noob help here...

[jeffosokisk 0]

Well, I'm not really a $%&^!.  I know all the basics in the game, but when I look at your screenshots, I don't know how you got those great looking buildings.  What do you use?  Do you use some sort of computer program to generate the buildings?  How do you get the buildings to build like how you want them to do?  I have sim City 4 deluxe edition so is it because they have the rush hour expansion pack?  Also, how can you get skyscrapers in your city?  I have a few large apartment hi-risers, but they always look bad.

Thanks for the help.

[tchaos713 5]

Well, first of all, welcome to our community.

One of the great strengths of Simtropolis is the large number of talented creators we have. Check out the STEX (SimTropolis EXchange). There you can find tons of custom buildings, maps and mods to customize your game. Do a search for simgoober, peg, NDEX, BSC or CSX to get you started. Remember to always pay attention to the readmes. Also, make sure you surf over to simcity4.com to pick up ALL the updates (including the one hiding on the BAT page).

Deluxe is the same as Rush Hour, just all in one package at a lower overall price.

Skyscrapers appear when you have sufficient demand and desirability. Demand is represented by the RCI bar and graph. Remember that demand is region-wide. Just as in real life, though, only a small percentage of your buildings will be skyscrapers, maybe 5%-10% of the total commercial occupancy in a given region will be Stage 8 (where most skyscrapers are). You need to have a very high occupancy and population before you start seeing commercial skyscrapers. Desirability is a bit more complex, but for commercial, it basically boils down to: high traffic, low crime, low pollution, low garbage, higher EQ (more education), number of parks and landmarks and how much commercial is already there.

You can find more comprehensive articles about demand and desirability and controlling growth in the Omnibus.

I hope this all helps, and if you have any other questions, feel free to ask or PM me (person icon with a balloon).

[sim1234 62]

tchaos713's reply is great so I'll just give you a link to the STEX which is here and a link to the Omnibus which is here and say Welcome to Simtropolis! I hope you have a great time here!

[Shinnie02 17]

Welcome to Simtropolis

I'm quite new myself...but anyways

No one mentioned about the radical ordinance mod... O well go to the modds & downloads section and download the radical ordinance mod and your city should starting bursting up like crazy hope this helps

[jeffosokisk 0]

thanks for the reply! What is simgoober, peg, NDEX, BSC or CSX?

[jeffosokisk 0]

Also, I just downloaded something (like a building from this website). How can I open it and use it?

Thanks

[Tolomar 5]

BSC is a group of lot makers that work together to make lots, each of them doing differnt jobs in the lot making and moding departments...peg and goober are lot makers...the others are groups of lot makers...goober is part of the BSC...peg kinda of a lone wolf..but works with the BSC....CSX is now part of the BSC...Valkahass is the main member...but there are others on the CSX team...NDEX is a differnt group...they be sort of inactive for a while....but seem to making a comback as Tonks has now join their ranks...there are other lotmaking groups also...basicly it done so 1 person doesn't get overwelmed with the work load (except barbyw...she seems always swamped with stuff)

open the download with winzip and place the it in your "my documents/simcity4/plugins" folder or just run the auto installer 

I suggest to keep each download in a seprate sub folder...just so you can find things if need be

[hamsterTK 93]

Simgoober is a user who makes lots of custom buildings(called BATs). On top of being exceptionally good at BATting and in the past put out new creations on a regular basis, he is known for doing many suburban americana type stuff like fast food joints and etc which a lot of people like for purposes of realism.

Simgoobers RLS suburban Mall:

PEG(short for pegasus) is a guy who creates all sorts of things. He has made new ports, ferry terminals, boardwalks, mines, terrain mods, trees, and most notably is the guy who made the set of surface water lots as well as a large realistic looking dam. He doesnt come on simtropolis much anymore. He has his own site and forum now. Its called peg productions. His water texture mod, brigantine, is regarded as the best standalone water mod available. He is also known for making a large amount of things you can use to build a large national park type thing with mountain trails and etc.

Peg Lighthouse:

NDEX is a group of batters with their own boards on the forum. NDEX stands for the usernames of the different founding members i believe. NDEX does mostly skyscrapers and their things are often a bit futuristic and most have amazing nightlighting effects. NDEX makes other stuff to though. One NDEX member in particular you should know is named Dusktrooper. Back when he was more active on this site he made several dozen good-quality skyscrapers with cool designs often loosely based on real buildings in houston and atlanta. His member label isnt "NDEX Skyscraper machine" for nothing. You cant have a good downtown without some NDEX buildings, thats for sure.

