Need some help getting the city off the ground

[omen2012 0]

Hello all,

I've been playing for a while and keep hitting the same brick way when it comes to developing my big city.

That brick wall is unemployement.  As soon as I start zoning for medium density residential, the no job zots spring up.  I'm not sure what to do, I've tried bus lines (not even sure if I'm using them right) and rail (same deal) to get them to the industrial zones in addition to my highway system.  Any help on this would be great.  This site is full of experts and I know someone here can provide the help I need.  I've attached a picture of the highway set up in my big city to help illustrate what I'm dealing with.

Thanks in advance.

[zurrabear 20]

Have you downloaed the current NAM?  It makes your Sims vastly more tolerant of long commutes.  If you haven't, search for it on the STEX and get it immediately.  Even if you don't use the various tansit options therein, it will still improve the game for you.

[Merlin of Flyote 8]

A picture of your city might help. The jobs are mainly CS$ and CO$, less C$$ and CO$$, and a few CS$$$ and CO$$$. If you are trying to get R$$ and R$$$ people too quickly you will get no job zots appear. Best to zone low density for a while until you see the comercial zones start to develope then upgrade to medium slowly. Similarly go slowly when upgrading from Medium to High Density. 

[omen2012 0]

Yeah I've got the NAM and it has helped but for some reason I still have unemployment problems when I start zoning medium density residential.

Thanks.

[omen2012 0]

I attatched a picture of my highway set up...that's pretty much all I have right now as I keep starting over whenever I run into unemployment problems.  I've been playing for a few years and have never gotten a big city to work, frustrating to say the least.  thanks.

[loiterer 0]

I looked at your highway JPEG but it tells me nothing without knowing what your city layout of zones, your population, your level of congestion, etc.

I had your problem with jobless Sims all the time when I first started playing. I bankrupted two cities because of the jobless wonders who ignored all the jobs available. Basically it seems to me that Sims in medium density housing are lazier than suburban Sims in low density housing. They won't even cross one-third of the map. Nor do they seem to like buses. Perhaps you need more roads or lower congestion on your existing roads. Make sure there are some employment options within a few blocks of where they live. I stuck subways in around the medium density which helped too. Weirdly, they were much keener to travel further if they could get a job in the next town. Who knows why?

Just experiment. I haven't bankrupted a city since those first experiences.

[Trainmaster423 0]

Perhaps, Omen, you could upload an example city for us download and examine? Maybe you could simply e-mail the city file to a few experts (with their permission). I would be happy to help out for one. If you'd like to send me a copy of one of your cities, or even the region, just PM me for my e-mail address. I wish I could be more helpful right here but I'd need to actually see the city in detail.

[omen2012 0]

thanks everyone, i will try to upload my city once i start rezoning it or at least label where i want to put the zones and what not. i will also try to include a region shot with some better explanation of what i'm trying to accomplish with it.

thanks again for your help everyone...hopefully i'll have something uploaded in the next day or two.