Launcher

The Sims Launcher comes as standard when you install The Sims 2 or The Sims 3 on PC and Mac.

The Launcher serves to present news related to the game and alerting the player of game updates.

The Sims 3
The Sims 3 launcher connects you to the EADM (Electronic Arts Download Manager) when new updates are available and enables you to install and upload .sims3packages. It also displays your installed expansion packs and their game version.

Criticism
The launcher and the .sims3package format has been critized by some community creators as it is slow and can potentially mess up packages.

Avoiding the Launcher
To fully avoid the launcher you need its functionality covered by other means:
 * Start your Sims game directly from the executeable.
 * Download and install patches manually. (See The Sims 3 patches)
 * Use a user created tool to install .sims3packages, see below for suggestions.

Similar tools

 * TS3 Install Helper Monkey by Delphy at ModTheSims.
 * More tools