Forum Discussion
@Stylikpaylinoran You can use Terminal to search for the file, just in case it's hiding somewhere. Open Applications > Utilities, launch Terminal, and copy and paste this exact line:
find / -name "Version.tag" 2>/dev/null
The command will take a while to finish running, so give it a minute or so even if it's not immediately spitting out results. You'll know it's done when you see the command prompt again. If Terminal does find any copies of the file, please post the full file path here. You can write [username] instead of your actual username, but leave the rest of the file path intact.
If there aren't any copies of Version.tag, then clearly it's not causing the error. In that case, please repair the game in Origin: open your game library, right-click (or hold crtl and click) on the Sims 3 icon, and select Repair. If that doesn't help, please let me know what packs, if any, you've installed, and whether you ever had the 32-bit version of Sims 3 installed on this computer.
/Users/[username]/Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 3/Version.tag
I've had the 32-bit version installed on this computer before, but after it stopped working it uninstalled and i deleted all the things about it. I tried to do the repair again now, however it still showed the "Could not start the game. Your The Sims 3 base game is not compatible with this The Sims 3 expansion pack".
I have these packs with it:
The Sims 3: World Adventures
The Sims 3: Ambitions
The Sims 3: Late Night
The Sims 3: Generations
The Sims 3: Pets
The Sims 3: Showtime
The Sims 3: Supernatural
The Sims 3: Seasons
The Sims 3: University Life
The Sims 3: Island Paradise
The Sims 3: Katy Perry's Sweet Treats
- puzzlezaddict5 years agoHero+
@Stylikpaylinoran I'm guessing you're opening the iCloud version of Documents, and that version doesn't have the Sims 3 folder. If you don't mind disabling iCloud, please do so, then manually open Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 3.
The other option is to go the long way around. Open a Finder window and click on Macintosh HD, or whatever you've renamed your hard disk, in the left panel. (If you don't see it listed, click Finder in the upper left corner of your screen, then Preferences > Sidebar, and check the box next to hard disks.) From there, open Users > your username > Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 3, and then delete Version.tag. This is exactly where Terminal says the file should be.
Once you've deleted the file, please try to play, and let me know whether it works.
- 5 years ago@puzzlezaddict Thank you so much! I tried checking in the ICloud bit of my mac, because I hadn't before, and thats were it was!
My new problem is that even though I now don't get the error message about my game not being compatible, it now opens up, but then doesn't respond. It just changes the size of my screen and then the little thinking icon comes up. I've tried letting it run like that for a while, but have ended up having to force quit it every time because it wouldn't work. I tried updating and reparing my game on origin and even restartet my mac, however it still doesn't start up properly. - puzzlezaddict5 years agoHero+
@Stylikpaylinoran In the same way you deleted Version.tag, please find and remove the entire Sims 3 folder that the file was in. You can just drag and drop it to your desktop, or dump it in Downloads if you already have some files on your desktop. Then let me know whether the game works.
If it doesn't, please at least disable iCloud's automatic syncing of Documents, if it's not already disabled. This guide is for a different issue, but the relevant settings are the same:
https://bluebellflora.com/2017/02/06/sims-3-and-sims-4-not-loading-save-games/
- 5 years ago@puzzlezaddict Again, Thank you so much! The game starts up now! I'll have to wait until tomorrow to try it out properly, so I hope it would be okay if I come back with some questions in case it doesn't work?
You've been an amazing help! Thank youuu! - puzzlezaddict5 years agoHero+
@Stylikpaylinoran Of course, please come back with whatever questions you have.
About The Sims 3 Technical Issues
Recent Discussions
- 12 hours ago
- 17 hours ago