I absolutely LOVE the Sims 3, way more than 4, but if there's anything that drives me away from it after a while, it's how badly the game can run at times. I know there's been lots of talk of the Sims 3's engine being too bloated, not being coded properly, or the code not accounting for the tons and tons of packs and addons through the years, but I'm really curious - what makes this game stutter so badly?I have a friend who got me into the game who claims his game never hangs, stutters, get FPS drops or anything - He was surprised at how stuttery my game can get at times. I found out he had an 8-core processor while I still had a quad core (?) (It was a Phenom (II), a test website for Mirror's Edge: Catalyst straight up told me it was bottlenecking my gpu lol) But when I upgraded to an 8 core i7, while the other games improved so much, the Sims 3 only marginally improved. The biggest performance drops are switching between build/live mode, and it takes ages to load the CASt textures and has horrible bouts of stuttering. Not unplayable, just bad performance.Here's what got me really wondering about this however; I'm editing the base camp in China and the game is running... smooth. Surprisingly smooth, CASt is loading almost instantly with no frame drops, stuttering, nothing. It's astounding how good it's running. It really makes me wonder, does anybody know for sure what's going on at a technical level?

As far as I know there are several causes for stuttering and hanging. Routing issues (helpful are: resetsim *, NRaas Overwatch, Errortrap and sometimes making adjustments in the world when the source of the routing issue is known, like in China and IP) Too much CC and mods (helpful: clear your cache files before playing, I forgot today and bam, a crash / don't install everything but keep backups in Documents and just install what you really use) When your game crashes, make sure to empty the Current Game folder before restarting your game And of course your rig matters as well

1.Bad CC or too much CC.2.Computer doesn't meet requirements3.Graphics settings to high, your FPS isn't capped etc.4.Stuck sims, cars etc.Tips:Clear the game's cache between each session.Disable memories.Remove all screenshots from the screenshot folder.Run your save through a save cleaner.

I'm going to be a bit blunt here. TS3 is a mess. It's not really a game the way I see it, none in the sims series are, it's a way of life platform for creativity, design, and storytelling but the platform is cracked in many places. From a programming standpoint, it's a horrible mass of spaghetti code slapped together and expanded upon by various disjointed development teams in such a way that a bunch of five year olds with attention deficit disorders could have done a better job.That doesn't mean many of us don't love it, have a lot of fun working with it, and have much respect for the often berated over-extended game engine and many of the things EA did with it. But it does explain why we have to give it such a strong environment on which to run compared to what it "should" take in order to get decent performance on longer running ongoing games and especially with all or nearly all EPs in play.I can't say exactly why CASt for example runs so much better for you on a WA world than your homeworlds except to point out that the WA worlds are typically lightly populated by comparison and even with mods we don't usually progress the resident population there through their lives and their careers (if they really have any beyond the marketplace vendors) as we do elsewhere, so the game engine does have much less to do on those vacations even when things are temporarily standing still for a design session.

I've always figured one reason is the open world, and that's the reason EA decided to introduce the semi-open world in TS4 so it would perform better. All the Sims games are buggy, but TS3 is hands down the most. I've played TS3 on several machines of various specs and haven't had too many issues other than mild lag. I probably haven't played it enough to experience anything major, though. Out of 2, 3, and 4, I've played 3 the least.With TS2, TS3, and TS4 all installed on my current computer, I prefer TS4 because of its performance. It runs so much smoother, but the game itself is less complex (obviously a major complaint of TS4 players and the reason a lot choose to play TS3 instead). I think they tried adding too many features to TS3, which set the bar high for simmers. Now they're focusing on performance to allow more people to play on lower end machines.

