Get your Maxis files here!

[catty-cb 4,392]

Thanks for the link.  I signed up, and I see there is still a lot to do.  Good luck with this.

 

The site has been going for just over a year and yes there is still lots to do, but RL is difficult to escape from at times, but I don't believe in giving up so it will get there in the end.

 

-catty

[FreewayofFlight 41]

Where can I go to download the landmarks that were only available on the old SimCity 4 website (Capitol Records Building, Seoul building, etc.)?

[Cyclone Boom 16,875]

Where can I go to download the landmarks that were only available on the old SimCity 4 website (Capitol Records Building, Seoul building, etc.)?

 

As stated on the first page, the original Maxis plugins are available on the Screwpile Exchange. Just scroll down to the "Lots" category.

[FreewayofFlight 41]

 

Where can I go to download the landmarks that were only available on the old SimCity 4 website (Capitol Records Building, Seoul building, etc.)?

 

As stated on the first page, the original Maxis plugins are available on the Screwpile Exchange. Just scroll down to the "Lots" category.

 

 

I'm currently trying to download the lots, but a lot of them are coming up as .dat files

[Cyclone Boom 16,875]

Don't worry, that's perfectly normal. DATs contain game data files (e.g. models, lots), which are compressed into a singular file. Just place them into your plugins folder as usual. There are no other special requirements.

[FreewayofFlight 41]

oh ok, sorry to be a pain

[amahan10 2]

I click the link to the Screwpile Exchange and its good, it works. my problem is is that whenever i want to try downloading anything from there, it directs me to a page saying "This webpage is not available." ...soooo is it really not available anymore? the last two posts before mine are very 2013 recent. Thank you :/

[aaaling 83]

Um, it works for me. I don’t know what’s wrong.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

There are getting to be more sites.  Try this one.

[catty-cb 4,392]

There are getting to be more sites.  Try this one.

 

 

That one is going to your status message on site you must have had it open when you saved the link, try this one instead

 

http://citybuilders.co.nz/index.php/cbex

[Cyclone Boom 16,875]

Thanks for the hard work with this, Catty -- you're doing a great job!

It's nice to have descriptions of what each file represents, as well as a picture. The same can be said with the dependencies list, which again is very helpful.

 

Bookmarked for future reference.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

 

There are getting to be more sites.  Try this one.

 

 

That one is going to your status message on site you must have had it open when you saved the link, try this one instead

 

http://citybuilders.co.nz/index.php/cbex-official

 

Thanks, Catty.  I had one too many levels in my bookmark.

[robert4you 0]

From what cause I can not see some packages from SimCity? It looks like a gift package, or the cause can not be activated? waiting for response.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

If you mean "Brown paper packages tied up with string" you are either missing some dependencies for these lots or the model file.

1. When you get a plugin, if it does not have an installer then after unpacking it, if there are multiple files present you must read any installation instructions and follow them.  The files with extensions SC4LOT, SC4DESC, SC4MODEL, DAT and DLL need to be placed in the <you>/Documents/SimCity 4/Plugins directory.  Anything else is documentation and should be kept elsewhere.
2. If you are missing dependencies, your brown box is often in place of a property.  These are generally listed on the download page and must be present in your Plugins suite.  They are reusable and may appear in more than one lot.  You only need to add them to your suite once.

A tip.  Always download items into a separate directory.  I use <me>/Downloads/SC4Downloads/<author>.  Unpack your files in place there, and move only the necessary files to your Plugins directory.  It is not a bad idea to follow the same structure in the Plugins directory as well.  {You can always tell an old computer guy.  Folder is the new word for directory.}

 

And one more thing, if your game version is not at least 1,1,638 the stuff on our exchange won't work.

[Mr Baseball 0]

And I thought "Trainz" was the only game where I had to deal with dependencies.   Good to know.

[Cyclone Boom 16,875]

And I thought "Trainz" was the only game where I had to deal with dependencies.   Good to know.

 

Yep, there sure are a lot of dependencies out there!

 

It's worth reminding that some older uploads may refer to a prop or texture pack that's no longer available. This is because it's most likely to have been superseded. For example, many of the BSC props and textures are now merged into MEGA packs, which contain multiple files.

