Useful Information For Newcomers To Simtropolis!

[QK 0]

A couple of the links in the first post here are broken.

[rokoyoyo 0]

thanks Mike! O(?_?)O

[Tommara 0]

Useful information for newcomers?

It would be useful to explain why I need NAM or STEX exactly, and how they differ from using cheats?

[watskebart 0]

Hi there!!

I have a maybe strange question, but it's true and i have to now how i change this. I have download very much stuff here for Sim City 4 rush hour, the most downloads seems to work. But the buildings underground is white ????!! How does this come, what must i do to make it the same color als the landshape..?? 

Thanks for reading & and if you now it send me a message!!

Greetz Bart , from Holland.

[djmaxliving 0]

Hi all.

I can't seem to find out how to download feature from this site and then into Simcity 4 rush hour, thnks.

[dion polk 0]

I'm just getting started again and this is the first time I've started adding content to this rig. Question.... How do I back up what I've built already so I don't loose all this grey hair I've worked so hard in cultivating?

[dion polk 0]

'Nother question:

I installed the Radical Ordinance Plugin and now any new zoning or roads don't get used. I've played with the ordinances to try to get the folks to walking again.

No luck.

[chidote 0]

do I have to buy the STEX thing or is it for free

and why does this appear when I click the STEX link you posted

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Date/Time 29-Jan-09 01:00 PM

[Mikeaut1 261]

The STEX was probably down earlier this morning. It is working fine here!

The STEX is 100% free to use, along with everything else on this website. It would be cool to donate though since the site is run merely on the donations of the members. I believe you will receive a STEX CD in the mail if you donate $20 or more to the site. The STEX CD has many buildings you find on the STEX but you don't have to download, you'll have them right on CD!

[Mikeaut1 261]

Originally posted by: dion polk I'm just getting started again and this is the first time I've started adding content to this rig. Question.... How do I back up what I've built already so I don't loose all this grey hair I've worked so hard in cultivating?quote>

Do you have sufficient space on your hardrive? Do you have an external one, or a flash drive? I back up my regions and cities onto my external. You can back up regions by going into your Sim City 4 folder and selecting the plugins folder and the region folder with which you are working on. Then paste a copy of them on your computer or on your external or flash drive. Just in case your computer gets a virus and stops working, your Sim City 4 files will be backed up!

[BoostHungry 0]

Just looking for clarification during the download and installation of NAM I saw nothing called "Radical Custom Special". Does this mean that during installation do a custom install and set the traffic option to "Radical" or "Radical 24"? I'm not looking to cheat in the game in any way, I think the game is easy enough but if there's coding issues that's not giving me accurate commute times then I'll use this. I also love the other features the NAM offers.

- BoostHungry

[SirMatthew 0]

Hello, I've got a burning question: What's the difference between the programfiles/maxis/simcity4/plugins folder and the my documents plugin folder? At the moment, i put everything in the my documents folder because i put my props etc. there too. If i put a lot-file in the my documents folder and the model file in the program files folder, will the building appear in my game?

[dion polk 0]

Thanks Mike. Done and backed-up.

I'd like to see an answer to Matt's question. This has really confused me also. WHAT IS the difference between the two folders?

[Mikeaut1 261]

Originally posted by: SirMatthew Hello, I've got a burning question: What's the difference between the programfiles/maxis/simcity4/plugins folder and the my documents plugin folder? At the moment, i put everything in the my documents folder because i put my props etc. there too. If i put a lot-file in the my documents folder and the model file in the program files folder, will the building appear in my game?quote>

I know for a fact that the right plugins folder to put your custom content in is in this My Documents/Plugins folder. The other folder may just be a general plugins folder for the game itself, like addons or whatever.... not for the "plugins" we use from ST. I'm really not too sure. But I know that the right folder to use is the one in your Sim City 4 Folder where the regions and albums folders are located.

[BlackDragonAJ89 21]

Yeah, I'm new here and I feel really stupid; I got the transportation download, made some nice cities, and I'm trying to reduce the Maxis factor (though I do wish I could find the European and Asian building set replicas from SC3K Unlimited if anyone knows what I'm talking about). But really I just need general help to get around the board...

[Mikeaut1 261]

There are only a few replicas of 3K buildings around I believe. But I do know where you can find Asian buildings on Simtropolis. Check out this thread, home of HKBAT team.

[BlackDragonAJ89 21]

Thanks, I appreciate the help for that...

But I'm still trying to figure out how to navigate through everything else though...

[Mikeaut1 261]

Originally posted by: BlackDragonAJ89 Thanks, I appreciate the help for that...

But I'm still trying to figure out how to navigate through everything else though...quote>

What specifically are you trying to find or navigate through?

[junx 0]

OK i dont know if this question belongs here and maybe is stupid but i downloaded a lot of thing but still

i dont have many of tools and buildings of the videos and tutorials. I have sim city deluxe rush hour, and where i put all

does downloaded stuff so they work and i can use it in the game? pls answer.

