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Registration and Pre-order incentives Knowledge Base -Updated 1st page 10/8/13 (Please Read)
SIMGURURUSSKII
Posts: 1,247 SimGuru (retired)
Hi there!
This thread is to explain the relationship between Origin and Thesims3.com. Also to explain what happens on registration and incentives redemption.
As some of you know the game registration process has been changed to add the Origin flow. This has been implemented a little bit under a year ago.
These are the following flows in existence:
1. Buying games in Origin.
As some of you have noticed, if you bought the game through Origin, the code is "already consumed" this means that the game is AUTOREGISTERED on your purchase. Note: this is for the 20 digit code, not the bonus content, those are discussed later in this post.
What does this mean:
a. You will NOT receive your code via email anymore. If you need it at any time during game instalation you will have to go to the info panel on the game tile in the origin client. You DON'T need to re-enter it on thesims3.com. If you enter the code on thesims3.com it will tell you that the code is already in use.
b. You can go ahead and download and redeem your bonus content without re-registering.
Notes:
Q: I bought in origin, but I don't see my game icon on my page, how do i know I'm registered?
A: We made it at the moment so that the game icon shows instantly. But in the odd case that it doesn't show up. Please know that the My page icon is just an image, so don't panic if it takes a bit to show up. There is a couple of things you can try to check if you are truly registered:
-Log out and then Log back in: once the code is consumed in Origin we need to log out and log back in thesims3.com so the site syncs with the EA system.
-Download your registration rewards: The site knows that you are registered, so if you attempt to download and you are truly registered it will let you download the registration reward.
-If you are a new user, you are able to post on the forums, and upload to the exchange. Besides getting your registration rewards. Posting on the forums and uploading content is part of what we call "the rights as a game registered user"
2. Buying games elsewhere, but I register in Origin.
Same as "Buying in Origin" the origin client will consume your code, so you can't re use it for registration. However in doing so, it is giving you your thesims3.com rights as a game registered user.
What does this mean:
a. You DON'T need to re-enter it on thesims3.com. If you enter the code anyway it will tell you that the code is already in use.
b. You can go ahead and download and redeem your bonus content without re-registering.
Notes:
Q: I registered my game in Origin, but I don't see my game icon on my page, how do i know I'm registered?
A: We made it at the moment so that the game icon shows instantly. But in the odd case that it doesn't show up. Please know that the My page icon is just an image, so don't panic if it takes a bit to show up. There is a couple of things you can try to check if you are truly registered:
-Log out and then Log back in: once the code is consumed in Origin we need to log out and log back in thesims3.com so the site syncs with the EA system.
-Download your registration rewards: The site knows that you are registered, so if you attempt to download and you are truly registered it will let you download the registration reward.
-If you are a new user, you are able to post on the forums, and upload to the exchange. Besides getting your registration rewards. Posting on the forums and uploading content is part of what we call "the rights as a game registered user"
3. I bought my game elsewhere or as a physical copy, and I register in thesims3.com
If you choose this path, you will experience the usual registration flow, you will have your icon on my page and can download all the rewards right away.
Notes:
Q: I registered my game in Origin, but I don't see my game icon on my page, how do i know I'm registered?
A:We made it at the moment so that the game icon shows instantly. But in the odd case that it doesn't show up. Please know that the My page icon is just an image, so don't panic if it takes a bit to show up. There is a couple of things you can try to check if you are truly registered:
-Log out and then Log back in: once the code is consumed in Origin we need to log out and log back in thesims3.com so the site syncs with the EA system.
-Download your registration rewards: The site knows that you are registered, so if you attempt to download and you are truly registered it will let you download the registration reward.
-If you are a new user, you are able to post on the forums, and upload to the exchange. Besides getting your registration rewards. Posting on the forums and uploading content is part of what we call "the rights as a game registered user"
You can then proceed to install your game and enjoy it!
About Bonus content or Pre-Order incentives:
These are sets or items that come in the form of 16 digit codes that come in either pamphlets on the game boxes or in the form of emails from Origin or another retailer.
