Original Cover Art

I think they may have come at the same time depending on if you bought just the regular version or a limited version. I have a copy of each.

I am pretty sure the limited version came out with a different cover? Hard to believe how long its been so I may be wrong.

I have the original disc that was pre-ordered in 2009 and the cover art on mine is the first one shown. The white one is a post 2012 version I believe ( ? )

You're correct, OP. I remember seeing it, quickly after it first came out in stores. I was still playing sims 2 at the time and didn't move on till 2011, after I got my own computer. I have the second cover art as a result.

Thanks guys that is what I thought. I won. LOL Nice to know there are still some brain cells working. Happy Simming.

I've got the 2nd picture base game box and that was back in 2011 when I started playing TS3... :)

I think I've only ever seen the 1st one?

This is the one that tied TS3 to Origin in 2012. The 2012 box cover says "New! Go Social with the #1 selling franchise of all time".
https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/sims/images/3/30/The_Sims_3_Refresh_Cover.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20140209080442

I think this will settle the question once and for all:
https://sims.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_games_with_different_covers

OP"s picture shows the first and the second edition, @lisasc360 shows the third... I didn't even know there were three of them, I have the first and I'll have to check which is my second one :)

Thanks for the link @jillbg... :)