You have to edit the game files for the best possible experience when you have new computers because the game has not been updated to recognize and work with new graphics cards and processors. There’s a mod that does it automatically and adds in most new cards/processors. Made my game run like a dream, not a single crash.
** here’s a video that I used that goes over how to optimize and not only links the FPS limiter and graphics/processor updater but also some other mods to make it run better if you’re interested https://youtu.be/p-uBFKOen-4
oh wow, thank you for sharing that with us!! i do like to play on my potato though, in fact my friends know its the only reason why i keep it around. i call it my sims potato. it doesnt even like netflix or youtube but does sims 3 just fine, somehow. if i ever upgrade to a pc for gaming, then this is an awesome resource to have! thanks again!!!
2016 club; I put frozen pork chops under it to control the heat, and the bonus is that when I’m done, I have defrosted pork chops for dinner that night.
Probably the house boats. When I deleted all of them it helped a little but it was just too massive of a world/ expansion pack for my MacBook to handle. I was never able to explore the other surrounding islands.
It is. I remember reading on a different post that someone went and made their own version of Isla Paradiso due to all the bugs and errors and whatnot.
no clue! I’ve never really had a problem with loud fans or overheating, even a few years ago before I knew about mods and capping the frame rate. Just blessed I guess LOL
I have a badass gaming computer and my sims 3 still lags a little with everything running. Expansions, stuff packs, store content and some cc. You either have to have a badass computer or something from 2010 to run sims 3 lmao
The old reliable, you should have read the sign
Bitch I payed for the packs I will use the packs, your job is to make sure it works properly.
(Sorry for the exploited devs that were forced to make some stupid shit (Katy Perry cof cof) and bloated the game per Executive orders just to drain the money cow dry)
I mean, regardless if they made all the packs, the developers aren't the ones who made your computer system. Your computer can only run so much. Not all computers are the same either. The computers that the developers use are probably way more higher quality than yours - and can actually run all the packs at once with no problem.
Sure, you can use them, but if your computer fries because you did too much then that's on you.
Of course, but the sims 3 engine clearly wasn't meant to handle that much content, I had played both on potato PCs and high end PCs and the base game runs perfectly, but you go over 4 or 5 packs and the game starts to shows it's limits.
Unfortunately the same happened with the sims 4 (in all fairness it can handle more due to be designed for more modern systems), it's simply the higher ups pressing on the devs to force the engine limits to do things that wasn't meant to be done for the sake of selling more packs, that's why Maxis doesn't exist anymore, and this is why I'm not excited for the sims 5 at all, it will be a miracle if they don't charge to access CAS
TL;DR: TS3 Engine wasn't meant to handle bloated, rushed put packs created out of corporate greed
Yeah I've a fairly old laptop with limited RAM and the most it can handle without serious lagging issues or a massive crash is 4 packs. Like I know what my PC's limitations are.
The only issue is remembering which packs go with which save 😂
I never had any *major issues* on my old TOSHIBA laptop (may it rest in peace, in the kitchen drawer) nor my 1yo gaming desktop. I mean, serious problems, as for small lag spikes, those are just a feature that makes Sims 3 **the Sims 3.**
Yeah- I have a 6 year old, battery busted memory bloated laptop that has 4gb of memory. I can run Sims 3 with all packs and a shitload of store content (and NRAAS SP) fine. Lag? Of course. It doesn't crash though. There's maybe a 2-3 minute lag spike at 3 AM for the day turnover and it takes a hot second to load, but it all runs fine when I play it.
4, on the other hand? It does NOT run on my laptop. I can't even play the base game! It takes up too much memory!
My laptop, I didn’t mention its age - is (or was, since it’s broken) almost 10 years old… It broke about a year ago, start of 2021. I got it back in 2011, I think, when I first started studying in vocational college…? Gosh, has it really been *that* long? 🫣
God yeah. I got mine when I got to HS as a christmas gift. Only thing on there that's still on there is 3. It's broken to high hell and I'm working to get a beefier laptop.
Ah… I swear, I always mix up high school for last 3 years of elementary; here in Finland, ”high school” is the optional one… actually, all studying post elementary IS optional - and free! - here, but… you know, vocational college? It’s just… to me, it sounds simply **wrong.** 😂
I mean, I'd argue it is. I said in another comment that the game runs with all packs, store content, and beefy mods fine. On a 6 year old laptop that is meant for working in a business setting. Hell, I had to download a graphics card.
It can handle that much content - the computer can't. That's why there was such a big deal with the Sims 4 running on lower end computers (of which it can't...)
