Expanding Regions

[Izzulguyr 0]

Hello everyone, I currently play a region that has 25 large city lots in them (5by5), but i'd like to add a row of 5 more large cities north of my region (to make it a 5 wide, 6deep).

My question: Is it even possible to add city lots to your region? If so, how do I do it?

Thanks in advance for your help...it will help a prosperous region

[NicolaiS 8]

This is a tutorial, but I am not sure who wrote it!

ok, the easiest way I found to create a config map for the game is using "paint" (for windows)

1. open ms paint found click "start" "programs" "accessories" "paint"

2. open new file for

3.open the "view" "zoom" "custom" click on 800%, then hit ok

4. open "view" " "zoom" "show grid" this is only optional, but I do it cuz I find it very helpful

now each square in the grid is the same size as small city region

you control how large you want the total region to be be click the black ( or blue) square on the outside bottom corner ( you can shrink it down to 1 square (this would make a region of a lone small city) or blow it up by draging it to the left and down ( now I believe 48 by 48 squares is the maximuim the game will make a region, not 100% sure on this, but 48 by 48 is huge huge map)

set the area to the size you wish ( now remember the grid starts at point 0 by 0 not 1 by 1 ) so if you want a 16 by 16 grid set the marker at 15 ( or 1 less then the area you want)

now colour in the region, 1 square red this is a small city...2 by 2 in green makes a med size city...4 by 4 in blue makes a large city ( i often use differnt colours when  making up a map to seperate the cities and aviod accidently over laping colours while i'm making the map, but the colours red ( for small) green (for med) blue (for large), are the only colours that the game understands  so you have to go back and change them before you save

now save the map...this can be done anywhere...and it can be named anything...save it somewhere where you remeber where it is...and name it something you will remeber

now open the game and create a new region..name it whatever you want

exit the game

using explorer drag and drop the map you created into your new created region folder, overwrite the existing file.

this is found in my documents\simcity\regions\ "name of the region you created"

DON'T put it in the programs section...some ppl try and put it in where the game resides...nothing will happen if you do this

now the file now must be named "config" for the game to understand that this is the new region you want to play, if it isn't named this excactly...the game won't know what the file is, and nothing will happen

now open the game up as normal and load up the region..you will have the region that you created...it's perfectly flat...but the cities are set up the way you like. use a jpg to help create a region or use the god tools to create a custom map.

good luck.

PS ... you can also open the excisting config and alter it as explained in the above tutorial.

[Izzulguyr 0]

Wow, alot to do

Thanks alot for your help, i'll work on this

[tungston 19]

@ Izzulguyr

I am not sure it was mentioned in Nic's post, but you can only add cities to the bottom, and/or right side of the region. I am guessing when you said north, you meant the top, that will destroy the terrain, and developed cities of the region.

EDIT:  You must also use the origional config.bmp to add to.  If you change anything of the origional, the region will then be turned into all flat terrain.

[rossjman1 0]

How do you do this if you already have cities in the region?

[tungston 19]

Originally posted by: rossjman1 How do you do this if you already have cities in the region?quote>

 

You have to edit the config.bmp to add the pixels for the city size to the right, or bottom, or both.  The added cities will need terriforming.  I know you can also do it with the new terriform tool

[crazychickensc12 84]

editing the config on already built city tiles for example say you have a developed small tile and want to make it medium by changing the config, that WILL destroy all development...however i've heard of a way to save the city but i dont know how you could save a small tile and input it into a medium or w.e this is even plausible...ill look into it!!

[Dippit 0]

I find that the safest way to expand a region is to make an entirely new region with the layout that you want and then import all the cities into the new region from the old one, rather than attempting to change the config map. Its time consuming if you have many cities but theres less risk involved if you are not so sure about what you are doing. You just have to be sure that you know which cities belong in which place so you import them to the correct location but even if you import them to the wrong location its still fixable.

[Izzulguyr 0]

Thanks alot guys, i havent risked my self yet into expanding my region, but Dippit I think i will try your idea, because im not very good with the ''technical'' stuff.

I have 25 large built cities, and im thinking of adding a column of 5 more to the right, having read what tungston said about only adding to the right and bottom (thx).

I guess I only have to find a config.bmp that is 5 vertical by 6 horizontal

Question, Will I be able to place the cities where theyre suppose to be, which should leave a column of 5 empty large cities to the east, if so, how?

thx for the support/replies!