"CheesySimsLover;c-16857097" wrote:I've always figured one reason is the open world, and that's the reason EA decided to introduce the semi-open world in TS4 so it would perform better. All the Sims games are buggy, but TS3 is hands down the most. I've played TS3 on several machines of various specs and haven't had too many issues other than mild lag. I probably haven't played it enough to experience anything major, though. Out of 2, 3, and 4, I've played 3 the least.With TS2, TS3, and TS4 all installed on my current computer, I prefer TS4 because of its performance. It runs so much smoother, but the game itself is less complex (obviously a major complaint of TS4 players and the reason a lot choose to play TS3 instead). I think they tried adding too many features to TS3, which set the bar high for simmers. Now they're focusing on performance to allow more people to play on lower end machines.I’d say Sims 4 by now is a very close second, if not the new leader where bugs are concerned. There is a difference of course between performance and bugs. Performance for me has always been fine in Sims 3 (granted, I do start new saves every few generations, throw everyone important back in and continue playing). I prefer the complexity myself, I can deal with the hiccups. Was playing this morning. One sim made her homework, one sim practiced martial art, both boring to watch but no problem, I had a third simmie who had to catch butterflies for school, so I followed him around. In the end I sent him to the science lab, a rabbithole building. Much hated by many, because you “can’t follow your sim inside”. True, he disappeared inside but I didn’t have to sit there and wait, I went home where the daughter had finished doing her homework and appeared to be playing on the swing in the garden, while her mother had stopped practicing martial arts, had had an autonomous shower (hygiene was maxed) and was now talking to her best friend, a roommate living on the same premises (I made an apartment complex). I ordered the girl to go buy some books and mom to cook. By the time she was finished her son had returned home (an instruction I had given him after entering the RH) and so had the daughter with the books. Dinner was ready so they all ate and after that went to bed.This is the kind of set up no smoothness in the world can replace for me.

What exactly makes the Sims 3 perform so poorly?

20 Replies

starrcheese
7 years ago

"JoAnne65;c-16857510" wrote:
"CheesySimsLover;c-16857310" wrote:
"Deshong04;c-16857298" wrote:
"Does anybody know for sure what's going on at a technical level?"
===

@CheesySimsLover

If that were true about TS3, then there's no way anyone could have a positive and good experience with the game. I'm sure there are many who can deny that claim about the open world bringing down performance. Specifically, those who don't use mods/cc and are knowledgeable about their own chosen hobby. It is true that TS3 is the most ambitious Sims game ever created, however, not at the expense of performance for the most part. If that were the case and as bad as some claim it is, I wouldn't be still playing 9+ years. And I'm the type to easily get frustrated when games don't work like they should. Not to mention, if it were so bad I highly doubt it would have continued to outsell TS2. Because word of mouth is quite effective, don't you think? So effective, that even misinformation gets spread about like truth for those who don't do their own research and just accept whatever they read and hear as truth. Or just accept their own experience as the truth that everyone has the same exact performance issues. It's the open world's fault, huh? It's all programmed/coded so poorly I can't even play and enjoy the game as is without mods and all EP's/SP's/Store Content installed and all in-game settings maxed out. :trollface:

https://youtu.be/MZfGDCoFf2U
https://youtu.be/RecjZIs6N-E
https://youtu.be/eGZxSsm5sUc

As someone who's been out of Simming for years, honestly, I played The Sims 3 for the first properly just last week in years. The last time I played before that was 2014, and before that probably 2011. I bought the game when it initially came out in 2009, just before heading off to college and leaving my games with my kid sister. I haven't read online forums, news, etc., on the Sims since the VERY beginning of the Sims 3, so my posts are merely based off my own personal opinion and limited knowledge of how games work (I majored in business, so I am mainly see the marketing perspective and the desire to draw new players with lower-end computers in). I have heard many have issues with The Sims 3, my little sister included - but she has never played the game on a decent spec computer until recently either. I played on an Asus laptop with 4 GB of RAM and a mid-range graphics card, and I played at top settings with little lag and little glitches/bugs. I've played both TS3 and TS4 recently over the past couple weeks and have yet to experience once glitch, bug, etc., on The Sims 4 (not saying it's not coming, because I'm sure knowing the games it will). The Sims 3 performs outstanding on top graphics, with an occasional glitch here and there - that's been my experience with the game.

Oh they’re there, they’re there ;) This topic is about performance though.

