Patch "Install" status as of Dec 2017 & store patch download removed.

TOLKIEN

Having had issues where my Sims 3 launcher wasn't properly downloading patches as of December 2017, I recently re-installed my OS on a formatted drive and re-installed the Sims 3 from disc. This is what I have discovered and confirmed with EA support.

As of December 2017 a disc based Sims 3 install now requires you to either super patch the game (to patch it) or install origin to install updates indirectly via launcher. Third option is to patch Sims 3 directly via origin to a disc-less patch update. Not installing origin will now return an unable to connect to download application in the launcher (which it never did before). This apparently has to do with how the Sims 3 launcher verifies with EA servers and recent updates made to that coding on EA servers. IF it does not find Origin installed it will not download patch 1.67 (before it did).

More so as of December 2017 the Sims 3 launcher will no longer install or download store patches regardless if you've installed Origin or not. The launcher will simply say the game is up to date. I believe this also relates to how server coding verification was updated and they failed to add/duplicate lines to check for store patches.

The good news if you have the "ContentPatch" directory with the ContentPatch.package backed up from the Sims 3 documents folder, you can simply place it back and it will work. If you do not, then according to EA you must either download it via a third party OR install the newer disc-less "Origin" Sims 3 patch (which is obviously what the recommend).

To note the Sims 3 store patches do fix a bunch of content (including missing content in game like hair) so if you have a lot of store content it is worth backing up your store patch contentpatch.package.

Finally this is for a disc based install of the Sims 3, for Steam based install it doesn't require origin installed (to patch) so if you want to install the game without Origin then steam would be your next option outside of super patching, installing origin. Regardless you still need to have the store contentpatch backed up otherwise as it will no longer download.

My advise is to backup your contentpatch folder found in the Sims 3 documents folder if you use a disc base install of the Sims 3 in the future.

If you do not want Origin installed but want to update Sims 3, download the super patch or update the game via the launcher with Origin installed and then uninstall Origin. Make sure to uncheck "automatic updates" after this time, otherwise you will receive "unable to connect to download manager" everytime you use the launcher. This will not effect downloading store content itself or items from the exchange.

Long story short - regardless backup your contentpatch folder for safe keeping if you have store content installed. The contentpatch.package itself found inside this folder should be just under 8MB to confirm.

Odonata68

@TOLKIEN thanks for this info.

Odonata68

Oops! Double post.

ZeeGee

@TOLKIEN May I copy/paste your post HERE? Or would you prefer adding to this thread yourself?

@igazor Can this be considered official confirmation that the patches can be made available for download? Or do we still need to wait for an EA person to verify?

igazor

I will happily provide a means to install the Store Patches to anyone who requires them and is stuck without a formerly used copy from a prior install or formerly used game folder if they contact me here or at NRaas by way of PM.

NRaas will not be making them available as a downloadable link on a website facing the public until such time as EA explicitly says it is okay to do that. Although why EA can't do that as well as a courtesy to players who need them and so that they come from an official source as they do with CAW and the SuperPatcher is beyond me. I see that my request for such a statement on the other thread has thus far gone unanswered.

ZeeGee

igazor wrote: »

I will happily provide a means to install the Store Patches to anyone who requires them and is stuck without a formerly used copy of them from a prior install or formerly used game folder if they contact me here or at NRaas by way of PM.

NRaas will not be making them available as a downloadable link on a website facing the public until such time as EA explicitly says it is okay to do that. Although why EA can't do that as well as a courtesy to players who need them and so that they come from an official source as they do with CAW and the SuperPatcher is beyond me. I see that my request for such a statement on the other thread has thus far gone unanswered.

I do understand why NRaas can't officially provide them. I also don't understand why a person from EA won't officially tell us what's going on. But I'm not official, so for anyone who needs those patches, download HERE.