These codes are made to be consumed in thesims3.com NOT Origin. This is very important, because if you do consume it in Origin IT WON'T WORK and you would have lost your code.
Q: I accidentally redeem this 16 digit code in Origin, what do I do?
A: You will have to call Costumer Support to get a new code, they are instructed to help out on these cases, so they should give you a new 16 digit code for your item. Make sure you tell them what game,what edition and what item you were trying to redeem. Also where did you purchase it.
Costumer support information: https://help.ea.com/en/the-sims/the-sims-3
I entered my code in the right website, but it says my code is invalid?
Sometimes this happens on game launches. If you get this message after redeeming your code, go to your purchase history to see if your item appears. If it doesn't try your code again, if it still is not working you should call/email/livechat with CS for a new code.
What sometimes happens is that the code system's cache on the origin side needs to be refreshed which can cause for that message to appear.
How to redeem this 16 digit code:
Each expansion pack gives you a link to redeem this code, this is printed on the pamphlet and should be said also on the email you receive this code in.
However there is also another part of thesims3.com where you can redeem the code if you don't get the url for it: https://store.thesims3.com/myAccount.html it will ask you to log in and then click on "Redeem a code".
After you redeem the code, you can go to your purchase history: https://store.thesims3.com/purchaseHistory.html and you will see the item there.
Note: depending on the size of the purchase history, you will have to probably wait around 10 minutes.
What happens when I didn't get my 16 digit code or it doesn't do anything, even if I redeem in the right place?
You would have to contact Costumer Support to get a new code. Before doing that, if you have not gotten the email with your code, please wait a prudent time before it gets to your inbox, make sure your spam folder doesn't have the email also.
Sometimes emails can get delayed. If a significant amount of time has passed and you still don't get it, contact costumer support.
For even more information, you can visit the following threads, there has been a group of wonderful people that have been helping out to spread the word:
Crinrict with the Limited edition content information: http://sims3.crinrict.com/en/2012/09/how-to-redeem...e-limited-edition-content.html
Crinrict also has a wonderful thread on Answer HQ about code issues that you guys might want to look at if you have been having code issues when you buy games: http://answers.ea.com/t5/The-Sims-3/FAQ-Invalid-and-Used-Serial-Codes-amp-Games-not-showing-up-in/m-p/194028
DawnLBrown with a registration issues thread: http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/655809.page
EAUrsula over at Answer HQ, explains how to register: http://answers.ea.com/t5/The-Sims-3/Information-How-to-Register-The-Sims-3/m-p/387162#U387162
As always, You can ask questions on registration on this thread, I will do my best to answer them.
Thanks and Happy Simming!
This thread is to explain the relationship between Origin and Thesims3.com. Also to explain what happens on registration and incentives redemption.
As some of you know the game registration process has been changed to add the Origin flow. This has been implemented a little bit under a year ago.
These are the following flows in existence:
1. Buying games in Origin.
As some of you have noticed, if you bought the game through Origin, the code is "already consumed" this means that the game is AUTOREGISTERED on your purchase. Note: this is for the 20 digit code, not the bonus content, those are discussed later in this post.
What does this mean:
a. You will NOT receive your code via email anymore. If you need it at any time during game instalation you will have to go to the info panel on the game tile in the origin client. You DON'T need to re-enter it on thesims3.com. If you enter the code on thesims3.com it will tell you that the code is already in use.
b. You can go ahead and download and redeem your bonus content without re-registering.
Notes:
Q: I bought in origin, but I don't see my game icon on my page, how do i know I'm registered?
A: We made it at the moment so that the game icon shows instantly. But in the odd case that it doesn't show up. Please know that the My page icon is just an image, so don't panic if it takes a bit to show up. There is a couple of things you can try to check if you are truly registered:
-Log out and then Log back in: once the code is consumed in Origin we need to log out and log back in thesims3.com so the site syncs with the EA system.
-Download your registration rewards: The site knows that you are registered, so if you attempt to download and you are truly registered it will let you download the registration reward.
