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Bluebellflora's avatar
Bluebellflora
Hero+
7 years ago
Solved

Sims 3 - "There is a problem connecting to the server..." installation error

If you are not able to install Sims 3 due to an apparent connection issue, please post here. The warning windows you may receive are:    This maybe an EA server issue or an OS bas...
mac
technical issues
ToriBibble's avatar
ToriBibble
7 years ago

Yeah! I am having the same problem as well!

I am running a 2017 MacBook Pro (just got it about of week ago) macOS High Sierra.

Yesterday, I had no trouble downloading all my stuff, world and expansion packs (except for Hidden Springs but besides the point) and went to go play and it gave me an error that didn't even let me go to the main screen.

So, I uninstalled all of my sims games which wasn't that hard considering that I pretty much have nothing on this laptop and re-downloaded just the sims 3 base game and then add expansion packs one by one to see if there was a specific problem. But to my surprise, the base game wasn'tneven working!

I hope this can get fixed very soon because I would to be able to play the Sims 3 on my new laptop instead of the early 2011 beast that I used to play with (still a great laptop but boy to it overheat like no ones business). 

ALSO!

As I downloaded all the expansion packs, the laptop was giving me warning about how this application will not work with future versions of macOS and that you should contact the developer of the game to update or change before that happens. So if EA sees this post, they can start fixing this problem too (fingers crossed).

  • Bluebellflora's avatar
    Bluebellflora
    Hero+
    7 years ago

    @ToriBibble

    If/when this issue is fixed you will need to follow several steps in order to try and get the game to work on your new Mac https://answers.ea.com/t5/The-Sims-Mac/READ-FIRST-Sims-3-Mac-Help-Guides-and-Troubleshooting/m-p/749664#M3

    The game has not been updated since January 2014 and is not compatible on most Macs manufactured since 2013 due to unsupported hardware and operating systems.

    The error you are getting about the game not working on future versions of macOS is due to the game being 32-bit and the next upgrade after Mojave will only support 64-bit apps. It is highly unlikely that EA will update the game due to it no longer being supported and that they used Cider to initially get the game to run on a Mac.

    • bie_breeze's avatar
      bie_breeze
      Seasoned Novice
      6 years ago
      @Bluebellflora But I tried on my old mac 2009 and its the same problem
  • ToriBibble's avatar
    ToriBibble
    7 years ago

    MAJOR UPDATE:

    So, as I mentioned in my previous post I had just gotten a new laptop and was trying to play sims on it. I thought I would just start fresh with my computer and leave what I put on my now old computer on my old computer (especially since the mac transfer for all of my files was going to take about 5 hours over normal wifi speeds to transfer.)

    But, I happened to not be doing anything important on both of those devices and used the Migration Assistant (built in with every apple computer) to do this transfer. Turns out to be the best 5 hours spent ever for a couple of reasons.

    1) I didn't have to reinstall any of my mods, CC and expansion packs on to my computer manually.

    2) All of my world files are saved (so I can keep playing the same games 🙂 

    3) I CAN ACTUALLY PLAY THE GAME!

    I don't know what is special about transfering data from a Late 2011 MacBook Pro to my most recent purchase, but I was able to load my game with ease and it works like a charm!

    I have no idea if this will help anyone but I am no longer getting the "no servers are available" pop-up. 

    If I have anymore tid-bits to add, I will surely come back and share!

    • puzzlezaddict's avatar
      puzzlezaddict
      Hero+
      7 years ago

      @ToriBibble  That's so interesting that you're able to play with your old game folder in place.  I had the same thought, but my old game folder didn't fix anything.  On the other hand, I uninstalled and reinstalled on the same computer, whereas you have a clean uninstall on a new computer.  I'm guessing you didn't uninstall on your old macbook pro?  The difference might be that your game folder still has a record of this computer's authorization to run the game.  (Just idle speculation.)

      @EA_Mai  You might find this interesting too.  (And, for the record, yes, I also tried to launch with Origin running.)  One other note:  I confirmed once again that there are two splash screens, not one—I force-quit the first and then found the second hiding behind my browser windows, where I'd tried to stash it.  Again, this is true whether or not Origin is open.

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