Hey. I saw a thread locked for someone using the most common pirated copy of the game. For the first time, I'm considering using this download, so I thought it would be worth talking a bit about non-piracy options with it and whether NRaas would ever consider those.

The issue is that I'm still hanging around on 1.67, and I want to stay there. I never had disks -- I purchased direct download copies of the game and expansions from the outset. (Hey, I never needed to install NoCD! It was pretty cool at the time.) Then when I could download installers from EA, I decided to save space and delete the installers I was keeping archived. (Brilliant idea - SOB) EA seems to have purged legitimate pre-Origin installers from the internet.

So, I have a bunch of valid license keys and no installers and no disks. The way I've seen to be able to install a fresh game and stay on 1.67 is that Sims 3 Complete Collection pirated download. That's just all the installers and a separate set of cracked keys. I don't want to use the cracked keys. I have keys. I just want the installers. If I do so, though, it sounds like I'll never be able to ask for support on this forum again.

This is starting to be an issue as I contemplate getting a new computer where I likely won't be able to transfer over my existing installed game.

I'm curious if there's any additional thoughts on this conundrum. Is there any way I might be able to validate my legitimate purchases here? Does anyone happen to have EA-endorsed pre-Origin installers archived someplace I could get ahold of?

This game is now ancient in digital-age generations, and that has its drawbacks. Sometimes I'm amazed I'm still playing it. Then again, my other game passions are Minecraft and Lord of the Rings Online (launched 2007), so maybe that's just how I roll.

My first suggestion, for what it's worth, is that if you expect to wish to continue playing TS3 for the foreseeable future then you want to seriously consider switching over the the Steam platform. An expense is involved, but we are talking about less than $100 (US) for all EP/SPs in the bundle they typically have on sale, plus a small amount for the base game. For those not as familiar with the Steam version of the game, it's Patch 1.67 just like the disk and formerly available download install versions but the player must own or be purchasing a Steam version of the base game in order to even obtain any of the packs from the Steam Store.

TS3 Store content will likely need to be downloaded fresh for use on the different platform, but none of it will need to be repurchased.

Second suggestion if Steam is just not viable for whatever reason is to give the Origin/EA App 1.69 version a try. It's a very annoying platform to need to run through to get the game started each time, but it's not fatal and once the game is up and running it's exactly the same game as we 1.67 players have.

The pirated versions, no matter how they are dressed up and marketed or made available, are non-starters. Even with other considerations aside, many to most of them cannot be patch-fixed nor modded properly and there is no support to be had here for any of them regardless of what the motivations are that the player may have had for obtaining them.

C-Dark wrote: ↑

July 14th, 2023, 9:35 am

I also play disc version. Will never play on 1.69 because easycasp won't work anymore on this.

CCMagic also doesn't work. Since I've started using Sims 3 Mod Organizer, this is less of an issue, so long as I decide to stick with it. I don't think I can stop using a mod organizer that allows me to switch profiles. Each game I run is entirely different setting, gameplay, and mods. The ability to build totally different experiences is part of why I'm still playing.

I didn't know that Steam was 1.67. I suppose I'll keep that in mind. I'm not a big Steam user, but I have a couple of games there. Not long after TS2 went out of support, EA was offering the Ultimate bundle for download literally for free. I'm not sure why TS3 is still so expensive. Is it really still generating sales?

I really just want to be able to play my game offline and in isolation from other stuff.

FWIW, as far as I can tell, "The Sims 3 Complete Collection" is the same installers EA used to offer. The pirated part is just the cracked keys. It's quite possible to plug your own install keys in, and I did that as an experiment on a separate system (not my game system, and I ended up uninstalling it, for the record). I'm pretty sure there are no issues with modding.

From what I understand, the Complete Collection also includes pirated store content. We're not privy to EA's financials, but I have to believe that the Store itself remains a huge source of income for them.

It sounds like you have made your own mind up already and if so I don't understand why we are even having this conversation. Unless of course a player comes along with a path to using the formerly available offline EA installers.

The Complete Collection is not supportable here for a variety of reasons that include but are not limited to the ones I've mentioned. This matter is not up for further debate or discussion, and I apologize if I made it seem like it was. To be a bit more clear about it then, sorry but No.