[FAQ] New Origin Layout for The Sims 3 Expansion Packs
Please note: this is has been adapted to the new Origin client. Previously with Sims 3 games, each and every expansion pack and stuff pack had its own individual tile. It used to look like this: After the update, you only have the base game showing: To find your expansion and stuff packs now, right-click on the Sims 3 icon and choose Show Game Details. Choose "Extra Content" and you'll see them there. As you can see in the above screenshot, some EPs have different statuses. Buy R199.95 (or whichever currency you might use) means that you do not own the game Download means that you own it, but it's not installed Installed means the game is installed To download your games, select download. Origin will then startup the normal downloading process for your game.Bought / registered digital game on Origin - Serial Codes Not Working on Sims Website!
I bought 5 games/expansion digital games from Origin, and I can't register a single one! I try to register my games using the serial numbers that come up when I click on the information button and it says that my codes are incorrect. This is frustrating! I do everything the emails tell me to... to a tee. And every time I get the same message that the number I have entered is invalid. How do I fix this?
[FAQ] Current Patch - 1.67 - Manual links and more
PLEASE TAKE OUT YOUR MODS BEFORE UPDATING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Make sure to backup the folder in documents\electronicarts\thesims3 to a safe place. That's all your user data like your downloads and savegames. Patch Notes See here: http://www.thesims3.com/game/patches/-508283802 (make sure to set your country to US to read) How to install Download the patch to a place of your choice on your hard drive (don't choose to run it directly, download it first in case something goes wrong) Find the file and double click on it to install Wait until the patch is installed Done Patch Links Below you find the current manual patch links. This patches are NOT for Steam Users. Steam has it's own update system. If you have any troubles with the smaller incremental patch (like the Invalid File Found error), use the bigger Superpatch. If you are at a lower version than 1.66 right now, also use the super patch. If you already patched through the launcher, you don't need to use these. The manual links are for people that have issues getting the patch through the launcher or get errors with it. Super Patch Super Patch (All Regions), 1.7 GB Incremental from 1.66 Make sure to download the right region. The last two digits of your base game version will tell you your region. Region 1 (USA), 176,1 MB Region 2 (Europe, Australia & Rest of the world), 177.9 MB Region 3 (Asia), 176.1 MB Region 5 (Japan), 175.6 MB Region 17 (Digital Game Version), 179.8 MB Macs Super Patch Links Region 1 (USA), 1.7 GB Region 2 (EEurope, Australia & Rest of the world), 1.7 GB Region 3 (Asian), 1.7 GB Region 5 (Japan), 1.7 GB Region 17 (Digital Game Version), 1.7 GB Please read this post carefully. Links also availble: Official EA Download Links for The Sims 3 *Cumulative* Manual Update ------------------------------------ Did this FAQ help you with your issue ? If so, please consider pressing the XP button[HOW TO] DxDiag - PC Only
Sometimes it's important for the helpers to check your DxDiag. This contains all important information about your computer and helps identify certain problems. Not everything in the file is equally important and if you don't want your computer name to show, just xxxx that out. These instructions are valid for all games as it's your computers specs and has nothing to do with a specific game. How to gather your DxDiag Microsoft Windows XP Click the Start button on the Windows Taskbar. Select Run. Type dxdiag in the available text field. Click OK. Click Save All Information and save the content to a text file on your desktop Windows Vista/Win 7 Click On Start Type dxdiag into Search Box Program opens Click Save All Information and save the content to a text file on your desktop Windows 8 Make sure you are on the tiled screen Type DxDiag and hit enter Program should open Click Save All Information and save the content to a text file on your desktop How to post here Wait until the diagnostics are done and then click on Save all Information. This will create a text file. You can edit that text file to remove all personal information such as your computers name and then attach the file directly to your post buy using Attach file at the bottom of the post. Minimum Info you should post and why When you open the DxDiag file with a text editor, you see multiple sections. Please post the following sections in full System Information Contains all info about your CPU, RAM and operating system. It's ok to xxxx out your computer's name if you don't want that to show. DxDiag Notes Only if there's a problem showing Display Devices Very important. Shows information about your graphic card, drivers and memory it has. Sound Devices If you have sound issues, post this too Disk & DVD/CD-ROM Drives Shows the free space you have on your disc. Important info. If the drive space on your drive is low (< 20 GB) that could be your issue right there. System Devices Shows what other devices you have installed. Especially important if you're unsure whether you have a switchable graphic card. Diagnostics If you have Win 8.1 and above, the DxDiag shows errors that occurred on your computer. These can be very useful to pinpoint your issue, so please include those too.
