!

The trouble with the S-club slider hack is that the mod gets updated "irregularly" and in most cases kind of late.
I can recommend both the "XCas by CMarNYC" or "Nraas MasterController (+ MasterController Integration)" mods as alternative to the S-Club slider hack, also as those mods get updated normally within a day after a patch is released.