Bettyboop55

@TOLKIEN Thanks so much for this. I am contemplating a fresh disc install and this information will save me a lot of pain and grief.

marstinson

Since I'm not as formally or informally constrained as NRaas, there is a blog post with a relevant link here:

http://www.tesguides.com/blog/2018/02/23/contentpatch-for-the-sims-3/

If EA would like to send me a take-down, I'll be happy to comply, but in light of their current nonresponsiveness on the issue, it seems simpler to ask for forgiveness than permission.

IreneSwift

Do we need the store patch reinstalled every time we buy new store content? There are items I would still like to buy eventually, but there is no way I'm going to have my game tied to Origin and have it run in the background when I play.

igazor

IreneSwift wrote: »

Do we need the store patch reinstalled every time we buy new store content? There are items I would still like to buy eventually, but there is no way I'm going to have my game tied to Origin and have it run in the background when I play.

No, the patches are the same for everyone and they hadn't been updated since Feb 2013. The file just needs to be present in the ContentPatch folder, it appears to be read during startup on Patches 1.67 and below.

ScottDemon

igazor wrote: »

I will happily provide a means to install the Store Patches to anyone who requires them and is stuck without a formerly used copy from a prior install or formerly used game folder if they contact me here or at NRaas by way of PM.

NRaas will not be making them available as a downloadable link on a website facing the public until such time as EA explicitly says it is okay to do that. Although why EA can't do that as well as a courtesy to players who need them and so that they come from an official source as they do with CAW and the SuperPatcher is beyond me. I see that my request for such a statement on the other thread has thus far gone unanswered.

They may not have gotten a notification I believe they were working on the forums at the time you tried to get their attention have you tried by PM?
I know I wasn't getting any notices that whole weekend.

igazor

ScottDemon wrote: »

igazor wrote: »

I will happily provide a means to install the Store Patches to anyone who requires them and is stuck without a formerly used copy from a prior install or formerly used game folder if they contact me here or at NRaas by way of PM.

NRaas will not be making them available as a downloadable link on a website facing the public until such time as EA explicitly says it is okay to do that. Although why EA can't do that as well as a courtesy to players who need them and so that they come from an official source as they do with CAW and the SuperPatcher is beyond me. I see that my request for such a statement on the other thread has thus far gone unanswered.

They may not have gotten a notification I believe they were working on the forums at the time you tried to get their attention have you tried by PM?
I know I wasn't getting any notices that whole weekend.

How do you remember the state of the forum two weekends ago? I don't even remember what I had for breakfast this morning.

(looks down at plate) Oh, that's because I forgot to finish eating it. This is going to be one of those days...

I believe that @EA_Mage can hear her name whispered on any part of the forum without even needing to be paged, but let's try this again. The relevant post being this one:
http://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/comment/16314860/#Comment_16314860

ScottDemon

igazor wrote: »

ScottDemon wrote: »

igazor wrote: »

I will happily provide a means to install the Store Patches to anyone who requires them and is stuck without a formerly used copy from a prior install or formerly used game folder if they contact me here or at NRaas by way of PM.

NRaas will not be making them available as a downloadable link on a website facing the public until such time as EA explicitly says it is okay to do that. Although why EA can't do that as well as a courtesy to players who need them and so that they come from an official source as they do with CAW and the SuperPatcher is beyond me. I see that my request for such a statement on the other thread has thus far gone unanswered.

They may not have gotten a notification I believe they were working on the forums at the time you tried to get their attention have you tried by PM?
I know I wasn't getting any notices that whole weekend.

How do you remember the state of the forum two weekends ago? I don't even remember what I had for breakfast this morning.

(looks down at plate) Oh, that's because I forgot to finish eating it. This is going to be one of those days...

I believe that @EA_Mage can hear her name whispered on any part of the forum without even needing to be paged, but let's try this again. The relevant post being this one:
http://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/comment/16314860/#Comment_16314860

Oh um well I made the mistake of running for the Elders Council of my tribe other than tribal business (which there isn't much of) I have alot of time on my hands and tend to remember way to much these days (some of which I wish I could forget).

Me1620

Preserving this thread for the new forum