-If you are a new user, you are able to post on the forums, and upload to the exchange. Besides getting your registration rewards. Posting on the forums and uploading content is part of what we call "the rights as a game registered user"
2. Buying games elsewhere, but I register in Origin.
Same as "Buying in Origin" the origin client will consume your code, so you can't re use it for registration. However in doing so, it is giving you your thesims3.com rights as a game registered user.
What does this mean:
a. You DON'T need to re-enter it on thesims3.com. If you enter the code anyway it will tell you that the code is already in use.
b. You can go ahead and download and redeem your bonus content without re-registering.
Notes:
Q: I registered my game in Origin, but I don't see my game icon on my page, how do i know I'm registered?
A: We made it at the moment so that the game icon shows instantly. But in the odd case that it doesn't show up. Please know that the My page icon is just an image, so don't panic if it takes a bit to show up. There is a couple of things you can try to check if you are truly registered:
-Log out and then Log back in: once the code is consumed in Origin we need to log out and log back in thesims3.com so the site syncs with the EA system.
-Download your registration rewards: The site knows that you are registered, so if you attempt to download and you are truly registered it will let you download the registration reward.
-If you are a new user, you are able to post on the forums, and upload to the exchange. Besides getting your registration rewards. Posting on the forums and uploading content is part of what we call "the rights as a game registered user"
3. I bought my game elsewhere or as a physical copy, and I register in thesims3.com
If you choose this path, you will experience the usual registration flow, you will have your icon on my page and can download all the rewards right away.
Notes:
Q: I registered my game in Origin, but I don't see my game icon on my page, how do i know I'm registered?
A:We made it at the moment so that the game icon shows instantly. But in the odd case that it doesn't show up. Please know that the My page icon is just an image, so don't panic if it takes a bit to show up. There is a couple of things you can try to check if you are truly registered:
-Log out and then Log back in: once the code is consumed in Origin we need to log out and log back in thesims3.com so the site syncs with the EA system.
-Download your registration rewards: The site knows that you are registered, so if you attempt to download and you are truly registered it will let you download the registration reward.
-If you are a new user, you are able to post on the forums, and upload to the exchange. Besides getting your registration rewards. Posting on the forums and uploading content is part of what we call "the rights as a game registered user"
You can then proceed to install your game and enjoy it!
About Bonus content or Pre-Order incentives:
These are sets or items that come in the form of 16 digit codes that come in either pamphlets on the game boxes or in the form of emails from Origin or another retailer.
These codes are made to be consumed in thesims3.com NOT Origin. This is very important, because if you do consume it in Origin IT WON'T WORK and you would have lost your code.
Q: I accidentally redeem this 16 digit code in Origin, what do I do?
A: You will have to call Costumer Support to get a new code, they are instructed to help out on these cases, so they should give you a new 16 digit code for your item. Make sure you tell them what game,what edition and what item you were trying to redeem. Also where did you purchase it.
Costumer support information: https://help.ea.com/en/the-sims/the-sims-3
I entered my code in the right website, but it says my code is invalid?
Sometimes this happens on game launches. If you get this message after redeeming your code, go to your purchase history to see if your item appears. If it doesn't try your code again, if it still is not working you should call/email/livechat with CS for a new code.
What sometimes happens is that the code system's cache on the origin side needs to be refreshed which can cause for that message to appear.
How to redeem this 16 digit code:
Each expansion pack gives you a link to redeem this code, this is printed on the pamphlet and should be said also on the email you receive this code in.
However there is also another part of thesims3.com where you can redeem the code if you don't get the url for it: https://store.thesims3.com/myAccount.html it will ask you to log in and then click on "Redeem a code".
After you redeem the code, you can go to your purchase history: https://store.thesims3.com/purchaseHistory.html and you will see the item there.
Note: depending on the size of the purchase history, you will have to probably wait around 10 minutes.
What happens when I didn't get my 16 digit code or it doesn't do anything, even if I redeem in the right place?
You would have to contact Costumer Support to get a new code. Before doing that, if you have not gotten the email with your code, please wait a prudent time before it gets to your inbox, make sure your spam folder doesn't have the email also.
Sometimes emails can get delayed. If a significant amount of time has passed and you still don't get it, contact costumer support.
