If there are no known fixes, then what other channels do I have to seek resolution for this issue? I've looked around online and I can't find any way to communicate directly with EA about this. Is anyone able to advise me?
I've spent a lot of money on this game and it is now unusable. I have above the minimum specs EA claims are needed and if their product is not useable with the specs they have communicated, then they have misrepresented the quality and reliability of their game. How can I get in touch with them directly so that they will tell me what they're doing to address this issue or refund the money I've spent on a now defunct game? If there is an issue that renders the game inoperable, they should be taking responsibility for it themselves rather than shifting accountability to players and expecting them to find solutions for each other.
What official support services (with EA spokespeople) are actually available? All I could find in my search was that I could email them about the issue, but it also said that this was a one-way communication and there wouldn't be a response. What do I have to do to open up communication directly with EA about this?
Thank you for your help. Any advice is appreciated.
Further to this, I've just spent the last 45 minutes on the phone with Apple support. I was concerned that I'd somehow damaged my graphics card and that was causing the issues, but they did a bunch of troubleshooting with me and confirmed that my graphics card is functioning properly and hasn't been damaged. This is consistent with the fact that I was able to run high graphics on PlanetCoaster when I loaded it. The problem is definitely with The Sims, not with my laptop, so EA needs to address this.
I'm pretty sure that the problem is with the MBP. I've spent hours on the phone with Apple support. I've collected timestamps of when the problem (not an EA game, but same problems) happened and sent logs to Apple a couple times already. The developers said to replace my logic board even though it had been replaced twice already. I don't think they wanted to pursue software or hardware bugs. Same problems after the third logic board replacement.
It's a problem with Apple's Metal API. I now run a Parallels VM booted up with the Apple Metal API disabled. There are no problems when playing using the VM.
The only game/app this this happens for me is Magic Arena. However, its the only thing that I run that really taxes the MBP. Lightroom has little impact. Nothing else I use it for makes the fans run high. I wish I had time to try other games. I got this way over-powered MBP so that I could run Parallels. At the time, there wasn't a native Mac app for Arena.
I think its a combination of this specific hardware and Metal. The backup MBP I use when mine's in for repair is 4 years older and doesn't have any problems.
I'll need help answering your Parallels questions. I can't find a Config.log file nor Rating Info.
