Sims 3: Unable to start game: Service Initialization Failed (0x02957b48)

I was playing the game fine for maybe a week until last week's update hit. I uninstalled everything and reinstalled, I've checked that the base game works but once i try to use world adventures or high-end loft stuff i get the error in the title. I've searched online to find possible fixes for this but everyone seems to say uninstall and reinstall, I've done that three times now and don't seem to have any changes unless i stick with the base game and play no expansions. Any insight from you guys?


Admin edit: Topic moved to right section.

- ADMIN

Hello,

Try the following:

1. Backup your savegames.
2. Uninstall all The Sims 3 games on your system.
3. Restart your PC (!).
4. Install our The Sims 3 release from www.games4theworld.org .
5. Install our WA release from www.games4theworld.org .
6. Install our Ambitions release from www.games4theworld.org .
7. See if the Game works now.

I uninstalled, restarted and reinstalled just sims 3 and WA, not really interested in anything the other 2 expansions have to offer. When i try to start the game now it says "Unable to start game. Unable to start. Please reinstall base game." Do I need to install ambitions just to get the game to work?

Yes, if you Install Ambitions, this problem should be solved, as you can read here: http://games4theworld.org/index_files/news.htm

Just got done installing ambitions, it is now telling me: "Unable to start game. Service initialization failed (0x039e8474)". If I go through the launcher the window says "Get ambitions now" as if it doesn't recognize i've already got it installed. Starting to look like my only option is to play the base game only.

Have the exact same problem.
There is not really one true good working solution for this so I have no idea how to solve this..

Hello,

Yes, I've been doing some research on this problem and it looks like there's not yet a solution for this error. Neither does EA knows how to fix this problem. Since there's no fix for this problem, I don't know how to guide you, sorry.

You can try to Install the Game(s) on an other PC. It'll probably work there.

I'm having this exact same issue. Is it possible that downloading and installing the patch from here - http://www.atomicgamer.com/files/87066/the-sims-3-ambitions-patch-4-0-87-to-4-2-32-digital - will help? Or will that not work?

I am not sure the problem is related to the patch.
Today I opened the Sims launcher and it says my game is up to date, there is no patch available, which was the case yesterday.
The patch seems to have disappeared for me.
Anyways, I tried to start the game and it still gave me the same error.

Hello,

Installing the patch probably won't work, because if you did the following:

A wise Admin wrote:Hello,

Try the following:

1. Backup your savegames.
2. Uninstall all The Sims 3 games on your system.
3. Restart your PC (!).
4. Install our The Sims 3 release from www.games4theworld.org .
5. Install our WA release from www.games4theworld.org .
6. Install our Ambitions release from www.games4theworld.org .
7. See if the Game works now.

... you'll automatically have the latest version of the Game.

The Ambitions I got updated with G4tW is 4.0.87; that patch offered is 4.2.32. Is that not more recent?

Hello,

Obviously it is, but did you reinstall Ambitions then?

When I was done with all the installation and updates, I've noticed that ALL four icons were on the lower left portion of the launcher, which means all of them got installed. What's weird is when I hover over the icon of Sims 3 base game, it shows version 0.0.0.0 and it is the only one that is "invisible".

On the Game Updates tab, It says I have 4.0.87, and the latest update is 4.2.32. I have checked the Ver.4.2.32 box on the upper portion of the launcher and clicked on "Update Now" but it does nothing When I click on the "Play" button, that's when I get the error message:

"It looks like you have installed an unofficial game modification that does not match your current version of The Sims 3. We recommend that you either uninstall these game modifications or get updated versions of them - otherwise you may experience crashes or significant bugs.

Do you want to quit?"

Choosing either Quit or Continue gives me the same result: system crash!

Has anyone tried the fix here yet?

Yeah, I get a regional error that doesn't fix no matter what number you put in SKU (in the registry)

I've found a fix for ALL the problems that I was having with Sims 3 base game including EP/SP

(WA/HELS/Ambitions all UPDATED to the most recent versions and ALL works perfectly)

Credits don't go to me as I've found the solution by searching a torrent site. Been using it for almost a week now and it works like charm Thought I might share it here if the Mods/Admin would allow me to paste the link here

Please do O_O I'm dying to play it!

m1ndf33d wrote: I've found a fix for ALL the problems that I was having with Sims 3 base game including EP/SP

(WA/HELS/Ambitions all UPDATED to the most recent versions and ALL works perfectly)

Credits don't go to me as I've found the solution by searching a torrent site. Been using it for almost a week now and it works like charm Thought I might share it here if the Mods/Admin would allow me to paste the link here

Hi,

That's exactly what we are telling everyone for weeks now, but it doesn't solve everything. The service initialization error occurs with people randomly and EA should create a fix for that.

m1ndf33d wrote: I've found a fix for ALL the problems that I was having with Sims 3 base game including EP/SP

(WA/HELS/Ambitions all UPDATED to the most recent versions and ALL works perfectly)

Credits don't go to me as I've found the solution by searching a torrent site. Been using it for almost a week now and it works like charm Thought I might share it here if the Mods/Admin would allow me to paste the link here

Please PM me the link.

