Thanks for the info!!
After your file loads the cycle of clicking where the check mark used to be continues until you press escape, along with throwing out the "1" then "0" keys in rapid succession.
I just checked the code and the cycle has a total of about 2.25 seconds of pausing time and then maybe a few milliseconds of unpaused time. To accomplish this the tool throws the "1" key into the system and then the "0" as fast as computerly possible thereafter. The design is to make sure the game doesn't advance more than a few Sim seconds before you come back into the room and press escape to start playing.
It's annoying that the pause button in the game is a toggle and not a pure setting. The 1, 2, 3, and 4 keys are settings. So you know for sure what you're getting when you hit it. But "0" or "`" toggle between paused and whatever speed you were using prior to pausing.
So I had to make the app send the key for normal speed during the cycle, then press a key to pause, that way we know time stopped. One of my previous iterations of the app actually checked for the red pause border on the edge of the screen and auto cancelled itself. One of the updates stopped me from sampling pixels successfully, however, so now it just cycles until you stop it. Oh well.
If your game is running at normal speed for more than a few milliseconds per real-world minute, then I probably need to add a subroutine to handle your situation.
And I bought my game and all the EPs though Origin (well whatever it was named back then). Did you get yours through the Windows 8 Store?
On my personal launcher I actually have it just give me an option box asking if I want to run the launcher (to check for updates or install something) or just run the Sims 3 game file directly. My file is located at "C:\Games\The Sims 3\Game\Bin\TS3W.exe" and even just running this file, which is the original game, also loads all the EPs.
The only reason I haven't put that functionality into the tool on my site is I am not sure how comfortable I am encouraging people to skip the launcher and possibly miss an update, although I suppose I could add a prompt to remind them they can "Open Launcher" any time from within the game options menu.
If you want a copy of my personal launcher let me know. I'd be interested to know what's different in Win 8 compared to my Win 7 install. Well, aside from my custom game folder on my SSD and such that is. Just let me know the path to where your TS3W.exe and Sims3LauncherW.exe are located and I can code them in and give you a download link.
