CAM?

[mistershnerples 0]

I think I"ve just gotten the tip of the iceberg on this new CAM thing from SC4Devotion. I haven't downloaded it, but I wanted to know what ya'll thought of it and what advantages and disadvantages there are to dLing this modd. Because I have a region of almost 6 million annoying Sims and I'm not sure whether to add this or not. Any thoughts or ideas would be great! Thanks!

[Bluebeard 0]

Well I can tell ya that if you use CAM it's going to change the look of your cities but you must Read the Read Me to fully understand how to use it.Goodluck

[tungston 19]

I won't advise you on using CAM, but I will suggest before you try it, you copy all of your regions to a different folder as a backup.

[Bluebeard 0]

Tungston CAM wasn't designed for everyone.If you want to go above and beyond the game stage levels then give CAM a shot but if your happy with things as they are then don't.

    At first when you start to Read the Read Me you will ask yourself did I do the right thing but once you get past the reading you will be fine.

[tungston 19]

You are right, BB, I have no interest in the CAM, but I wouldn't discourage anyone from trying it.

And as with any new mod, or custom content, backup of the region is recommended. That way if something goes wrong, or if it is not what you expected, all is not lost.

[mistershnerples 0]

so if i just copy my entire simcity 4 folder in my my docs untouched by CAM i should be fine. for example, i get CAm, it messes everything up, so i delete cam, delete the entire simcity 4 folder and just replace that with what i copied prior to CAM. would that work? there shouldnt be any residual effects of CAM or anything wrong with that?

[tungston 19]

That's accurate, the main folders to be concerned with are the plugins, and regions folders. The albums folder would only have images of the CAM cities, which you might even want.

[mistershnerples 0]

tungson: What kind of reasons do you have for not using CAM? i understand you dont want to advise, but i think some opinion from an experienced player such as yourself would be very useful to someone who is just realizing this world of modds and stuff and ways to improve gameplay. Thanks!

[Menotyou 0]

Just a question. What is CAM? I've heard a lot about it, but I can't seem to find anything about it.

[Cockatoo 2,256]

Originally posted by: Menotyou Just a question. What is CAM? I've heard a lot about it, but I can't seem to find anything about it.quote>

I'd also like to know, but from what I've herd it's mod that just makes things harder to grow? What is CAM anyway?

[MayorTim 16]

*Edited for being missinformed*

[mistershnerples 0]

menotyou and*****atoo: i've also been interested in dLing the CAM. go to this website for a discussion and stuff. https://www.sc4devotion.com/

from a little research, it doesn't make the game harder, but takes it "to the next level". for example, ive basically hit the top of all the stage levels with those high-rise buildings in my commercial and residential areas. what CAM does is add more stage levels, so that your buildings continue to grow - higher and something else, which i should find out.

but im still confused. lol.

[mistershnerples 0]

here's the link to dLing the manual.

https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=1877.0

[tungston 19]

Originally posted by: mistershnerples tungson: What kind of reasons do you have for not using CAM? i understand you dont want to advise, but i think some opinion from an experienced player such as yourself would be very useful to someone who is just realizing this world of modds and stuff and ways to improve gameplay. Thanks!quote>

 

I guess the main reason, is it's just not what I want from the game.  There are several themes that have come along, Simmars, Pegasus has created a couple, they are great additions to the game, just not my cup of tea.

I use most of Pegasus's lots, plus a lot of my own stuff, and I make modifications to the game that suits my playing style.  So if I want something I make it, and don't have a lot of things I don't want.

I haven't researched the CAM enough to know all of what you need for it, but I am guessing there is quite a bunch of things to add to the plugins.  That's where the extra things I don't want come in.  I believe in trying to keep the overhead down as much as possible.  I hate waiting, and any lag I can avoid, is.

I believe "if" the CAM is something a person wants from the game, it will be a good addition to the game.  And, I am not saying I will never use it, just not at this time.

[deadwoods 542]

As with all things new, there's a lot of FUD (Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt) around the CAM. I suspect many of the posters advising not to touch it haven't tested it out themselves. The mod enhances gameplay by extending the current Maxis-provided stage limits, so your Stage 8 skyscrapers are no longer the top-end of what you can achieve. As to conflicts with existing mods and custom content, you will need to check the CAM documentation and determine if it conflicts with anything you use (YMMV). AFAIK, them main conflict with existing BAT's is with some of the large skyscrapers released over the last few years that had stats out of line with both the Maxis stages and the new CAM stages. I expect many of the smaller bats will have no problems at all.

[pnorrell 4]

Originally posted by: MayorTim It isn't adviseable to use CAM with any other BAT buildings. CAM was designed to enhance SC4 RH on its own, and custom content will interfere with the way it works.quote>

This is not accurate. The CAM doesn't affect or conflict with any BAT buildings. The only real complication of the CAM is with existing stage 8 buildings (and whatever the top stage is for industry and farming). The problems there are two-fold:

1. New, "CAMpatible" lots have been released that use buildings from previous stage 8 downloads. For example, there are a ton using NDEX skyscraper models. The new stage 9-15 lots do not conflict with the old ones, but if you don't remove the old ones you will have a building grow at stage 8, with stats that are no longer a match for the reworked stages, and then grow again at stage, say, 15.

2. Similarly, all existing stage 8s are out of whack with the norms for the new stages. Even if there isn't a new CAMpatible lot that uses the same model, your existing stage 8 lots will be larger and of higher capacity than the rest of what grows in that stage. Stage 8 now includes mostly midrises. As a result, old stage 8s will look funny and take longer to upgrade.