Yusifer wrote:You don't have to post a link. Copy/paste the instructions ~.~

It's not a set of instructions. It's a link to a torrent site. It has all the latest updates and working cracks complete with detailed instructions on how NOT TO create a mistake about it

Anyway, hope this solves your problems as it did mine

Here's the link:
********
Good Luck!

NOTE: These are NOT installers! I am assuming that you already have those. These are just cracks and latest updates

** Cracks

1. Sims 3 ------------------ v1.14.11.007002 NO CD DVD Crack Fixd EXE
2. World Adventures--------- v2.9.10.007002 NO CD DVD Crack Fixd EXE
3. High End Loft------------ v3.5.8.007001 NO CD DVD Crack Fixd EXE
4. Ambitions --------------- v4.2.32.007001 NO CD DVD Crack Fixd EXE


** Updates

1. Sims 3 ------------------ v1.14.11.007002
2. World Adventures--------- v2.9.10.007002
3. High End Loft------------ Pack includes all patches --> IMPORTANT: Install ONLY Sims3_3.5.8.007001_from_3.0.38.004001.exe
4. Ambitions --------------- v4.2.32.007001



Admin edit: You asked for permission to place the link and I didn't approve.

- ADMIN

I already tried this torrent and it gives a region error.

So.

You can spend all day flipping the SKU files from 2-7. It doesn't work.


Admin edit: See THIS fix.

- ADMIN

Yusifer wrote:I already tried this torrent and it gives a region error.

So.

You can spend all day flipping the SKU files from 2-7. It doesn't work.

I did everything in the instructions that came with it. I used SKU 2. I am still playing with Sims 3 base game and WA/HELS/Ambitions and there is not a single problem that I am having right now

Just follow the instructions there and not from anything else, not even from the instructions that came with your installers

UPDATE EVERYTHING first BEFORE applying any patches

is it too bad now to help others in need? why delete a link to a perfectly working fix?! NO ADMINS nor MODERATORS have been able to help me out on that problem that I had, so I searched for a fix myself and luckily I have found it.

And now that I have found a fix to help in ALL updating issues of SIMS 3 base game, WA, HELS and Ambitions...I am not allowed to share it?!!?!

Is it because I found the fix and you DIDN'T?!

I did not see anything in this forum that we are not allowed to help out others in need? As long as I am not claiming it as mine, I don't see any reason why I am not allowed to post the link here. If after this, I will be banned from the forum...then..you guys decide if I did the right thing or not, if I violated any forum rules at all!

I guess the next thing that will happen here is the Admin/MODS will be re-uploading the fix themselves and will be claiming it as theirs and post the link here

Send me a PM to the Torrent file.

m1ndf33d wrote: is it too bad now to help others in need? why delete a link to a perfectly working fix?! NO ADMINS nor MODERATORS have been able to help me out on that problem that I had, so I searched for a fix myself and luckily I have found it.

And now that I have found a fix to help in ALL updating issues of SIMS 3 base game, WA, HELS and Ambitions...I am not allowed to share it?!!?!

Is it because I found the fix and you DIDN'T?!

I did not see anything in this forum that we are not allowed to help out others in need? As long as I am not claiming it as mine, I don't see any reason why I am not allowed to post the link here. If after this, I will be banned from the forum...then..you guys decide if I did the right thing or not, if I violated any forum rules at all!

I guess the next thing that will happen here is the Admin/MODS will be re-uploading the fix themselves and will be claiming it as theirs and post the link here

Hi,

Haha, no, I think you understand it all wrong. The reason why you aren't allowed to place links to torrent -websites, is that this Forum will be deleted by the Forum hoster if we do so. That's not what we want, do we? So please, refer to something like Google in the future.
The other thing - I said I'll create a fix for it - this isn't about claiming what's from who; the only thing I'm trying to do, is to make a simple fix with clear instructions, which even noobies can apply.

I hope you understand things more now,