My statement was in regards to TS3 performance vs. TS4, based on my own personal experience. I don't appreciate being mini-modded. Thanks, though.
Mikezumi
7 years ago
"Sindocat;c-16857550" wrote:
"Springfairy556;c-16856965" wrote:

Tips:
Clear the game's cache between each session.
Disable memories.
Remove all screenshots from the screenshot folder.
Run your save through a save cleaner.

Wait, is this a thing that can affect performance? :O

I literally have every screen capture I have ever taken in-game in my folder! Guess I'll be moving those. :D

@Sindocat I have noticed a small difference in loading time when I move my screenshots but no difference in-game. I usually move my screenshots when I have around 4,000 but have been known to forget and can have as many as 8,000.
astridentanja
7 years ago
"CheesySimsLover;c-16857561" wrote:

"JoAnne65;c-16857510" wrote:
"CheesySimsLover;c-16857310" wrote:
"Deshong04;c-16857298" wrote:
"Does anybody know for sure what's going on at a technical level?"
===

@CheesySimsLover

If that were true about TS3, then there's no way anyone could have a positive and good experience with the game. I'm sure there are many who can deny that claim about the open world bringing down performance. Specifically, those who don't use mods/cc and are knowledgeable about their own chosen hobby. It is true that TS3 is the most ambitious Sims game ever created, however, not at the expense of performance for the most part. If that were the case and as bad as some claim it is, I wouldn't be still playing 9+ years. And I'm the type to easily get frustrated when games don't work like they should. Not to mention, if it were so bad I highly doubt it would have continued to outsell TS2. Because word of mouth is quite effective, don't you think? So effective, that even misinformation gets spread about like truth for those who don't do their own research and just accept whatever they read and hear as truth. Or just accept their own experience as the truth that everyone has the same exact performance issues. It's the open world's fault, huh? It's all programmed/coded so poorly I can't even play and enjoy the game as is without mods and all EP's/SP's/Store Content installed and all in-game settings maxed out. :trollface:

https://youtu.be/MZfGDCoFf2U
https://youtu.be/RecjZIs6N-E
https://youtu.be/eGZxSsm5sUc

As someone who's been out of Simming for years, honestly, I played The Sims 3 for the first properly just last week in years. The last time I played before that was 2014, and before that probably 2011. I bought the game when it initially came out in 2009, just before heading off to college and leaving my games with my kid sister. I haven't read online forums, news, etc., on the Sims since the VERY beginning of the Sims 3, so my posts are merely based off my own personal opinion and limited knowledge of how games work (I majored in business, so I am mainly see the marketing perspective and the desire to draw new players with lower-end computers in). I have heard many have issues with The Sims 3, my little sister included - but she has never played the game on a decent spec computer until recently either. I played on an Asus laptop with 4 GB of RAM and a mid-range graphics card, and I played at top settings with little lag and little glitches/bugs. I've played both TS3 and TS4 recently over the past couple weeks and have yet to experience once glitch, bug, etc., on The Sims 4 (not saying it's not coming, because I'm sure knowing the games it will). The Sims 3 performs outstanding on top graphics, with an occasional glitch here and there - that's been my experience with the game.

Oh they’re there, they’re there ;) This topic is about performance though.

My statement was in regards to TS3 performance vs. TS4, based on my own personal experience. I don't appreciate being mini-modded. Thanks, though.

We all have our personal experiences. All we're doing here is trying to help the OP to find ways to improve the performance of their Sims 3 game. Because it can be done I assure you. I wasn't mini-modding, just trying to bring the subject back to performance. Not much can be done about bugs unfortunately.

I remember igazor stating a while ago that the content in your Screenshot folder doesn't influence performance by the way..? Curious about that as well (mine is often stuffed). Actually just emptied it based on that post. Just in case.
Mikezumi
7 years ago
@JoAnne65 I have never noticed a difference in performance when clearing screenshots so I think you are right on that point. I only noticed a slight reduction in the time it took to get to the main menu.
igazor
7 years ago
The contents of the TS3 user game folder includes certain elements that I would call "inert." There is no real harm or impact on performance for these to stack up because the game and the Launcher don't really read or try to do anything with these files while being loaded up and played, only when they are called upon for actual use. These would include Screenshots, Recorded Videos, and the Library folder that holds our lot and household bins (possibly some others).

