I just wanted to add something about starting the game from the .exe shortcut instead of the Launcher.
It works for me but I have to use the shortcut from the latest expansion pack installed. Someone else said they could use the base game .exe even if they have expansions installed. But I tried it and it did not work, I got an error message.
This is how I did it :
My computer/C/Program Files/ElectronicArts/The sims 3/ University/Game/Bin/TS3EP09
In this case University is the most current EP I have installed. That icon copied to my desktop starts the game without the Launcher. The base game .exe would not.
Edit: I DO have the most current patch, I don't have the island paradise EP installed yet, but I have it's patch.