[FAQ] Lost and broken DVDs and missing serial codes - What to do ?
Lost/broken DVD but still have the serial code With your serial code, you are eligible for the download version of your game. You can download it through Origin and redeem your code. Instructions on how to do this can be found here: Redeem Your Serial Code in Origin Make sure to uninstall the DVD version and install the download version instead. Finding your Registration / Serial Code If you still have the game on your computer you can follow these steps to find your serial code from your registry (PC only). Credits of to Carl's Sims 3 Guide You need to be signed in as an Administrator first. Windows may require your permission to open the Registry Editor and if so, just click on yes. Press the Windows key on your keyboard and type regedit in the search bar and press Enter. Click on 'File' at the top left of the window that opens then click on Export. Choose a location and name for the file as this will be your backup registry file. Click Save. This backup is created just as a precaution. Now to find your serial codes for each specific EP or SP installed on your computer: Expand the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE folder. Expand the SOFTWARE folder (Wow6432Node for 64 bit systems) Expand the Electronic Arts folder. Expand the Sims folder Expand the EP or SP you need the code for Click on ergc and in the box to the right under 'Data' you will see the code Write it down somewhere save Repeat above steps for each EP --------------------- Instructions for Macs can be found here: Finding your serial key using Terminal ------------------- Finding the code on Origin If you registered the game on thesims3.com OR bought it on Origin, the serial code can be found in the myGames tab on the Origin client. Download the client from here http://origin.com/download, log in with your data and go to the MyGames tab. Hover over the game and find the i. The product code listed there is your serial number (it can be different from your original one if the game was bought before Origin came out) No access to the serial code If you lost your serial code and don't have the game installed on an old computer, you need to contact Customer Support. They can be found here: https://help.ea.com/contact-us You have the option to contact them by mail, phone or Live Chat. Make sure you have a game, a category and a platform selected for the options to become available. For Live Chat, make sure to choose US as your country. If you registered your game to your account, it should be easy to get the code. If not, they'll give you a new code if you can proof that you own the game. See this: Obtaining a Replacement Registration Code ------------------------------------ Did this FAQ help you with your issue ? If so, please consider pressing the XP button[READ FIRST] Help us Helpers to Help you
This guide was specially written for Sims 3 but it goes for all games. Some things might not apply but usually each forum has an overview with general issues and troubleshooting steps. First let me say this: I don't work for EA and have of course no right to tell you what you should or should not do here, so if you don't want to follow the guidelines here that is fine, you won't get in trouble for it. This are just a few tips that can make the whole helping process a lot less frustrating for both sides. I might not even speak for the other helpers on this page but only for myself but I've been helping out Simmer for 3 years now and I do believe I have some experience on what info is necessary and what is not. Please do NOT send me PMs with questions. They belong in the forum so others can read your issue and solution. I won't answer any questions via PM. Do Research Doing your own research goes a long way. The internet is a place of much information, so please use the resources at hand by googling your issue before you post. If you have an error message it's most efficient to google the message itself. Before you post here Read this post: Known issues, guides and FAQs. It contains links to a few known issues and a few tips on how to solve them. Use the Search at the top by typing some words that best describe your issue. Read the titles of first two pages of the forum. Especially on new releases there is bound to be another post with the same issue that you have. If you find a thread with the exact same issue (there are exceptions to this rule, please see below), press the me too button and add any extra info you have. Try ANY solutions already provided in the thread you found. If you have tried the solution and it didn't help, please state so. Helpers don't know if you did. In most cases it's ok to post in someone else's thread if you have the same issue but depending on how old the thread is on how much back and forth it needs, it's sometimes easier to make your own thread where you can be helped individually. Do not post in a thread that has already been solved unless you want to add some extra info. I for example rarely check on solved issues. You can read the solutions and give XP if it helped you as well but if it didn't help you, it's better to make a new thread, stating that the solution in that other thread (post the link) did not help you. Don't add your issue to multiple threads. If you made your own, stick to it and don't post the same in threads of other people. Also don't go posting it in threads of every other person that has slightly the same problem. Stick