The Sims 3/Removed features

Although The Sims 3 added new features, some features from older games (Mainly features from games up to The Sims 2 and The Sims Stories) have been removed or changed in The Sims 3 and The Sims Medieval, some features were later restored in later versions.

Startup

 * The Sims 3 and The Sims Medieval cannot be ran directly by using Run even if TS3.exe and TSM.exe are typed. Shortcuts such as -w (WIndowed) are no longer supported.
 * The notice Game Experience May Change During Online Play has been replaced with Online Interactions Not Rated by the ESRB. This is also seen on The Sims 2 Double Deluxe, FreeTime, IKEA Home Stuff, The Sims 2 Store Edition and The Sims Castaway Stories.
 * However, the Online Interactions Not Rated by the ESRB is no longer shown in The Sims 3 Fast Lane startup. This is also seen in The Sims 3-The Sims 3 Ambitions if the update is released on or after Fast Lane. However, the notice is still seem on copies of Fast Lane and later games sold in US and Canada.
 * The Sims 3 is no longer ran directly as it opens the Launcher. However, a shortcut can be made to start The Sims 3 and The Sims Medieval directly.
 * EPs now have the word "Expansion Pack" when an EP such as Late Night is started. In The Sims 2, EPs did not have the word and only the name was used (eg, The Sims 2 Seasons and The Sims 2 Nightlife).
 * All Sims 3 EPs and SPs no longer have new startup music. Late Night does have the theme of The Sims 3 for Console when the game is loaded.

Main Menu

 * Towns cannot be renamed nor can saved games. However, Windows Explorer and Finder can be used to rename saved games.
 * Towns no longer support custom pictures.

Website

 * The ability to sign in using usernames are not supported, email addresses must be used but The Sims 2 still supports this. However, usernames cannot be used (To sign in to EADM/Origin or the EA website) to download The Sims 2 and The Sims Stories from EA as EA requires an E-mail address to sign in.

Options

 * Although music can be previewed, it is not possible to stop the current music from being played.
 * It is not possible to prevent a specific song from being played as it could be done in The Sims 2 and The Sims Stories.
 * Edge Scrolling is now disabled by default in The Sims 3 and The Sims Medieval whereas it was turned on by default in The Sims 2 and The Sims Stories.
 * Freewill is now a slider rather than being a checkbox.
 * Graphics Settings require a restart and are no longer applied automatically.

Files

 * Although The Sims 3 supports Custom Music, mp3 files cannot be put in different categories; therefore, music cannot be put in Build/Buy Modes and CAS.
 * Custom Content cannot be installed outside. All CC must be installed

Hardware/Software

 * Support for PowerPC Macs have been removed as well as Mac OS X Panther and Tiger.
 * Support for Windows 98/Me, Windows 2000, Windows XP RTM-SP1 and Windows Vista RTM have been dropped. The Sims Medieval also drops support for Windows XP SP2 and 64-bit versions of Windows XP.
 * Support for CD drives. The download version can be used to run The Sims 3.
 * SecuROM is no loner included in DVD copies but still included in download versions. The Sims 2 University Life through The Sims 2 Fun with Pets, however, retained SecuROM.

The Sims 3 Ambitions

 * Multiple messages cannot be shown at the same time. The update for The Sims 3 High-End Loft Stuff, The Sims 3 Design & High-Tech Stuff and earlier games makes the message box Ambitions-like. The Sims Medieval and The Sims 3 (before Ambitions) still support the older message box.

Restored Features
Here are features that have been restored in The Sims 3.
 * Build Lots: Lots can be placed in Ambitions and Deluxe. Updates for High-End Loft Stuff and earlier also enable this.