Since my ability to connect to the internet connection is not constant, I need to find a way to start Sims 3 from CD only without ANY internet connection. As far as I know the only method is to have the pre-2012 disc to run the game from and refusing to upgrade to 1.69 upon installation of the game. And tracking down the discs to every EP, SP and world. Even with Steam, I presume you still have to log in initially to Steam’s service in order to launch the game and with no access to the internet I presume that’s the only way There is no way to do this when you upgrade to update version 1.69. . That ties you down to always having to have internet access just incase that Origin throws up an update and requires you to login to it’s client service again. I guess I’m a troglodyte however it’s frustrating when you have to maintain a constant internet connection just to have access to the games you want to play, but I guess that’s the way video games are going we don’t pay to “own” the games any more. We pay for the right to rent the use of the game subject to TOS.

This is why I freakin hate to have third party clients to run games. I despise it. But companies like EA are so terrified of losing fifty cents that they punish the legit customers with horrible DRM's and stupid clients. People say that if you set yourself offline on Origin or Steam or whatever, that you can still play your games, but in my experience, it hasn't really been the case. On Origin, yes I can sometimes play a game but none of my DLC or anything will show up because of their stupid "authentication" nonsense.Steam is less bad, but still bad. Someone more knowledgeable than me about Steam might be able to help more. I avoid all these dumb clients as much as possible. I'm sorry, I don't know another way to play completely offline other than the pre 2012 disc install and 1.67edit - can't spell.

Certainly an Internet connection is required to install the Steam versions of TS3 and its EP/SPs and run them the first time for authentication purposes, but not from that point forward. Steam delivers its own build of Patch 1.67 and therefore a Launcher bypass using a shortcut/alias to TS3w.exe is still sufficient to launch the game after the first run. You will however also need some sort of Internet connection to obtain store content all over again as the game won't let you use store content downloaded under an Origin/disc account on the Steam platform, but that's just another form of one-time pain rather than something ongoing.This may change sometime next year when Steam begins expanding its EA titles and there may be more of a Steam-Origin connection than the none, not possible, don't need it anyway one we have now. It remains to be seen what will be required of us TS3 players on Steam once that happens.Of course, not that this is much help for today, it's also possible that Origin may someday fix its Play Offline feature so that it works closer to what was probably intended.

Read igazor's post here - https://forums.thesims.com/en_us/discussion/745695/why-does-the-sims-3-need-internet-to-startOops...late to the show/ignore.

"Goulsquash;c-17295718" wrote:If the issue is the 1.69 patch itself, would doing a re-install and then manually patching to 1.67 work? Players on Windows who are on a Patch 1.69/Origin controlled install cannot downpatch to 1.67. That would break the game install entirely. There was a very short window back at the end of 2015 when the first variant of 1.69 was released where there was a sneaky way to do this that did work for some players, but it hasn't worked since then due to the tighter control and realigning of the program files with 1.69.As soon as one installs a digital (not disc) version of the base game or any one of the EP/SPs by way of Origin or by using a base game disc manufactured after Sept 2012, one is on Patch 1.69 with no choices being offered.

You can leave all of the store worlds off your list entirely if this makes things any easier. The disc "versions" of the worlds just bring you to the TS3 store anyway. Origin for some of them may act as a purchasing agent just like the retail stores did with the discs, but it doesn't matter how the worlds that are sold for cash as opposed to store points are purchased. It's the TS3 store that provides them for download and installation through the Launcher in every case, not Origin itself and the worlds have nothing to do with Patch 1.69.

Is Pre-2012 CD the only way to play Sims w/o internet?

NikkeiSimmer
New Vanguard
5 years ago
Born in Canada ??, currently live in Canada; never been to Japan. The only thing Japanese about me is that I have ethnic Japanese parents so I’m ethnically Japanese but 100% Canadian.

The only time pretending to be actually fresh off the boat from Japan is to get those confounded telemarketers off the telephone line. You should see how fast they hang up when you repeat “nani desu ka” a couple dozen times to every question a telemarketer asks. Great for gits and shiggles. :mrgreen: if I’m really in a foul mood I throw in some Kochi-ben learned courtesy of my dad who was from there. That really confuses the hell outta them.

So most of the game CDs that I’m gonna have to get will have to be found on Amazon Canada or Ebay.
MagicalArtemis
5 years ago
@Nikkei_Simmer Sorry, I did not know about that, and just judged by your name. o:)
Goulsquash
6 years ago
If the issue is the 1.69 patch itself, would doing a re-install and then manually patching to 1.67 work?
Goulsquash
6 years ago
"igazor;c-17295741" wrote:
"Goulsquash;c-17295718" wrote:
If the issue is the 1.69 patch itself, would doing a re-install and then manually patching to 1.67 work?