to one. If you made a double thread by accident, you can edit your post to let people know that it's a double post of something else and that it doesn't need help. If you passed a certain level here, you can even delete your own posts under options. If a solution helped you too, it's nice to give the person that provided the solution XP. You can do so by pressing the XP button of the post with the solution. Do you have an issue with your account ? Serial Code issues ? Keep in mind that the helpers here are users like yourself. We cannot check your account or have any access to it so if your issue is account/billing/serial code related, contact Customer Support instead. Where to post what Issues related to the your serial code, your order or your account No one here can help you. Only customer support can. Read this first: [Information] How to Register The Sims 3 Issues related to downloading/installig from Origin or other Origin Issues Best to post in the Origin section of the AnswerHQ. The users there can probably help you better. Issues related to downloading/installig from Steam or other Steam Issues Best to post in the Steam forums. Users there know more about Steam. Issues related to crashing, lagging, launcher, exchange, graphic or sound Post here or if you don't get help in a timely period (allow 24 hours, we're all users here and wanna play the new EP too), try the technical forum at thesims3.com. Also just users but more of them. Issues related to gameplay bugs aka glitches that occur ingame while playing Report in the bug threads at the official forum. There's one for almost every Expansion Pack, stickied to the top of the forum Mac Issues Here's a few trouble shooting steps: http://answers.ea.com/t5/The-Sims-3/Links-to-Mac-help-threads-and-guides/m-p/749664#U749664 If these don't help, open a thread and add the word MAC to your title so helpers know right away who should be answering Console Issues If you own Sims 3 on XBOX or PS3, your of course also welcome to post here. Please make sure to add the name of your console to your title. Ideas & Feedback For ideas & feedback, please use the appropriate forum at thesims3.com (make sure to choose US - English as your langauge): http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/forums/show/207.page Starting your own thread If you were not able to find a solution on your own, make a post here. The people here are happy to help you out but try to follow a few guidelines. Remember that we are all USERS here. We have no insight into the code or anything what EA does or thinks. All information given is strictly done at our best knowledge. I myself can't be held responsible for any damage done. You do try stuff at your own risk. If you want someone from EA to answer you, you need to contact Customer Support. There are a few moderators/admin here which can easily be spotted cause they are called Community Manager but they are mainly here to keep the place tidy. They do answer but only if no one else is helping out. The Thread Title The thread title is very important. A title that catches my eye thinking: I know the answer to that one, is more likely to get an answer then threads title: I need help or The Sims 3. Try to put the essential of the problem in the title without making it too long or the only info you give. I tend to skip posts with no content. It also helps other users find a solution if they have the same issue. If you are on a console or mac it's best to also include that in the title. The Post Content Try to describe your problem in as much detail as possible without getting too lengthy. A post should be made in english to the best of your knowledge. Don't use text speech or use too many abbreviations (I know I have the tendency to use those, so please ask if something is unclear). Use dots and commas to make your post more readable as well as paragraphs. If english is not your native language, it's good to make a note about it but there's no need to apologize for it. If you are more comfortable writing in German, that language is now supported too. Head over to the German Sims 3 Forum. Don't use hard to read fonts, colors or write the whole post in CAPS or a large font. Please don't rant in your post. I get that you are upset but the people helping here have no association with EA and reading posts that consist of angry smilies and cursing usually make me skip those posts. Don't know about the other helpers but describing your issue in a calm and informative matter goes a long way. Try to use the right terms if possible. It's sometimes not easy to know what the person means, if the terms are all scrambled. Download: A download is something where you get something from a server or the Internet TO your computer (eg. you download the game from Origin onto your computer) Upload: A upload is something where you get something FROM your Computer to a server or the Internet (eg. you upload a Sim or house to the Exchange) Installation: Installing is the process of copy the necessary files to your computer and configuring it to run correctly (eg. you install the game from the disc to your computer or install it after downloading it from Origin. DO NOT post serial numbers, email address, your DOB or any other kind of personal information. This is a public forum so anyone can see that info. It's for your own protection. A post should include the following information: Your Operating System. Please also state if you have the Steam version. Are you