Problem trying to play Sims 3 for the first time?

What's the exact error message you're getting and where do you get it ? Launcher ? When trying to login the game ?

No trouble logging in or downloading or installing: its when I have the launcher up, and press play on the launcher. After that this text pops up in a grey box with the EA blue round logo on the left:

Important Message! There is a problem connecting to the server. Please insure your internet connection is active. If the problem persists try again later.

Thanks for taking a look at this.

I'm thinking it must be something I can fix and not the server because I've been trying to log in every now and then since the between the 10th and 13th. I have made sure I'm connected to the internet every time, and can do all my other internet things, just not this.

When I'm not connected and try to play, a box pops up which states (not exact words) that I need to be connected to the internet so Origin can make certain I have legal ownership of the game. I don't know if that's related or not.

Make sure nothing is blocking the connection (firewall, anti virus, another program)

Here's a list of programs that are known to cause a conflict: https://help.ea.com/article/programs-that-may-cause-conflicts-with-origin

Also make sure that your system clock shows the correct time.

Ah, sorry, I have none of those programs and my time is current and I'm still not sure what's wrong. I messed around with allowing the origin and ea websites through internet filters for a while and that didn't work either. Uninstalling and then reinstalling origin a week ago didn't fix it either. Maybe I should cut my losses and buy a new copy. Thanks for your help!

That's never a solution (buying the game again)

Does it want to connect to verify something or when you try to play online ? Can you play not logged in ?

When I try to play offline, it tells me it needs to be connected to the internet in order to verify my ownership of the game.

Sorry it took me so long to reply, been busy.

I can't play without being logged in. The message I get is, You cannot log out of Origin because the Sims 3 is running. Please close the game and try again.

And you're not logged in on your other computer at the same time (can't do that)

Oh, that might be it!

Thing is my old computer's on its last leg and I'm not sure if I'll be able to turn it on.

I'll try to do that now.

Aaaah I can't turn on the old computer.

I believe one time when I tried to log in with the new computer Origin asked me if I wanted to log out of the old computer in order to log in to the new one and I said yes. Do I need the old computer in order to confirm this in some way?

I'm assuming the old computer IS NOT Windows 8. There have been several people having problems activating a SecuROM game throuh the default IE that comes with Windows 8. Do you have IE 10 or IE 11? Check to see if there are any patches for Windows 8 (8.1). Make sure the clock is set correctly.