I think you need to put Origin in offline mode. Not sure though.

I think you need to put Origin in offline mode. Not sure though.

How are you starting your games?

Do you log in using Origin first?

Are you just clicking on the Sims3 icon to start your game?

No internet connection

Using Origin, you can log into Origin when you're not connected to the internet. You do not need to do anything special because Origin will be in offline mode.

Without using Origin, you can still just click on the Sims 3 icon that shows up on your desktop after it's been installed. Press the big circle button with a play symbol on it on the left side of The Sims 3 launcher to start your game.

Internet connection

Using Origin, after you have logged in just click on the word Origin in the top left corner. Then select \"Go Offline\". Origin is now offline while your computer is still connected to the internet.

Without using Origin, start your game from the The Sims 3 icon and do not log in when the launcher opens. Click the play button on the left side of the Sims 3 Launcher. Once you get to the main menu where you can select a town to play your game in, do no log in there either. You may get a pop up asking you if you want to continue without logging in, select Continue without log in.

Unfortunately, this does not seem to be working as of Sept. 2013. When I click on the Sims3 launcher icon or the Origin icon from my desktop, I get a sign in prompt and am unable to get past it. The title bar warns that online mode is unavailable, and none of the links work. 

I'm running the Sims3 on Windows 8, with the following expansion packs:

Dragon Valley

Supernatural

Night Life

High End Loft

It's still possible to sign in offline but you need a one time online activation. Did you do that ?

I think so - the whole thing with having to have the Origin app open while the game's running is a confusing PITA.  My husband poked at it and figured out if the laptop is in airplane mode then everything works as it should. Not sure why it works, but it does. 

Weird.

Is that a solution for you or do you need further help ?

Yes, it works well enough for me 🙂

It should automatically put you in offline mode if Internet is not present. You still need to login though.

Are you getting an error message ?

I am having the same problem. I cannot log in without internet access, and airplane mode has not worked for me. I hoped that downloading Sims on my new computer (that has no DVD drive) would work, especially after the SimCity fiasco EA suffered through a while back, and I'm pretty disappointed. Are they forcing online startup as some form of DRM?

Thanks for any help.

So you downloaded, installed the game and verified it and then tried to play offline ?

What's your operating system ?

Win 8.1. Newish Thinkpad with great gameplay for other, even more graphics-intensive games. And sometimes, even when I am online, I have to restart the launcher several times before Sims actually plays.  I suppose this could be due to my computer, but I certainly don't have this issue with other games or software. Thanks for your help crinrict.

Does the game say you need internet access when you try to play without or what exactly happens ?

I have the same problem. When i start the game without an active internet conection, an error with Origin occurs (UpdateTools.exe).

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@felipegaucho11 wrote:
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I have the same problem. When i start the game without an active internet conection, an error with Origin occurs (UpdateTools.exe).

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Did you try reinstalling Origin ?

@tomthegamingguy: Which problem are you facing when trying to play offline ?

When I have no internet access, I can open Origin (i.e. open Sims 3 and Origin opens) and sign in though it says I am currently offline. Origin opens, saying that I'm offline and further content is online. It does not show the covers of my games, but if I hover over each I can see which is Sims. I open that and the launcher opens. When I press play, my cursor spins for a moment. Then nothing. Sims never opens.

Sometimes it does this when I am online as well, though not recently. I have to relaunch a few times before it catches, as if my alternator is bad! Sometimes it seems like (when online) that the game isn't going to start, but it eventually does. But when I'm offline it never starts.

Again, I have a decent graphics card that has no problems with other games.

So whatever happened to the good old days where you can just buy a game, put it in your computer, install and play it?  All these older games now needed verification is just retarted!  What if I cant afford the internet? What if I got stationed overseas and bought Sims 3 cause I assumed I could play it as i did years ago?

Ive now spent literally ALL day trying to get my game to run and verify and launch.  Havent played since 2012, and Ill bet none of my downloads or saves will even work.  I don't even know why I'm wasting my time TBH.

feell the same , I bought several expansions toghether only to find I cant play ofline,, very annoying

Unfortunately I had the same problem: the launcher would open, I'd click the play button and the game would crash. This only began when my router started playing up. Had to uninstall everything yet again and so far I have not reinstalled...am toying with the idea of Sims4 but after reading real reviews, I'm not convinced....

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@ShellzyCairns wrote:
Everytime I try just clickinf the sims icon on my desktop, it wants me to install the programme, the big circle play button doesnt even display

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Shellzy have you tried uninstalling and reinstalling? A major PITA and only EA sims have this prolem - all my other games that require expansions never need reinstalling....

OK, this all sounds great, but even when I click on the Sims 3 game launcher this damn Origin client pops up again! It will not even SHOW my games at all in offline mode! SICK of THIS *!

@micheleg1  The big issue is your operating system. Both Windows and OS X no longer support the DRM of SecuROM. In 2012 the DRM for Sims 3 became Origin. The Sims 3 was released with SecuROM and SafeDisc. The good news is there is no longer an install limit and you no longer require a disc in the optical drive to play once you get the game in Origin. Much like Steam, Origin is required to use the game. At the very, very least you need to activate The Sime 3 in Origin. As the disc version contains SecuROM it is easier to install using the digital download version through Origin. There are so many public internet access you should not have any trouble finding the internet. The public library is a good place to start. When I'm on a work site I tether my cell phone to my laptop - it is not fast but when you need technical information it's faster then driving back to the shop. Origin is DRM much like Valve's Steam. There is no DRM in The sims 3 as the DRM is now Origin. The right to use this software is no longer controlled by software embedded in the software but an account that allows you to use the software. I don't see what the issue is as Steam seems to be extremely popular and Origin has principles very much like Steam. The days of Shareware are gone. Today's games are no longer created in garages and taverns (boy do I miss those days). Games are no longer created in a group of user's spare time. Things really changed when John Carmack created id Software and the Doom game engine. This shortened the game development time and when companies invested money in the game engine people were paid to develop a story line and art work much like a movie. Time became important as return of investment became important. It's called progress. If you don't like Origin you probably don't like console games. My PS3 console worked for over a year and all of a sudden none of my games would play until I registered the PS3 console when the PS4 console came out. I'm waiting for Microsoft to pull the plug on the Xbox 360. What kind of help are you looking for? Who are them?