How do the Store worlds on Origin actually work?

Plenty of people don't play through Origin. Some of us, myself included, have Steam installs, and we can launch the game without actually opening Steam either. Many people have all their packs on disc and a base game disc that was manufactured prior to 2012; these don't require Origin to manage the install process. In either case, Origin doesn't even need to be installed on the computer for Sims 3 to work. There's also no requirement for an internet connection.

Sims 3 also predates Origin by two full years.

Not that it matters, but Origin can and should run fine with no internet connection. It's supposed to default to offline mode, and while it won't load your game library, an installed game can still be launched from its .exe or desktop shortcut.

The Sims 3 Store doesn't require Origin either, just an EA/Origin account to use for buying and downloading content.

When you said this:

"waterywatermelon;c-17851663" wrote:

I'm not sure what you mean by "people who don't play through Origin". To my knowledge, once you close The Sims 3 game, you will see the Origin window. Apparently, you must also have Internet access, because the computer will first load Origin, then your game. If you drop the Internet connection, then you will be directed to a page on the Origin window, saying that you are not connected. The Sims 2 was made way before Origin arrived, so it was a straightforward insert-the-disc-in-and-play.

It sounded like you didn't understand how Sims 3 installs that don't involve Origin work. Perhaps I misread that, but for "people who don't play through Origin," there is no need to sign into Origin, no Origin window popping up when the game closes, and no requirement for an internet connection. If you do install through Origin, then yes, you'll need Origin running in the background while you play.

I've always been able to launch Origin games without a connection, by the way. Yes, if I double-click on a game .exe, the Origin sign in window shows up, but once I input my credentials, the game launches fine. I've seen a few reports of this not working, but it seems to be the exception rather than the rule.

Not that it's relevant, but it sounds like Origin was running in the background when you disconnected from the internet the second time. If you click the X in the upper right corner of the Origin window, it doesn't stop running; you'd need to choose Exit from the dropdown menu to quit it entirely.

Store worlds do need to be purchased through Origin now, at least the ones that can't be acquired through points, but it's entirely possible to go through the website alone and never even install the app.

The Sims 3 Store predates Origin by a couple years, and Origin has never been set up to handle Sims3Packs. So rather than spend time and resources adding that functionality to Origin, the people in charge kept the store and moved purchases to Origin after a few years. This has the added advantage of allowing people who don't play through Origin to still buy worlds and install them like everyone else.

If you buy a physical copy of a store world, you'll get a box that has a code in it and may or may not also have a disc. But even with a disc, you'd still need to register the world on the store site before installing it; I don't think there's a way to make the world install properly without that.

If you buy a world through Origin, you can definitely send the product code to someone else. It should appear in their store purchase history after they register it.

Store content is encrypted and can't be used by anyone other than the person whose account downloaded it. If the product code for the current installation doesn't match the product code of the account, the content won't work.

@puzzlezaddict Thanks for the info!

What do you mean by this?

This has the added advantage of allowing people who don't play through Origin to still buy worlds and install them like everyone else.

Even if you purchase your worlds through discs, the box cover will literally say that the product requires Origin, as that is the case of all Origin games. You can install the expansion pack directly from disc or register the code in Origin. If you register the code in Origin, then you will be able to download and install the digital copy.

I'm not sure what you mean by "people who don't play through Origin". To my knowledge, once you close The Sims 3 game, you will see the Origin window. Apparently, you must also have Internet access, because the computer will first load Origin, then your game. If you drop the Internet connection, then you will be directed to a page on the Origin window, saying that you are not connected. The Sims 2 was made way before Origin arrived, so it was a straightforward insert-the-disc-in-and-play.

@puzzlezaddict

"puzzlezaddict;c-17855501" wrote:
Plenty of people don't play through Origin. Some of us, myself included, have Steam installs, and we can launch the game without actually opening Steam either. Many people have all their packs on disc and a base game disc that was manufactured prior to 2012; these don't require Origin to manage the install process. In either case, Origin doesn't even need to be installed on the computer for Sims 3 to work. There's also no requirement for an internet connection.

Eh? How is that relevant to the following?

This has the added advantage of allowing people who don't play through Origin to still buy worlds and install them like everyone else.

But, you still have to purchase the worlds through Origin, because you can't find these worlds in brick-and-mortar stores anymore; and you also can't find them on Steam. You have to use Origin to purchase the worlds, get the game code in the e-mail, redeem the game code on the official website and download from your Purchased History. Then, after you click on the Download button, the Sims 3 Game Launcher will load up, downloading the content to your computer.

Sims 3 also predates Origin by two full years.

Oh, okay.

Not that it matters, but Origin can and should run fine with no internet connection. It's supposed to default to offline mode, and while it won't load your game library, an installed game can still be launched from its .exe or desktop shortcut.

Nope, I tried it. It didn't work.

I just disconnected my Internet connection and clicked on the .exe file. Origin fired up, requiring me to log in my credentials. I re-connected to the Internet and clicked on the Sims 3 .exe again. This time, it automatically made an Origin connection before opening up the Sims 3 Game Launcher. When I closed the Game Launcher, Origin popped up, allowing me to see the Game Library. Then, I disconnected again and clicked on the .exe file again. The Sims 3 Game Launcher popped up, completely bypassing Origin. However, The Sims 3 Game Launcher welcome page would explicitly say that I was playing Offline. When I closed the Launcher once again, Origin popped up, and none of the ads showed up because I was offline. However, I could click on my Game Library and view/access all of my Origin games from there.

I tend to completely shut down my computer every night, allowing the entire system to rest. This forces Origin to stop running in the background.

But apparently, I do need Origin running in the background while I'm playing The Sims 3. Hmmm... I suspect that it's because I registered all my owned games through Origin and downloaded/installed through Origin, including the base game.

I actually do own the Sims 3 and some expansion packs on disc, and as far as I can tell, only the Pets and Seasons EPs are installed through disc. I actually registered those EPs late and received the registration rewards late as well.

The Sims 3 Store doesn't require Origin either, just an EA/Origin account to use for buying and downloading content.

Uh... I don't think it uses Origin at all. Downloading something will automatically load up The Sims 3 Game Launcher. Not Origin.