So EA have now released a patch to fix the graphics card problem for users with the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M and NVIDIA GeForce 320M (no mention of the Intel 3000 unfortunately). The patch brings the base game up to 1.25.
I installed the patch and immediately my game was unplayable. The patch couldn’t even complete the install. This was the error log:
Examining File : /Contents/Resources/transgaming/c_drive/Program Files/Electronic Arts/The Sims 3/Game/Bin/Packs/TS3EP01/TS3EP01.exe -> SHA1 Error
Examining File : /Contents/Resources/transgaming/c_drive/Program Files/Electronic Arts/The Sims 3/Game/Bin/Packs/TS3EP02/TS3EP02.exe -> SHA1 Error
Examining File : /Contents/Resources/transgaming/c_drive/Program Files/Electronic Arts/The Sims 3/Game/Bin/Packs/TS3EP03/TS3EP03.exe -> SHA1 Error
Examining File : /Contents/Resources/transgaming/c_drive/Program Files/Electronic Arts/The Sims 3/Game/Bin/Packs/TS3EP04/TS3EP04.exe -> SHA1 Error
Examining File : /Contents/Resources/transgaming/c_drive/Program Files/Electronic Arts/The Sims 3/Game/Bin/Packs/TS3SP01/TS3SP01.exe -> SHA1 Error
Examining File : /Contents/Resources/transgaming/c_drive/Program Files/Electronic Arts/The Sims 3/Game/Bin/Packs/TS3SP02/TS3SP02.exe -> SHA1 Error
Examining File : /Contents/Resources/transgaming/c_drive/Program Files/Electronic Arts/The Sims 3/Game/Bin/Packs/TS3SP03/TS3SP03.exe -> SHA1 Error
Yeah, whatever that means. All I can make out is a problem with World Adventures, Ambitions, Late Night, Generations, High End Loft, Fast Lane and Outdoor Living.
So I completely uninstalled, including trashing the Transgaming Preference files in the Library Folder, and reinstalled in the release date order, patching after each install.
And it now works beautifully. Except for not being able to take screenshots which is a huge problem because I need my screenshots for my upload pictures. So I will have to build in the Mac OS, export the house into the Windows partition, take pictures, then upload. Not impressed.
Anyway, the good news is that the patch does appear to fix the graphics issue. I played for about half an hour using my integrated 9400M card and it played really smoothly.
So if you want to be able to play your game and are willing to completely uninstall and reinstall, again, then this patch is for you 🙂
My specs:
15″ Mid 2009 MacBook Pro
Mac OS X Lion 10.7.1
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M 256 and GeForce 9600M GT 256
8Gb RAM
Bluebellflora 