Common Problems w/ Answers

[jbbry232 87]

Points of Interest

Thy 451's guide https://www.simtropolis.com/downloads.cfm?Download=26

Omnibus https://www.simtropolis.com/omnibus.cfm

I started this thread to answer (or provide suggestion as to where to get answers) the most common of problems WITH SIMCITY 4 ( and some other ones) that i see WAY to often in the forums and chatroom.

I encourage you to also state questions w/ answers if you have one that i left off.

I'll start with a few.

• I just installed patch 2 and i don't see any sims on the streets or any props?

Patch 2 resets all graphics options, simply go into your graphics menu and change them back.

• I can't see any of the buildings on the lots from the LE?

You either need to download the building_prop plugin from the maxis site or change graphics setting to high.

ALTX

you also need the landmarks from the Maxis site and the Kunjungjon* Landmark as well....

you need the transportation plugin to see some of the props too

also you need the landmark and props plugin avalable in the modds section

* http://w1.193.telia.com/~u19311495/g4buildings5b.html

• Why am i getting abandonment?

Your sims are obviously not happy with the way you do things, or the environment/ traffic/ crime/ health/ education/ etc is very undesireable.

• Why won't the region greyscale image load?

Some just don't work because the RGB levels are incorrect or they don't have the right size. Also, some just take longer to start loading.

• Maxis site hasn't sent me the confirmation email yet?

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/view.asp?topicID=37691&sessionID=69C909E9BDA04FAF81DEF51A452017AA

• Game won't start?

This can be either of two problems, 1) your graphics card is not compatible and you must dl the patch from the Maxis site.

2) you've played before but for some reason it won't work now, check your system to make sure that the audio is turned on.

Aronion

• How do I set up my Mass Transit system?

Ask Aronion...

Aronion says: click on the links in my sig to get some ideas. If you have any other questions ask away.

'A Little Test on Mass Transit' 'Methods on Mass Transit'

• Why are my civic buildings going on strike, when queried the funding is very low?

A strike is a stoppage of work because of claims of unfair treatment or working conditions. Therefor they would go on strike becuase there is a mass amount of people (lets use hospitals as an example) entering that one hospital. If it becomes over-capacitated (is that a word?) then the workers will strike.

THe funding drops becuase of the loss of workers, you will notice a drop in the # of doctors, that is becuase they are outside holding a sign rather than inside holding a scalpel.

• How do i fix (end) a strike?

Again using the hospital as an example, you must build more hospitals to releave the one that has too many patients.

Minotuar420

the strikes could also be because the funding is simply too low and all they need to do is increase it. However, if it's maxed out and they still have a strike, then they need to build a new, say hospital.

• Where can i find cities available for download?

There are quite a few sites that you can do those at.

http://www.wuphonsreach.org/Games/SimCity4/WR1/

http://simcity.ea.com/coolstuff/citiesregions/index.php

• How do you turn off the Auto Go To Disaster?

You must download patch2 then go into gameplay options and select AUTO GO TO DISASTER.

• Why do my neighbor-Power/Garbage/Water deals suddenly disappear?

In order to maintain a neighbor deal your city must be making enough money to hold the deal for a year.

Go here for further information https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/view.asp?topicID=38011&sessionID=35FCD00F1DB84F3F9B5BAF343944E6CE

• Why does SC4 suddenly freeze then close without saving my game?

Most likely you need patch 2. I've also heard of taking the CD out after you load the game, but i've never tried it.

• Why won't my sims use the highways?

Sims will use the shortest route, not the fastest necessarily.

To fix this dl the Pathfinding Fix from the mod files page and unzip it into your plugins folder.

• How can i make a profit in my city?

Check out the Omnibus and Thy451's guide.

• Are farms important, and why do they provide so little jobs?

Farms are not necessarily important but they do provide ALOT of jobs, a 16x16 tile pumpkin acres farm will provide 512 jobs.

Farms provide a scenic back drop for your city also, while they do pollute, they don't cost anything other than the zoning cost. YOu don't have to give them water, but they have to have power and road connections.

• Which is better to use? Hardware or software rendering?

I find that hardware rendering makes the graphics better, but i'm not too sure about what it really does for the game.

• What precautions should i take to make sure i get good education in my city?

Only zone residential inside a school zone, and add museums and libraries.

• Is there an easy way to get stage 8's in my city?

No, there is not easy way persay, but this thread could be of some use https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/view.asp?topicID=33074&sessionID=FD7CD52254284391914D9BEB000B87BE

SimMaster

• Why Am I Not Getting Development?

There could be several reasons why your development has stalled. If your demand bars are low, perhaps your taxes are too high or you have passed ordinances that are limiting demand. If your demand is high but you are still not seeing development, it could be because desirability is low in the areas that you have zoned, traffic congestion is too high, or you haven

[Aronion 9]

Nice idea, but can't the members just search for their answers like the rest of us have had to do?  Jbbry- you started this idea now your job is to make sure everyone stays ON-TOPIC. 

 

Good Luck. 

 

I could also add one while I'm here, but it seems kinda vain...what the heck, I'll do it anyway.  

 

How do I set up my Mass Transit system? 

Ask Aronion...

Aronion says: click on the links in my sig to get some ideas.  If you have any other questions ask away.

[jbbry232 87]

Yes Aronion, they could just search the forums, but i stilll see numerous posts about these questions.  An average of around 50 people are joining this site a day looking for help.  and Stated in the post was quick reference  , this will be a growing list of questions,  of course i will search the forums for good questions that pop up alot in posts.

