are the expansions second hand/used ? if so they won't be any good to you because if the original owner registered the game to their account the code is tied to that account codes are non transferable nor can they be reregistered to another account
and why do you need to buy the sims 3 base game again ? did your loose your disk ? is it broken ? scratched ? lost the code ? there is help in most cases for that
I don't know if the expansions are used/second hand. I'm thinking they might be. So, what are saying is that Create a World is not compatible with the expansions if the codes have been used. Does that mean that all expansions and Sims 3 games in general, have to have codes in order to work/be compatible with each other? I'm getting Sims 3 because I don't have it to begin with. If I get the base game with a code; any expansions without codes are not playable/compatible? Thus, I won't be able to download some content because the expansions are not playable? I just want to be able build using Create a World with expansions. So, I can have the most options available when I build something and I may want to download content from exchange. I hope this is not too confusing....
Basically, what I am trying to say is...can I get away with having the base game, with a code, and expansions, without codes, and they will be able to work properly with each other? The same goes for Create a World. Can I use expansions without codes and a base game with a code with create a world and also be able to access exchange and download content that has content from the expansions?
Sorry, if I am too wordy...
well even of you only have the base game and once it's registered you'll be able to download and use the CAW a.k.a as create a world and even with just the base installed any of the items on the store you can buy and download they are not depending on any other expansion pack or stuff pack EXCEPT some items that require the pets expansion pack as for exchange items the way that usually works is say I build a lot with the late night expansion items and you don't have late night when you download that lot you get a message forget the words exactly but it's sometime along the lines will be replaced with something items all that means is when you download the lot the items you don't have will be replaced with items you do have
with used/second hand games the code will be no good to you in that you won't be able to register that game to your account and more than likely won't be able to download the game ( if' it's just the code you buy ) a disk might be different in that you may be able to install the game and play but can't register it
i'll post this in the helpers corner to ask another helper for input to make things a 100% clear for you so you don't end up wasting money on something that will be of no use to you
I don't know enough about CAW to answer this completely but if you buy the base game now, you'll get the new version which has a requirement to register the base game on Origin.
Unfortunatley, EIG (which is an important part of building worlds) does not work with the newer base game versions so you might want to look around for a unused older disc version of the base game (you can still get them on Ebay but make sure it's the older version. Ask before buying): http://sims3.crinrict.com/en/2014/02/sims-3-base-game-versions.html
Also, I don't know how playing the game works if you have the base game registered but not the rest of the games with the new version that requires an Origin account. If you get the old one, you don't need to install Origin on your computer and you can install all expansion packs without registering.
So I think the answer to your question is this: Try get ahold of an old base game version and if you are able to do that, the expansion packs can be bought used. Make sure they have the code though cause you need that to install it.
I'm a user so I can't give you any guarantuees if that works. Maybe just buy a cheap one first and try it out before purchasing all of them.
So, say if I get a old base game version that can connect to Origin. I regester it with Origin, but only play offline and only go online if I want to upload/download stuff from Exchange. Can I do this and will the expansions still work?
It should with the old version. You don't need to run Origin with the old one and you can bypass the launcher. I think you could also play online, doesn't really matter. I don't have Origin installed on my computers and all works fine since the authenticity checking is done through the disc.
I really can't say if it does with the new one.
Do make sure the base game is NOT used. You will need to register the base game to download CAW and stuff from the exchange.
I was not able to get the used disks, but I might be able to get some of the expansions digitally. If I get digital versions of the expansions, new and unused; I will still need a physical copy of the old base game in order for CAW to work. And if I want to access Exchange it will have to be an unused old base game, right?
If it's new and unused, you should be able to use the exchange but I'm unsure if they changed that to have a registered base game. It used to be any game registered would make the exchange availble.
Problem with CAW is that EIG doesn't work with the new version. I don't know the details on that and there might be another way.
I would ask in the CAW forum.
So, I can have a used, or new, disk version of the older base game and have access to CAW. Sorry, I forgot to mention I would be getting a disk version of the old base game. And I will most likely be able to access Exchange because the expansions are digital, thus need to be registered to Origin.
I don't know if a used copy of old base works well or not. I'm also unsure if you can still use the exchange with registered expansion only.
To be on the safe side, a new copy of base is better. I can't make any promises that this will work either, especially if you're getting downloads. You can mix disc and download but I'm unsure how well it works if base is not registered.
Ok, thanks, I think I got it. The downloads that I might be getting have the old base game with it, but I will have to check with the seller. I just wanted to get a disk version of the old base game. So, I could by-pass the launcher so I can use CAW or is this even necessary or possible.
The thing you need to bypass is Origin mainly and you don't that it if you have the old base game version.
You can have it on your computer to install all download versions and then never start it again. The new version always triggers Origin to start with the game which leads to an issue with EIG.
So basically: IF an expansion pack is enough to download CAW and download from the exchange, it probably doens't matter if the base game version is used or not (you do need the serial code though), you just can't register it. You do need the disc of the base gme though. I don't think it's possible to still get download codes (unused) for the old base game so disc is probably a must.
Everything is working great!! Thanks so much for your help๐ It was greatly appreciated.
You're welcome. Happy to hear it works for you ๐
