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Saratustrar's avatar
Saratustrar
7 years ago
Solved

Sims 3 won't work

Okay, so I have desperately been trying to play "The Sims 3" for the past days, but whatever I try, the game simply won't work. Firstly, I tried installing The Sims 3 base game using disc. I never g...
mac
technical issues
  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    7 years ago

    @Saratustrar  I know you've done it before, but it's probably a good idea to start with another clean uninstall, just to be thorough.  Then install the base game through Origin.  All installs must go through Origin, as the most recent versions of mac OS X will fail to authenticate TS3 discs; you may get as far as the Main Menu, but you won't be able to play.

    Once you've installed, download and run the digital version of the Super Patch (region 17).  The earlier ones are region-specific due to the way disc installs work, but the digital version is necessary for an Origin install.  You can find the version you need here:

    https://bluebellflora.com/sims-3-manual-super-patch-for-mac-1-67/

    Now make sure that the game launches and lets you start a new save.  If you're still getting an unknown error, do yet another clean uninstall, create a new admin user on your computer, and install TS3 through that account.  Then you can patch and make sure the game works.

    The reason you saw an unknown error when you added Late Night is because that's one of the packs that doesn't install properly.  (The others are Ambitions, Fast Lane, and Outdoor Living.)  You'll need to apply two fixes, but they're fairly straightforward and should absolutely work.  The first is to create an alias for the problem pack(s) in Applications, alongside the alias for the base game:

    https://bluebellflora.com/sims-3-packs-not-showing-as-installed/

    The second is to copy files from the affected packs into the folder for your newest pack by release date.  If you were only installing WA and Late Night, this wouldn't be necessary, since LN would be the newest pack, but any newer pack subsequently installed won't have LN's files in it, so the game will throw an error.  Again, all four listed packs are likely to be affected.  Here's a video guide for moving the files:

    https://answers.ea.com/t5/The-Sims-Mac/CURRENT-ISSUE-Sims-3-Unknown-Error-in-El-Capitan-Sierra-High/m-p/5725514#M5926

    Finally, if this process still isn't working, please provide your mac's specs, as described in the link below.  Please also list the packs you'd like to install, so it's easier to be more specific about what you need to do.

    https://answers.ea.com/t5/The-Sims-Mac/READ-FIRST-Sims-3-Mac-Help-Guides-and-Troubleshooting/m-p/4756624#M4

puzzlezaddict's avatar
puzzlezaddict
Hero+
7 years ago

@Saratustrar  Alright, so under "Rating info" a few lines down, you can see that TS3 rates your GPU (graphics card) as a 1 out of 5, because it doesn't recognize the card and just assigns it to the weakest category.  A couple of lines under "Graphics device info," you'll see a [Found: 0, Matched: 1].  When the game is forced to properly recognize your card, that will change to [Found:1, Matched: 1], which is how you'll know the .sgr edits worked.  (The deviceconfig is refreshed each time you launch the game.)

As it turns out, Bluebellflora already has instructions for your card, an Intel Iris Plus Graphics 650.  Here's her article with instructions for the edits:

https://bluebellflora.com/2018/07/24/sims-3-mac-players-i-need-your-help/

You can read the description of the issue, but don't worry about providing your information—your card is already listed, and the device ID is in your deviceconfig, anyway.  Just click on the link for your card.  Be sure to go over the readme carefully; in particular, keep in mind that you'll need to fix both the graphicsrules.sgr and the graphicscards.sgr files.

If you have questions about the process, feel free to ask.  The edits themselves aren't my strong suit, but I can certainly show you how to adjust your own files using the text that Bluebellflora has provided.

And thanks so much for the info.  We've been wondering about how TS3 handles the newest generation of macbooks, especially those running Mojave.

Saratustrar's avatar
Saratustrar
7 years ago

@puzzlezaddict Thank you so, so much for your help! I managed to follow the instructions, I messed up the first time but succeeded the second time. I will try to change the settings in game later today.

BUT, I do have one more question: If I happen to get another expansion pack, say "Ambitions" for example, will it ruin the game again?

  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    7 years ago

    @Saratustrar  No, installing another pack won't ruin anything.  The .sgr edits will be untouched (unless you uninstall and reinstall the base game), but you will have to create an alias for Ambitions and copy its files the same way you did for Late Night.  But there are only four packs affected like this; the others are Fast Lane and Outdoor Living, so all others should install fine without your having to take any extra steps.

    I'm glad you got the .sgr files fixed, and hopefully you'll be able to adjust your settings enough to enjoy the graphics.  Keep in mind that you should only change the graphics settings in particular while at the Main Menu, because you'll have to quit and reload (or else you'll see some freaky graphics errors).  The two settings that take the most resources are water and high-detail lots; I have a strong dedicated graphics card, and I still keep those on "mirrors only" and 2, respectively.  But I would think you could raise some of the others without stressing your graphics card too much.

  • Saratustrar's avatar
    Saratustrar
    6 years ago

    @puzzlezaddict Hi, just going to update you on how the game works. It works fine! No further problems yet. I was able to better some graphics, as long as I did not touch the settings related to the environment (then everything got crazy colors and glitched out). Also my pets have transparent fur, but I guess that is because of the low graphics settings.

    Anyway, I wanted to thank you once again for all your help! I am so glad to have all my Sims 3 games up and running again, and thanks to you I am able to play them too. In fact, the reason I am writing to you so late, is because I have been playing the game nearly nonstop since my last post.

    You seem to frequently help other simmers out with their problems too, which is really kind and noble of you. Your work is widely appreciated 🙂

    Finally, thank you so much for all your help, it is a blast being able to play again 😃

  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    6 years ago

    @Saratustrar  I'm glad you're having fun with the game, and that you could raise the sim graphics a bit.  For the environment options, what happens if you raise one or two (slightly) at the Main Menu, then quit the game and reload?  Changing the options in-game can have exactly the effect you described.  If you don't want to mess with your current TS3 game folder, you can pull it out of Documents\Electronic Arts; the game will spawn a new one the next time you load.  Then if anything weird happens that you can't reverse, you can trash the new folder and go back to the old one.

    Of course, if you're happy with how your game looks, there's no reason to mess with it.  I'm just happy to hear it's working for you.

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