I got this game years ago. Before Sims 3 Launched. Now when I download it and play it shows a blank box and the top of it says something about manor and garden. I can only think the game is launching like its the legacy collection but I Have the Ultimate collection. Was hoping to play it today but No idea why I am getting an error message that says nothing except the top of he bar.
I also had Double Deluxe, it was the one that came with Nightlife. In 2014 EA gave Ultimate Collection to anyone who had Sims 2 games registered on the EA Downloader, later the Origin App. Initially I had both Double Deluxe and UC, but I think Double Deluxe disappeared when they changed the Origin App to the EA App. Anyway, that's how you ended up with it. It was a goodwill gesture I guess, since it wasn't possible to buy any of the Sims 2 packs on the app anymore.
Did some googling to see if I could find it and see if any of the games helped jog my memory. I had Double Deluxe. I had bought the business expansion separately. As to why I have ultimate collection I have no idea, I never purchased that. I just know things were funky when they were switching from origin app to ea app.
It's just labeled as ultimate collection in my library. I currently do not have the original disc with me. If i still have it I have an idea where it is but I am not traveling 2 hours to go and get it. It's currently at my parent's house. I do remember it was before sims 3 came out because I was waiting for my pc to be built and i was playing it on my parent's pc at the time.
Ultimate Collection always launched as Mansions and Gardens (Or maybe Fun with Pets). Back in the day, Sims 2 would launch showing a splash screen for whatever the latest pack was that you had installed. M&G was the last pack to be released and EA never made a new splash screen just for UC. I installed a custom one myself that said Ultimate Collection.
I would suggest googling how to get Sims 2 Ultimate Collection working on modern machines to find what you need. I'm sorry I can't remember all the details on how to fix everything myself, I'm pretty sure I just googled it each time I got a new computer. I know you will need the 4gb patch and you will need to edit the graphics rules. There may be other tweaks you need. Unfortunately it simply doesn't run on modern machines without help.
Edit: It just occurred to me that you said you got it before Sims 3. If you did, then it's not Ultimate Collection. UC was released in 2014, 5 years after Sims 3. Or you are remembering wrong when you got it. This is The Sims 2 Ultimate Collection in the EA app that you are asking about?
