*******************************************************************************************
Edit as of June 21 - 9:15pm EDT: After over 8 hours researching this problem, downloading, installing, uninstalling, running diagnostic software, messing with firewall and antivirus settings, etc, etc, etc, I finally gave up and requested a refund. At least the EA customer support rep on the chat was friendly and helpful in processing the refund and didn't give me a hard time.
Wish I had some wisdom to impart regarding this problem with Sims 4, but unfortunately, I never got the game to start. Just wanted to update so that no one wasted any time trying to help me. Good luck to everyone experiencing this problem. Hope you find a solution that works for you.
*******************************************************************************************
Experiencing the same problem. Yesterday (6/20/2015), purchased and downloaded the Sims 4 game for my son through Origin. Installed the game, but after approx. 6 hours of following advice from this and other forum posts, we have yet to get the game to launch. As others have noted, when selecting 'Play' button for the Sims 4 game in the Origin client, the screen goes black with the cursor spinning, like the game is loading, but after about 5-10 seconds, the desktop & Origin client reappear with the dialog box displayed with the same message everyone else on the thread is getting.
At this point, I'm wondering if I need to start the warranty process to get our money back. Submitted an Origin Error Report last night: 0867b408700145c9.
I've tried the following (many of these steps, several times):
Clean boot
Uninstall Sims 4
Manual uninstall of Origin
Run CCCleaner
Clean boot
Downloaded and installed latest Origin client
Reinstall Sims 4
Run Origin client with Beta turned on and off
Run Origin offline and online
Turned off Origin in game setting off in Sims 4 game properties and left on
Done all of the above with Antivirus turned off, exception added to Antivirus for Origin client exe
Done all of the above with no Firewall running, and also tried with Firewall running in Game Mode with exception to allow all in/out traffic for Origin client exe.
Done all of the above logged into Administrator account.
PC meets minimum system requirements as list on Origin Store: Vista Ultimate 64bit, Core2 Duo E8400 3.0GHz, 4GB RAM, Radeon HD 7800 series card w/3GB DDR5 running DirectX11.
I'm at my wits end. I've got a boy sitting at my elbow extremely disappointed that the game on which he spent his money has never worked. Not a good way to spend Father's Day. Any help or guidance beyond the advice already given on this thread would be appreciated. If I just need to punt and get my money back for my son, that honest assessment would also be appreciated. Thank you in advnace for your help (and for tolerating my venting - not trying to shoot the messenger).
