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oh_Cosmos's avatar
oh_Cosmos
Rising Novice
14 days ago

Can't play, can't refund. Help.

Okay, with this latest sale I purchased the following: 

The Sims 3 starter pack (eligible) $19.99

The Sims Medieval deluxe pack (eligible) $19.99

TS3 dragon valley (Not eligible) $9.99

TS3 hidden springs (NE) $9.99

TS3 generations (eligible) $13.49 

Note- right below this, TS3 generations pack is also listed as included for the starter pack I apparently bought but don't remember adding to cart? So I guess I spent $13.49 for no reason?

Extra note- under THAT is ts4 bonus content, and then Generations AGAIN, also listed as included. The first inclusion is labeled "not eligible" but this one is labeled "eligible" 

 

TS3 seasons (eligible) $13.49 

Note - same as above. Seasons included (NE), ts4 bonus, seasons included (e)

TS3 ambitions $13.49 (eligible)

Note - again, TS3 ambitions included (ne) and then ts4 bonus content, but it's not listed a third time 

 

That's a total of $100cad ($105.45 after taxes) 

 

 

HERE'S THE ISSUE. 

obviously, as most of us know, these newer computers can't run older games. 

So I followed tutorials online, and got myself the Alder patch. It worked great for Medieval, I've been playing it quite a bit already. But it just gives me the "THIS APPLICATION COULD NOT BE STARTED" pop up.  

I've tried the repair tool that popup led me to, nothing. 

I've tried downloading and running DirectX9, nothing.

 

So today I tried to get a refund, because $100 for a game I can't play is just a waste of money. But I guess it isn't eligible because that first attempt to launch the game counted, and it's obviously been more than 24h. 

 

So, am I completely screwed out of my money? Or is there a method I haven't tried that let's me play TS3? 

 

Extra info: 

This is on PC, I bought it through the EA App. 

Order placed May 5.

WINDOWS 11 

 

pc
technical issues

1 Reply

  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    14 days ago

    oh_Cosmos​  You don't need the Alder Lake patch for an EA App install of Sims 3.  EA fixed the issue back in January.  So if you've applied the patch since the last time you repaired the game, please repair it again.

    Sims 3 does run fine on many newer computers, right out of the box and without any interventions.  That's not to say you did anything wrong, only that this should be fixable.

    For the issue itself, please provide a dxdiag.  Click Windows key-R, enter dxdiag in the run box, wait for the scan to finish, click "Save all information," and save the file to your desktop.  From there, you can attach it to a reply using the paper clip (Attachment) icon included with the other formatting buttons.

    Generations is not part of the Sims 3 Starter Pack, which includes the base game, Late Night, and High-End Loft Stuff.  I don't know why Generations shows up multiple times, but as long as you did only pay for it the one time (as opposed to multiple purchases of Generations alone), don't worry about it.

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