Aseem (10/14/2021, 12:00:28 AM): Thank you for contacting EA HELP, my name is Aseem, may I start with your first name please? (10/14/2021, 12:00:36 AM): Christopher Aseem (10/14/2021, 12:00:47 AM): Hey Christopher, nice to meet you! How may I assist you today? (10/14/2021, 12:01:45 AM): I just learned I cannot play sim city 4 on windows 10. I bought the game new on CD-Rom years ago, and I read I should contact EA to redeem my anti-piracy code for a digital copy. (10/14/2021, 12:02:14 AM): I've been itching to play it, and this bums me out that windows 10 does not let these type of games run from their cd-roms Aseem (10/14/2021, 12:04:05 AM): You are unable to play SimCity 4 on Windows 10. You bought the CD-Rom for the game and are unable to use it on your PC now. You want the digital version of the game to be added to your account. (10/14/2021, 12:04:33 AM): Yes Aseem (10/14/2021, 12:04:47 AM): No worries, I will surely try to help you with this concern. Aseem (10/14/2021, 12:04:51 AM): May I know the email associated with the EA account? (10/14/2021, 12:05:03 AM): it should be DELETED FOR POST (10/14/2021, 12:06:30 AM): though it could be DELETED FOR POST Aseem (10/14/2021, 12:07:18 AM): May I know with which EA account you are trying to access the game? (10/14/2021, 12:07:39 AM): My origin account is DELETED FOR POST (10/14/2021, 12:07:54 AM): I assume EA and Origin accounts are one and the same? Aseem (10/14/2021, 12:08:20 AM): Yes, the EA account and Origin account are the same. (10/14/2021, 12:08:41 AM): I only included the hotmail one because I may have registered the game under that email back in 2004ish (10/14/2021, 12:09:23 AM): I'm unsure which of those two emails was used to register it, given the length of time. but yes, my origina/ea account is DELETED FOR POST Aseem (10/14/2021, 12:12:19 AM): I have sent a verification email, please check if you have received an email with the subject line "Please verify ownership of your Origin Account" in your inbox or spam inbox. (10/14/2021, 12:16:04 AM): I dont have the verify yet, but i do got an email telling me the case number, DELETED FOR POST (10/14/2021, 12:16:31 AM): ah got it, i was expecting it in gmail, got it in hotmail. (10/14/2021, 12:16:32 AM): DELETED FOR POST Aseem (10/14/2021, 12:16:52 AM): Fantastic. The account is verified now. Aseem (10/14/2021, 12:17:56 AM): I would like to inform you that there is no game title in the EA account associated with the email "DELETED FOR POST". (10/14/2021, 12:18:15 AM): please use DELETED FOR POST Aseem (10/14/2021, 12:18:21 AM): Could you please share the game code you have? (10/14/2021, 12:18:51 AM): DELETED FOR POST (10/14/2021, 12:19:22 AM): if you need pics of the cds, and booklet, I have all of that. Aseem (10/14/2021, 12:20:05 AM): May I know from where did you purchase the game? (10/14/2021, 12:20:33 AM): I believe Target. This would have been 2003/4. But my memory says Target. Aseem (10/14/2021, 12:20:57 AM): It is an offline game store. (10/14/2021, 12:21:25 AM): Target, is not a game store, but they do sell games. Aseem (10/14/2021, 12:22:07 AM): Please allow me a couple of minutes to try and validate the details. Mohd (10/14/2021, 12:27:06 AM): Thank you for contacting EA HELP, my name is Mohd, may I start with your first name please? (10/14/2021, 12:28:11 AM): I was speaking to Aseem, and it seems we got disconnected Mohd (10/14/2021, 12:30:28 AM): Hey Christopher, nice to meet you. Our adviser is facing some technical issues, please stay connected while I transfer your chat. Aseem (10/14/2021, 12:31:30 AM): Thank you for contacting EA HELP, my name is Aseem, may I start with your first name please? (10/14/2021, 12:32:21 AM): Aseem, its my Christopher. I have the sim city 4 game from 2003 (10/14/2021, 12:32:25 AM): we didn't get to finish. (10/14/2021, 12:33:02 AM): (it's me Christopher. Sorry for the typo) Aseem (10/14/2021, 12:33:51 AM): Hey Christopher, nice to meet you. Yes, the chat got disconnected due to some technical issue. Aseem (10/14/2021, 12:36:11 AM): I am afraid we cannot add Simcity 4 to the account as it is a sunset game. (10/14/2021, 12:37:26 AM): I paid over $45 for this game (10/14/2021, 12:38:27 AM): When I went through help, it sounded like this was something EA honored (10/14/2021, 12:39:47 AM): the EA desktop help team, specifically posted this was what to do, and that the games would be honored. https://answers.ea.com/t5/Other-SimCity-Games/SimCity-4-Windows-10/td-p/5498112 (10/14/2021, 12:41:46 AM): it makes no sense to be a sunset game as it is forsale on origin, and the only reason the cd does not work is because of an issue with windows 10 not supporting the anti-piracy used by EA. Aseem (10/14/2021, 12:42:03 AM): I can understand your concern. But the game is no longer available with us that is the reason we are not able to add the game. (10/14/2021, 12:42:28 AM): how is it not available, digital copies for sale on origin right now (10/14/2021, 12:43:09 AM): https://www.origin.com/usa/en-us/store/simcity/simcity-4 (10/14/2021, 12:48:37 AM): you tell me it's not available, but origin will sell me a new copy for 19.99. I just want to play the game I bought new for $45, I have everything I need except windows 7, as the antipiracy that EA adds is not supported by windows 10. I've shown a link from a EA agent saying these should be honored, and a link showing you the game for sale on origin Aseem (10/14/2021, 12:51:48 AM): Please allow me a couple of minutes to try and validate the details. Aseem (10/14/2021, 12:57:05 AM): Thanks for waiting! I really appreciate your patience. (10/14/2021, 12:57:54 AM): I'm still here, and I can send pictures of the CD, case, and booklet if need be Aseem (10/14/2021, 12:59:37 AM): Please stay connected. It is taking some time to check the details. Aseem (10/14/2021, 1:03:32 AM): Thanks for waiting! I really appreciate your patience. Aseem (10/14/2021, 1:04:05 AM): May I know you have purchased the Simcity 4 deluxe edition in 2004? (10/14/2021, 1:04:17 AM): Yes, it is the deluxe edition Aseem (10/14/2021, 1:05:28 AM): Thanks for confirming. Aseem (10/14/2021, 1:06:40 AM): Please stay connected. It is taking some time to check the details. Aseem (10/14/2021, 1:11:52 AM): 92428203 Aseem (10/14/2021, 1:12:10 AM): Thanks for waiting! I really appreciate your patience. (10/14/2021, 1:12:19 AM): no problem, what are those numbers? Aseem (10/14/2021, 1:12:48 AM): Please ignore those numbers. Please stay connected. It is taking some time to check the details. Aseem (10/14/2021, 1:17:49 AM): Thanks for waiting! I really appreciate your patience. Aseem (10/14/2021, 1:18:26 AM): I can understand it is taking a lot of time. Please stay connected. It is taking some time to check the details with the concerned team. (10/14/2021, 1:19:12 AM): it's been 51 minutes since we started. Aseem (10/14/2021, 1:20:54 AM): I can understand your concern. Please stay connected. It is taking some time to check the details with the concerned team. Aseem (10/14/2021, 1:26:51 AM): Thanks for waiting! I really appreciate your patience. (10/14/2021, 1:27:20 AM): it's been 1 hour since we've started. Aseem (10/14/2021, 1:28:46 AM): I have checked the details with the concerned team. I would like to inform you that we cannot add the game code. Since it is purchased from a Third-party retailer. (10/14/2021, 1:29:16 AM): how could it not be? it's a physical CD-ROM (10/14/2021, 1:29:59 AM): the code is an anti-piracy key, not a download code. Aseem (10/14/2021, 1:30:58 AM): I would request you to please contact the retailer regarding this concern. (10/14/2021, 1:32:20 AM): That is a crazy recommendation. On top of that, I used to work customer service at Target. This not a Target issue, but a EA not honoring the licenses to it's game. (10/14/2021, 1:34:19 AM): We've been here for over an hour. I have the physical CD-rom of the game from 2003/2004. The anti-piracy software used by EA is no longer supported by windows 10. I've shown you where EA workers posted that the CD-ROM should be good for a key to a digital online copy of the game. (10/14/2021, 1:34:41 AM): if I talk to EA help Aseem (10/14/2021, 1:35:02 AM): I would request you to please contact the retailer regarding the code. (10/14/2021, 1:35:02 AM): you then told me the game is not supported, to which I shown a link of it forsale on origin. (10/14/2021, 1:35:41 AM): I used to work for that retailer in customer service. This is not an acceptable answer, it was not a digital purchase, it is a physical purchase. Aseem (10/14/2021, 1:40:03 AM): I can understand your concern. I would request you to please contact the retailer regarding this concern. (10/14/2021, 1:42:17 AM): I am insulted by EA. You are clearly in over your head for your job. You are being told to propose solutions that are asinine and impractical. This should have been a simple 5 minute conversation, and an hour 20 is waisted for both of us. Shame on your employer.
