3 beginner questions in descending order of importance

[CA Cash Refund 0]

 

Hi guys!  I just reinstalled the game after a multi year hiatus, and I'm having to relearn the ropes.  Three questions:  1. Can I replay the tutorials? I've already completed them, and I see no way of doing them again.  2. Can I "clean" my used regions? I junked up most of them with crappy cities, and I'd like a clean slate.  3. I'm really anxious to get playing, but I keep hearing about the importance of the NAM. Is this really an indispensable download? I've never used a mod and I'm afraid it's going to be a pain to install and another time obstacle in the way to me starting playing!  Thanks for the help!

 

PS: I posted this in the beginner thread but it doesn't seem to have a lot of activity and I'm DYING to figure this stuff out. Thanks again!

 

[ArchangelMichael 51]

1) Yes.  In the Options menu (three dots in the upper-right of region view) click the "Play Options" button (two gears) and hit the "Reset Tutorials" button.

2) Enter one of your old cities and open the God Mode menu (lower-left above the mini map, shaped like the sun).  Select the "Obliterate City" option.  This will eliminate all development while retaining the terrain.  Do not delete the city from region view or the terrain will go with it -- a city currently comprised of mountains and/or rivers and lakes will become a flat barren plain.

3) Take the time to download the NAM, making sure to read the documentation and DO NOT just mindlessly click the Next button during installation.  My personal recommendation for the many optional traffic simulators is whichever version of simulator z you think is best for your playing style.

The game's default traffic simulator is, in a word, defective.  If you download only one mod, get the Network Addon Mod!!!

[jim 546 43]

Q!: i'm not sure, but possibly yes, whenever i create a new region it asks me to run the tutorials, so a re-install should also set the tutorials up (or maybe i never did the tutorials in the first place? idk).

Q2: if you open up the cities and click on god mode, you can obliterate them and start again. however it does not correct the cities terrain, so you will still see where you placed roads/large buildings, and it also removes the flora (trees).

Q3: the nam is installed via an exe program, so no pain at all, you just have to figure out what parts of the nam you want.

[Strategist01 0]

@ Jim, I destroyed a city using the god mode way, and the mayor mode trees did not go away. But I suppose that si not too important.

@ CA Cash Refund I recommend using either the A, B, or Z simulators, as these are most compatible with other NAM addons. Before you install, read the readme file for how each simulator operates. And also for how to use the other addons like roads with turning lanes, etc.

[CA Cash Refund 0]

I really appreciate the responses!

1. I've got the tutorials up and running, great! My fault for not exploring the options more thoroughly.

2. I'll use God mode to clear all the cities - unfortunately, I've already made the mistake of trashing the entire tile and ending up with a blank square. Can anything be done to fix THAT?

3. The NAM sounds pretty important. I think I'll start playing now, but download the mod eventually. I've actually got a weird situation with my PC where I can't access the internet - though I CAN get on with other computers. Could I download the mod on another computer and transfer it via USB?

Thanks again for the help

[trondaron 0]

Yes, you can transfer the NAM install exe with a usb.

Probably (unless blocked by the computer) you can even run the installer from the usb.

I started playing without the NAM (I started 2 months ago). After getting a city population up around 20-30,000 and constant in game popups complaining that this or that street/avenue was traffic ridden I spent some time clicking around with the route query tool.

The paths that the route query should some of the sims taking blew my mind, so I gave NAM a shot on Z Low, and things cleared up. Using low I still get traffic issues, but they result from things I see as "realistic".

You may have seen this already, https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=6812.0

The question What are the different versions of Simulator Z, and how are they used? gives a clear table of the various Z simulator profiles.

[CA Cash Refund 0]

Thanks.... AGAIN

This is a very helpful forum!

[zurrabear 20]

I'm in a similar situation--a new player returning after a long hiatus--stopped playing because of the awful insoluble traffic problems in the stand-alone game. I consider the NAM, above anything else you can download from any community site, to be VITAL to making the game playable again. SO do get it, read the readme file, then go experiment with all the goodies it contains so you know what the new possibilities are. It's been a month or so for me and I'm still figuring all the NAM has to offer.

And don't be afraid of other custom plug-ins either. The SC4 community has made miracles since you played last!!

[Spinmaster 75]

2) about the regions... for the original Maxis-supplied regions (Fairview, London, Berlin, etc...), you can simply delete the ones under \My Documents\SimCity 4\Regions ... just delete the region subfolders in there, and copy the originals from the game's install directory, e.g. \Program Files\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Regions.

[CA Cash Refund 0]

Thanks Spinmaster, I'll probably do that.

New question: I'm installing the NAM, and I'm a the choosing components stage. I'm following the "Installation Instructions," but even those are confusing. What's important? My computer is pretty crappy and I don't think I need too many bells and whistles. Should I just do the "recommended" components?

I'll keep reading the NAM informational files for info on this.

[CA Cash Refund 0]

Update: I went ahead and downloaded the NAM, but now I've got a graphical glitch: detail on a few civic buildings and train stations (pretty much just the parking spaces that accompany each of those lots) has disappeared.

[CaptCity 4,893]

CA Cash Refund...

You might check the game's graphic settings. Sometimes they will reset to low, but should be at medium or high for many of the details to be visible.

Also, since you said you reinstalled the game after a bit of a break, do you have either Rush Hour or Deluxe, and did you update it with the game patch. NAM requires either Rush Hour or Deluxe.

Just a thought...

[CA Cash Refund 0]

I'll check the game settings tomorrow. As for the reinstallation.... I have "Simcity 4: Deluxe Edition," which include Rush Hour. And I did install the Maxis update, if that's what you mean by game patch. By the way - the NAM stuff does seem to have worked - I've got all the new pieces and stuff.

Also, I edited in a picture of the problem (which I've just realized is much more prevalent than I thought). All the residential tiles are missing a lot of detail, as are the train station, Mayor's house, clinic, and school. Crap!

(Sorry if I'm bumping this too much)

[Death54 3]

You probably have to install the NAM Essentials. Also, make sure you have the latest patch: http://compsimgames.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=compsimgames&cdn=gadgets&tm=2&f=00&tt=13&bt=1&bts=1&zu=http%3A//simcity.ea.com/update/index.php and building prop 1 and 2, which can be found in this list: http://idisk.mac.com/zelgadis-Public?view=web.

Edit: This is unrelated to your problem, but you might want to change the rendering on the game to software instead of hardware. It makes the game start up a bit slower, but will run a lot faster in game.