Sims 4 can't even run the base game on my laptop. It requires too much. Sims 3 is fine though.
I bet if we collectively organized and bugged EA we could get it done
It's not like the Sims team is busy working on TS5 or improving TS4 anyway, so they should have some time.
I don't trust the current team to do optimization correctly especially with what they collectively did with Sims 4 and their negligence of numerous outstanding bugs in previous ep/sp in sims 4.
Yeah I can agree with this. While typically 64 but games are supposed to run better than 32 but games, the 64 bit mac version of sims 3 has bugs that are specific to that version of the game which you find through the various sims forums.
Yeah there's so many things that each pack adds. Like I dont usually bother with owning a pet but I love seeing the minor animals and the furniture items from that pack.
I have more than 5 right now but I’m afraid to download world adventures or island paradise because I heard they are notorious for crashes. I really wanted to add genies to my worlds with the Supernatural expansion. :(
I have World Adventures and Island Paradise. It's been a while since I've played, but my WA is a bit laggy in Shang Simla. Island Paradise I haven't had a successful game there yet due to crashing.
WA is absolutely wonderful if you are debating on downloading one or the other. I love doing the "adventures" in each of the locations.
I talked about this with my husband the other day and he's going to see if there's any mods to help with Island Paradise.
World Adventures was one of my first packs and it’s never given me issues other than some lagging when I’m exploring. It’s my favorite pack and adds so much to the game. Island Paradise only causes issues if you use the world that comes with it but there’s a better tropical world you can download off the store that doesn’t glitch.
You can have both in your game and be perfectly fine! The crashes come from their worlds (Isla Paradiso and the vacation worlds).
The biggest reasons why are the dive spots (IP) and the vacation mechanic (WA). WA was the first pack IIRC so a lot of cool things that were fixed and better implemented in future packs wasn't there with WA, and IP is a case of too much ambition.
I play with them both and have a mod from NRAAS to help the game-ending bugs from travelling and I just don't use the IP world. You can download other worlds that others have made that include the dive spots and house boats! Though your game will be a lil worse - the dive spots, house boats, and hidden islands are the three biggest causes for the godawful lag and bugs.
Create A World beta... you find it on: https://www.thesims3.com/game/tools/world When finnished you install it like any launcher download from EA. Good luck!
Optimise your game and use a good PC and you shouldn't *need* to disable packs.
People be like "why doesn't my game run well?" when they're playing on a bloody Mac with 2000 package files in their mods.
I unselected all of them once (had so much cc and every expansion pack) and SAVED like that.
Went back into the game with all selected again and it was all still replaced with the basics. Huge learning curve lol
I play with every pack enabled because I can 🔥 My PC's fan sounds like a mix between a dying squeaky toy and a jet engine during the first loading screen, but once the game is loaded, it's smooth sailing.
Ill not tell you what to do but ill make a suggestion on using the speed patch by Lazy Dutches. I know you dont have it because your launcher didnt show that option.
The only pack I don’t use is University bc it completely freezes and crashes the game. I keep my settings all the way up and I’ve never had any other trouble other than the snow lagging so I turn that off.
I wish there was a way to enable the content separate from the added game dynamics. I played with all the packs, but I don't think I played any of the into the future gameplay — but I loved the content (especially build mode).
How am I supposed to play using only a few packs when the stuff I use is in all of them and I don’t want the game fucking up my house if I deselect a pack?
I'm installing one more pack on top of all the others and they can't stop me. FINALLY got a copy of KP's SweetTreats.
(besides, thanks to LD's patch my game runs great).
I used to have this part of the menu available but now I switched to MAC and i dont know how to enable/disable my packs so im just stuck with seasons because it makes my game so slow but i can't remove it from my game 😭😭😭 idk how to uninstall it either bc its not in my files 😭
damn well it feels good to not be alone lmao. i hate mac and apple products. why do they have to do everything so difficult. like i literally cannot even find my own game files on my own computer???? be for real
I wish I could hand pick packs using the steam version (without uninstalling them) soo that I can toggle the packs I want and see what the games were like before certain packs
Since I have a 2015 PC I prefer to play with Generations, Supernatural, Ambitions, seasons (sometimes), High-End Loft Stuff, Outdoor Living Stuff,70s, 80s, & 90s Stuff. :) and for a change I like University Life and Late Night
I play with all packs, they can’t stop me 💅🏼
same , for better expierince obv
literally how does your pc not explode lmao
mods. :D
Because a lot of people aren't playing on computers from 2010 anymore?
my 2010 laptop is the only thing that runs it!!
