[Guide] Sims 3 Store Worlds [ Edited ]

[crinrict]

There are two different kinds of Store Worlds. One kind can be bought with Simpoints, the other are availble retail or as part of a Simpoint Bundle.

What do you need 

For both kinds of worlds, you need to have the base game installed. The worlds do not work on their own. Nothing else is necessary

Where to download

Once the Store World is yours you can either download it through your purchase history or directly from the world page in the Store. It does not matter how you bought the world, this is how you can re-download it. You do need the latest game version to download items from the Store so make sure you're fully updated.

Simpoint Worlds

The following worlds can be bought with Simpoints through the Sims 3 Store only. Most of the worlds come in a Gold and a Standard Edition. The Gold Edition contains a venue which might or might not be avaible for indivudal sale later on. If you want the venue, it's best to go for the Gold Edition from the beginning since there are no guarantuees that the venues will be for sale individually. The same goes for the Premium Content that comes either with the venue or the worlds. They are sometimes avaible to buy through the ingame Store though.

• Aurora Skies
• Lucky Palms
• Lunar Lakes (Standard Version only)
• Hidden Springs (also avaiblle retail, Standard Version only)
• Midnight Hollow
• Riverview (free with the base game registration)
• Sunlit Tides

Retail Worlds

Retail worlds can be bought retail only through one of the following sources:

• The Origin Store
• On Disc or as Code in a box through your favorite Computer Game shop 
• Simpoint Bundle

Depending on how you buy them, the way you get your download is different.

Origin

If you bought the world through the Origin Store, you'll be sent a code which you need to redeem at thesims3.com (NOT on Origin or your code becomes invalid).

Follow these steps to redeem your code

1. Go to thesims3.com and log in with your account
2. Go to your account page: https://store.thesims3.com/myAccount.html (site will ask for your password again) 
3. Click on Redeem a Code 
4. Enter the 16-letter code, accept the Policies and click on Redeem
5. Go to your purchase history to download the world (make sure your game is updated to the newest version)

OR

1. Go to thesims3.com and log in with your account
2. Go to the general redeem a code page: http://www.thesims3.com/incentive/generalredeem.html
3. Enter the 16-letter code (this is not for 20-letter codes) and click on Submit
4. Go to your purchase history to download the world (make sure your game is updated to the newest version)

Disc or Code in a box

Depending on which world you buy, this works a bit different (see below). There are always codes in the box though and you can follow the instructions for Origin to redeem those.

Simpoint Bundle

If you buy a Simpoint bundle, you'll get the world and the indicated amount of Simpoints which are added to your account. The means of payment differ from country to country but credit card payments should be accepted for most. If your country is not listed on top of the page where the little flag is, then this is not an option for you.

After completing the process, you can download the world from your purchase history.

Barnacle Bay

Barnacle Bay used to be available through the Sims 3 Store but came later as Complete Barnacle Bay Adventure! to retail. The retail version contains the world as well as the Buccaneer's Bounty Set and two extra Stairs (which were not available to people that bought the world in it's first version). If you bought the first version, you can only re-download it through your purchase history and the icon on your myPage won't be highlighted. It will also say that you don't own the Complete Barnacle Bay Adventure! cause technically you don't, even if you have both sets.

The world can either be bought through a Simpoint Bundle, on Origin or as Code in a box in a retail store. The code can either be redeemed at the Barnacle Bay page or through the redeem-a-code page (see Origin instructions).

Hidden Springs

The world can either be bought through Origin or as Code in a box in a retail store.

Hidden Springs is probably the most difficult to redeem if you bought the disc version (available also in the world bundle). The retail version does contain a disc but there's not much on it (the world sure isn't).  To make it even more confusing, when redeeming the code or going through the install process, for some the world isn't added to your purchase history but you get Simpoints credited to your account. You can then use to those to buy the world here: Hidden Springs. It doesn't matter that it says it costs 2000 SP on the page. If you got 2450 SP credited, that's what it will cost. The disc version is only for the world, there's no extra Simpoints. You can also only use those for the world itself and not buy something else.

There seem to be disc version around that give you a code that add the world directly to your purchase history. So if you don't get Simpoints, check there.

I'm unsure how the Origin version works but you might be getting points credited to your account as well.

Monte Vista

The world can either be bought through a Simpoint Bundle, on Origin or as Code in a box in a retail store.

The disc version actually contains the sims3pack file but you'll still need to register since the file itself needs an account activation. After inserting the disc, a wizard will guide you through the process. The world should then be copied directly to your downloads folder from where you can install it through the launcher. If not, you can download it from your purchase history or through the Webpage: Monte Vista

The code comes on a leaflet inside the DVD Box. You can also redeem the code directly, following the Origin instructions above without inserting the DVD.

Dragon Valley

The world can either be bought through a Simpoint Bundle, on Origin or as Code in a box in a retail store.

The disc version actually contains the sims3pack file but you'll still need to register since the file itself needs an account activation. After inserting the disc, a wizard will guide you through the process. The world should then be copied directly to your downloads folder from where you can install it through the launcher. If not, you can download it from your purchase history or through the Webpage: Dragon Valley

The code comes on a leaflet inside the DVD Box. You can also redeem the code directly, following the Origin instructions above without inserting the DVD.

Addtionally to that, you'll also get a code to Celtic Lands. This file is not on the DVD and is not installed by the installation process. You'll need to redeem it separately (follow the instructions for Origin above).

Roaring Heights

The world can either be bought through a Simpoint Bundle, on Origin or as Code in a box in certain countries as code in a box

If you buy the world through Origin you get the Standard Version without the Boardwalk Attire. The Boardwalk Venue is also NOT included in this bundle and needs to purchased seperatly a the Sims 3 Store.

Problems

Trying to list a few common issues 

Invalid Serial Codes or Serial Code already used

If you get an message that your code is invalid, you need to contact a customer support game advisor for a new code. This can have several reasons. Trying to redeem those codes on Origin can for example invalidate them.

Also, you can't buy the Store Worlds second hand. The code can only be redeemed once.

The disc installation process skips over instead of installing

Not sure what's up with that but try to redeem your code in the store and download from your purchase history instead.

The world doesn't download

The most common reason for this is that the game is not updated to the newest version. Make sure you are updated.

The installed world doesn't show up ingame

Sometimes the world doesn't get installed correctly. Try installing it again.  Also if you tried installing through the launcher, try the ingame Store instead or the other way round.

If that doesn't work, Try reinstalling all Store Content following the method here: http://answers.ea.com/t5/The-Sims-3-Store/FAQ-The-Sims-3-Store/td-p/333394/.

The game still wants me to buy the world

Sometimes when you start the game you see a little money icon next to your world although you already bought and installed it. This is just the ingame store not recognizing properly that you have already bought it.

Scroll down further down the list to see if there's a second version that doesn't have the icon to start a new game with. You can also turn off the ingame shop in your options and then it should only appear once. If it doesn't see above.

Credits: Thanks Rumbutter for the pictures