Do you have to have the Sims disc to run the expansion packs?

Factual Questions
1

Here’s the story.

I own the Sims and my library has the expansion packs(Livin’ Large and House Party). I want to check them out, but don’t want to install them, return the game and find out that I can no longer use the expansion parts of the game.

When I install the expansion packs, does it just extract the stuff on the hard drive? I hope so, cause I’d like to use them and the library has them.

Thanks.

2

You need the expansion pack CDs in order to play the expanded version of the game. Once you return the CD to the library you will not be able to use the expansion packs (I believe you may be forced to reinstall the original version of the game as well).

3

Yeah, its a damn shame too. I tried the same thing. You install The Sims, then the expansions. Using the expansion disc, you can play the expansion but you cannot do this with the original game’s disc. There’s also a weak copy protection scheme that makes a normal copy of the discs useless (I’m pretty sure it can be broken). On the plus side, you can just buy the expansion for 20 bucks rather than dishing out 40 bucks for the original game. But its already too late for that.

4

Nope, it can’t. People on The Sims boards, a few of whom are without a doubt some of the smartest gamers I’ve ever come across, (a very few…) have been trying it for over a year. It just can’t be done since the encryption is that good. The way I look at it is though, it’s $20-30 dollars an expansion for the best game I’ve ever owned. I don’t mind spending that once or twice a year for a nice legal copy that I can install and uninstall to my heart’s content.

5

Well rather than crack it, wouldn’t it be possible to just do a bit for bit copy. Isn’t this how they managed to bypass that new audio encryption scheme? Rather than combat the encryption through innovation, just bust through it w/ force.

6

Your library stocks computer games?!?!?!

WTF!

Where can I find this library???

7

We do not abet copyright infringement here, SouprChckn. Now that we know that using the expansion packs without possessing the CD isn’t permitted, there doesn’t seem to be a General Question any more. I’ll just close this thread.

bibliophage
moderator, GQ