Since Celebration! Stuff is based on Open for Business, it can be assumed that its executable (Sims2SP4.exe) will be used to start the game unless the player has a later stuff pack, or an expansion pack later than Open for Business. The Sims 2 Double Deluxe includes the base game, The Sims 2: Nightlife, and The Sims 2: Celebration! Stuff, and the player cannot decide which parts to install. The Sims 2 Double Deluxe, The Sims 2 University Life Collection, The Sims 2 Best of Business Collection, and The Sims 2 Fun with Pets Collection all include the Launcher. However, this may not be the case if the disc and shortcut for one of the compilations is used to start The Sims 2.
In general, the executable that is used to start the game will be in the same folder as the Launcher.
For an illustrated guide on how to do this, see this page at ModTheSims. This can generally be done by right-clicking on the shortcut used to start the game, selecting Properties, and editing the textbox labeled "Target:" so that "Sims2Launcher.exe" is replaced by the filename of the game's executable file. The Launcher can be avoided by starting the game directly from the executable. This can be avoided by clicking the Play button before the promotional pane finishes loading, or by bypassing the Launcher as described below. As of August 24, 2013, some content shown in that pane has been observed to cause the Launcher to stop responding. While the Launcher's news pane is no longer used, the promotional pane is still used.
All three Mac App Store re-releases of The Sims Stories games are also affected by this change. The Launcher has been removed from The Sims 2: Ultimate Collection, however, it is still present in The Sims 2: Super Collection but it is actually a launcher made by Aspyr Media for all Aspyr games released on the Mac App Store. The Launcher will also be present if The Sims 2 University Life Collection, The Sims 2 Best of Business Collection, The Sims 2 Fun with Pets Collection or The Sims 2 Double Deluxe has been installed, and if the compilation disc and shortcut are used to start the game. However, unless Mansion & Garden Stuff is installed, that should not be an issue if Seasons is the latest expansion pack installed, as stuff packs prior to Mansion & Garden Stuff are based on either Open for Business or Pets. The executable for the Launcher may be present if stuff packs released after Bon Voyage are installed. It is not present in the base game, or in expansion packs up to and including Seasons. The Launcher first appeared in Bon Voyage.