For even more information, you can visit the following threads, there has been a group of wonderful people that have been helping out to spread the word:
Crinrict with the Limited edition content information: http://sims3.crinrict.com/en/2012/09/how-to-redeem...e-limited-edition-content.html
Crinrict also has a wonderful thread on Answer HQ about code issues that you guys might want to look at if you have been having code issues when you buy games: http://answers.ea.com/t5/The-Sims-3/FAQ-Invalid-and-Used-Serial-Codes-amp-Games-not-showing-up-in/m-p/194028
DawnLBrown with a registration issues thread: http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/655809.page
EAUrsula over at Answer HQ, explains how to register: http://answers.ea.com/t5/The-Sims-3/Information-How-to-Register-The-Sims-3/m-p/387162#U387162
As always, You can ask questions on registration on this thread, I will do my best to answer them.
Thanks and Happy Simming!
Post edited by EA_Cade on
0
Comments
TBH this info has been out there but people simply fail to read and comprehend. :?
DO NOT - PM me tech ?s/issues. ▬ DO create a thread in it's respective Technical Forum. Vacation goes by way too fast!
US Links ► (TS3), Help for all things Sims (Answer HQ).
But this website has logged me out several times each day since last Monday, and no, this site still does not have me as registered nor can I use my codes.
I live less than 200 miles from the shipping point of origination, and it's taking the mail carrier seven days to.... crawl to my house? I am never pre-ordering again, obviously.
I have to admit I only cross-read the post but if it isn't in there you might wanna add that even if they get an invalid code message with the limited edition codes, they should check their purchase history first.
My Origin limited code said it was invalid but the content was in my purchase history anyways.
Please do not send me PMs/post on my wall if you're looking for help. I can't attend to those. You can find me at AnswerHQ.
How to report bugs at AnswersHQ
AHQ Tutorial
I dont understand why I had such a bad experience to get the codes that I had paid for and had been promised.
I just went to click on Crinrict's link and it says page not found. I pre-ordered the limited edition University life. I went to download the EP today and the bonus packs. The University life game installed without a problem. I went in Origin via my desktop icon, I clicked redeem code for the party bundle, and it said code successful but gave me no option to download/install it. I then went to redeem the school spirit bundle and this time it said I needed to go the sims 3 site and redeem it there. Is the school spirit pack only downloadable from the sims 3 site?
I can't see the party bundle or school spirit in my purchase history. When I log in to the origin client via my desktop it shows 2 games, university life and sims 2 store, there is still no option to install the party bundle.When I log in to origin via the website it shows my purchase history which shows university life and within that the party pack and school spirit bundle but still no option to download.
Please help!
http://www.thesims3.com/incentive/ep9origin Spirit Pack
http://www.thesims3.com/incentive/universityliferedeem Uni Limited Edition content
http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/647877.page Crincrit's bug thread.
1-866-543-5435 EA customer service. Don't even bother right now, they're probably still swamped.
Btw, sorry for whining. I realize that not only is it not EA's fault that the mail carrier is crawling backwards from the shipping point of origination, but also I should actually thank EA for the free shipping -- which hey they ARE paying for.
Hard to be thankful though when I'm dying to play it! Sounds like they did an AWESOME job on Uni!! Plus I get the feeling that the post office is trying to punish me for going the el cheapo route... Er, I bet EA contracted with them, so the shipping cost is more like two dollars per package, instead of the standard $6 or $7. And supposedly this was an acceptable arrangement with the mail carriers because hey they proposed the offer in the first place. So they're basically sadists, offering a service and then doing a seriously craptastic job. The mail rep I talked to yesterday suggested it might even take NINE DAYS for a package to traverse less than 200 miles. I shudder to think how long it might take for the people who live even further away.
They're going to mangle the package, I just know it. Everything which can go wrong, has so far.
The codes do not expire the same day it was shipped. I don't know why the pamphlet says it expires the same day, but it will not. Can you give me a screenshot of the pamphlet with the expiration date text?
EDIT: Ah, yes if it is next year then yes the information is correct.
thanks
I don't understand it either, but I will talk to my Cs contact to keep propagating the knowledge that they should generate codes in these cases.
