Sims 3 - Expansion Packs
I have downloaded sims 3 on to my external hard drive using the EA app. I have about 9 expansion packs. These all download just fine but when hit the main menu launcher the game doesn't show me the other worlds that the expansion packs come with. Not to mention that if I click on the base game town and go into create a sim, the expansion pack clothes options are showing that they should be there but is just a blank cube where the clothing item should be. As well if i go to create a pet, it'll take me to the option in create a sim but again a blank space. I have tried to connect with EA help and haven't gotten any answers. I have repaired the sims 3, uninstalled reinstalled but it hasn't worked. I had no problem previously running the sims 3 when it was through the origin app. Any advice? I tried again today to reach out to EA but it isn't giving me the option to chat with an advisor.
What I did to make 'Edit in Game' work again
This is not a feedback post. I am posting this here as per puzzlezaddicts suggestion so that it can be moved later, because I had trouble posting this in the Sims 3 forum where it is really meant to be. Thanks for moving it. Before trying the method below:Note that Origin is no longer supported (pointed out by thesims1depot below), and as such using it has the potential to cause security issues. So.. proceed at your own risk... I was hoping this would be a good solution that would help. ------ So yesterday I was once again searching for a solution to see if there was something to make Edit in Game work again.. I've been desperate about that since I was forced to use the EA App.. And I found something again, in a reddit post that linked to a youtube video explaining the process in portuguese (but with english subtitles).. I wrote all about this in ablog post on my blog, so anyway... What I did: 1) Downloading and installing Origin from this link. https://taskinoz.com/origin/ 2) Making sure the EA App is not running. Opening Originwithout logging in. 3) Locating the local.xml file in My Computer/Program Data/Origin (turn on hidden files to see the folder). You may want to save a back up of this file before moving on. 4) Opening local.xml in Notepad to insert the following code (without the vulgar url as suggested in the portuguese youtube video): <Setting value="true" key="MigrationDisable" type="1"/> <Setting key="UpdateURL" value="http://someadress.com" type="10"/> <Setting key="AutoPatchGlobal" value="false" type="1"/> <Setting key="AutoUpdate" value="false" type="1"/> I inserted the code near the bottom of the file, but before the line that read </Settings> 5) Then I logged in to Origin and waited for a while for a notification telling me Sims 3 was added to the library. 6) Clicked Origin in the top left corner and disconnected to go offline. 7) Created a new directory called 'Worlds' in my Documents folder outside the regular Electronic Arts/CAW directory. 8) Opened CAW and the world file I want to edit, and chose Save As to save it in the newly created Worlds folder. Remember to delete the file path and leave only the world name before saving, or you'll just be saving in your regular folder again... 9) Closed CAW and reoponed it again to open the newly saved .world file. 10) Opened it in 'Edit in Game' and was happy that it worked. Also note, if you play the game in any other language than english, this will make your game open in English... but maybe that's a sacrifice worth making... Well, that and I noticed that the lots after saving will when viewed from a distance not load the textures, but instead use the ground texture - which means that the buildings (atleast in my town) now look like grass buildings. Not ideal, but maybe there is some solution to this as well.. (which I do not know).
Exporting Worlds from CAW fail
I took a world I'd made several years ago back into CAW to fix some small but annoying flaws. It saved fine, but I get the failure message when I try to export it. This is nothing new, but it's been a long time since I last used CAW, I don't remember exactly how to fix the issue. I remember it has something to do with removing the DDCache and DCBackup folders then putting them back in, but I don't remember what it is that I have to do in between those two steps. Rflong7 you were the one who told me what to do years ago. If you're still active here, I'd appreciate your help once again.
