I'm afraid that a few years down the road, EA will shut down the Sims 3 store completely. You know how companies are all about "moving forward" and such. If I ever had to replace my computer I'd lose all my DLC forever
My only comfort to fight this paranoia is the fact that the store is actually built into the game itself.
Comments
http://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/comment/14408060/#Comment_14408060
My top 5
http://store.thesims3.com/myWishlist.html?persona=lisasc360
My stories on this site:
https://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/991317/my-sims-stories/p1?new=1
I mean, the online store for The Wii is still functional despite the system being quite old and will be two gens old once the "Nintendo Switch" is released next year, even moreso when the Wii lost it's online functionality, Nintendo made an exception for the shop and kept it running regardless. So... there's still hope that EA will just leave the Sims 3 store running as well?
As others have suggested, it might just be a temporary thing that they have no time to work on it because of other things at the moment.
- Collections (if you have made any or downloaded any collections - otherwise this folder will be empty)
- DCCache (THIS IS YOUR STORE STUFF! Make a back-up copy!)
- Installed Worlds (this folder holds all Store and CC world files)
- Library (this isn't a requirement, it just holds copies of all the families, residential and community lots that you have in your catalog when you start a new game or go into Edit Town)
- Mods (you MUST back this file up if you have any Custom Content! If You do not use CC, then this folder won't even exist)
- Saves (I back this folder up regularly - like every month - so that if something happens to my game I won't actually lose the game I am playing)
Most other versions of Windows will have a similar location for your game files.
The truth is that eventually The Sims 3 site will be shut down - just as The Sims 1 and The Sims 2 sites were eventually shut down. The Sims 3 Store will disappear forever. So make a back-up of your important files and save them on a CD or (better) a DVD disk. Then you will always have everything you need to enjoy your TS3 game.
And even if The Store doesn't close down any time soon, it is an incredible pain to re-download everything from The Store if you move to a new computer or if something bad happens to your game/ hard-drive/ computer that requires you to do a complete re-install. (Believe me, I know, because this has happened to me at least four times!) But with a back-up of your DCcache Folder you won't *HAVE* to re-download everything from the store - you can just copy and paste it back into you new/ fixed game/ system.
Yes, this is my paranoia too. Store site isn't functioning well for me in last days: sometimes login problems, sometimes uncomplete "Items included" listing on Store pages (where should be more than 20 items, I see 2 items only) and now as a cherry on the cake - it wanted 3 attempts until that site decided to give me screen, that certain person will receive gift via e-mail (till today 504 error). Store is turned to offer me too all those versions of elder hair, what I've purchased in past individually and I've had "Reccomended for you" tab empty (disappeared) for years. I haven't had all those issues before.
I wanted to gift gold world, but it token simpoints only for standard version (just sended that person screenshots of my attempts).
Yes, store content is enchanted in game, I just wish that @MrHawk turns to us, because he probably knows more about it. Here finishes his topic about: http://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/comment/13791754/#Comment_13791754 . (Oh, God, how I'm missing him in TS3 section, he was really a lifesaver and I've learned from him so much! )
Sorry for editing my comments frequently, in most cases I'm doing this due language issues (english isn't my native language, but I'm using english, because most used by people, with who I want to communicate).
Also what are the chances, that EA will update Origin to be able download the Sims 3 DLC onto that instead? I can actually see that happening. Sure, EA seems to have left that store for dead, but when the time rolls around to axe it, I can't imagine they won't think of this.