19 replies to this topic

[sheridanhoughton]

I am thinking of buying a new macbook pro - apparently way more powerful than my current one. The only problem is that it doesn't have a cdrom/dvd drive. So far, I have always bought the game with a disc, and played with the latest disc in the disc drive. So now I presume I will have to buy a download version of my latest EP so that I can play. So, to those players who already play with a downloaded version, how does this work? I would like to know before I rush into things.

Also, does anyone have the latest on playing sims with the Lion OS?

[Rennara]

The download version is no different than the packaged version sheridan. I downloaded all of sims 2....now I use the package for sims 3. The biggest drawback is the download time and I'm talking hours and hours. I would download it overnight and sometimes the download was interrupted but it picks up where it left off. Hope this helps.

[sheridanhoughton]

thanks Rennara. with the disc version, the game won't start unless the disc is in the drive. How does that work for a downloaded version?

[cadiva]

sheridanhoughton, on 18 June 2012 - 09:06 AM, said:

thanks Rennara. with the disc version, the game won't start unless the disc is in the drive. How does that work for a downloaded version?

If I remember correctly, you would have to have Origin installed and running as that is used to verify the legality of the downloaded EP etc.

[sheridanhoughton]

Quote

If I remember correctly, you would have to have Origin installed and running as that is used to verify the legality of the downloaded EP etc.

I just had a look at the Origin site, and you need windows to run it. I use Mac OS.

[kitfu11]

Just buy an external cd drive that will plug into a USB port on your computer. I'm sure there will be a time where you'll need a disc drive for something.

[cadiva]

sheridanhoughton, on 18 June 2012 - 01:13 PM, said:

I just had a look at the Origin site, and you need windows to run it. I use Mac OS.

That was the point I was making. It requires Origin to authenticate the installation and that only works with a Windows system.

kitfu11, on 21 June 2012 - 02:55 PM, said:

Just buy an external cd drive that will plug into a USB port on your computer. I'm sure there will be a time where you'll need a disc drive for something.

This would be my suggestion as well, I'm not sure if there is a method for Mac users to download a version of Sims 3 without using a Windows installation as well via Boot Camp. In fact, just checking on the Sims 3 official site, the only Sims 3 downloads available for Mac are the two neighbourhoods and Sims Medieval.

[sheridanhoughton]

cadiva, on 21 June 2012 - 03:40 PM, said:

That was the point I was making. It requires Origin to authenticate the installation and that only works with a Windows system.


This would be my suggestion as well, I'm not sure if there is a method for Mac users to download a version of Sims 3 without using a Windows installation as well via Boot Camp. In fact, just checking on the Sims 3 official site, the only Sims 3 downloads available for Mac are the two neighbourhoods and Sims Medieval.

Surely Mac users are able to play sims 3 with a legally downloaded version without using windows?

I already have external cd drives, I just don't want to have to carry one around with me whenever I want to play sims. especially when I go overseas.

Does anyone know where I can get hold of luws?

[cadiva]

sheridanhoughton, on 22 June 2012 - 07:13 AM, said:

Surely Mac users are able to play sims 3 with a legally downloaded version without using windows?

I already have external cd drives, I just don't want to have to carry one around with me whenever I want to play sims. especially when I go overseas.

Does anyone know where I can get hold of luws?

No, that was the point I was making. if you look on the official Sims 3 website there are only three things available to download, the things I mentioned, the two neighbourhoods and Sims Medieval. None of the other Sims 3 games or Expansions, Stuff Packs etc, are available for download for Mac users.
They don't seem to be available for Mac users unless you're running a Windows partition and can also use Origin to check the validity of the downloads.

Luws is no longer a Mod and isn't involved with TSR any more I am afraid. I will send her a message though and see if she knows of any other option than installing Windows and using Origin.

[cadiva]

I've had a quick word with Luws, there is a site which sells Sims 3 and the EPs as download copies but it's not from EA. However, she can't remember the name of it so you may need to just give EA a call and ask them Sheridan.

[luws]

Hey Sheridan, long time. To answer your questions, yes, there are downloads available for Mac but they are not on the official site. They used to be available from a gamers site (and yes, they are legal versions) but I don't remember the name. But after doing a quick search, I see now that Amazon offers Mac downloads for Sims 3. I didn't check for every EP though, so you probably should check that they offer the ones you're interested in.

As for Sims 3 and Lion.... well, to sum it up with one word I would say "ick." I updated to Lion several weeks ago and now my game is completely unstable. Crashes every single time I play, whereas with Snow Leopard, a crash was very, very rare. I haven't installed the most recent patch for store content, but other than that my game is current. There are things to do that help with the crashing, but anymore it's not a matter of IF my game will crash but how long can I play before it does? And what's even more frustrating than the constant crashing is my gut feeling the EA is incapable of fixing it.

That's my experience with Lion anyway, let's hope yours will be different.

[luws]

Ah, found that site with the official Mac downloads.
http://gametreeonline.com
This is the one I was trying to remember.

[sheridanhoughton]

lovely to hear from you luws.

I want to get the new macbook pro because it has twice as much ram as I have, and a much faster processor. I am finding these days, that even with small worlds and small lots, I can only play without too much lag with virtually no CC. I am only using twallan's MC mod and SP mod, and I find that I cannot play without them. But even with the SP, I am getting lag. Without it, I get too much undesirable stuff going on in my towns. Unfortunately, the new macbook comes with Lion. But I have read on the EA site that others are ok, so here is hoping.

The mac game store also sells the sims 3 online. The question I have is - when I play with the disc versions, I need to have a disc in the drive for the game to start up. With the new macbook pro, there is no cdrom drive. So if I have a downloaded version (perfectly legally), what is the situation as far as authenticating the game so that it will start up without a disc?

I am planning on an overseas trip later this year, so I don't want to have to carry an external cd drive around with me.

[sheridanhoughton]

Hubby has Lion on his imac, so I am going to give the game a try on that to see how it goes with Lion. I just hope I don't get the problems that Luws has.

[sheridanhoughton]

thankyou Cadiva for tracking down Luws for me.

[sheridanhoughton]

Just to let anyone who is interested know - I installed sims 3 on hubby's imac which runs on Lion, yesterday. I also installed twallan's MC and SP mods. The game played well.

Then I bought the download version of Generations, and installed that onto hubby's imac. I took the sims 3 disc out of the disc drive and double clicked on the Generations icon, and the game started without any problems. and played without any problems. with no disc. So, obviously, I was worrying all for nothing.

Now I just have to try my accounting software on Lion, and if that works, I am all set to get the new macbook pro.

thanks to all those who were trying to help and answer my questions.

[cadiva]

Excellent, it sounds like for Mac there is some kind of protection built into the installation so it doesn't require an external check like Origin. Glad to hear it's working okay for you Sheridan.

[sheridanhoughton]

Just an update in case anyone else is thinking of playing sims 3 on the new macbook pro - it runs like a train. It arrived on Monday. I had recently re-bought the latest EP that I had, in downloadable version so that I don't need a cd drive. I can now play large towns, and can use more mods, and it is running really smoothly and beautifully. And the look is really fabulous. And the whole thing is so light and pretty. really easy to sim anywhere in the house.

[Jaegerjeff]

^^

You could have bought a DL stuff pack cheaper and it would have work too...

[sheridanhoughton]

I didn't think of that in time. never mind - I am not all that into the stuff packs. I find the CC on sites like this much more to my taste than that available in the stuff packs.