Has anyone been able to make Create A World work with the new EA App? Update 3/19/2024
I heard that there is a new EA App that is replacing Origin, and I also heard that people who switched over can't get CAW to work anymore. Does anyone who has the new EA App have the Sims 3 and CAW installed and is able to use CAW with the new app? If so, how? Update 3/19/2024 I should have posted this here much early, but I somehow forgot that I created this thread. Turns out some people are getting it to work https://www.tumblr.com/damienf519/724840433017061376/create-a-world-now-with-the-ea-app-im-stunned?source=shareRemoving IP Lag
Updated Update: Make a new folder in your Sims 3 Saves folder called IPonlyRdy.sims3 and copy these four files into it: https://www.mediafire.com/folder/hh78ai99s6a1y/IPonlyRdy When you next load up your game, it should be your first option there with other saved games. I tried to only do the bare minimum changes, but I wanted to avoid lag in your game; so you do get some of my redone EA homes. I did redo them so they only need IP - no other EPs or SPs or any store stuff. I had redone most of the lots using all the EPs and SPs and some store stuff earlier. If interested in any of those lots, look in this folder and you can do individual replacements: https://www.mediafire.com/folder/o3g07w12a9d20/Lots If you have all the EPs and SPs and own the store (or lots of it), you could download these files instead: https://www.mediafire.com/folder/xp7wkoer3drf0/IPrdy (Your new folder would be named IPrdy.sims 3 and would go in the Sims 3 Saves folder. I made many more adjustments to this version as I was simply making it for myself.) Older UPDATE: I have played a houseboat in IP without any mods or world fix (for three sim weeks) following a suggestion to give all sims cars (and boats) to cut down on taxis. When you start to experience a lot of lag, save and then quit your game. Clear your caches. Then reload your game. It should play normal then. I only play with one houseboat (mine) and one resort (Hobart's). I have systematically been playing every family in IP and they have all played well for me. I consolidated notes of lag and freezing in IP and went in to fix things. I now have my notes in a one-page Word document (short, sweet, and to the point). Also, the Loner's home has NO front door or even a lower level - Solitude. You can replace it with: http://www.thesims3.com/assetDetail.html?assetId=8573435 word document: http://www.4shared.com/file/H1XsUr2lba/IPFix.html open document text: http://www.4shared.com/file/9Hku4NwUba/IPFix.html I have played with Overwatch and Error Trap (NRaas mods) and only getting the normal vehicle removal and electonics turned off notices each day. So, if you take the time to remove the houseboats and resort towers, I think that you can play without lag too. Simply evict Sims and move them to land. By making the problem ports No Visitors Allowed (NVA), only your active sim should go there, so you should not get stuck sims there. You don't have to make changes to all the lots. You can delete problem lots and replace them with others. To help with lag and freezing in IP, these helpful fixes were suggested: Turn off Pets. You can get Ellacharmed's fixed version of Isla Paradiso: http://www.modthesims.info/download.php?t=514909 Install twallan's NRAAS overwatch (and ErrorTrap) mod(s)! (Highly recommended, but not required!) You can use twallan's NRAAS register mod to annihilate the Scott family and remove horses and wild animals. * Delete all boats (place residents in other houses) and every boat-platform. (Keep ports and one boat to play.) Change designation on the problem ports to No Visitors Allowed (NVA)! Use discoverAllunchartedislands cheat to delete most of the laggy fog. You can add another school for kids, but moving ones currently enrolled will cause grades to reset. Play off-line and turn your anti-virus programs off and game mode on, and have ts3w.exe in your DEP. the cheats for editing ports and dive spots are: control/shift/c... testingcheatsenabled true enablelotlocking on When you enter the cheats, you click on the port you want to change. (In the right part of the window opened, there will be a padlock icon. If you click it, the lock will open and you can then enter buy/build mode.) Remember to turn off all the cheats in reverse order, changing on to off and true to false. Enter edit town mode. Delete the 3 resorts: Hobarts, La Costa Verde, and Sparkling Sands. (Save to bin first if you want.) OR simply remove the towers, check-in desks, and snack cart so no workers are needed there and change to community lot. Delete empty houseboats & their bases first: Odyssey (Port Placid, Surf Island), Happy Houseboat (Promising Port), You're on a Boat (Port Popular), Floating Fortress (Pleasing Port)... Keep Sea Spirit (Premium Port) to be No Visitors Allowed (NVA) Evict sim(s) in houseboats, delete the houseboats & bases, delete or edit ports: cntl/shift/c: testingcheatsenabled true & enablelocklocking on, click on port, click on padlock, change port to residential lot (if desired), click on buy/build to edit port, make storage building into small starter home, and place evicted Sim(s) in homes. (Delete fencing on piers first & hold alt when placing stairs.) Scott (move to Humble Home on main island) - Tide Runner (Port Perlious, Surf Island), Angler (move to Cozy Cottage) - Aquaholic (Port Prosperous), Dregg (put in starter house on pier) - Atlantis (Picturesque Port), Arias (move to Personal Paradise) - Our