CM Edit: Just hiding the chat wall-of-text behind a spoiler tag.
Hi @wrightwinger - I can certainly understand why you're frustrated.
Before you retry with EA Help, could you double-check your account to be sure you didn't already register the game in Origin? I know that I had a problem trying to register a different game like this, but it turned out it was actually already registered to my account. I was so focused on registering the CD I never actually looked or tried to download the game.
So, there are a couple of ways to check - first, in Origin, make sure you are not hiding any games. In My Library, click the "filter" button on the top right. Click on "Hidden Games" to see any games you may have hidden before, or just clear all filters. If it doesn't show up, there are other steps Here under the part that says "I've had my games a while"
If you can't find it on your existing account, it could be on an older account. Try logging in with other email addresses. If you find it there, you can always make steps to combine accounts
I am 1000% sure this game was never registered with Origin by me. I may have registered it with EA when it was new, back in 2003, which is why I gave both emails in the log (in case it was registered 17 years ago with that other email).
I never heard of Origin till I bought the follow up Sim City, and any Sim City 4 I played after that was still on a windows 7 machine, so the CD-Rom would still work just fine.
It's crazy that EA wants 19.99 for this 17 year old game.
It's crazier that the chat took nearly 90 minutes.
But nothing is as crazy as being told to talk to the retailer about a CD-Rom purchase.
I am 1000% sure this game was never registered with Origin by me. I may have registered it with EA when it was new, back in 2003
In order to play the game, you will need to download & play the digital version through Origin. If it were ever registered with EA, it will show up in Origin. I'm just asking you to check - if you don't have Origin installed, you can download it here: https://www.origin.com/usa/en-us/store/download
As far as the customer service you received, that issue has been escalated. I hear you and totally get your frustration.
I'm just hoping we can get a good outcome for you now. Would you please check for the game in Origin and let me know if it's listed in My Library? I know the rep told you it wasn't there, but I'm hoping they were mistaken.
I've responded to you since your initial post in my earlier comment. There I let you know I reached out to the support team and they've asked that you get back in touch with the CD key and they'd see what they could do with the code. We can't do anything else to help from the forums and so if you haven't already reopened the case with them, please do so as soon as you can.
＊Accept as Solution button- If a post answers your question please let us and other players know by hitting this button. ＊Me Too button - 'Me Too' helps us track how many players are also experiencing that issue. Definitely make use of this button. ＊XP button - Say Kudos and help players 'Level Up' by giving them XP for helpful posts.
Please only DM me if I've asked you to, or in the case of highly sensitive content. General questions/issues/topics are best shared on the forum where others can take part/benefit from the responses/solutions/workarounds
Thank you for your reply. It is not listed in my origin library.
I'm more upset about having an hour and twenty minutes wasted than not being able to get my CD copy transftered to a digital copy. If I was just told no EA does not do this within the first 10 seconds, it would have been a far more pleasant experience than the madness I received.
Thank you. I apologize I could not respond sooner as I do not always have a lot of free time. Which is why spending so much time on the "live chat" irritated me so much.
How do I reopen or respond to your email. It tells me to look in my case file, but it's just a link to "live chat" which is an experience I do no wish to go through again.
Can I just email someone, have them reply when they have time, and I'll reply when I have time. So I'm not just sitting here like an abandoned pet?
Attach a picture of the CD code as @EA_Lanna suggested. I believe email will be one of the contact choices. More info on attaching file(s) to your help ticket can be found HERE
my son wants me to download this game for him to play. we have windows 10 and an origin account. will the digital version play on windows 10 properly, and what is any changes needed to make it work please? as origin doesnt list windows 10 on the digital download.
im thiniking compatability mode but unsure how to do that these days on a game.
The thread has lots of varying info and would like a complete accurate set (and may stop more similar questions)
and my daughter uses origin for sims4.if they wanted to play the different games at the same time can i use the same origin account or will it kick one person off, or would it allow aslong as not the same game?
Be advised: EA will not grant you the digital version of SimCity 4 unless you have a receipt.
It doesn't matter that you have the physical copy and the code as long as you don't have a receipt.
I tried going through the support chat but they were not willing to accept it as proof of purchase without the receipt, and weren't willing to escalate it to a supervisor either, saying they wouldn't make exceptions.
So for anybody like me who got the game as a gift 10 years ago and has no shot at having a receipt, there is no way to get the digital version.
____________________________________________________________
