I need help, and I am very, very frustrated. I have spoken with customer support several times. They have had me to uninstall, re-install, and have switched out my games twice, and still when I go to play my game I get an error.

When I go to play Sims Medieval, I am prompted to enter my game product code. When I do so, it tells me the Activation Failed, serial entered is invalid. I have copied and pasted the numbers, and have manually entered them. I have the downloaded version of the game, which means that once I download and install my game, my product is already registered. 

I don't know what to do, accept ask for my money back, and I don't want to do that because I really want to play this game. I love the sims, but this is very annoying, and upsetting. 

Also, I stayed on hold for a tech support person when the young man who called me back could not help me for 58 minutes, when the wait was only to be 5-8mins, then I got hung up on, and still no one has called me back. I feel because it is closing time for them,  though I've been trying to get this solved since early this morning. 

Can someone, anyone help me with this isssue please?

Sorry I meant to clarify by saying that it is installed independently, not through Origin what so ever. I have changed the infoplist file so that it opens the game directly instead of the launcher as I had \"unknown error\" pop ups whenever I opened the launcher. My main issue is not being able to start the game due to activation error (?), although I know the serial code I have is valid etc...

EDIT: I've also had Origin uninstalled since I don't use it and am still getting the same prompts..

Sorry I meant to clarify by saying that it is installed independently, not through Origin what so ever. I have changed the infoplist file so that it opens the game directly instead of the launcher as I had \"unknown error\" pop ups whenever I opened the launcher. My main issue is not being able to start the game due to activation error (?), although I know the serial code I have is valid etc...

EDIT: I've also had Origin uninstalled since I don't use it and am still getting the same prompts..

Original message (Works on PC)

@Shineeoneworld

@enjolina

@germy12000

@seanhenry98

@ravenksm

Hey guys, we have a workaround that should let you bypass the issue and get playing:

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1. Open Date/Time Preferences
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2. Change the year to 2011 (not sure if other previous years would work).
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3. Launch the game again and activate.
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4. Quit the game and correct the date/time.
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5. Launch game again.
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Update #1 (Mac specific) 

Information request. 

Update #2 (Mac specific) 

Hi guys,

Sorry for taking so long to come back to you. Thanks to your help we have identified the core issue of the problem and we are now working on a potential solution. The good news is it is not necessary to send us your files anymore (Big kudos to all the players who shared their log files with us). The not so good news is that we don’t know when the issue will be fixed for good.

From the outside it looks like a simple enough problem but it turned out to be much more complicated than we thought. We understand how frustrating the situation is and we truly appreciate your patience. We’ll keep you updated.

------------

NOTE: IF NONE OF THE SOLUTION ABOVE WORK FOR YOU PLEASE CONTACT SUPPORT IN ORDER TO ASK FOR A REPLACEMENT OR A REFUND.

I'm wondering if this isn't the same problem that many people have with the new Macs in the graphics card may not be recognized. I do have Sims Medieval, but I have never registered it with Origin or did I purchase it though Origin. I bought it directly from Amazon. 

I'm wondering if this isn't the same problem that many people have with the new Macs in the graphics card may not be recognized. I do have Sims Medieval, but I have never registered it with Origin or did I purchase it though Origin. I bought it directly from Amazon. 

Likewise, I purchased mine from GameTree Mac back in 2011 when it was released. Really wanted to play it as a form of stress relief and also show a friend how awesome the game is. Sucks that this had to happen ☹️ hope it gets sorted soon, seems like an issue that's been happening for months.

Likewise, I purchased mine from GameTree Mac back in 2011 when it was released. Really wanted to play it as a form of stress relief and also show a friend how awesome the game is. Sucks that this had to happen ☹️ hope it gets sorted soon, seems like an issue that's been happening for months.

Oh and also as a side note, I am running the latest OS X, El Capitan - 10.11.1

Oh and also as a side note, I am running the latest OS X, El Capitan - 10.11.1

I just started up my game and it didn't ask me to connect Origin at all. I play directly from the game itself like Sims 3. Try going into Applications and scroll down until you find the The Sims Medieval folder and then open it up. You should see a green plumbob that is plain with no arrow left of it called Sims Medieval. Try starting the game directly from there and not through Origin at all.

I also updated to El Capitan.

I just started up my game and it didn't ask me to connect Origin at all. I play directly from the game itself like Sims 3. Try going into Applications and scroll down until you find the The Sims Medieval folder and then open it up. You should see a green plumbob that is plain with no arrow left of it called Sims Medieval. Try starting the game directly from there and not through Origin at all.

I also updated to El Capitan.

