EA wants to update Steam version

[gwalshaw 6]

When I learned about the EA/Origin version problem, I uninstalled the EA version, and bought and installed the Steam version. A couple of days later, SimCity 4 reappeared as an installed game in the EA desktop app. I thought that was odd, but a couple days ago, the EA app says there is an update required for SC4. (Like, no?) 

I'm not going to press that button, but does anyone else have this? How can I remove SimCity4 from the EA launcher? There is the option to uninstall, but it points to the Steam folder and I don't want to uninstall the game. SC4 is working just fine (I only ever launch it from the desktop shortcut), so this is an EA app issue. But neither my EA account, the EA app or Steam have any settings anywhere that link from one to the other. It's weird.

[rsc204 21,870]

You have to consider that the EA and Steam versions were never intended to be installed at the same time. In fact, there is no good reason for having more than one and it can lead to some annoying issues. If you failed to uninstall the EA version, then installed the Steam one, perhaps you have both.

So far as I can tell and perhaps annoying timing, the update actually fixes the problem that has existed since 2014. I.e. updating the EA version will give you the same pre-patched game as other digital stores.

Following the principle of if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it my advice would be to continue using Steam and avoid updating the EA version. Although if you have two installs, it shouldn’t actually cause any harm, since it should only update the EA one. 

[gwalshaw 6]

But what's weird is I did uninstall the EA version. From the EA app, it points to the steam folders as the program location.

Yet good that they finally fixed it? I paid $3 for the EA version that didn't work, then $25-ish for the Steam version - but it worked!

[Allein 329]

I did have kinda the same problems with the Sims 4 after they went free some time ago.

[Taz the Mystic 51]

I did the update and now it loads but when I pick a city to load it crashes and goes back to the EA app.  I tried restarting my computer but that did not work.

Any ideas on how to fix?

[gwalshaw 6]

I have asked EA about it, but don't know how responsive they are, either in terms of promptness or accuracy. Steam does not want to update their version. I would have to think they wouldn't like a third party trying to update their version any more than me.

[Taz the Mystic 51]

Thank you.  Please let me know if EA gets back to you.

[Tarkus 6,935]

EA did indeed fix the EA App/EA Play version of the game, updating it to Version 1.1.641--my writeup over on SimTarkus goes into more detail. 

I had encountered similar "sidling" behavior (similar to Elaine's co-worker in a certain Seinfeld episode) with the EA App version prior to the update, when I was testing it out of morbid curiosity, back in September 2022--it kept trying to latch onto my GOG and Steam copies instead of trying to install or launch its own edition (even after editing the Windows Registry to point to it), and in the case of my Steam copy, thought it needed "repair" and nerfed it to the infamous permalocked Version 1.1.610 edition. I could also manually "repair" my GOG and Steam installs to the nerfed EA App version.

With my experience doing the update on Thursday, however, it didn't recognize any of my installed copies, and wanted me to install it fresh.  I had a pretty smooth experience with it--a pleasant surprise after my last encounter with it.

I just booted the EA App again, and it still seems to be pointing to its own version, not my GOG or Steam copies.  I'm curious as to whether or not I've simply gotten lucky in my testing, or if I happen to have a different version of the EA App than you, because I did previously encounter similar behavior.  I'd try to see if you can update the EA App itself.  I'm going to poke around with it to see if I can get it to "sidle" again, but thus far, it's actually behaving itself here on my end.

-Tarkus

[Taz the Mystic 51]

I went as far as deleting my copy of SimCity 4 and then downloading it again from the EA app.  This did not fix the issue.  I have a request into EA to help me fix this.  So far I have received two automated replys by email.  I do have a number they have assigned to my issue.  Hopefully they will get back to me once the weekend is over.  Thanks for your response.  I will try to get another copy of the EA app on my computer as you suggest.  I appreciate the information you have provided me.