The main problem I've had as a result of both of these two issues is tracking down and removing the old lots. Also, if you want to play already built-up regions, you have to find every instance of these lots in your cities and bulldoze them before removing them from your plugins. That can be a slow and tedious task.

In terms of what CAM does, it not only adds additional growth stages but it changes the demand calculation and evens out development between stages. I recommend you go right to the source and check out the threads at SC4D for answers, pics and commentary. Don't ask around here or you are likely to get faulty info like the response above.

Finally, existing regions - the creators of the CAM recommend backing up your regions before trying the CAM on them. That means backing up the regions folder, first and foremost, but you can also backup your pre-CAM plugins folder. There is a particular problem with what they call "eternal commuters" which are commuters who circulate endlessly between 4 cities that are connected at or near the common corners. You may have a problem with this already but what CAM does to the demand calculation can be catastrophic. Then there is the aforementioned problem of old lots. For sure, it is best used on an entirely new region...

Hope that helps....

[mistershnerples 0]

everyone: thanks for a great discussion on the CAM! i've read the manual and am just mulling the thought over for a while.

otherwise, is there a way for one plug-in, such as the CAM, to only affect one region? or is there only one plug-in folder for all the regions. cuz then i would love to experiment, but it seems highly unlikely.

[pnorrell 4]

Originally posted by: mistershnerples

otherwise, is there a way for one plug-in, such as the CAM, to only affect one region? or is there only one plug-in folder for all the regions. cuz then i would love to experiment, but it seems highly unlikely.quote>

SC4 Start-up Manager

[Shadow_prophet 91]

Sorry if this was mentioned earlier and i didn't notice or am being very ignorant but, can the 'CAMpatible' buildings still work and function normally... without CAM?

[pnorrell 4]

"CAMpatible" really just means the lots have stats in line with the new CAM growth stages. Lots that are made for the new stages 9-15 will only work with the CAM. CAMpatible lots for stages 8 and below will work without the CAM but will have different stats than the game's default buildings for those same stages. Also, all non-CAM buildings will work with the CAM (will grow) but will not correspond to the new CAM norms for stage levels.

[ssfsx17 0]

Since I use a lot of the HKABT super-large buildings, I'm afraid I must pass on the CAM until those buildings do become compatible.

[pnorrell 4]

Originally posted by: ssfsx17 Since I use a lot of the HKABT super-large buildings, I'm afraid I must pass on the CAM until those buildings do become compatible.quote>

You need not pass (for that reason, anyway). Many of Bixel's and Paulvmontfort's HKABT buildings have already been converted for the CAM.

[ssfsx17 0]

Ah, then in that case, perhaps I will reconsider how badly I really need that Farm Jobs x 50 multiplier.

[RippleJet 36]

In Rush Hour the Maxis farms have occupancies of  2, 4, 6, 6, 8, 10, and 13.

The Farm Jobs x 50 Multiplier changes these to  100, 200, 300, 300, 400, 500, and 650.

The CAM changes those occupancies to  3, 11, 16, 27, 36 , 38, and 88.

The stage limits for farm stages 2-5 in the CAM are  16, 40, 90, and 180.

Having stage 5 farms growing will have an effect on your city almost similar to the Farm Jobs x 50 Multiplier.

[jabezscratch 159]

I've d/l'd CAM and read through the manual but haven't installed it yet. A quick question: at its essence, is the main aim of CAM to allow for larger populations in cities? Maybe that's oversimplifying it, but, if I'm not mistaken, CAMpatible residential buildings for example will house more Sims but, beyond that, no other elements of the building will change. Is that correct?

[RippleJet 36]

The essence of CAM is to provide a smoother development through all stages. Because of that denser populated cities are possible, but that is not the only goal.

The CAM will not only provide a better development through the skyscraper stages, it also changes the development of industries and farming.

A couple of examples:

In Rush Hour stage 3 farms take over completely after a while, growing on 70% of all farming lots. If you do not have any custom farms, the only stage 3 farm available is the Pedriana Plant.
In the CAM five farming stages will grow at the same time and never rule out each other, giving a higher variety of different farms. And you will also have the extra addition of stage 6 and 7 farms.

In Rush Hour I-HT buildings won't really upgrade. All in-game I-HT buildings are set to grow both in medium density and high density zones.
In CAM all industrials develop through stages, just like residential and commercial buildings. And industrial stage 6-10 buildings will only grow on high density zones.

The CAM also includes a mod for less dilapidation of high wealth buildings and a mod for better police coverage of mega lots (like the airport).

[patriots_1228 51]

like tungston, i have not tried CAM, because its not my "cup of tea", so i dont no much about it, but im pretty sure every building thats CAMpatible already has a regular version available or is uploaded with a regular version, like Dmscopios latest LEX release.

[jabezscratch 159]

Originally posted by: RippleJet

The CAM also includes a mod for less dilapidation of high wealth buildings and a mod for better police coverage of mega lots (like the airport).

quote>

 

Now those are welcome changes IMO.  Thanks for the reply.

[RippleJet 36]

Dmscopio's GuangZhou Twin Tower is only available as a growable stage 15 CO$$ CAMeLot and as a ploppable CO$$$ functional landmark. It will not grow without the CAM.

[ssc4k 1]

i havent tried it yet ither and it doesnt suit me.

my queston: why is it called cam instead of something like "SLAM Stage Level Addon Modd"???