These are the windows that appear upon opening the game, the prompt to enter the serial number and after entering the serial number,

I am having the same problem. Very frustrating as I love The Sims and how have I only just discovered Medieval!! My favourite era. Anyway, I tried changing the date, downloaded a patch so I can actually see the game menu properly, but now I'm stuck on activation.

I don't even know if I'm entering the right code! I purchased on Origin download for Mac the deluxe pack which includes the Pirates & Nobles extension, and I have a code for both the original Medieval game and the P&N extensions, but those weren't accepted. I also have a code for the special content but a) it says not to use that and b) that doesn't work anyway...I'm at a loss!!

If I'm just entering the wrong code, can someone help me locate where it might be?

Otherwise....I'm frustrated and pretty stuck, this sounded like fun!

I had the same problem with SimCity 2013. Unfortunately, it is a problem with EA and will have to be dealt with through their customer service. 😢

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@Tremayne4260 wrote:

I had the same problem with SimCity 2013. Unfortunately, it is a problem with EA and will have to be dealt with through their customer service. 😢

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So far all they've done for me is have me try going back in time to 2011 (no dice), trying different codes (no dice), activating a code from the client then seeing if I could get past the activation prompt (no dice), and checking firewall/security settings. Still can't run the game.

Also on El Capitan.

I'm wondering if this is the answer, a Sony SecuROM issue?

Waited a week to hear back from support, and then they just suggested all of the basic troubleshooting steps I'd already tried with them. They're just spinning their wheels on this issue.

At this point in time, there is nothing further I can suggest to try. 😢

They just asked me to get an Origin Error Report.

That website reads: Note, Origin Error Reporting is only available on PC at this time.

Yeah, I think it's safe to say that Sims Medieval won't be playable on a Mac anytime soon. They really should pull it from the store instead of letting people continue to spend money on an unusable product.

I think the problem comes in when they try to \"force\" the game to open through Origin. The game wasn't designed to be played connected to the internet or Origin.

They haven't used Cider since Sims 3 which is another kettle of fish. 

Hi all.

I have the same issue as everyone else, and my troubleshooting failed like everyone else, also on a Mac. They need to find a way to bypass the activation process, it sounds like uninstalling origin is the only hopeful fix, but others have reported that this hasn't helped.

EA / Origin just needs to hot-patch this.

EA support team are less helpful than my latest bowel movement and just hang-up on me after their suggestion for uninstalling and reinstalling failed. They clearly have never resolved this issue, so im not sure what makes them qualified to be on the support side.

TLDR - hot-patch is the only solution, get on that and comp us for this *ty purchase, while also giving us access to play. Wasted so many of my hours.

-Frustrated purchaser

Okay. I had the EXACT issue going on and it was extremely frustrating. However, I DID find a way around it but I don't know if this will work for everyone but you need to be careful when doing this (also, I downloaded a digital version from Origin) BUT I did NOT download Nobles & Pirates AND I am using OS X El Capitan 10.11.1

Also, this process allows you to bypass the launcher and head straight into the game so when you open TSM the game will launch immediately without a launcher.

So here is how I did it

1. Patch updated to version 1.1.10.00001 (I don't know if this will work with 2.0.114.00107).
2. Go to the Sims Medieval file through locating it by going to Applications/The Sims Medieval (through the Finder).
3. Right-click on it and select \"Show Package Contents\".
4. Open the \"Contents\" folder.
5. There should be a file name info.plist. (MAKE SURE YOU MAKE A BACKUP COPY ELSEWHERE BUT DON'T REMOVE ORIGINAL FILE!)
6. Open the info.plist file and scroll down to the line after <key>CedegaGameName</key>
7. The final bit of the line will say TSMLauncher.exe OR SMLauncher.exe (not so sure but check!)
8. Change the bit in #7 to TSM.exe ONLY and ensure that you do not amend any other part of the file.
9. Save if applicable and quit.

 Now launch The Sims Medieval - and let me know how it goes! 

-Happy Simming! <3

P.S. I would appreciate an XP if this has worked!

When opening the game it always asked for an activation but after this process it wouldn't. I am not sure if it is because of what I did or because it is not at its latest update.

Oh okay, I guess I will avoid updating the patch to v2.0.114 and installing the Nobles & Pirates otherwise I will end up stuck with the activation since now everything is working fine for me. Well, I thought this would help but oh well! Thanks for letting me know 🙂

OMG!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!

It works perfectly for me. But seriously, even EA support didn't even recommend me this. It was really frustrating until I found this solution!!

You're the BEST! ❤️❤️❤️

exact same boat as you all. Just got my first Mac computer yesterday as a damn Christmas gift and downloaded Medieval Deluxe as I've always wanted to play it. How disappointing that they're putting out games that just plain don't work.