@vivianhagedorn Does this happen if you play in windowed mode? You can switch at the Main Menu, or you can edit Options.ini, in Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 3, to set fullscreen to 0 (zero).
Also, what OS was this computer running before it updated? Do you use a cleaner app like CleanMyMac? And please list the full specs of this system: everything under About This Mac except for the serial number.
Hi! Yes, it still happens when I play in windowed mode. I'm not exactly sure what OS my computer was using before updating, but I believe the problem began once I updated to macOS "Big Sur." Again, this problem started a couple of years ago ever since the 64-bit version of the game came out--it's never worked for me. I've used CleanMyMac in the past, but I don't use it currently. My computer is a 2017 MacBook Pro currently updated to macOS Ventura 13.6.1. Processor is 2.3 GHz Dual-Core. Thanks!
@vivianhagedorn Just to make sure, has this Mac's operating system been updated since CleanMyMac was last installed on it? I ask because I've seen several cases of the app corrupting the OS in some way that prevents Sims 4 from running properly, to the point where people have had to reinstall the OS. I haven't seen any cases with Sims 3, as far as I know, but 64-bit Sims 3 uses many of the same resources as Sims 4, so it's possible the same problem would happen. But if you've installed the current OS without CleanMyMac present, this is not a concern.
My next question is, have you tried to play any other games on this Mac, and if so, which ones, and how did they run? Sims 4 is free if you want to try it. I'm wondering whether the problem is Sims 3 itself or more global.
Hi! I've had CleanMyMac two different times as a free trial for about a week each time. I'm sure my Mac has been updated since the first time, I'm unsure about the second since it was more recent. Sims 4 won't open on my computer so it could be that CleanMyMac is the cause of that. However, I don't play Sims 4 so I'm not interested in fixing that and this issue with Sims 3 happened prior to my using CleanMyMac. That being said, if you think it might help Sims 3 work, I'd be happy to try reinstall the OS. Besides the Sims, I don't play any other games on this Mac. Thanks!
@vivianhagedorn I think it's worth reinstalling the OS because the symptoms are similar and this kind of graphics glitch is usually a system or hardware issue. Here's how to reinstall the OS, which shouldn't erase your data:
