Sims 3 Install custom worlds as .package on a MAC

@HaveFaithAllways  Many worlds come with custom content other than the world itself, which is one reason installing them in the method you've described doesn't always work.  If you want, I can test this world in Windows; just let me know where I can find it.  (Don't post a download link but rather the name of the world and its creator, and I'll take a look.)

There might also be an issue with the WorldCaches folder on a Mac: when that gets deleted, saves may not open at all.  I'm not sure whether trying to load a save after doing what you've described would have the same effect, since there might not be any WorldCache data on that save.  Please take a look at that folder (in Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 3) and let me know whether you see anything related to this installed world.  I believe there should be two files, one for sims and one for objects.

@puzzlezaddict 

hi! Thank you so much for your response.

The first world it was happening with is Evansdale by MySimRealty. It also occurred with St. Claire by Awesims. After loading the game and choosing the world and then quitting the game then I would see the 2 files in the world caches folder. 

In Christ’s love,

Ashley

@HaveFaithAllways  As an experiment, try this: install one of the worlds through the launcher, load the save, save your progress, uninstall the world through the launcher and install it into the game's program files, then try to load the save you created.

@puzzlezaddict 

Thank you for your help! Before proceeding, to clarify, after installing and uninstalling the world through the launcher is it true that the files in the DCCache folder will still “hold” the data from items installed through the launcher? If so, will uninstalling the world and placing it in the program files folder actually provide quick launch times?

In Christ’s love,

A

@HaveFaithAllways  The DCCache file that contains the world won't get any smaller; "uninstalling" through the launcher actually only deactivates the content.  You could instead delete the .dbc file in DCCache, as well as the .world file in InstalledWorlds, but deleting the .dbc file would also uninstall any other cc that the file contains.  That's not an issue if this is the only cc you've installed through the launcher.

However, if you have more cc you want to stay intact, try installing the world into a clean Sims 3 folder.  Then you can grab the new save and WorldCaches files from the new folder, put them in the old folder, and trash the new one, getting the same effect.

As far as loading times go, the game should skip over any content in DCCache that's been uninstalled through the launcher.  I haven't measured it, but I'd expect that if loading times increase with this content, it should only be by a very small margin, not nearly what you'd see if the world were still installed through the launcher.

@puzzlezaddict 

Happy New Year! Thank you so much for all your help. I’m not sure if I missed a step but it didn’t work for me ☹️

I’ve installed the world through the launcher and trying to play it that way. Thank you again!

In Christ’s love,

A

@HaveFaithAllways  Sorry it didn't work.  Installing worlds through the method you've described has always been hit or miss, even in Windows, and playing in macOS just adds another potential source of error.  So it's not surprising that a given world wouldn't cooperate.

Hopefully you'll be able to keep your launcher-installed content to a minimum overall so game performance stays reasonable.