[rsc204 21,870]

Again I can not stress enough how it is simply nonsensical for a normal user to have more than one copy of SC4 installed. Consider for a moment if EA, GoG or Steam would spend two seconds considering this scenario whilst doing the work to add the game to their service? They didn't, although it shouldn't happen, it's possible the issues here are because the EA App has updated files in your Steam install. It may also struggle to launch the game from the Steam install, since not everything might be correctly linked to the same folder location. Likewise if it has messed with the Steam install, the Steam edition could stop functioning, since the files would appear to be the incorrect ones to the Steam app. I think it worth stating that every version of SC4 on sale is identical when it comes to the code that runs the game, it is only the way they are packaged/installed that varies. A fully patched version installed from Disk is identical to a pre-patched digital version in every way when playing SC4.

One thing you need to consider is any customisations you may have made to your SC4 install in terms of configuration/patches. For example if the Steam version was using specific commands to run, the same commands should be added to the Origin settings. If you are using the Full NAM controller with RHW, you also need to ensure you have re-applied the 4GB Patch or the game will run out of memory (CTD) whilst trying to load a city. Perhaps this is the cause of the CTDs?, otherwise it could simply be because Origin is somehow using the files of the Steam install, which whilst generally speaking are identical inside, may not work properly.

In situations like this, I would recommend uninstalling all versions of SC4 on your machine using the proper uninstaller app to do so. After doing this restart your machine and install either the Steam or Origin version anew, this will at least provide you with a known good install before moving forwards. After that if you need to make adjustments to the game's configuration then you may need to troubleshoot that thereafter.

[gwalshaw 6]

Thanks rsc204. I'm not sure about taz and Tarkus, but I only have one version (the steam version) installed as there is no need for two. 

My problem is that EA wants to update the Steam install (while Steam does not). It's not an issue with running the game as the Steam version works just fine with the mods and plugins I want to use with it. It just bugs my brain that the EA app populated the game into itself. The struggle to not press the update buttons is real!  (But it's only when the EA app has to open for other games that I see it...)

When I switched (after learning about the Origin/EA problem), I uninstalled the EA version, made sure all folders everywhere were gone (that I knew about...), and then installed steam and then the steam version. I didn't, however, turn off the computer in the middle. I might try an experiment and uninstall the Steam version and see what the EA app does with that... 

 

EDIT/UPDATE:

I uninstalled the Steam version. Game disappeared from EA app. Deleted folders from My Documents and C:/program... Emptied recycle bin, and turned computer off. Turned it back on. SC4 not in EA app. Installed fresh from Steam. Not in EA app. Turned off computer, and back on. SC4 now repopulated into EA app, and it wants to update it...

  Edited June 5, 2023 by gwalshaw  
updated info

[rsc204 21,870]

58 minutes ago, gwalshaw said:

SC4 now repopulated into EA app, and it wants to update it...

I don't know why EA's app would be doing this, I can only suspect it's scanning all folders or the registry looking for SC4, sees that it is installed and that you have purchased it, so mistakenly think's it's the EA version just installed elsewhere.

Not that I'm a frequent user, but I've never seen such oddities with Steam, if you can't help but push the 'do not press' button, perhaps you are better off uninstalling the Steam version and using the EA one. But whichever way you go, assuming EA don't revert this fix accidentally once more, you'll essentially have the same experience.

Otherwise if you want to continue running SC4 from Steam, just ignore the update.

[Taz the Mystic 51]

Still not working after removing app and reloading from EA.  Hopefully EA can help me.

[Taz the Mystic 51]

It took me awhile but by following the directions above I am now able to play the game with NAM and the cheats.  Thanks to everybody who helped me out with this.

I really appreciate all the help.  I learned a lot about files and where they should be.

 

[kschmidt 6,262]

EA, Steam I don't bother with too much out of controll. Gog version, works fantastic with if you updated from a cd version. EA, Steam don't like there OS support end W7/8 very sad be so, gamer has no rights to continue to play as they want. Gog fantastic, do have a update service but it:s drm free, no cloud trouble !