getting any error messages ? If so, post the exact wording (if they are in a foreign language, try to translate as accurate as possible or post them in your own language) Are you using custom content or mods ? That's fine but please let us know that you do. What have you tried ? Don't say I've tried everything. The Helper does not know what everything includes. Try to be specific. Saying, I've tried everything listed in this or that thread is ok. If you have pictures, upload them to a picture sharing site and link it here. Pics are great. If you have an issue of a more technical nature, include info on your system, best is to post your DxDiag and also post if you have the download or disc version and if you have a notebook or desktop computer. It might be helpful to include how computer knowledgeble you are (Basic, Intermediate, Advanced) It's also good to use message tags for easy finding of the post. Special Case: Game Crashes Game Crashes are a very individual problem. Don't post in threads of other people. Some general suggestions can be found here: http://answers.ea.com/t5/The-Sims-3/FAQ-Game-Crashes-CTD/td-p/656/ but if those don't help you, make your own post and include the following info What is your operating system ? At what point does your game crash ? Any regularities ? How long can you usually play ? Which EP/SPs do you have installed ? Are you using custom content and mods in your game ? It's also good to include your DxDiag: [HOW TO] DxDiag for Sims 3 - PC Only Keeping up with your thread When you start a thread, do come back to check on it. It's kinda rude to make a post, have a helper invest their time and never come back. You can find all posts you made by clicking on the HQ Profile link in the drop down menu of you nick name. You can also bookmark or subscribe to it to get an email when you have an answer. If you made a post and did not get an answer or the problem wasn't solved yet, DO NOT MAKE A NEW THREAD. Bump your thread by adding extra info in a new post. Try to rephrase what you wrote or maybe even change the title. It's very important for the helpers to know what you have already tried and keeping to the same thread retains the history of this. If you don't do this, you end up starting over if you get any help at all. Do make a new thread if you have a different issue. If your issue is solved (even if you found the solution yourself), accept the post with the solution as solution (click on the green button). If you solved your own issue, post the solution you found and accept this for this can help someone else. Accepting a solution makes sure that someone else with the same issue knows what the solution was without having to go through all posts and the helpers know that you have been helped and can maybe post the same solution to someone else. Do not accept a solution until your issue is resolved or you end up not having help anymore. If you want to show your appreciation although your issue is not solved, give the user XP instead.[FAQ] Lags & Freezes
I'm still a little unsure what to post in this forum and if it would be a good idea to make threads for the more common issues with this game. After all it is all about answers here. One of the more common issues are Lags & Freezes. They occur on the best computers. So while sometimes the computer is the issue, lots of time, it's not. I've started collecting some causes of the issue and thought I list them here. If you have anything to add or have any questions, feel free to post. Causes Make sure your computer fulfills the requirements. I think the minimum requirement for this game are way to low so if you are even lower than that, that is probably where your problem lies. Stuck or frozen Sims Stuck cars and bikes Tons of cars in the streets and the inventories of inactive Sim. These are temporary items that don't get cleaned up properly. Crowd gatherings that never dissolve. Tons of downloads (especially package files) and faulty ones. Bad Routing in Bridgeport and other towns Large Savegames. Games that have been played very long tend to bloat. Especially all the relationship information take up a lot of space. Spiral Staircases that don't work correctly anymore after Patch 1.26 Make sure you have no areas where Sim can get stuck Trees in driveways make the game lag. Some of the bigger mods are very heavy on the resources. If you have an older/slower computer, don't use them. The game likes to spawn a lot of wild animals and strays. Similar to the car issue this makes the game lag Server Connections Issue (SimPort, social features) Thousands of alarms being fired in the background Solutions Sims in Slow Motion Turn down your options or get a new Computer Reset all your Sims in town by entering the cheat resetsim * Delete stuck cars by using the cheat testingcheatsenabled true and then shift-click on the car and choose Object-Delete Try to reduce the number of cars in your hood. Remove them from inventories of inactive Sims and streets. To prevent them spawning everywhere again, delete the parking spaces as well. Reduce the amount of Custom Content you're using and make sure the ones you are using are actually Sims 3 files and not corrupt. Copy all your Sims to the library and move them to a new town. You will loose all your relationships but everything else will be maintained. Make sure to fix all spiral staircases in your town by turning them until they work correctly. Log out from game while playing. Turn off the interactive