Usage Sharing

[rcranger9]

I have been into the options folder and found the box "enable usage sharing" and decided that i didn't want EA to know stuff about me and my game by collecting data. I un-ticked the box and continued to play. I went back into options and found that it was ticked again! I un-ticked it again, left options, and immediately went back into options. And, what a surprise, it was ticked again! EA, if your going to force us to give you info, why give us the option to "turn it off"?

[tomomi1922]

I think I have it off. Let me go check.

Update: Somehow, that check box is grayed out on my Option menu, so I have it disabled by default or somehow that option is not even given to me. How convenient for me.

Sorry then, I am not helping much.

[el_flel]

I think Awesomemod greys it out, so if you have that, that's probably why.

[Silencer]

AwesomeMod has many hidden cool features.

[J. M. Pescado]

Yes, AwesomeMod automatically kills the spyware feature as a security measure.

[lisfyre]

I turn it off everytime I get into the game but it comes back on and it's really pissing me off. I absolutely hate it. Unfortunately for me, I don't use AwesomeMod because I'm ok with the way my game is. I just wish EA would do something about that. I know when it was introduced EA said you can turn it off but the blasted thing never stays off!!! So frustrating!!!

[bl00raspbery]

I've never noticed that box, but it's messed up that they force you into it. Why give us the check box then? I'll look at it next time I play.

[rcranger9]

It makes no sense. All they are doing is alerting us to the fact they aren't giving us a choice about whether or not we want them to have our information.

[Apocryphallen]

Mine too is also always checked back on after I turn it off, what bothers me the most is why the game must be connected to the internet in order for the game to even load.
Offline... I get nothing.. and have to end the game process due to it no longer functioning.. whaaat...?!

[SimsLover50]

I discovered that I could fix the problem with the usage sharing re-enabling by running the game as administrator and turning it off. Otherwise it constantly was turning back on.

[simbalena]

what bothers me the most is why the game must be connected to the internet in order for the game to even load.


That's not normal. You don't need to be connected to the internet to load or play the game.

[simbalena]

That's not normal. You don't need to be connected to the internet to load or play the game.

Well this was true before I installed a direct download version of Generations.... now it says I have to be connected to the internet to play. Is this how all download versions work? Does anyone know how to get around it? I refuse to play connected to the internet.

I would never have bought it if I'd known I have to be connected to the internet all the time. It makes me so angry... there is no emoticon to express how I'm feeling!!!

[lisfyre]

I discovered that I could fix the problem with the usage sharing re-enabling by running the game as administrator and turning it off. Otherwise it constantly was turning back on.

Going to try this. Thanks!! I'll let you know how it works out.

EDIT: Yay it worked!! Gonna have to do this from now on. Thank you so much :)

[esmesqualor]

Well this was true before I installed a direct download version of Generations.... now it says I have to be connected to the internet to play. Is this how all download versions work?

I don't think it's supposed to work that way. With my direct download of Apartment Life, I didn't need to be connected after the initial confirmation. But I have heard that others had the same problem you have. You may need to contact EA (never a good a thing, I hear). Anything else may be outside the scope of this forum.

[simbalena]

I don't think it's supposed to work that way. With my direct download of Apartment Life, I didn't need to be connected after the initial confirmation. But I have heard that others had the same problem you have. You may need to contact EA (never a good a thing, I hear). Anything else may be outside the scope of this forum.

Yes, I just thought I'd ask as this is my first direct download. Someone may have already looked into it and can let me know if it's possible, so I don't have to go through the drama of trying to get an answer from EA myself!

It seems like it could be caused by downloading the ep using Origin maybe?

[aevojoey]

The "enable usage sharing" option for 64bit windows 7 is saved in the registry at:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Sims\The Sims 3
"Telemetry"=dword:00000001

The "Telemetry" setting is 0 for off and 1 for on

Running the sims 3 as administrator allows the game to change the registry, without admin privileges it can not change the registry.

[Celebriton]

I love to share my gameplay experience with EA.

That is why we will get new woohoo locations in every EPs.

Thanks to me........er, may be for twallan, ehm.

[Alliteration]

What data do they even collect anyway? Anybody know?

[MiniMimi]

Technical information, such as what computer you have, what OS, what video card you have, how many ram you have etc. But we don't know if they collect more than needed, like what other softwares you use, or if all your stuff is legitimate. It's a huge concern because of the in-famous Securom EA used at the end of Sims2.

[Johnny_Bravo]

As long as they're only spying how many etc. I have, I'm fine with it. Not that tehy check my other legal stuff.

[Alliteration]

Maybe I'm paranoid, but I still don't trust them to only take notes on what kind of system I'm using.