Alternatives to playing Sims 3 on a MacBook Air 7'2 with OS Sierra

[blvnco305]

This is what I changed my GraphicsCards and GraphicsRules to. Tried IntelHD6000 as well.

[puzzlezaddict]

@blvnco305  I responded to your post in the mac forum, where Bluebellflora can give you the best advice about your TS3 issues.  I just wanted to note here that it would be best if you edited your original post to remove your mac's serial number.  You can list its specs manually, or edit the photo in Preview and put a thick black line over the number.

[Bluebellflora]

@blvnco305

I've moved your thread to the incompatible graphics one we have running about this issue. It's good to keep these posts in the same place and if we find a miraculous answer to your issue it will help others

Your Mac has the most incompatible processor and graphics mix as the Broadwell processor you have is also problematic.

You said in your post ".....and the alternative one from a comment left on a thread where I am copying Ambitions/Late night into another folder" but it is important to understand that these two workarounds are NOT for the same thing so the Ambitions/LN/FL/OL fix is not an alternative to this graphics fix.

[Bluebellflora]

For those still struggling with this issue, please read my post here asking for feedback and more information.

[cjones13]

I have a 2017 MacBook Pro and can't launch this game. I tried doing the work around of moving it to my desktop but it won't work still.

[puzzlezaddict]

@cjones13  The workarounds that you need are creating an alias for any packs that don't already have them, copying files from the folder of one pack to another, and editing your .sgr files.

https://bluebellflora.com/sims-3-packs-not-showing-as-installed/

https://answers.ea.com/t5/The-Sims-Mac/CURRENT-ISSUE-Sims-3-Unknown-Error-in-El-Capitan-Sierra-High/...

https://bluebellflora.com/fix-for-incompatible-graphics-for-the-sims-3-on-mac/

Depending on your computer's specs and which packs you have installed, you may or may not need to do all three steps.  If you could post this information, we could help you get the game running on your mac.

gather mac specs:  https://answers.ea.com/t5/The-Sims-Mac/READ-FIRST-Sims-3-Mac-Help-Guides-and-Troubleshooting/m-p/475...

[cjones13]

Processer: 

2.9 GHz Intel Core i5

Memory: 8gb 2133mhz 

LPDDR3

Graphics: 

Intel Iris Graphics 550 1536 MB

The only game I installed was the main game. When I launch it I don't even get the Sims 3 plumbob, I only get the Unknown Error message.

[puzzlezaddict]

@cjones13  Since you can't even run the base game, you'll need to edit the .sgr files.  But there's someone who can help you with that, if you want.  Bluebellflora is great with this kind of thing, and she's around right now, if you're interested.  Just post here:

https://bluebellflora.com/2018/07/24/sims-3-mac-players-i-need-your-help/

[OceanGRose]

Hey! I have the exact same problem and I was just wondering what video you are referring to?

[puzzlezaddict]

@OceanGRose  Since there are so many different issues with Sims 3 in mac OS, I'm not sure which problem you're referring to.  But the video is probably this one, which shows how to move files from certain incompletely installed packs into the folder of your newest pack by release date:

https://answers.ea.com/t5/The-Sims-Mac/CURRENT-ISSUE-Sims-3-Unknown-Error-in-El-Capitan-Sierra-High/...

This is only one of the fixes for the unknown error.  If you've installed any of Ambitions, Late Night, Fast Lane, and Outdoor Living, and at least one of those four packs is not your newest (by the date EA released it), then you'll need to apply the fix in the video.  (If, on the other hand, you only installed one of those packs, and it is your newest, then you could skip that step.)

These four packs usually don't have their own aliases in Applications, alongside the alias for the base game, so you'd need to create one for each of them as well.  But that's simple:

https://bluebellflora.com/sims-3-packs-not-showing-as-installed/

If these steps don't help you, the problem may be your graphics card—some are not supported by TS3.  In that case, you'd need to edit the game's .sgr files to force it to recognize your card.  If you'd like help with this, or you're not sure whether it's necessary, please list your computer's specs here, as described in this post:

https://answers.ea.com/t5/The-Sims-Mac/READ-FIRST-Sims-3-Mac-Help-Guides-and-Troubleshooting/m-p/475...