However, once we start talking about many thousands of subfolder items each rather than dozens or hundreds, I have to agree that shifting them elsewhere out of the game folder is still a pretty good idea. Insisting that the game folder carries that many items just seems inefficient and possibly asking for trouble if something goes dreadfully wrong with the entire game folder along the way so the "just in case" organization strategy still seems like a pretty good one.

And, at the risk of going off-topic myself, I don't really care how well a different iteration of the game performs if it's one that I do not care to play for other reasons. I mean, I care from an intellectual standpoint and as an observer of how the entire franchise is evolving, but there is no practical point to comparing the two games on a thread such as this one. I don't really care how well GTA would perform on my system either since I know that I would never enjoy playing it. :|
Bettyboop55
Seasoned Ace
7 years ago
I think there is a lot to be said for having hardware which is up to coping with the game, all it's packs, store content cc etc. Far too many players, including me have seriously underestimated this fundamental requirement. Yes it can make the game expensive to play but that is better than sitting in front of a burnt out laptop having pushed the hardware to way beyond it' optimal performance. I have also found making sure the graphics setting are adjusted properly makes rendering quicker and reduces stuttering. Also having adequate cooling.

As for the actual coding g I can't comment but if you accept no game is ever perfect and that EA is unlikely to go back to fix known problems then it makes sudden irritating disruptions easier to accept. If that fails threatening to chuck the laptop out the bedroom window also aids performance :D Seriously after nearly ten years there isn't much the TS3 community hasn't seen that can't be fixed or modded. If all else fails switch the machine off. Go drink a beverage of choice and chill for a while. Then try again.
graceymanors
Legend
7 years ago
"Mikezumi;c-16857571" wrote:
"Sindocat;c-16857550" wrote:
"Springfairy556;c-16856965" wrote:

Tips:
Clear the game's cache between each session.
Disable memories.
Remove all screenshots from the screenshot folder.
Run your save through a save cleaner.

Wait, is this a thing that can affect performance? :O

I literally have every screen capture I have ever taken in-game in my folder! Guess I'll be moving those. :D

@Sindocat I have noticed a small difference in loading time when I move my screenshots but no difference in-game. I usually move my screenshots when I have around 4,000 but have been known to forget and can have as many as 8,000.

My laptop starts to run slowly if i get a lot of screenshots or photos ANYWHERE on my system, hence making my game run slow.
So for me, it makes my system perform a little better.Even with my American Truck simulator, I move my screenies to my external.I also clean up my laptop's temporary files, and use CC cleaner to clean up junky files. Doesn't have to do with the game persay, but with my laptop's overall performance.
graceymanors
Legend
7 years ago
Another folder I occassionally delete is the DcCache Backup(Everything except ccmerge).
And I deleted everything in the featured items folder(I had like 10,000 photos there :o) and made that folder read only so it can't generate anything else.
JayedTSkier
7 years ago
"igazor;c-16857661" wrote:
I don't really care how well GTA would perform on my system either since I know that I would never enjoy playing it. :|

I understand the sentiment but what really gets me is that, using other games for a comparison, it's crazy how I can comfortably play really demanding games on high settings (GTA V online, The Tomb Raider Reboot, Monster Hunter) but the Sims 3 just refuses to run properly. I have a beefy computer, I spent the money! It shouldn't run this poorly, especially with cleaning out the folders and using Nraas mods! Lol.

I only brought it up because most of the people here it seems exclusively play The Sims, while I was already a PC gamer for a long time before a friend got me interested and I got roped into this whole thing.

Also for the record to everyone else, I didn't make the thread with the purpose of getting help improving performance, but I appreciate it otherwise! I was just kind of curious as to what's happening under the hood to make the game chug like it does, but fixes are a great side effect to the original post uWu
astridentanja
7 years ago
I fear the slapped together spaghetti code igazor mentioned has a lot to do with it, in combination with often rushed worlds with routing issues that are absolutely unnecessary (which becomes clear when you fix them).

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What exactly makes the Sims 3 perform so poorly?

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