[JakeMD 107]

Originally posted by: junx OK i dont know if this question belongs here and maybe is stupid but i downloaded a lot of thing but still

i dont have many of tools and buildings of the videos and tutorials. I have sim city deluxe rush hour, and where i put all

does downloaded stuff so they work and i can use it in the game? pls answer.quote>

Go ahead and take a look here.

As for this thread, Mike and I are in the process of revamping it.  It should soon contain even more info and links to important threads.. Look forward to more!

[preckie 0]

i can't seem to download the NAM.. weird.

[A-Traxx 0]

Originally posted by: jacqulina

great idea mike im sure this will help the newcomers a lot.quote>

Indeed

Good treath, and I like the downloads 

[JakeMD 107]

Originally posted by: preckie

i can't seem to download the NAM.. weird.quote>

You attempting to download from the STEX?

[Mikeaut1 261]

Just a general announcement for those who still use this thread...

I have updated many of the broken links to the article. Over the next few days, expect some updates on the article and perhaps some new links. Thanks everyone who still uses the article to your advantage. That's what it is there for, and I'm sorry for my delay in re-linking many of the broken hyperlinks.

[gitrdone 0]

I know this is an old topic but I no longer see the radical custom special anymore. Whats the deal?

[zurrabear 20]

Originally posted by: SWAT-MEDIC

Originally posted by: junx OK i dont know if this question belongs here and maybe is stupid but i downloaded a lot of thing but still

i dont have many of tools and buildings of the videos and tutorials. I have sim city deluxe rush hour, and where i put all

does downloaded stuff so they work and i can use it in the game? pls answer.quote>

Go ahead and take a look here.quote>

Please excuse the newbishness (I played SC4 years ago but gave up on it because of the transit issues), but could a moderator or knowledgeable person tell me *where* the NAM should be installed?  I read the guide linked above but it's not clear to me that the NAM goes in the same plugins folder that other STEX files go in.  Thanks in advance for assistance.

I'm absolutely *amazed* at what's been done with the SC4 since I played it last, circa 2005...a little intimidating and much to learn, but so many amazing community-based improvements.  You all are to be congratulated!

z-bear

[north country dude 207]

Originally posted by: Tommara

Useful information for newcomers?

It would be useful to explain why I need NAM or STEX exactly, and how they differ from using cheats?quote>

Apples and Oranges.

The NAM, or Network Addon Mod, is a graphical addition to the transportation network used by Sim City 4 with Rush Hour. It ADDs more options to your road and rail network building and simulation toolsets. Installing the NAM isn't cheating, it's just a way of giving the user more control over how he or she will build their transportation network. It only changes the transportation portion of the simulation's parameters to behave differently from the original. Some opinions say that it makes the transportation network more realistic within the overall simulation.

The STEX, or Simtropolis Exchange, is a file sharing repository of all custom content submitted to Simtropolis. From here you can download file modifications that one could call "cheats", such as Lots which provide "cash on demand", but these are somewhat rare in comparison to the majority of custom content available. Again, these types of mods only change the financial parameters of the simulation.

Other modifications change different parameters of the simulation, such as dilapidation rates, or when the the simulation will build certain types of Lots with in a zone, and so on.

Most of the custom content provided(95%) here is exactly as the Sim City 4 simulation's file structure intended. Every object you see in the game; Lots, Buildings, vehicles, trees, flowers, grass, water, transportation networks, etc., can be manipulated, customized to your own preferences, and shared with others.

The custom content provided here on the STEX and at other popular sites includes evrything from additional buildings for your city, to different climates and environments for your city regions. Adding this content does not alter the SC4.exe file itself, just the files that SC4.exe uses to present the city simulation.

With that said, a great majority of what you see on Sim City 4 exchanges(including the STEX) is mostly graphical in nature and while Sim City 4 can be played as a game, at it's heart, it's just a city building simulation. You can change the parameters of the Sim City 4 simulation, but you really cannot "cheat" it.

[timcravey 169]

Hi, z-bear. Welcome back to SimCity. The NAM does indeed go in the same folder as the other plugins; just run the installer and it will create its own sub-folder. Be sure to read the readme (actually, all six of them!) so you can choose your options when it installs.

PS:  Well said, north country dude!

[zurrabear 20]

Thanks Timcravey--I actually did find the answer myself embedded in another thread, and got it all installed and working.

[paulluther 0]

Hello, I'm confused and probably come off as an idiot, but how do I download a lot?

I've been reading and wading through everything for two days and there is so much here it's overwhelming.

I finally found a couple of lots that I would like to download but after clicking everything on and around the pic, description, profile avatar, rating stars...I give up.

Which part of the site do I go to download something?

Thank you.

p.s. please remember that apparently I'm an idiot.