The Sims
From PCGamingWiki, the wiki about fixing PC games
Template:Infobox game/row/macporterTemplate:Infobox game/row/osxporterTemplate:Infobox game/row/linporter
Developers | |
---|---|
Maxis | |
Publishers | |
Electronic Arts | |
Mac OS | Aspyr Media |
macOS (OS X) | Aspyr Media |
Linux | TransGaming Inc. |
Engines | |
The Sims Engine | |
Release dates | |
Windows | February 4, 2000 |
Mac OS (Classic) | July 25, 2000 |
macOS (OS X) | August 15, 2001 |
Linux | March 12, 2003 |
Warnings
- SafeDisc retail DRM does not work on Windows Vista and later (see Availability for affected versions).
- The Mac OS X version of this game does not work on Mac OS X Lion (version 10.7) or later due to the removal of support for PowerPC apps.
The Sims | |
---|---|
Subseries of Sim | |
The Sims | 2000 |
The Sims Online | 2002 |
The Sims 2 | 2004 |
The Sims Stories (series) | |
MySims | 2008 |
The Sims 3 | 2009 |
The Sims Medieval | 2011 |
The Sims 4 | 2014 |
Key points
- Limited video settings.
- Playing the game with a CD/DVD is not possible on Windows 10
General information
- Official Website (archived)
- The Sims Official Forums
- Answer HQ for The Sims series at EA.com
- The Sims Wiki
Availability
Source | DRM | Notes | Keys | OS |
---|---|---|---|---|
Retail | Disc check requires latest expansion installed. |
- The Sims: Complete Collection includes the base game and all 7 expansions
Version differences
- List of all different versions and regions can be found on Wikipedia.
DLC and expansion packs
- This is also the preferred installation order, installing expansions in other order may introduce problems or simply can't be installed. If installed in wrong order it's recommended to backup save data, completely uninstall the game and install again in correct order.
Name | Notes | |
---|---|---|
Livin' Large | Released as "Livin' It Up" in Europe. | |
House Party | ||
Hot Date | Requires Livin' Large to install. | |
Vacation | Released as "On Holiday" in the Republic of Ireland and the UK, although installer still refers to it as Vacation. |
|
Unleashed | ||
Superstar | ||
Makin' Magic |
Essential improvements
Patches
- The Sims Deluxe Edition (patch notes
- Livin' Large (mirror)
- Hot Date (patch notes)
- Unleashed (patch notes)
- Patch 1.1
Official mods
- These tools were created by Maxis and were formerly hosted on the games official website.
Unofficial mods
Mousewheel Support Script
- By default the game does not allow for zooming in and out using the mousewheel. Use the following to add in mousewheel support.
Add mousewheel support using AHK[citation needed] |
---|
wheelup:: sendinput,{+} return wheeldown:: sendinput,- return F10:: Exitapp return
|
Game data
Configuration file(s) location
System | Location |
---|---|
Windows | |
Mac OS (Classic) |
- Configuration files are encrypted.
Save game data location
System | Location |
---|---|
Windows | <path-to-game>\UserData\[Note 1] <path-to-game>\UserData*\[Note 1] |
Mac OS (Classic) |
- Game saves are in form of neighborhoods instead of a single household. Save folders are numbered (the first neighborhood is numberless).
- Initial setting up of new neighborhood and household may take several minutes even with higher end machines and it takes longer more expansion packs are installed.
Video settings
Widescreen resolution
- A pre-patched executable is available for 1920x1080; for other resolutions see the WSGF entry.
- Unable to zoom in as close as the default resolution.
- Some HUD elements become difficult to read due to rendering errors, such as the employment screen.
- Can see more at once.
Add 1920x1080 Support[citation needed] |
---|
|
Input settings
Audio settings
Localizations
- Game has to be installed with desired language option.
Language | UI | Audio | Sub | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
English | ||||
Simplified Chinese | ||||
Traditional Chinese | ||||
Danish | ||||
Dutch | ||||
Finnish | Starting from Vacation expansion pack. Installing that or later expansions changes language. |
|||
Polish | ||||
Swedish | ||||
French | ||||
Dutch | ||||
German | ||||
Hebrew | ||||
Japanese | ||||
Spanish | ||||
Italian | ||||
Korean | ||||
Brazilian Portuguese | ||||
Portuguese | ||||
Norwegian | ||||
Thai |
Issues fixed
Crashes and compatibility with Windows versions after XP
- At the time The Sims was released, it had the potential for crashes and issues. With each expansion, the game became less stable, and even on properly configured systems would crash periodically. This has not improved over time.
- Problems may vary from not being able to install the game, from not being able to launch the game and lastly not being able to save the game. This is especially prevalent on Windows 10, when disc-based DRM was completely dropped.
- With multicore CPU setups setting CPU affinity to only one core stabilizes gameplay, but doing that requires Alt+Tab ↹ the game and doing so messes up games graphics with wrong colors and transparent objects.
Start installation manually without launcher[citation needed] |
---|
Notes
|
Install game to a different location[citation needed] |
---|
|
Set compatibility mode[citation needed] |
---|
|
Uninstall KB3086255 update[citation needed] |
---|
|
Corrupted Game Files
- It is possible for the game files to become corrupt, requiring a completely reinstallation. The Sims CD contains a tool called SimsEraser that will clean all traces of the game left over after an uninstall. Uninstalling the game, running SimsEraser, and reinstalling will restore the game to its original state.
Mod-Related Issues
- The Sims attracted a large modding community, allowing further customization features. Unfortunately, even properly designed mods could increase the chances of crashes and errors in the game. Mods have a major impact on loading time and stability, and should be used with discretion if you are having issues with the game.
Other information
API
Technical specs | Supported | Notes |
---|---|---|
Direct3D | 7 | |
OpenGL | 1 | Mac OS only. |
Executable | PPC | 16-bit | 32-bit | 64-bit | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Windows | |||||
macOS (OS X) | |||||
Linux | |||||
Mac OS (Classic) |
Simitone
- An open source re-implementation of the game based on the FreeSO project. Currently available as a pre-alpha release; see the GitHub repository for details
System requirements
Windows | ||
---|---|---|
Minimum | Recommended | |
Operating system (OS) | 98 | 2000, XP |
Processor (CPU) | Intel Pentium II 233 MHz | Intel Pentium II 450 MHz |
System memory (RAM) | 64 MB | 128 MB |
Hard disk drive (HDD) | 3.5 GB | 3.5 GB |
Video card (GPU) | 2 MB of VRAM DirectX 6 compatible | 4 MB of VRAM DirectX 7 compatible |
Mac OS | ||
---|---|---|
Minimum | Recommended | |
Operating system (OS) | 8.1 | |
Processor (CPU) | PowerPC G3/G4 233 MHz | PowerPC G3 333 MHz |
System memory (RAM) | 64 MB | 128 MB |
Hard disk drive (HDD) | 3.5 GB | |
Video card (GPU) | 2 MB of VRAM |
- Windows NT and ME are not supported
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 When running this game without elevated privileges (Run as administrator option), write operations against a location below
%PROGRAMFILES%
,%PROGRAMDATA%
, or%WINDIR%
might be redirected to%LOCALAPPDATA%\VirtualStore
on Windows Vista and later (more details).