First Houseboat (Port Pescado), and Romantic (Rubisel Ichtaca) (whom I move to Modern Marvel after I relevel that lot) - FantaSea (Port Primavera) Keep FantaSea and make it NVA (no visitors allowed). Here are my starter lots on the empty posts: Perilous Place - a pink and turquoise shack on the water's edge: http://www.thesims3.com/assetDetail.html?assetId=8620815 Picturesque Place - with 3/4 bath and awesome views: http://www.thesims3.com/assetDetail.html?assetId=8620821 Pleasing Pad - complete with a real shower and toilet: http://www.thesims3.com/assetDetail.html?assetId=8620816 Popular Pad - wooden shack with motorcycle and all in one bath: http://www.thesims3.com/assetDetail.html?assetId=8620812 Prosperous pad - with a full-sized bath complete with tub: http://www.thesims3.com/assetDetail.html?assetId=8620820 Premium Port and Ports Primavera, Pleasant and Playa (and others) have uneven terrain at lot edges. Change Ports to No Visitors Allowed (NVA). Place a NVA boat on Port Pleasant & delete rocks & trees in the way. Pile rocks on lot edges where needed. (World editor needed to delete two trees at Port Primavera.) Lock all ports and turn off cheats. (cntl/shift/c: testingcheatsenabled false & enablelocklocking off) Delete arches in front of entrances: Collins - Colonial Casa - 76 Civic Center (Set front door & delete access to top floor.) Ichtaca - Castillo de Ichtaca - 1 Camino del Ray (Delete stacked spiral stairs & Set front door) You can download mine: http://www.thesims3.com/assetDetail.html?assetId=8620897 Hamada - The Spanish Queen - 7 Sea Spray Lane (I also widen path & paint inner single bed balcony.) The Lone Artist - Adobe Abode - 11 Ocean View Road (One wallpaper missing - inner back porch.) (Empty home) - Personal Paradise - 9 Sea Spray Lane Set front doors: (Set front doors last after making all other changes and saving.) Alto - Luxury Villa - 1 Alto Road (Platform that surrounds right side needs CASting.) http://lvlt.thesims3.com/sims3_asset/sims3_asset/thumb/shard000/000/086/209/21/roof_up_original.jpg Here's mine: http://www.thesims3.com/assetDetail.html?assetId=8620921 The Siren - The Modern Hideaway - Dry Land, Kraken Island (I delete side door.) (Empty) - Modern Marvel - 10 Modern Mile (level terrain & unstack stairs) ((or just download this version: http://www.thesims3.com/assetDetail.html?assetId=8565894)) Other: Unstacked spiral stairs, etc. Babes on the Beach - Holiday House - 25 Riviera Road (Expand front deck & move stairs to right) Vidal - The Painted Lady - 74 Civic Center (Entrance is too small & stairs are outside.) Mine: http://www.thesims3.com/assetDetail.html?assetId=8620818 Medina - Modern Folly - 65 Paradise Road (Fence yard, delete garage door, turn spiral stairs & add crib) Los Amigos - Spirit of the Sea (Sandy Beach, Surf Island) Turn tub! (Ichtaca's boat & Floating Fortress too) Nautical Art Museum - (delete fencing or just the corners) Ojeda - Sea House - 1 Shark Bay (Widen path & move garbage can & mailbox.) Delete the stairs to the fountain in the festival park (so small animals and toddlers are NOT left there.) I also add a grocery & other stores/lots to the main island (to avoid boating to other island). And, I notice the Loner at Solitude had no door at all or even a ground floor wall to put one on. http://lvlt.thesims3.com/sims3_asset/sims3_asset/thumb/shard000/000/085/734/35/roof_up_original.jpg You can add one yourself or replace the lot with mine: http://www.thesims3.com/assetDetail.html?assetId=8573435 There was nothing really wrong with the Han residence, but the pool required everyone to go up to the third floor. So, I redid it here: http://lvlt.thesims3.com/sims3_asset/sims3_asset/thumb/shard000/000/086/208/10/roof_up_original.jpg http://www.thesims3.com/assetDetail.html?assetId=8620810
Terrain Tearing
Hello! I don't know if my world file is slowly corrupting or something, but I'm having a real issue with terrain tearing lately. I re-laid all my lots and some of them won't conform edges. I also have tears along one or two chunk boundaries. https://i.imgur.com/FO1Q6xe.jpg https://i.imgur.com/YF1bZxd.jpg Those faint tan lines in the photos are the tears. I've googled a bit and narrowed down deleting the sand terrain texture will make the chunk boundary lines disappear. But...it's an island and it feels weird not to have sand anywhere. I've tried different sand files or only in necessary areas, but still get lines. I tried exporting/importing the height map. Moving around the land or the lots. I'm not sure what else to do, but I've been working on this for too long to give up. I appreciate any other ideas if anyone has any!
Monte Vista Walls not showing up in Metadata
I hope you can help me cause I am at my wits' end. According to the information I was able to find online, after installing Monte Vista, the objects in the world (such as streetlamps, bridges and retaining walls) are supposed to show up in Create a World, among other Game Objects in the Metadata, supposedly without any modding. However, I cannot find anything. How to enable those objects?PSA: EIG Seems to Be Working Now in EA App! THANK YOU!
I have not been able to test this (I'm now on 1.67), but players are saying that Edit in Game is now working for them in EA App, including @Damienf519 . Since this is the case, then THANK YOU VERY MUCH, whoever pulled for us in EA. You just saved a lot of people a lot of heartache, especially those worldbuilders who had spent years working on WIPs they never got the chance to complete. <3
