My basic question is: What's the highest I can go with MacOS, without having to install the Sims 2 Super Collection?

Background info: I've come to the conclusion that my current Mac OS (10.8 Mountain Lion, if you can believe it!) is no longer sustainable in today's internet world. Until recently I was able to open emails on my Gmail account; that is no longer true. So... I need an OS that will allow me to access modern websites, but also support my current Photoshop version (which I absolutely cannot afford to upgrade). Seemingly I can notch up a few Macintosh levels and still have CS4 work, but how will that affect my Sims game? I'd really rather it be a seamless transition, where I wouldn't have to jump through a thousand hoops to keep all my CC working, but I realize this may not be possible. My current Sims 2 game was brought over from an even older laptop, via an external HD, so I didn't need to re-install anything, just make sure all the parts got to where they needed to be. Anyhow, that's my story.

Apple announced yesterday that they were discontinuing Rosetta in the upcoming MacOS 28, due out in fall of 2027. All apps built only for Intel chips will no longer work if you make that upgrade. Is CS4 an Intel only app, like the Sims 2 Super Collection, or a universal app? You are golden to upgrade as far as your hardware will allow, stopping at the current MacOS 26.4, to keep The Sims 2 working, and presumably also CS4. Go to the app in Finder, and right click, choose Get Info, and look near the top for what type of app it is.

Both programs say they're Applications (32-bit), which I assume is what I'm looking for. I don't know that I can upgrade all that far up the ladder though, without setting my machine on fire. I'm currently running OS 10.8.5, if you can believe it, and even THAT was an upgrade from what was originally on here. Well, you can see what my system specs look like in the first screenshot.

Since the minimum System Requirement for the Sims 2 Super Collection is macOS 10.12.6 (Sierra), you can go up to Snow Leopard 10.6, I think and still use your Sims 2 Disks. A lot depends on how recent a Mac OS your Mac will support of course.

I say this because my iMac that I bought in 2011 had Snow Leopard and I have the complete set of Sims 2 Disks that I used to play the game on it, and when I upgraded to 10.11 El Capitan is when I switched to the Sims 2 Super Collection that used to run on it, but no longer does.

Note if you are interested in my Seasons and Bon Voyage disks let me know and we can discuss it.

So... if I wanted to do the Super Collection, I'd have to upgrade to Sierra 10.12, is what you're saying. Yeah, I'm not too sure this machine would do that. The guy I bought it from said I might be able to risk El Capitán 10.11 (apologies to Windows users, who I'm sure roll their eyes at all these silly California names)... but the key word there was "risk".

I currently run Mountain Lion (10.8), and am still using my Sims (Seasons) disc. I also own Bon Voyage, but I haven't installed it as of yet. The Seasons disc works for playing purposes, but I was able to transfer the application from my old laptop on an external HD, so I've never actually run a Sims installer on this machine. I'd just assumed that the BV installer would work, but I suppose I should probably try to see if it would go. Although I have no interest whatsoever in the "vacation" aspects of BV - y'know, what it was actually designed for - there is a lot of cool content that folks have created for it. As if I needed to labor my poor laptop with any more crapola.

Bon Voyage has a lot more to offer than just vacations (I haven't sent off a sim to a vacation in years). There are several new activities, jewelry, beach lots, a new roof type, some very nice furniture - and most of the features that aren't spesific to hotels or being on vacations are available on home/beach lots.

Personally, I use quite a lot of the bonus features of packs, rather than the main features. All the EPs have some features I wouldn't like to depart with.

Yes, beach lots would be fun... I've often created "faux beach" community lots, but they're... not especially satisfactory. Can Sims go fishing on a beach lot? That alone would be worth installing the expansion.

Not vanilla (Castaway has fish spearing, but that's the closest TS2 gets), but there's a couple mods that enables fishing spots, so that's an option (they're available for Seasons)
https://modthesims.info/d/625879/fi...ustom-fish.html
https://modthesims.info/d/231324/in...global-mod.html

They can go swimming, though.

Your poor sims with no vacations. XD

How can you deprive them of the opportunity to go on a tour and get chased by bees!

Wait, this is the first I've heard of the angry bees. Please tell me there are shark attacks as well! Or jellyfish stings, at least.

They've had vacations, just not in the BV destinations

(Had a family go all buggy on a vacation once - no idea what happened, I only vaguely remember them getting stuck in the vacation hood in some way or another. Not sure if I ever had sims going on BV vacations again. Got busy with stories after that, and found anything else than residential lots tedious to micro-manage for photoshoots)

Bees and poison ivy are the main bad outcomes. XD

I actually have a Sun & Moon fishing mod that allows for fish traps and ice fishing, as well as setting a fishing spot anywhere (including dry land). I don't have OFB, so I just use the parts that don't require it.