Merry Melody Update - Infos, Changes, Bugs

[ErinPW]

The Update will be available from 27th November 9:30pm UTC (Subject to change)
Source

Here‘s a link to the official blog notes: Merry Melody Update

Version 5.81.-

Events Calendar

All the upcoming playable events for this update are listed below (all dates in PST):

• NEW Influence Island Season 44: 10-day event starting November 28
• NEW SimChase Season 67 ‘Christmas Cook-Off’: 9-day event starting November 28
• NEW Holiday Quest ‘Santa: The Musical’: 13-day event starting December 12
• NEW ‘Posh Party’ Birthday Bonanza: available from December 20 - December 26
• NEW SimChase Season 68 ‘Sparkling Sprint’: 9-day event starting December 25
• NEW Maternity Pack 40: 9-day event starting January 1

Reruns:

• Influence Island Season 26: ("Shabby Chic Kitchen") 10-day event starting December 25
• ‘Lofty Lifestyle’ Live Event: 10-day event starting January 4
• SimChase Season 35 ‘Scandi Scrimmage’: 9-day event starting January 11
• Long Hair Hobby Event: 7-day event starting January 13

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News:
(From the official blog notes.)

Sul Sul,
Get those party poppers and sparklers ready because The Sims™ FreePlay is turning twelve years old! Wow! We're also diving headfirst into the holiday season and gearing up for an unforgettable New Year's Eve bash. Can you feel the excitement in the air? As you jump right into the festivities with your Sims, share your favorite moments with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and use #TheSimsFreePlay!
Let’s dive into what’s coming!

Santa: The Musical - Seasonal Quest Prepare for the ultimate Holiday Quest! Your mission: find Santa and rescue Simsmas, whilst masterfully producing and starring in a dazzling musical! This quest features a star-studded cast that includes classics such as Santa, Mrs. Claus, Pepper, and the Ice Queen, as well as new characters. Let’s get this show on the road!
Reach the grand prize and unlock Broadway Park, a new home lot in the borough of a magnificent city. It includes a theater, reception, skating rink, loft apartment, and rooftop bar. It’s also packed with tons of new cheery decorations, beautiful bow windows, and even a taxi!

A December you’ll remember!
From December 14, we’re celebrating our birthday with glamorous events like the ‘Posh Party’ Bonanza sale and a premium house in the Store, The Gallery Hotel – so fancy! There are also 10 free Mystery Box Keys and epic discounts in the Home Store.
Celebrate the Holidays and New Year with exclusive decorations in the Store, triple Paperboy Rewards, gifts, plus much more!
Make sure to check in every day to join in the celebrations!
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Changes:
Color changes for some known info-popups
The tall fir trees got a new look and snow doesn’t stay on them.
The wording for the task "Play frisbee with a dog" has been changed to "Play flying disc with a dog".

Bugs
Fire poles can’t be used (The Firemonkeys are working on this bug.)
The filter in Home Store is buggy for a while already and still not fixed.
The option "Have a nap" has disappeared from park benches.

[Debbilu_7]

Anyone else finding that your fire poles don’t work?

[bluebeariscool]

Yes my fire poles aren’t working either.

[SKatF]

I really struggled to load this update. It kept freezing. I had to force close and restart game. Several times. Twice towards the end, it said 100% but when I reloaded game (because it froze) it had more to download.

Fortunately, I didn't lose any progress (I'm still doing Sim Springs) as it seemed to pick up where it left off.

[ErinPW]

Some popups got new colors. Not sure if I like this change

Many players got this popup last year already, then when the quest was closed while the Pretty Pastel update and now again.
I completed this quest in 2014 already and the turkeys are where they’re supposed to be

[JaneRoettinger]

Filters bug still not fixed :\

[SKatF]

The darker background is easier for me to read but still startles me.

[ErinPW]

The option "Have a nap" has disappeared from park benches. I wonder if the weekly task "Make a preteen Sim have a nap at the park.“ has disappeared, too.

The tall fir trees got a new look and snow doesn’t stay on them. The trees that are placed on templates outside the grid are not effected. Looks a bit weird

[simmare]

It’s a shame snow doesn’t stay on the trees, but they do look more realistic now

[Debbilu_7]

When I send a lot (but not all) of my sims to work, at first, the right time shows on the progress bar but then it goes to 00:00:02 and stays there. I have to pay an SP or cancel the shift.
I have one woodworker that gets no progress bar over his head…nothing shows up when I tap him. Fortunately, he does finish at the right time and gets a ! then or he’d be stuck there forever…this particular glitch doesn’t happen on my Android phone though so I guess I could rescue him there.
I have a diver who would always be standing beside the diving board in her everyday clothes when I go back to the lot. There were other divers there with her and they were fine. If I watched a video or sat and watched her the whole time, she would finish…she is now a horse trick trainer lol.