It seems after having rebooted yet again that the game will start if I put Origin in offline-mode and start the game from there (if I do it from the launcher it still just crashes). However the graphics look a lot clunkier than it did before and I can't access any of my purchased items - I just get a "download error" when I try to download them again.
@Elowi Does it make a difference if you open the launcher and then put Origin in online mode again before trying to download content? When you load the game, does changing the graphics settings back to what you wanted make the graphics look better?
Please also post a screenshot of the download error you're seeing. I'd like to compare it to other errors when downloading store content.
No it doesn't make a difference what setting I have Origin in. I've tried downloading it from the site, from launcher launcher and from inside the game all with the same result. As far as the graphics go it doesn't effect everything, mostly just the sims features (who doesn't like walking around with one fat eyelash covering the whole lid?) and there's only one setting that is doable without everything looking like slender man and that's the 4:3.
@Elowi Have you allowed Origin and Sims 3 full disk access? Click on the Apple icon in the upper left corner of your screen, select System Preferences, then Security & Privacy, then Privacy, then scroll down to Full Disk Access (it's a folder icon) and click on it. Please add both Origin and the game if they're not already there. If you need to search for Sims 3, be sure to click cmd-shift-. (period) in the window to show hidden files and folders. Restart your computer after applying the setting.
I don't know where you installed the game, but by default, Origin places it in Macintosh HD (or whatever you've renamed your hard disk) > Users > your username > Applications.
For the graphics issues, I've found it helps to switch to windowed mode (cmd-enter) before changing the resolution; then I can switch back to fullscreen if I want. If you do prefer fullscreen mode, be sure to choose a resolution with the same aspect ratio as your screen.
The bulky eyelashes have their own thread here:
And there are a few other threads for graphics issues as well, in case you see any of them:
While I do appreciate the help you've given I don't see why disk access would be a solution for the downloading error. Unless you know for a fact that it's a fix I don't think I'll want to do that.
What I do notice though is that whenever I try to download something (regardless of which way I try to do it) the download opens a new launcher from the activity bar instead of using the one that is already running (the one that is opened from origin). I'm thinking that is where the error source is since the launcher from the bar is the one that won't start the game. I don't know how to fix I though...
@Elowi wrote:
While I do appreciate the help you've given I don't see why disk access would be a solution for the downloading error. Unless you know for a fact that it's a fix I don't think I'll want to do that.
If I knew what the fix was for your issue, I'd have told you already. Everything else I've suggested hasn't worked, so I suggested something to try, as an experiment. You can always undo the change later.
What I do notice though is that whenever I try to download something (regardless of which way I try to do it) the download opens a new launcher from the activity bar instead of using the one that is already running (the one that is opened from origin). I'm thinking that is where the error source is since the launcher from the bar is the one that won't start the game. I don't know how to fix I though...
This is normal. The same thing happens for all of us, and it's not the cause of the error. The launcher's installer is the source of the second plumbob, which you'll see if you clikc on the plumbob; the installer window can be hidden behind the launcher itself.
Please also let me know whether your base game and expansions and stuff packs are shown as installed in the launcher or not. For the base game and any packs you have installed, their icons along the bottom of the launcher should be colored in, but for many people they're all grayed out instead.
I understand, it didn't make a difference either way. All the icons are greyed out and it doesn't matter if I'm logged in in the launcher or not. Granted Ambitions is the only pack I've been able to install, even though several more packs show as bought in Origin I can't install them, are they not updated?
@Elowi The entitlements, as they're called, are still lagging behind for packs. You might need to give the process a few more days.
Please open a Finder window, click Go at the top of your screen, hold down the optn (alt) key, and choose Library. From there, open Application Support > Origin, and create a folder called Installer Data (exactly that, no variation). Then open your Origin library and repair the game: right-click on the Sims 3 icon and select repair.
This should create a file in the Installer Data folder that will both make the base game icon in the launcher light up and allow you to download content. If neither happens, please make sure the file is in fact in Installer Data. If it's not, run the Origin reset tool, open Origin once to create the Origin folder, and then try the above process again.
The pack icons being grayed out will probably (hopefully) be fixed with an update soon, but in the interim, it doesn't appear that there's any negative impact on gameplay.
You were right, I had to create the folder but after I did and repaired (for the umpteenth time) it the plumbob did light up and I was able to download things! Fingers crossed it keeps working and thanks so much for the help!
