Sims 3 will not load

Hi All,

I have been trying desperately to get a solution through EA's Live Chat but they have been utterly unhelpful...

My Sims 3 will not load! I have tried every trouble-shooting suggestion I can think of and find twice, and yet it still doesn't work. It worked once with no issues at all, however never again. 

If I click the play button on the EA launcher, it then brings up the Sims 3 Launcher. I click play, and the screen will go black and then put me back onto the desktop with the application running in the background. If I click it, then the screen will remain black until it collapses back down again. I have to end the task via Task Manager. 

I am at a loss of what to do. I have requested a refund from EA but they have said no. I am so frustrated I am close to tears... I don't think anyone will be able to help, but I am ticking boxes at this point.

Many thanks,

Molly