The Sims 3 on CD + Steam?
so i own a CD version of The Sims 3 base game + World Adventures. will it work with other expansions if i buy them on Steam? can i somehow merge them?
Forum Discussion
In order to purchase the EP/SPs on Steam, you must have the Steam client program installed and must purchase (but not install) the Steam version of the base game. Upon purchase, Steam provides Origin codes that can then be used to download and install the Origin versions of the packs. You must be on or be willing to update to Patch 1.69 to install packs through Origin.
The purchase of the extra base game seems wasteful, but it is a requirement to own that one before Steam will sell you the packs and if you register the extra one on the TS3 site, you still get 1,000 store points for it. It still turns out to be a good deal often enough when these things are all on sale for 75-80% off.
The other way is to purchase the base game and all the packs you want on Steam, uninstall what you have now, clean the registry, and install the Steam version of everything (secure a copy your user game folder first if you want to be able to access your other content and saved games again).
You cannot mix and match actual Steam and Origin/CD installations. They may look, feel, and play the same but they are really different versions of the game under the hood so as far as the installations go it has to be all one or the other.
Note that all of this only applies to the Windows version of the game. Steam does not sell TS3 for Mac and will not provide the Origin codes unless the Windows version of the client program is used.
The purchase of the extra base game seems wasteful, but it is a requirement to own that one before Steam will sell you the packs and if you register the extra one on the TS3 site, you still get 1,000 store points for it. It still turns out to be a good deal often enough when these things are all on sale for 75-80% off.
The other way is to purchase the base game and all the packs you want on Steam, uninstall what you have now, clean the registry, and install the Steam version of everything (secure a copy your user game folder first if you want to be able to access your other content and saved games again).
You cannot mix and match actual Steam and Origin/CD installations. They may look, feel, and play the same but they are really different versions of the game under the hood so as far as the installations go it has to be all one or the other.
Note that all of this only applies to the Windows version of the game. Steam does not sell TS3 for Mac and will not provide the Origin codes unless the Windows version of the client program is used.