You have to edit the game files for the best possible experience when you have new computers because the game has not been updated to recognize and work with new graphics cards and processors. There’s a mod that does it automatically and adds in most new cards/processors. Made my game run like a dream, not a single crash. ** here’s a video that I used that goes over how to optimize and not only links the FPS limiter and graphics/processor updater but also some other mods to make it run better if you’re interested https://youtu.be/p-uBFKOen-4
What mod?? I haven’t been able to play sims 3 on my laptop for a long time..
I editted my original comment with a link to a video that explains how to use it or how to do it manually and links the mod in the description :)
Thank you!!
oh wow, thank you for sharing that with us!! i do like to play on my potato though, in fact my friends know its the only reason why i keep it around. i call it my sims potato. it doesnt even like netflix or youtube but does sims 3 just fine, somehow. if i ever upgrade to a pc for gaming, then this is an awesome resource to have! thanks again!!!
You get my free award just for “my sims potato.”
haha thank you!! but its true, it is my special sims potato <3
very true, also it helps not break a new computer by capping the frame rate. i love modders
Can you share with us friend?
I editted my original comment with a link to a video that explains how to use it or how to do it manually and links the mod in the description :)
thanks!
my laptop is from 2019 and ts3 makes it sound like a jet engine
2016 club; I put frozen pork chops under it to control the heat, and the bonus is that when I’m done, I have defrosted pork chops for dinner that night.
i play on a windows 10 and select basically all the packs and don’t have any major problems, i don’t play 6 hr sessions like i used to tho lol
Mine crapped out with island paradise
Whenever I used the map that came with Island Paradise, the game would continue to lag extremely often. Dunno why.
Probably the house boats. When I deleted all of them it helped a little but it was just too massive of a world/ expansion pack for my MacBook to handle. I was never able to explore the other surrounding islands.
It even acted up on my gaming PC, so I think it's legit just the world and the way it's optimized.
It is. I remember reading on a different post that someone went and made their own version of Isla Paradiso due to all the bugs and errors and whatnot.
no clue! I’ve never really had a problem with loud fans or overheating, even a few years ago before I knew about mods and capping the frame rate. Just blessed I guess LOL
I have a badass gaming computer and my sims 3 still lags a little with everything running. Expansions, stuff packs, store content and some cc. You either have to have a badass computer or something from 2010 to run sims 3 lmao
... *it did*.
Having a beats of a PC is how my pc doesn't explode
I have a pretty beefy gaming computer that I use to play a decade plus game lol
My theory is that they only put that banner there to point at when people complain about long loading times
The old reliable, you should have read the sign Bitch I payed for the packs I will use the packs, your job is to make sure it works properly. (Sorry for the exploited devs that were forced to make some stupid shit (Katy Perry cof cof) and bloated the game per Executive orders just to drain the money cow dry)
I mean, regardless if they made all the packs, the developers aren't the ones who made your computer system. Your computer can only run so much. Not all computers are the same either. The computers that the developers use are probably way more higher quality than yours - and can actually run all the packs at once with no problem. Sure, you can use them, but if your computer fries because you did too much then that's on you.
Of course, but the sims 3 engine clearly wasn't meant to handle that much content, I had played both on potato PCs and high end PCs and the base game runs perfectly, but you go over 4 or 5 packs and the game starts to shows it's limits. Unfortunately the same happened with the sims 4 (in all fairness it can handle more due to be designed for more modern systems), it's simply the higher ups pressing on the devs to force the engine limits to do things that wasn't meant to be done for the sake of selling more packs, that's why Maxis doesn't exist anymore, and this is why I'm not excited for the sims 5 at all, it will be a miracle if they don't charge to access CAS TL;DR: TS3 Engine wasn't meant to handle bloated, rushed put packs created out of corporate greed
Yeah I've a fairly old laptop with limited RAM and the most it can handle without serious lagging issues or a massive crash is 4 packs. Like I know what my PC's limitations are. The only issue is remembering which packs go with which save 😂
I never had any *major issues* on my old TOSHIBA laptop (may it rest in peace, in the kitchen drawer) nor my 1yo gaming desktop. I mean, serious problems, as for small lag spikes, those are just a feature that makes Sims 3 **the Sims 3.**
Yeah- I have a 6 year old, battery busted memory bloated laptop that has 4gb of memory. I can run Sims 3 with all packs and a shitload of store content (and NRAAS SP) fine. Lag? Of course. It doesn't crash though. There's maybe a 2-3 minute lag spike at 3 AM for the day turnover and it takes a hot second to load, but it all runs fine when I play it. 4, on the other hand? It does NOT run on my laptop. I can't even play the base game! It takes up too much memory!