loading screen. Special Case: Island Paradise/Islo Paradiso Islo Paradiso does have a lot of problems. Routing issues and the large world with an entire routable ocean are just an example. Things you can try: Delete the Scott Family Use the cheat DiscoverAllUnchartedIslands to make all islands visible. I'm aware that this takes away from the fun but it seems to help some. Make sure you have no stuck sims in your town (use the cheat resetsim * to reset all sims in your town and put them to a safe location) Use Overwatch and ErrorTrap (those are mods and you'll be using at your own risk. Not supported by EA. Just google to find) Check for any aboandonned boats in your game and delete them by using testingcheatsenabled true and then shift-click on the boat and choose object-delete. If you're playing Hobart's Hideout, be aware of this issue: Routing Issues in the Resort Hobart’s Hideout ------------------------------------ Did this FAQ help you with your issue ? If so, please consider pressing the XP button
[INFO] How to Register The Sims 3
Purchasing The Sims 3 game and Expansions/Stuff Packs through Origin After purchasing or registering your copy of The Sims 3 through Origin, it takes a little bit more to make sure you get all your content and rewards. To make sure you're getting the most from redeeming your content: First, purchase your copy of The Sims 3. Purchasing The Sims 3, expansion packs, and stuff packs in the Origin Store will auto-register the game to your Origin Account, and will be visible in your My Games library. If you've purchased The Sims 3 through a third-party website and have a game code, redeem your The Sims 3 code in the Origin client by launching the client, opening the Origin menu, and selecting Redeem Product Code. Now, like if you'd purchased The Sims 3 in the Origin Store, your content will be visible in your My Games library. With the latest Origin update, expansion / stuff packs no longer appear as individual tiles in your My Games library. To access them, right-click on the Sims 3 icon and choose view game details. Scroll down and you will see your games there. For more information, see here You can always find your base game key on the Game Detail Page in your Origin client which can be accessed by right-clicking on the game's icon and choosing "view game details." You no longer need game codes for your expansion / stuff packs with the latest update. In order to get your registration rewards, you'll need to log-in to TheSims3.com with the same email address you use for your Origin Account. Note, you do not need to re-register your game at TheSims3.com. New users to TheSims3.com, however, will have to complete an account registration process. After logging in, simply head to this page to download your registration reward. To redeem bonus content, after you've received an email with your 16-digit code, you can follow the email's further instructions, or just head to store.thesims3.com/myAccount.html, making sure to log-in with the same email and details as your Origin Account. Note, codes for bonus content and The Sims 3 Store content are redeemed through TheSims3.com, not through Origin. The Sims 3, expansions, and Stuff Packs can all be redeemed through Origin or TheSims3.com, but once redeemed do not need to be re-registered in the other. After you've checked that your game is in your My Games library, head to TheSims3.com to redeem your bonus content codes or download your registration rewards. Registering The Sims 3 game and Expansions/Stuff Packs to your Origin account via the Sims 3 website If you already own The Sims 3 or any of the Expansion/Stuff Packs, and wish to register them on your Origin account, please follow the steps below. Please note, these are 20 digit codes – if your code has 16 digits, it’s for bonus downloadable content. You can find instructions on how to register 16 digit codes in the next section of this article. 1. Go to http://www.thesims3.com and make an account if you do not already have one. If you have an account, skip to step 3. 2. When making an account, enter your serial code for The Sims 3. 3. Once you are a registered member of the The Sims 3 website, login to your account so that you can then register any other expansion packs or stuff packs that you own to your account. 4. Click on the My Page tab. 5. Then click the My Account tab. 6. Click on Register a Game. 7. Enter the product code for the expansion pack or stuff pack. 8. Click the green Register button. Redeem Bonus Content for The Sims 3: Some expansion packs come with bonus content for players who register their game online. The most common bonus content is where The Sims 3 (base game) and World Adventures will each grant 1,000 Simpoints to a registered player’s account. These are 16 digits codes for bonus content. If your code is a 20 digit code for the base game or an expansion, please see the earlier section of this article. If you do have a 16 digit bonus code to redeem but have not yet registered your game or expansion, you should do so prior to redeeming your bonus code. Go to http://www.thesims3.com and login to your account. Click on the The Store tab in the menu bar at the top of the page. Then click the My Store Account tab. Click on the Green "+" icon sign across from Redeem a Code to expand that section, if it's not expanded already. Enter your 16 digit code for your bonus content. Accept the Digital Services Agreement and the Privacy Policy. Click the green Redeem button.
