EA StaffHi @lakotaluca37,
The code you are looking at, the one in the manual, is the code you would need. However, some old games cannot be redeemed by yourself in Origin, and you will need one of our advisors to help you with it.
Please, contact them through EA Help. You will find a detailed explanation on how to contact them if you need it here.
If you have any question, don't hesitate to ask 🙂
Welcome to Answers HQ!
-Mai
My wife bought Sim City 4 and apparently stored it away for nearly a year before giving it to me. I can't get windows 10 to run the game even though I have a product key and EA tech support told me that I have to go back to where the game was purchased because my key isn't any good. I get the "invalid key" on origins however when I initially installed the game from the discs I had to enter the product key and it worked just fine. I also get the box that has a "Play" button as well as the "manual" and "Sim City.com" but it seems that anytime I select one of these options the program crashes. Any ideas on how to fix it? Changing compatibility mode hasn't worked for me.
Redeeming keys on Origin doesn't work for all titles.
The reason you can't properly run SimCity 4 on Windows 10 is because it uses the SafeDisc copy protection system, of which Microsoft removed the driver from Windows 10 for "security reasons", rendering all games that have it unplayable unless you get a digital version from the likes of GOG, Steam and Origin (all of which have SimCity 4 Deluxe), or use a modified executable from the Internet.
The code I used was invalid on Origin even though I bought it in 2008 and have installed in on multiple machine so it obviously works. When I called, anyone on the help line said that I would have to contact Amazon to get a new code?? That seems absurd when the code obviously worked before and seems like a scam just to get me to pay $19.99 again to re-purchase the game in Origin
have the same issue. They tell me the code is invalid, but it clearly is not.
after arguing with the EA/Origin support staff. They did add the game to my official origins account. Which was great. Now I can't get it to play though.
The same answer goes for both of you from the first page:
The reason you can't properly run SimCity 4 on Windows 10 is because it uses the SafeDisc copy protection system, of which Microsoft removed the driver from Windows 10 for "security reasons", rendering all games that have it unplayable unless you get a digital version from the likes of GOG, Steam and Origin (all of which have SimCity 4 Deluxe), or use a modified executable from the Internet.
Buuuut, you can try and contact EA Help via their chat option and see if they can give the Origin version to you, provided you can prove you are the owner of the games with a photo or two.
Nothing works for me. Windows 7 and Simcity 4. I am so upset.
I tried to ask EA help (chat) to get it in Origin - the answer was:
"I have checked with all the possible way however I have found that the CD are synchronized with the license of the operating system when you install the game in the very beginning and in these cases either you have to contact the retailer to get a new code or you have to purchase the game through Origin if you want the game in your Origin code."
how do I reach somebody who can help?
This company is a crock of *. I can't play my hardcopy game that I paid money for and EA I'm sure happily collected it in their accounts and will not grant me access to it on origin because it's an old game but they are more than happy to tell me that i can pay them for it a second time in order to have access on origin to the same exact old game that's too old for them to grant me access to. Matter of fact, I can pay them monthly to play a game I've already paid for or I can pay a flat 20 bucks that I've already given them once. No wonder why there are so many people online preaching their disgust and dislike of your company. It;s absolutely crooked to have taken money for a game once then tell poeple it's too old to put on their account but hey pay us again and then it's not too old to put on your account. You've got to be kidding me EA, I will never again purchase a game your company puts out.
So much bad information in this thread. I play SimCity 4 on my PC Windows 10. There are some things you need to do to make it compatible. I won't list them here. Google is your friend.
BUT if you got the game through Origin, then you are screwed. Origin does not update the game. The Origin client will tell you that the game is up to date, but the SimCity4.exe file remains at version 1.1.610. To run custom content or mods, you need it updated to 1.1.638 or the latest update, 1.1.641. Origin refuses to do that for some reason. And there are forum posts here on Answers HQ addressing this issue that went ignored for over a year.
On the Maxis Files for SimCity 4 website:
"EP1 Update
This update is required as a minimum for most custom content including the NAM. Upon installation, your game will be updated to Version 1.1.638.0 from where the Nightlights Update can then be applied.
Note: Digital versions of SC4 do not require this, providing they are fully patched (1.1.641.0). A notable exception is the Origin edition which is both unpatched and unpatchable, and therefore not recommended."
https://community.simtropolis.com/sc4-maxis-files/
How do I get into an online chat with someone at EA help because I dont want to phone as it will cost money and an online chat would be easier for me than a phone call
thanks for sharing with us...
