computer shuts down when i play the sims

The whole computer or just the game ? Is it a laptop ? Did you actaully use a program to monitor the temperature ?

Are you on a PC or Mac ?

i'm on a PC samsung laptop.

it's the computer that shuts down, not the game. but it doesn't ever shut down when i use it for anything else. and it doesn't get hot before it shuts down, it's completely cold. so i have no idea what causes it. it must have something to do with the game.. it's bought at ea's homepage and downloaded with Origin

I would do a hardware check on your computer.

Shutting down the whole computer is usually hardware related.

I'll forward this to someone more tech savy.

Does your Samsung laptop have 2 graphics chips (one for gaming)?  Please post make and model. It sounds like the cooling fan is not working properly. If the fan is not turning fast enough the chips that need cooling will heat up very fast (the computer itself may noy get hot) and the laptop will shut off to prevent permanent damage. It is recommended you play sims 3 with your laptop on a flat suface with the power brick plugged in. How "new" is this laptop? Do you play any other graphical games?

If your computer has a good cooling system (heat pipe) it may run without the need of a fan if your just using a web browser or using the laptop for homework. Playing Sims 3 uses all the computer hard and switches the video chip into 3d graphical mode working the electronic much harded. If the fan is not working there is usuaully a sensor that will shup the power supply off if the cpu gets too hot (it does take long). My assistant (my son) recently had a cpu fan fail and the computer would boot and run for a short time and then shut off. Computer had a stock aluminum heat sink with a fan. Another possibility is the power brick may be failing under load.

To test - place laptop on level suface with power brick plugged in (charging). Place a fan near the laptop and see how long the game plays. If the game plays longer then you need to check the cooling system.