The Sims 3/Patch 12

The 12th patch for The Sims 3 was released on May 28, 2010, coinciding with The Sims 3: Ambitions release on June 1st. It is most notable for improving the opportunities windows and enabling players to edit the neighborhood lots and decorative objects, which was possible in The Sims 2 base game.

Download
To install this update, please start your game and use the “Updates” tab in your Launcher.

If that fails you can download the patch .exe directly from EA's site in the table below. Find your current version and region code below and click download. Note that you need to update all the expansion- and stuff packs you have installed. They are all direct downloads.

TS3_Icon.png Base Game

 * This game update enables dynamic ad serving capabilities in The Sims 3. However, there are no immediate plans to activate any content of this kind . The Sims 3 EULA has further details. See http://www.ea.com/1/product-eulas.
 * Lights placed on residential and community lots will now properly display onto the neighborhood
 * Sims may now walk and stand on bridges
 * Players who play The Sims 3 with game modifications can now create a folder in which to place their game modifications. The folder should be located here: C:\Documents and Settings\YourComputer\My Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Mods
 * When Mods are placed in the official Mod folder, a notification will appear to remind players that Mods are installed.
 * Placing Mod packages into the Mod folder is an officially sanctioned way to bypass assembly signing verification. The Resource.cfg file must be placed in this folder in order for the modifications to work correctly.
 * When Mods are installed that are incompatible, the player will receive a message notifying them of the error.
 * Additional bug fixes to existing features.

Edit Town Mode

 * Players may now add, delete, and move residential and community lots from the Edit Town menu.
 * Players may now add, delete, and move neighborhood decorative objects from the Edit Town menu.
 * Players may now purchase and upgrade neighborhood community lots using the new Real Estate system via the Computer.
 * When using the Library in Edit Town, lots will now display their venue type (i.e. Park).

Gameplay Changes

 * Story Progression has been improved to prevent Sims required to complete Opportunities from changing.
 * Sim genetics have been improved so that children now better reflect their parents’ skin tone and hairstyles.
 * Sims can unlock outfit choices and share them with household members when using the “Plan Outfit” interaction on the Dresser.

Build/Buy Mode

 * Players may now use Create a Style on Ceilings or add and delete them when in Build Mode.
 * Players may now use Create a Style on the edges of floor tiles.
 * When placing walls, rooms, foundations/decks, floor tiles, roofs, pools, fences, and basements the measuring tape tool will display to aid in more precise building.
 * Wall Covering sets can now be found in a tab in Build Mode.
 * Players may now manipulate the roof pitch for individual roof sections when in Build Mode.
 * Sculptures can be found in a new Sculpture sorting category when in Buy Mode.

Create a Sim

 * Players may now use the Tattoo feature to customize Sims when in Create a Sim.
 * Players may now select the Fiancé, Girlfriend, and Boyfriend relationship settings when in Create a Sim.

UI & Controls

 * The user-interfaces for Sim View and Map View have been merged to provide more control and consistency between the two modes.
 * The Opportunity interface has been improved to clearly outline the fiction, gameplay objectives, rewards, and Opportunity location for all Opportunities and Adventures.

TS3WA_Icon.png World Adventures

 * Certain Adventures and Opportunities will properly display in the Opportunities Panel when traveling between worlds.

Undocumented Changes

 * Causes a severe bug with the Create a World tool which makes the tool unuseable. See Create a World for additional information.