Sometimes when a new agent comes in, doesn't know right away, sorry about that.
That link for the LE content is incorrect, remember if you are putting the links up, you need to put them as they are, they are case sensitive (don't ask me why, they just are
So the way I'm understanding this post is that you redeemed them, but they don't show on your purchase history?
Thanks
Will Add.
Yes for that Origin team refresh the cache for their codes, and it shouldn't happen anymore.
I will mention that also!
Thanks!
You are a total sweetie, especially considering how much I whine.
Hope somebody else posts the correct link for the Limited Edition content, because that was the only link I had. Will search through the forums later if somebody hasn't posted it in the meantime.
No worries,
The urls for University are:
www.thesims3.com/incentive/UniversityLifeRedeem (case sensitive remember)
www.thesims3.com/incentive/ep9origin
What locale are you coming from? the link include locale prefix. For example for France: fr.thesims3.com/incentive/UniversityLifeRedeem
BTW i'm downloading from firefox and using windows 7, its never done this before while i've been using these two!
did you try during our maintenance? that could be a reason, while on maintenance sometimes you see stuff like that. (cause our services are still deploying/updating).
Can you try when you are back again online?
thanks
The second email usually comes within 15 minutes of the other but since I know that it is sometimes late I waited until I came home from work on thursday to get in contact with easupport. It was then to late to call (because I once had to wait three weeks plus to receive an answer to an email I usually call instead) so I sent an email because they promised a return within 24 hours and immediately got a response that someone would contact me soon.
Got home from work friday, no email, no response on the supportpage so I phoned. Since EA unlike other companies in Sweden charge for the phonecalls to support I was quite irritaded while I waited listening to truly awful music until they closed with me still waiting.
According to the page where I found the phonenumber EAsupport should also be open on saturdays so I called again on saturday. This time I got the same message in swedish that the phonecall might be recorded for educational purposes and something longer in spanish wich I think ended in an homepageadress. Tried again and again and got the same result.
Frustrated I again went to the supportpage where I found the information that no, Easupport was only answering phonecalls monday to friday.
EA is a pretty big company. Surely they should be able to keep all webpages updated and put a message on the phones if you call in closed hours in the right language?
Monday, still no email or answer on the support (the answer within 24 hours was obviously a joke since it by that time was four days) so I called again (at my own expense)and waited and waited and finally I got an answer. After some more waiting I also finally got a code. But only one code despite my protests. I was assured I only needed one code and that code would work for both the School Spirit pack and the Limited edition statue.
It didn't. I got the School Spirit pack with no problem but the same code did not work again. I tried several times, logged out and in again and checked my purchase history. No luck.
By then it was late enough I didn't think I would manage to reach support again with a phonecall before they closed so I left a new message on the supportpage. No answer so yesterday I tried a new email. Still no answer today.
I work late today and all day tomorrow so I can't call again until friday but before I do I would really like know this: Does one code really work for two different things? Or was I right in thinking I needed two different codes?
And if you didn't understand it despite the rant I think that EA has a really bad customer support. Get better, please.
SimGuruRusskii, seriously very sorry -- I was way too focused on getting my hands on the package and in too much of a hurry yesterday to be clear enough. So to clarify: I have not attempted to redeem any codes, mostly because none of the emails contain any! :oops: Had been assuming for whatever goofy reason that I could use the Order # on the email as a code; plus all the instructions I've seen have said that people should not attempt redeeming at the EA site until the game is installed. Just checked again, and the Origin launcher thing still does not have me autoregistered successfully yet.
So no package and no codes. :P Suppose I'll wait till Friday and then call customer service, hopefully they won't be as busy. My only real concern has been that someone will try to tell me that I can't have the bonus items!
I'm in the US, if that still matters, and now the links appear to be working again. ? (I had just copied and pasted from my address bar the first time.)
Thanks very much for your help, it's really a relief to know that you're reading the forums and concerned, and wanting everyone to get their game!!
[edit]not sure why this chatbox is trying to bold everything, never selected that...
Oh...I see.
No worries, I understand now, you should have gotten your emails. Do you have a order number I can give Origin?
Thanks
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