Game won't launch- "Problem connecting to the server"

[thisisntshar]

So I just purchased the sims 3 starter pack and university life expansion tonight and was hoping for it to work... however, I keep getting an error message saying there's a problem connecting to the server - "please ensure connection is active".  I've included a screen shot of the exact error message. My internet connection is completely fine. Is this a problem on EA's end? Is anyone experiencing the same thing?

[puzzlezaddict · Accepted solution]

@thisisntshar  Install University Life, and the problem should go away.  You can install High-End Loft Stuff too, although that pack alone won't fix the issue.  Regardless of what you want to do, start by running the Super Patch (digital download version), because if you run it later, or the game patches itself later, that will undo at least one of the fixes.

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

If you only want to play with the base game for now, try this:

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

If you want to install Late Night too, that's fine, but you'll have to apply one workaround if you don't install University Life, and two workarounds if you do install UL.  The first one, required either way, is to create an alias for LN in Applications\The Sims 3, alongside the alias for the base game.  This is simple:

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

If you install UL, you'll also have to copy a folder from Late Night into a folder for UL.  This video shows where to find the folder and how to copy it over:

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

If you have more questions or need clarification, or if the game still doesn't work, let me know.

[puzzlezaddict · Accepted solution]

@thisisntshar  Install University Life, and the problem should go away.  You can install High-End Loft Stuff too, although that pack alone won't fix the issue.  Regardless of what you want to do, start by running the Super Patch (digital download version), because if you run it later, or the game patches itself later, that will undo at least one of the fixes.

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

If you only want to play with the base game for now, try this:

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

If you want to install Late Night too, that's fine, but you'll have to apply one workaround if you don't install University Life, and two workarounds if you do install UL.  The first one, required either way, is to create an alias for LN in Applications\The Sims 3, alongside the alias for the base game.  This is simple:

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

If you install UL, you'll also have to copy a folder from Late Night into a folder for UL.  This video shows where to find the folder and how to copy it over:

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

If you have more questions or need clarification, or if the game still doesn't work, let me know.

[thisisntshar]

Well, you were absolutely right. It worked! Thank you so much!