The Sims
From PCGamingWiki, the wiki about fixing PC games
Developers | |
---|---|
Maxis | |
Mac OS (Classic) | Westlake Interactive |
macOS (OS X) | Westlake Interactive |
Linux | TransGaming Inc. |
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
- DirectDraw emulation is broken in Windows 10 causing performance issues. See "Low frame-rate and graphical glitches"
General information
- Official Website (archived)
- The Sims Official Forums
- EA Answer HQ
- EA Answer HQ (OS X)
- The Sims Wikia
Availability
Source | DRM | Notes | Keys | OS |
---|---|---|---|---|
Retail | SafeDisc v1 and v2 DRM[Note 1]. Disc check requires latest expansion installed. |
- SafeDisc retail DRM does not work on Windows Vista and later (see above for affected versions).
- 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
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
|
Low frame-rate and graphical glitches
- Stablizes gameplay along with fixing graphical glitches when using Alt+Tab ↹
- DirectDraw emulation is broken in Windows 10 and later
Use a DirectDraw wrapper[3] |
---|
|
Game data
Configuration file(s) location
System | Location |
---|---|
Windows | |
Mac OS (Classic) | |
macOS (OS X) | |
Linux |
- Configuration files are encrypted.
- It's unknown whether this game follows the XDG Base Directory Specification on Linux. Please fill in this information.
Save game data location
System | Location |
---|---|
Windows | <path-to-game>\UserData\[Note 2] <path-to-game>\UserData*\[Note 2] |
Mac OS (Classic) | |
macOS (OS X) | |
Linux |
- 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
- 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, instability along with performance issues and lastly not being able to save the game. This is especially prevalent on Windows 10, when disc-based DRM was completely dropped along with broken DirectDraw emulation.
Low frame-rate and graphical glitches
- Stablizes gameplay along with fixing graphical glitches when using Alt+Tab ↹
- DirectDraw emulation is broken in Windows 10 and later
Use a DirectDraw wrapper[4] |
---|
|
Installer program not starting
Start installation manually without launcher[citation needed] |
---|
Notes
|
Issues saving when installed to the default location
Install game to a different location[citation needed] |
---|
|
Set compatibility mode[citation needed] |
---|
|
Windows Update KB3086255 blocks SafeDisc
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 | DirectDraw emulation is broken in Windows 8 and later |
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
Mods
- Mods may require dependencies.
Official mods
- These mods were created by Maxis and formerly hosted on the games official website.
- FaceLift (Gold)
- SimShow
- Homecrafter
- FileCop
- MenueDIT
- Art Studio
- Hot Date Object Organizer
- SimsEraser
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 |
- Windows NT and ME are not supported
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 |
Notes
- ↑ SafeDisc retail DRM does not work on Windows 10[1] or Windows 11 and is disabled by default on Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1 when the KB3086255 update is installed.[2]
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 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).
References
- ↑ Not Loading in Windows 10; this will break thousands of - Microsoft Community - last accessed on 2017-01-16
- ↑ Microsoft - MS15-097: Description of the security update for the graphics component in Windows: September 8, 2015 - last accessed on 2018-02-16
- ↑ https://github.com/narzoul/DDrawCompat
- ↑ https://github.com/narzoul/DDrawCompat