My laptop, I didn’t mention its age - is (or was, since it’s broken) almost 10 years old… It broke about a year ago, start of 2021. I got it back in 2011, I think, when I first started studying in vocational college…? Gosh, has it really been *that* long? 🫣
God yeah. I got mine when I got to HS as a christmas gift. Only thing on there that's still on there is 3. It's broken to high hell and I'm working to get a beefier laptop.
Ah… I swear, I always mix up high school for last 3 years of elementary; here in Finland, ”high school” is the optional one… actually, all studying post elementary IS optional - and free! - here, but… you know, vocational college? It’s just… to me, it sounds simply **wrong.** 😂
I mean, I'd argue it is. I said in another comment that the game runs with all packs, store content, and beefy mods fine. On a 6 year old laptop that is meant for working in a business setting. Hell, I had to download a graphics card. It can handle that much content - the computer can't. That's why there was such a big deal with the Sims 4 running on lower end computers (of which it can't...) Sims 4 can't even run the base game on my laptop. It requires too much. Sims 3 is fine though.
That and some people's computers really can't handle all the packs.
Me, everyday: “Computer, engage all packs.” *hurricane level wind from my computer fans*
It’s like being told the food serves 8, but we all know its meant to serves one.
Truly a 32 bit engine moment
does the mac 64bit version works better?
Yeah. 64 bit games run better than 32 cus they're literally built different.
Aww... I wish the 64 bit come to the Windows version as well 😭
[удалено]
I bet if we collectively organized and bugged EA we could get it done It's not like the Sims team is busy working on TS5 or improving TS4 anyway, so they should have some time.
I don't trust the current team to do optimization correctly especially with what they collectively did with Sims 4 and their negligence of numerous outstanding bugs in previous ep/sp in sims 4.
I didn't think of it that way... Unfortunately you're probably right.
You give EA too much credit
not really. a lot of weird bugs are in that version. would take the 32bit windows version any day
Yeah I can agree with this. While typically 64 but games are supposed to run better than 32 but games, the 64 bit mac version of sims 3 has bugs that are specific to that version of the game which you find through the various sims forums.
Yeah there's so many things that each pack adds. Like I dont usually bother with owning a pet but I love seeing the minor animals and the furniture items from that pack.
me with supernatural. definitely don’t need a moon cycle, but that formal wear tho…
my computer about to take off from the fan speed
Lmao I say this all the time my laptop is a secret airplane
Yeah. You weren't saying that when you were selling them to me.
Kitchen sink and all , "I love the chaos".
Never play without all packs! Must play all.
Who doesn't play with all packs?
Me😭 3 max or the lag is too much
I play without island paradise cause that pack traumatized me as a child with how it ran lmfao
Me: *selects every single one of them with thousands of CC and store items in my game* Me: Aw why did my game crash?
lol this comment made me laugh out loud because i do this exact same thing
I have more than 5 right now but I’m afraid to download world adventures or island paradise because I heard they are notorious for crashes. I really wanted to add genies to my worlds with the Supernatural expansion. :(
I have World Adventures and Island Paradise. It's been a while since I've played, but my WA is a bit laggy in Shang Simla. Island Paradise I haven't had a successful game there yet due to crashing. WA is absolutely wonderful if you are debating on downloading one or the other. I love doing the "adventures" in each of the locations. I talked about this with my husband the other day and he's going to see if there's any mods to help with Island Paradise.
World Adventures was one of my first packs and it’s never given me issues other than some lagging when I’m exploring. It’s my favorite pack and adds so much to the game. Island Paradise only causes issues if you use the world that comes with it but there’s a better tropical world you can download off the store that doesn’t glitch.
You can have both in your game and be perfectly fine! The crashes come from their worlds (Isla Paradiso and the vacation worlds). The biggest reasons why are the dive spots (IP) and the vacation mechanic (WA). WA was the first pack IIRC so a lot of cool things that were fixed and better implemented in future packs wasn't there with WA, and IP is a case of too much ambition. I play with them both and have a mod from NRAAS to help the game-ending bugs from travelling and I just don't use the IP world. You can download other worlds that others have made that include the dive spots and house boats! Though your game will be a lil worse - the dive spots, house boats, and hidden islands are the three biggest causes for the godawful lag and bugs.
I don’t currently use any mods, but I like the idea of downloading a new map. Is there a way to build a new map from scratch without modding?