 

The City Builders site has a great resource for dependencies, found here. By clicking each dependency, it opens up a detailed page of information -- including a description and a details list. For example, in BSC MEGA Props - SG Vol 01 (which happens to be one of the most used prop packs), it states all the individual files that have been combined. Some uploads may mention these old files in the description. When this occurs, lists like this can help to check if a mega pack exists.

 

Actually, there's a small tool called the BSC Cleanitol which helps to automate this process. It basically allows duplicate dependencies to be found and removed from your plugins folder, which may otherwise cause the game to crash. It then notifies you what files you're missing. Uploads at the LEX commonly include a .txt file which allows the tool to search for any conflicts. In addition, it also has the ability to move images and documentation out of you plugins. These files are usually included with items of custom content, and since they're not used by the game, they should be stored away in a separate folder. Generally, the more files in your plugins folder, the longer the game will take to load.

 

A user guide for the tool can be found here.

 

Overall, dependencies can be a pain sometimes. But in the end, you'll find they're definitely worth the hassle.

[Mr Baseball 0]

Thank You. Good info.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

I tend to limit the dependencies.  I have a long list of BSC dependencies because I like their stuff, but a long list of dependencies I don't already have usually turns me off the lot.  I've got to actually need the lot to accept new dependencies.

 

Selective use of the custom content can usually get you a better result than just grabbing everything in sight.

[Mr Baseball 0]

I tend to limit the dependencies.  I have a long list of BSC dependencies because I like their stuff, but a long list of dependencies I don't already have usually turns me off the lot.  I've got to actually need the lot to accept new dependencies.

 

Selective use of the custom content can usually get you a better result than just grabbing everything in sight.

 A lesson I learned from Trainz that I will try to apply here. One question: If I just want to use custom content but not make any, do I still need to install BAT?

[CaptCity 4,753]

No, the BAT is a tool used to create content. You don't need it to use the content. As long as your game is up-to-date and you have any required dependencies, you shouldn't have issues with using content in the game.

[Mr Baseball 0]

Thank You.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

However, on the BAT page you will find the update to 1,1,640 if your game came from CD.  Otherwise you can just ignore it.

 

You should, if you have not, open the Lot Editor page and pick up the two plugins BldgProps_Vol1, _Vol2.  Many content makers consider these to be default, and don't mention them in dependency lists.

[Mr Baseball 0]

However, on the BAT page you will find the update to 1,1,640 if your game came from CD.  Otherwise you can just ignore it.

 

You should, if you have not, open the Lot Editor page and pick up the two plugins BldgProps_Vol1, _Vol2.  Many content makers consider these to be default, and don't mention them in dependency lists.

I have a Digital copy from Amazon. I'll check out those 2 plugins, thanks.

[ROFLyoshi 1,760]

If you have a digital copy, it is fully patched and ready to go.

[catty-cb 4,392]

...The City Builders site has a great resource for dependencies, found here. By clicking each dependency, it opens up a detailed page of information -- including a description and a details list. For example, in BSC MEGA Props - SG Vol 01 (which happens to be one of the most used prop packs), it states all the individual files that have been combined. Some uploads may mention these old files in the description. When this occurs, lists like this can help to check if a mega pack exists....

 

thanks, I have actually stopped updating this list for a number of reasons including the software can't be updated and it does take time to add anything new to the list, I have been trialing a number of possible replacements which would work in a similar fashion, but be easier to maintain and update, the latest of which can be found here

 

http://citybuilders.co.nz/index.php/spider

 

currently it can only be viewed by the registered users of the site, I don't intent to get rid of the old dependency list until everything has been copied over to the new list, the old list can still be accessed by any registered user of the site.

 

-catty

[mincraftdude123m 2]

ehhh?

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

The  site is a voluntary service controlled by catty-cb.  So what's your question.

[catty-cb 4,392]

Sorry I should have mentioned in my previous post that the reason the dependency list, forums, gallery and a few other things are registered users only at the moment is because the site is having a change of site theme and its easier to move the menus around , etc without worrying about the number of people who might be looking at something when you do it

[EmJay1974 4]

Now that everything is down, how do I get the Toronto buildings that were for download on the Maxis site?

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Hunt around.  Try searching on Google.  Far as I know, there were never any Toronto Buildings made by the Maxis Crew.  You could look at some of the buildings by MattB325, Madhatter106.  Both of them are quite prolific.