I'm reading all kinds of conflicting information about Origin from EA -- that it will/won't track your every internet move and report back to EA, that it does/doesn't spy on the contents of your hard drive, and so forth. Does anyone know anything definitive? Once installed, can you play while not connected to the internet, or do you have to have an "always on" connection? It sounds like you can't opt out, that if you want to install Pets, you HAVE to agree to the EULA which includes installation of Origin and whatever it does.

SecuROM was a huge bust for EA, as well as being the source of many lawsuits, and Origin sounds worse. I don't want Origin on my computer. I just want to buy Pets, install it, and play it freely along with my other bought-and-paid-for Sims products. If the only way to get Origin-free Pets is to download an illegal copy, I can sure see where that would be tempting.

Thoughts, info, anything? Thanks.

I don't have any hard facts against it, but I'm going to assume the worst, SecuROM role. I doubt it'll spy on your harddrive, but I'm sure it takes "specs" and sends them back to EA (maybe what types of media you have?) Idk. Like I said, I never researched it. But all I know is that there are easy ways to get around it. All you need it for is to install patches, nothing else. It's an optional component. Patches can be directly downloaded from EA's website (I usually get the links from SimPrograms as Jud usually updates everything quite quickly.

Thx, SwatMe. When you say "get around it," by "it" do you mean Origin or the game Launcher? I play TS3 now without going through the Launcher, by starting the game directly from the .exe file.

This is the first time ive heard of this... What the heck is origins? Now im scared D:

I thought Origin was just the EA store rebranded...

What I mean by getting around it is not using it to update the game.

To hunter and will, as far as I am concerned, Origin is a revamped and renamed EA Download Manager.. But it does other things now... I think. *le googles*

Yeah, it's a revamped download manager. You can purchase and download and manage games on there. Absolutely unnessisary for EA to require it to download patches for a game you already have. That' s why I say you just skip that, know when there are updates, and use direct links, which you can find on most sims sites.

The only reason I got origin was so that I could store my sims games there in case I ever lost the codes...

but now i feel worried XD

So I guess I don't have to worry about it from what I've learned, since I've preordered the physical copy not the digital one.

Wait, so much information. Cant comprehend.
So use direct links for patches/updates. Does this mean i shouldnt use the launcher? And should open the game through the .exe file or whatchamacallit? Is there a choice NOT to download Origins? I'd really rather keep my harddrive private. I dont need EA to snoop around on it. If i need to download patches manually, does this mean i can get them from thesims3.com? Or does it have to be a fansite. Is there a privacy policy out yet for origins? I want pets, but i dont need Origins so i dont want to be forced to download it too? Or could i just uninstall it after it's been installed? And still play pets successfully??? So many questions. Sorry for all of them, i havent played S3 since like June, and im a little out of the loop.

Simprograms has a list of the patches with links directly to them here, I'd also recommend downloading and using the Patch Downloader to update any expansion packs you have, because up until recently the games needed to be patched separately.
I don't have Origin installed and the Launcher works just fine.

Yeah, you can still use the launcher. You will just forfeit the ability to "Check for Updates" but as we are all (for the most part I hope) avid Sims 3 players, we don't need to know when there is an update, because for sure we'll all come here to bitch about the new problems. Also, if you're that worried, head over to ModTheSims and get the update checker.

Pheww, okayy. Spying on someones harddrive just sounds sooo creepy.

I didn't mean to start a panic or disseminate any inaccurate information. My understanding -- CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG -- is that to install Pets, one must install Origin. I hope this isn't true and that if I buy a physical copy of Pets, which I plan to do, I won't have Origin on my computer. I find the Sims Launcher to be a big PITA that just tells me stuff I already know and don't care about and which slows down launching the game, so I run TS3 from the .exe file.

the exe. file how do u do tht.. i havnt been able to play the game recently cus the launcher keeps crashing and maybe i can play by using ur method, but whee do i find the exe. file?

The .exe file is located in your most recent expansion pack's folder. You want to go to Computer-->C-->Program Files-->Electronic Arts-->The Sims 3 (Whatever EP you have)--> and then launch TS2W.exe.

If you have mac, you cannot use this method.

thanks! it worked, but does anyone know why exactly im having these issues with the launcher.. can it be fixed?

I don't know about your issues with the launcher, sorry.

So, does anyone know if we are going to HAVE to install Origin if we buy a physical copy of Pets at the store, or only if we download it from EA? thx

ok thnks anyways, and im not sure, if u buy an actualy copy but, if u dowload it online im pretty sure u will need to install origin.im downloading the pets demo right now, and i had to download through origin so im guessing its the same for the full game, but i honestly dont see why you would have to download it for the phiscial copy.. some ppl dont even have internet