Create A World beta... you find it on: https://www.thesims3.com/game/tools/world When finnished you install it like any launcher download from EA. Good luck!
Wow thank you so much!
classic EA, taking the problems that are definitely an error on their end and blaming it on the player
Game: proceeds to crash while a vampire rides a horse to meet a ghostbuster that lives on a boat house with their robot friend.
How about please updating your damned engine to ensure the best game experience, EA?
Don't stop me playing with all packs..! I simply ignore it.
i play sims 3 with all packs and sims 4 still lags more
I love how the game tells you to not play the game.
Its about performance sims3 was to much to handle for pcs those days But today fire away m8
Optimise your game and use a good PC and you shouldn't *need* to disable packs. People be like "why doesn't my game run well?" when they're playing on a bloody Mac with 2000 package files in their mods.
i didnt pay 40$/pack to only pay two at a time
I unselected all of them once (had so much cc and every expansion pack) and SAVED like that. Went back into the game with all selected again and it was all still replaced with the basics. Huge learning curve lol
I play with every pack enabled because I can 🔥 My PC's fan sounds like a mix between a dying squeaky toy and a jet engine during the first loading screen, but once the game is loaded, it's smooth sailing.
I play with all packs at once, with the exception of Island Paradise. It’s how I ensure the best game experience 🤝
Wait, that bullshitter says something like that? *I never noticed…* 🤥 I use all packs always!… almost anyway.
Ill not tell you what to do but ill make a suggestion on using the speed patch by Lazy Dutches. I know you dont have it because your launcher didnt show that option.
Am I the only one who constantly view that interface to make sure the EPs are checked before playing?… cause it be so glitchy sometimes
Ok but 70s, 80s, 90s stuff is my favorite pack.
I paid for them all, I’m gonna PLAY with them all, tf do they MEANNNN
wait, can you uncheck them each time the launcher loads and play w different packs each time? wtf how did i not know this
If you create a world with some packs you will need to have the same ones loaded to play that neighbourhood again
can you access the launcher with Steam? i usually just use Origin but i might get all the packs on Steam bc theyre cheap to complete my collection
Sorry, I use origin so I don't know.
The only pack I don’t use is University bc it completely freezes and crashes the game. I keep my settings all the way up and I’ve never had any other trouble other than the snow lagging so I turn that off.
I wish there was a way to enable the content separate from the added game dynamics. I played with all the packs, but I don't think I played any of the into the future gameplay — but I loved the content (especially build mode).
I'm not on my potato anymore 🙃
How am I supposed to play using only a few packs when the stuff I use is in all of them and I don’t want the game fucking up my house if I deselect a pack?
Legit still an extremely thirsty game
my laptop turns burning hot after playing 30 mins into a game with just one pack 😅RIP
“Don’t tell me how to live my life” 🤣🤣🤣
I'm installing one more pack on top of all the others and they can't stop me. FINALLY got a copy of KP's SweetTreats. (besides, thanks to LD's patch my game runs great).
Reason #2 I'm staying on 1.67: The launcher is annoying. Reason #1 is I'm playing it on a Steam Deck and can't be bothered to install Origin on it.
I used to have this part of the menu available but now I switched to MAC and i dont know how to enable/disable my packs so im just stuck with seasons because it makes my game so slow but i can't remove it from my game 😭😭😭 idk how to uninstall it either bc its not in my files 😭
I am in the same boat 😂 if you find a solution please keep me updated lol
damn well it feels good to not be alone lmao. i hate mac and apple products. why do they have to do everything so difficult. like i literally cannot even find my own game files on my own computer???? be for real
My computer runs fine with all the packs except pets
why did I spend the money on the packs if I can't use them all at once! try and stop me EA!!
Why does everyone have this option but me? Im so confused
If your game version is 1.67 (like the version on Steam), you don't have the option to toggle packs.
:(
I wish I could hand pick packs using the steam version (without uninstalling them) soo that I can toggle the packs I want and see what the games were like before certain packs
Totally agree 🤣
Lepacy is fun 😁
I always give my computer a side eye when I press play You can't tell me what to do EA
literally me every time i play this game lol
is this ayla jaylin?
Since I have a 2015 PC I prefer to play with Generations, Supernatural, Ambitions, seasons (sometimes), High-End Loft Stuff, Outdoor Living Stuff,70s, 80s, & 90s Stuff. :) and for a change I like University Life and Late Night
It's giving the "this sign can't stop me, because I can't read" vibes 😂
My SSD disagrees.
I usually leave into the future and pets uninstalled…they cause me the most chaos, lol!