[CURRENT ISSUE] The Sims 3 - Issues playing on newer (post 2013) Macs

[puzzlezaddict]

@ecdeveloper  Could you please describe exactly what you did?  There are a lot of different steps you might need to take, depending on hardware and which packs you've installed.  Please list those packs as well, and any you'd like to install but haven't yet.

[ecdeveloper]

Hey @puzzlezaddict , I did a very basic installation of The Sims 3 using the Origin. Haven't installed any packs at this point. Just the very basic game. 

[puzzlezaddict]

@ecdeveloper  Okay, start by running the Super Pach (digital download version).  The launcher doesn't always do a good job of patching, and letting it patch later may undo other workarounds you need to apply.

https://bluebellflora.com/sims-3-manual-super-patch-for-mac-1-67/

Then you'll need to edit the game's two .sgr files to add your graphics card.  Instructions for your Intel UHD 617 are here:

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

Follow the instructions in the Readme to add the relevant text to each file, then test.  If you still get an unknown error, let me know.

If you get the launcher to open but later see a server error, try this workaround:

https://answers.ea.com/t5/Technical-Issues-Mac/Sims-3-quot-Important-Message-There-is-a-problem-conn...

[toxicClowder]

I still can't get mine to work, I don't have any expansions installed and I'm using a 2011 macbook pro, it does have el capitan installed though. When I launch it it immediately shoots back a "unknown error occurred"

[puzzlezaddict]

@toxicClowder  Please post the full specs of your Mac: everything under About This Mac except for the serial number.   Please also let me know whether you've ever had other packs installed on this computer.

[toxicClowder]

@puzzlezaddict Thank you so much Puzzle. MacBook Pro (15in Late 2011), Processor - 2.2 GHz Intel Core i7, 4GB memory 1333 MHz DDR3, Macintosh HD Startup Disk, Graphics - Intel HD Graphics 3000  384 MB

I had installed other packs like years ago, but I have factory reset-ed the computer since. I did install Origin again and on that account I have Supernatural, Late Night, Ambitions, Generations, Pets, University Life and World Adventures but I haven't tried to reinstall those yet. I have all on disk still so I could install them by whatever way works best.

[puzzlezaddict]

@toxicClowder  Please try bypassing the launcher:

https://bluebellflora.com/sims-3-how-to-bypass-the-launcher-on-a-mac/

Don't open Origin; just launch the game from its icon in Applicaitons.  If you get another unknown error, try again, except this time take your computer offline beforehand.

If that doesn't help either, please do a clean uninstall of the game:

https://bluebellflora.com/how-to-do-a-clean-uninstall-and-reinstall-on-a-mac/

and reinstall, again the base game only.  For my own curiosity, try launching it as is, without letting the game update.  Whether or not it works (let me know), run the Super Patch (digital download version), which you can find here:

https://bluebellflora.com/sims-3-manual-super-patch-for-mac-1-67/

and try to play again.  If that doesn't help either, create a new admin user account on your Mac and try to play in that account.

[toxicClowder]

@puzzlezaddict Thank you! I finally got the chance to try it and it worked! I uninstalled the game and after re-installing it I skip the update requests, works just fine not even crashing as much as I remember it used to! I might even try installing some of the other expansions I have! Thank you for all your help!

[puzzlezaddict]

@toxicClowder  If you do install any packs, four of them (Ambitions, Late Night, Fast Lane, and Outdoor Living) need extra help to get installed properly.  For each one, you'd need to create an alias in Applications > The Sims 3, as described here:

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

as well as copy a folder from that pack to the folder for your newest pack by release date.  For example, if you install Into the Future, any other pack folders need to go into ITF's folder; the other packs aside from the four I listed transfer on their own.  The video in this post shows how to do it:

https://answers.ea.com/t5/Technical-Issues-Mac/CURRENT-ISSUE-Sims-3-Unknown-Error-in-El-Capitan-and-...

You'll also want to run the Super Patch (digital download version) when you're done, and before as well if you install any packs newer than Seasons.

https://bluebellflora.com/sims-3-manual-super-patch-for-mac-1-67/

(Origin downloads the patch level that was current when Seasons was released, so newer packs would need an updated version of the base game.)

If you'd like help with the process, just list the packs you plan to install so I can be more specific with the details of the process.

[toxicClowder]

Hey @puzzlezaddict If you got any further advice for me I was kinda fooling around trying to instal a few more packs.

I installed Ambitions and Night Life before doing any reading (arrogance) and didn't realize they were the troublemakers. After a few days I started getting errors whenever I would try to load. 

I then tried to follow the first trick of moving the nightlife program files but realized the game disk was Nightlife so I tried installing generations since it came after and maybe would switch to being the primary disk because of that and added the files to it. It kept telling me it didn't recognize the game disk though. I went and uninstalled generations again.

After that I tried the super patch which I don't think did anything noticeable but I also haven't been using the origin plugin so I don't know if that's my problem.

I have everything on disks, I have Sims 3 main disk, Late Night, Ambitions, Supernatural, Generations, University, World adventures, and Pets. I don't really care about installing them all. I think I'd love to do Late Night, University, Ambitions and maybe generations or supernatural.