 

searching can take a while for 56k users, and can bring up ALOT of posts sometimes, some that don't even pertain to the subject of which they are looking for.  I myself am not a fan of the search feature ( i don't really use it anymore anyway) because of the many results it brings up  and the time it takes to find a working one most of the time......

 

if it sounds like i'm argueing,   sorry i'm really not.

[ALTX 40]

----------------

On 8/22/2003 10:30:08 PM jbbry232 wrote:

 

I can't see any of the buildings on the lots from the LE?

You either need to download the building_prop plugin from the maxis site or change graphics setting to high.

----------------

partally correct, you also need the landmarks from the Maxis site and the Kunjungjon Landmark as well....

you need the transportation plugin to see some of the props too

also you need the landmark and props plugin avalable in the modds section

[SimMaster 17]

 

[comdude21 6]

I think this is a good thread. It is good to have a faq-type thread where people can go and find the answers to some of their questions. You should continue with this, jbbry.

[Captain_Heath 18]

Thanks, jbbry232! That solved my problemwhy my game wasn't working. I've got the audio problem, I goto start-programs-accessories-communications, and click the audio button, but nothing comes up! And that little speaker on the toolbar is gone, too.

[jbbry232 87]

THanks comdude and your welcome captain health,

 

i am going to continue this but i need questions w/ answers from other members.

 

any question that pertains to SC4.

[Screwballl 196]

ok dirk, now we need a searchable Q&A page

[jbbry232 87]

A searchable Q&A page?   ITs not that big yet

[jbbry232 87]

i've got 15 questions right now, i've got a goal of 20-25, come on people,  i know i left something out

[ALTX 40]

um you should also tell the prople not to repatedly post and not make threads of ure questions

[Minotaur420 2]

the strikes could also be because the funding is simply too low and all they need to do is increase it. However, if it's maxed out and they still have a strike, then they need to build a new, say hospital.

[Aronion 9]

----------------

On 8/24/2003 6:45:53 PM ALTX wrote:

um you should also tell the prople not to repatedly post and not make threads of ure questions

----------------

He is doing fine.  If no one posted their questions how would we provide help?  Also, if everyone did a search first for their question there would be no need at all for this thread. 

About the repeated posting idea, couldn't you have asked jbbry this through a PM?   

I like his idea and I feel it will be a help to the new members that visit the site. 

[jbbry232 87]

I'm very glad that everyone likes the idea.

 

about the search, most newbies don't know its there anyway.

 

also, thnx for stickying it

[EAGCE 2]

How about something about farms. that's a popular question.

[fmorel90 3]

what is the Kunjungjon Landmark and where can I find it?

[SimMaster 17]

Here comes alot:

 

 

 

Why Am I Not Getting Development?

There could be several reasons why your development has stalled. If your demand bars are low, perhaps your taxes are too high or you have passed ordinances that are limiting demand. If your demand is high but you are still not seeing development, it could be because desirability is low in the areas that you have zoned, traffic congestion is too high, or you haven

[jbbry232 87]

wow, thanks simaster, your Q&A's have posted

 

youve made quite a contribution, gracias (thankyou)

 

there are now 28 q&a's

[ALTX 40]

SM...just out of curiousity...

 

did you get all of that info from the tips and tricks section at the offical site?

 

just asking

[jbbry232 87]

he could have, its similar to what i did for the bulk of my Q&a's, i did a forum search under the word HELP, it brings up lots of replies, i think yall know why

[jbbry232 87]

I created a website partially for this and partially to show pics of my city(not uploaded yet)    http://cheatmode0.tripod.com/

[Ben E Gas 0]

Hello,
I'm new to this forumn. I just bought Sim City 4 and I love it. But I have a few questions. Hopefully this is the right place to ask. Sorry if it is not.:

1.)I just bought the game and went to download the patch, the site said I had the latest version already. Do I need to still download the patch? I thought I only had version 1.0, but I could be wrong.

2.)During the game How do I make business deals? I understand how to make deals with my neighbors,(ie. garbage, power and water), but I don't understand how the business deals work as I never get any available business deals.

3.)Some of my plots of land clearly have roads going to them, yet there is a zot icon there saying there are no roads going to that lot. There clearly are roads, why does this happen?


Thanks for your help,
Ben E. Gas

[jbbry232 87]

your q's have been answered hope they help.  and thank you for coming here first

 

also visit the -Unofficial SC4 FAQ    for an easily searchable FAQ DATABASE

[vipernef 0]

Hi
I just started playing simsity 4 and I am having a prblem. I chose a region, San Francisco and I am building a city and all is going well, but I dont have neighbours every single terrain arround my city is empty. What must I do to get AI cities arround my city so that I can make deals and such?
Kind regards
Miguel

[Dippit 0]

Well in order to get neighbour deals, you have to build another city in those neighboring areas of course. Just start a new city in one of those neighbouring terrains, preferably one that borders with your orginal city. Then play the game by switching back and forth between the cities.

[vipernef 0]

Thank you Dippit
I have another question. I have a citie now with industries and agriculture and all, but if playing in Region mode I buil next to it a industrial and agricultural city, can I destroy all the industrial zones in the original city and have all the sims in it going to work in the industrial city?
Kind regards

[jbbry232 87]

yes you can, it works for residential and commercial as well

[Atreides 0]

I understand that there are 1 - 8 lvl resisdential and commercial and 1 - 3 lvl industrial buildings.

Can some please put up a list of the higher lvl ones so I can tell if I get them. Screenshots (or a link to an SS) would be nice for the lvl 8 that everyone raves about.

TY

[jbbry232 87]

the only way i could tell you those, is for you to get the PlopMODDFINAL from the mod files page and check them out, in the query for them it says something like C$$$(soandso)8Pedriana.... i think,

if anyone knows, please post