Players on Windows who are on a Patch 1.69/Origin controlled install cannot downpatch to 1.67. That would break the game install entirely. There was a very short window back at the end of 2015 when the first variant of 1.69 was released where there was a sneaky way to do this that did work for some players, but it hasn't worked since the due to the tighter control and realigning of the program files with 1.69.

As soon as one installs a digital (not disc) version of the base game or any one of the EP/SPs by way of Origin or by using a base game disc manufactured after Sept 2012, one is on Patch 1.69 with no choices being offered.

Oh wow, I've always owned disc versions so I've never had to fight an entire game company to play my games.
NikkeiSimmer
New Vanguard
6 years ago
I’m going to try to track down the majority of the CDs that I don’t currently own. And install the game while offline with my pre-2012 disc (my wife said it was somewhere around here and that she saw it -if not I’ll track down two of the pre-2012 discs.
(one for her; one for me) )

Of the discs that I currently own

EPs

Late Night
Seasons
University Life
Island Paradise
Into the Future

SPs

High End Loft Stuff

Worlds

Monte Vista (has disc)

Downloaded

EP

World Adventures
Ambitions
Generations
Supernatural
Pets
Showtime

SP

None

Worlds

Riverview (free)
Hidden Springs (gifted by @CravenLestat$

Have to Replace or Purchase via CD

EPs

World Adventures
Ambitions
Generations
Supernatural
Pets
Showtime

SPs

Fast Lane Stuff
Outdoor Living Stuff
Town Life Stuff
Master Suite Stuff
Katy Perry’s Sweet Treats
Diesel Stuff
70s, 80s, & 90s Stuff
Movie Stuff

Worlds

Hidden Springs (on CD)
Whatever other worlds I can find via disc.

I want to at least get off 1.69 and do a fresh disc install via 1.67 so that I can play without having to access Origin.
karritz
Seasoned Rookie
6 years ago
I often download my store content from the store pages because I find it painful to have to keep logging into my purchase history. The only items I need to get from Purchase History sre items that are no longer available from the store.
riennatelemnar
Seasoned Newcomer
6 years ago
"SPARKY1922;c-17302542" wrote:
I think i also remember @igazor explaining that it was not possible to install both the disc version and the digital version of the game on the same hard drive as they would try and conflict. I think this could work the same with store content so i would suggest you keep them on separate hard drives or completely delete your origin and just use your discs but i have saved both the digital and disc versions of the store in case a future miracle happens that once again allows me to play 3 on windows 10 but I won't hold my breath :)

I had two TS3 disks I bought years ago and wanted to get the rest entire series on Steam since it was on sale and I wanted to play offline. I think it was igazor who told me that I couldn't mix and match. If I wanted to buy and play via Steam, I'd have to buy it all on Steam. And that's just what I did. Got all of it on sale. I think at the time it cost me around $150 or so for all of it. I guess I'm behind the times as I didn't know of the Steam changes with TS. I guess I'll need to read up to see what's going on.
riennatelemnar
Seasoned Newcomer
6 years ago
"SPARKY1922;c-17308027" wrote:
I am niffed to read recently that they may be updating the steam version of 3 which I hope does not also mean the 1.69 patch as I believe many players jumped ship from origin to steam because of that.

You are the second or third person here who has mentioned TS3 steam version being updated. I can't find anything on this. Where did you read this info?
sparky1922
6 years ago
@Hal2003

reading what you have just written I am so glad I went to the disc game version of the 3 game as I cannot see them being able to disrupt that on a hard drive that never goes on the internet lol but I feel really sorry for other players that might once again suffer from that dreaded patch upgrade for whatever reason whether it makes sense or not to other players who never experienced an issue with that..
NikkeiSimmer
New Vanguard
6 years ago
I’m planning on tracking down ALL the S3 EP and SP discs so that I can do a total disc install rather than going through partial disc/online install. That way I know that I have ALL my discs ready to install. The hard ones to track down I may have to ask Simmers to keep an eye out for me across the border and send enough money + shipping $ to acquire them.

Sometimes Amazon.ca’s prices are OUTRAGEOUS. @SPARKY1922

I think someone did say at one point on this thread that they didn’t want EA to be able to dictate when and how they were able to play their game. I just don’t want to be tied to having to have a constant internet connection to be able to play this game.