New Sims 3 Patch - EA App

[Peanuts61]

Hello everyone,

since the new patch is anyone's game playing erraticly? that's the only way to describe how mine is. my refresh setting in the options panel is now at 64 and not 60. and i cannot get it to go back to 60. now the grass looks awful, the gameplay itself looks soooo different. my desktop computer also received a big update and since the sims 3 plays so much different now. does anybody have the same issue at least with the patch?

[Deklitch]

I'm not experiencing any of those issues, @Peanuts61
The only things I experienced were
1) the launcher tried to tell me that I had version 0.0 of Sims 3. I told it off, and reloaded it and this time it gave me the correct version.
2) this time it took me to an additional EA screen which told me I was using a new computer (which I wasn't). I went to post about it in the tech support here, hoping that ~MrsFlynn might have an answer, but also did a search for it online. Someone at an EA associated site said just to cancel that screen and go on. So I then deleted the post I had half written here. However, I couldn't do what they suggested by that stage as I decided I'd try repairing the Sims 3. Following the repair, I was able to load up the game and my saved file. It all seems the same - I've just checked, the refresh setting in my options panel is still at 60, and I only have the options of 60 or default. Everything looks to be just the same as ever in my game - though actually both my gen 1 founder and gen 2 heir both got an opportunity, which decidedly was unusual, lol

[Cheezey]

This was my experience, but I only played very briefly.  When I first downloaded the patch, I had an error where the launcher crashed and I had to restart the computer and game. I did that, and I also made sure all of my drivers were up to date. I have Windows 11 and NVidia as a graphics card. I also play with a bunch of mods, so I'm not sure if that affects it.

I also had to reset my NVidia settings with the framerate, like I used to always have to after a patch, to cap it around 60.

When I loaded a save, all the patch seemed to affect was the launcher issue not working with Windows 11.  The save seemed to perform normally for the brief time I was in it, but like I said, I didn't play long.

[Peanuts61]

Yes, I play with a bunch of mods as well, but what i don't understand is why my refresh number is 64! and it's only the sims 3 that is so dark, as dark as midnight hollow world. very odd. i just know i am so tired if fixing this game. i fix more than i play lately. thanks to both of you guys for replying. i don't know what to do at this point. by the way, all my other games play fine. games from big fish, and the microsoft store games all run fine. it's just the darn sims 3. p.s. my processor is AMD so does this have something to do with the reason sims 3 won't run correctly?

[MrsFlynn]

Hi Peanuts,

I'm not sure I'm going to be much help, as I am using the disc version of the game and do not have access to the new patch that EA provided via the EA App.

From what I understand it's only available to those who are using the EA App version of the game. -- The patch is not available for disc or Steam versions of the game.

I'm also not sure why it's not running correctly on your system.

Here's a thread started by PuzzlezAddict on answers.ea that might help.

Sims 3 Patch: Jan.13.2025 -
https://answers.ea.com/t5/Technical-Issues-PC/Sims-3-patch-Jan-13-2025/td-p/14391219

If you have further issues, you might try posting there to see if they're able to help.

[Peanuts61]

I uninstalled and reinstalled everything just now and started up the game. it is still dark and in the options tab the refresh is 64 and default choices only. for the life of me i can't remember what it was before. i just remember 60, forgot the other options

[Peanuts61]

P.S. i just started the sims 4, it's not dark but it freezes. sims 2 is saying my graphics card is not recognizable.

[MrsFlynn]

I remember sharing some notes awhile back about capping the FPS for Sims 3. It's for the Nvidia Card, but I do see that I noted how to possibly cap FPS using AMD.

–- AMD = 3D Application Settings and look for Wait for Vertical Refresh - set to on/off

Sims 3 - V-Sync Settings
https://www.carls-sims-4-guide.com/forum/index.php?topic=20732.msg426049#msg426049

For Sims 2 graphics, this post by SimsNetwork might be helpful.

Sims 2 Graphics Rules Maker
https://www.simsnetwork.com/tools/graphics-rules-maker

[Seabody]

I also play with a bunch of mods, so I'm not sure if that affects it.

Yes, I play with a bunch of mods as well, but what i don't understand is why my refresh number is 64!

Same advice "as always" ("as always" meaning, 5 or 11 years ago when this game was last updated lol), make sure to remove your mods after you patch. As far as I know from reading teh interwebz, it's only core mods like ErrorTrap, AwesomeMod, Simler's core mod, etc, which could be affected for this patch, but it always pays to be safe. You can use the 50/50 method to figure out if it is indeed a mod botching your settings.

[Peanuts61]

Hi Seabody,

I didn't take the mod folder out after the patch, but when i started seeing how the game was acting wonky, i tried everything and I mean EVERYTHING! i even have reached out to a techie on you tube for help. but it's still dark and the sims move like in slow motion. i don't know what to do anymore, i don't want to NOT play sims 3, because i really love playing it, but i'm starting to think maybe it's time to just let it go.

[Peanuts61]

thanks Deklitch and Cheezy for responding

[Peanuts61]

Mrs. Flynn, in the graphics refresh i only have two options, 64 and default. there is no 60 plus the other numbers anymore.

[MrsFlynn]

Ah okay.

[Peanuts61]

Guys i found a somewhat solution to the problem. a youtube player told me i should play the game in windowed mode. son did also, so i tried it and it's much clearer now to play, but the sims seem to move in a sorta slow motion. i haven't fully played anyone yet, just went into a town, and chose a household.  letting you know in case this also happens to any of you.

[Peanuts61]

Now not able to use testingcheatsenabled true after ctrl, shift, c. so, having said that i think i am going to just delete ALL sims games from my computer and just play my other games. not any are working on my computer now. it was fun after all these years, but 2025 has decided this will NOT be the year I play the sims anymore. thank you for all of your help but i am signing out of this forum as well.