Superstar's(NDEX member) Nitron Center tower:

BSC is a bat group like NDEX. BSC stands for Batt squad certification i think and at one time it was just called the Batt squad and was the only official bat group on the site. Simgoober is a BSC member. BSC isnt as focused on skyscrapers and big urban buildings. BSC's stuff tends to be better quality than NDEX but BSC usually makes things that are more mundane and easier to design(vs futuristic skycrapers) so it all evens out. One BSC thing in particular you should note is the farms set. BSC is much more active than NDEX, which has been looking rather dead lately.

a BSC farm kit:

CSX, i have no idea what that acronym means. Vlakhaas is the only CsX person i know of. They make things that are sort of like what PEG makes and more. some of it is compatible with peg stuff

a neat eye candy scenic gondola ride (with only one station :-P) made by CsX:

[jacqulina 162]

hi welcome it seems that all these good people helped you so all thats left to say is have fun here its great

[greyveil 37]

just one note to clarify hamster, Vlakhaas is the founder and fearless leader of the BSC, the BSC is large and does have alot of subgroups, most the time dealing with specific types of lots/bats, they all share textures and props across the developments, CSX and BLS are 2 of the subgroups to name a few. They have brought alot of large colaborative works to the community. thanx guys

...... oh wait..... I am the NDEX Minister of Propaganda..... so.....

NDEX is alive and well, just some members (like myself until recently) are in hybernation, we have just welcomed the great bat artist ILL Tonkso to our fold and he is always working on new stuff, and just like life, you never know what might be around the corner......

oh heck.... actually I love all the ST artists and thats no propaganda, lol we have alot of great artists around, in groups and individuals, some specialize it tweaks, some specialize in mods, some combine both (like the NAM) Network Addon Mod, if you don't got it, get it, ...oh there are so many glorious things..... I have to go play,

... oh one more thing, don't be afraid to ask for help, though some responses might seam gruff (we have a few old bears who live in caves on the property) and you can also PM alot of us for specific help, enjoy!

[tchaos713 5]

One more thing...

Check out Greyveil's Newbie Help Thread. The link is in his signature just above!

[jeffosokisk 0]

thanks for the big help! I now understand. However, my winzip demo just expired. Is there any other programs?

Thanks.

[sim1234 62]

There are some other archivers. WinRAR and WinAce are 2 examples of other archivers which are similar to WinZip.

[Shinnie02 17]

I have WinRAR and it will ask you to always buy the product. Don't buy it because you can still use the free version for unzipping. I really don't see the reason for buying it when the free product is good enough to satisfy your needs.

[Norfrit 0]

Yup just close window wich offers to buy it.

[danob 1]

Originally posted by: Norfrit Yup just close window which offers to buy it.quote>

 

As far as winzip goes thats all you need.  What he ^ said.

Just remember not to overwhelm yourself with downloading.  I spent about a week straight  clicking on this site cause "I HAD TO HAVE IT ALL RIGHT NOW"  Then I spent another week trying to get the dang game to load.  Too many things in the wrong places.  Now most everyone  supplies an installation file that puts everything in tidy little folders in the appropriate locations.

Have fun and welcome to the hysteria that is Simtropolis! 

[soldyne 111]

I think it is important to mention for new downloaders to the STEX that you will need to start a disciplined organization strategy for your plugins folder.

DO NOT under any circumstances, put naked files into your plugins folder. use subfolders like "Residential", "Commercial", "Industrial", "Parks", "Civic", and so on. this will help out immensly when you start to get a large collection going. the reason for this is that you will eventually, with out a doubt, download a file that will cause your game to do something wonky or un wanted. if your plugins folder is not organized then good luck trying it find it to have it removed! The only wrong way to organize is not to organize!

also, when you move files to your plugins folder, try to remove or delete any readmes (after reading them of course) and picture files. The game will load EVERYTHING in your plugins folder and subfolders into your memory. the more stuff you have the longer it will take to load the game.

My final piece of advice for you and anyone else reading this is that many files on the STEX require other files called dependancies. dependancies are usually things like props, textures, or custom user interfaces or sound files that a creator used to build the lot with. at first it will be a daunting task to make sure you have all the dependancies but after a while you will have them all and, if you have a well organized folder, you will be able to check really quickly if you have a dependancy already.

good luck and let us know how you are doing.

[MuShuPork 0]

Great posts, I found them very helpful, even though I didn't make the thread. Thanks everyone!

[inyorick7 1]

Originally posted by: MuShuPork Great posts, I found them very helpful, even though I didn't make the thread. Thanks everyone!quote>

Me  too!!

Thanks to everyone!!

I hope to be an active member

Rick