Origin

Origin (formerly known as EA Download Manager or EADM prior to 8.1) is the download manager provided by EA used to download and install digital versions of purchased games, software and game manuals from the Origin store. Origin also allows users to register their downloaded games, and easily keep all their game titles (digital and/or physical) up to date with the latest patches. Origin works in a similar way to the Steam content distribution service from Valve, which can be seen as its main competitor in the digital download market.

It comes with all new releases from EA, but exists as a separate tool and can be installed and un-installed independently. To avoid using Origin, players will need to download and install updates manually. If a digital copy of a software title is purchased at the Origin store, EA requires that it be downloaded through the Origin. The latest release is version 8.2.6.475

Comparisons and differences between Origin and Steam

 * Both services supply The Sims 3 and all of its expansion packs.
 * Steam supplies content from a variety of developers and publishers, including EA, whereas Origin only supplies content that was published by Electronic Arts.
 * Origin has the same social functions as Steam.
 * Origin supplies exclusive content for EA games which isn't avaliable via Steam or retail.

Windows 7 and Windows Vista Sims 3 Launcher Crash
When The Sims 3 Late Night came out on Oct 26, 2010 (29 Oct 2010 in Europe), many Windows 7 and Vista users reported that The Sims 3 Launcher would crash after they closed it. EADM was the cause of this and the latest version of it resolved the problem. The glitch is not present on The Sims 3 Fast Lane or earlier The Sims 3 games but the same problem will occur if running updates released on or after Oct 26, 2010.

In The Sims 3 Outdoor Living, the same problem occured when using the Latest EADM Version (This was fixed on April 29, 2011 with version 8.0.3.427).

This glitch doesn't occur on The Sims Medieval or on Windows XP & Mac OS X.