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One common problem in ''[[The Sims 3]]'' is '''save game bloat''', where the size of save game files grows to titanic proportions, to the point of causing [[Save game error|save]] and [[load game error]]s. Even if no errors occur, large file sizes can increase the time it takes to save and load a game, and can cause a noticeable drop in game performance.
 
While save game file sizes are, in theory, a problem in all ''The Sims'' games, it became especially prominent in ''The Sims 3'' with the introduction of the [[memories#The Sims 3|memories]] system in [[The Sims 3/Patch 22|patch 22]]. Unlike the memory system in ''The Sims 2'', a snapshot is taken when a memory is created, which is stored in the Sim's scrapbook. These snapshots take up a lot of space and quickly bloat save game file sizes. Worse off, even if the snapshots are deleted in-game, they are not actually removed from the game files, so they will continue to bloat the save files. Fortunately, disabling the memory system completely solves this problem, although it will not affect existing snapshots.<ref group="n">There have been reports that the in-game function to disable memories does not always work. If it does not work for you, there are mods to help. [httphttps://www.nraas.wikispaces.comnet/community/Memories Source].</ref>
 
Even without the memory system, save game files will still naturally grow other time. The game keeps very small snapshots of Sim portrait poses in the game files, known as SNAP files. New SNAP resources are generated every time the CAS (Create a Sim) system does something (Which includes [[Create a Sim]] actions, as well as Sims changing appearances, changing clothes, change of mood, etc.), and are not removed when they are no longer needed; instead, new ones are simply generated. While SNAP resources are generally small, they can still build up over time.
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The IMG resource is used to store in-game snapshots. These include the aforementioned memory snapshots, as well as camera snapshots, still life, portrait paintings, et al. These do ''not'' include screenshots taken with the in-game screenshot taking tool. Deleting these snapshots in-game does not actually remove them from the game files, hence why it is necessary to also follow this guide to eliminate them for good.
 
This section of the game guide was derived largely from [httphttps://www.nraas.wikispaces.comnet/community/How+-to+-use+-S3PE+-to+-clean+-up+-your+-save-game this guide] on [[NRaas Industries]]. The method used in that guide is more "nuclear" and involves deleting all of the IMG resources in your save game. This will reduce file size, but it will also remove paintings and camera snapshots, which may not be a desirable option. The guide includes instructions for moving these resources to a safe location before deleting. If you have a lot of these IMG resources, then this approach may be desirable; however, for the sake of simplicity (or if you do not have a lot of in-game snapshots that you want to keep), this guide will offer an alternate approach that involves manually going through the IMG resources and deciding which to remove.
 
Open [[S3PE]] (if you do not have it, you will need to [http://simlogical.com/s3pe.htm download] and install it first) and go to the "Open" dialog.
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==External links==
* [httphttps://www.nraas.wikispaces.comnet/community/How+-to+-use+-S3PE+-to+-clean+-up+-your+-save-game How to use S3PE to clean up your save-game]. ''[[NRaas Industries]]''.
* [httphttps://www.nraas.wikispaces.comnet/community/Deleting+-SNAP+-resources+-FAQ Deleting SNAP resources FAQ]. ''[[NRaas Industries]]''.
* [httphttps://www.nraas.wikispaces.comnet/community/General%20Issues%20FAQ#TravelDB General Issues FAQ § Manually Adjusting The TravelDB.package For Better Performance]. ''[[NRaas Industries]]''.
 
[[Category:The Sims 3 game guides]]
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