Help needed

[ryanhamaty 0]

I am a beginner, i need to know what the diff is btw..... a mod, prop, lot, bat.......and to install them do i just unzip them and they should go to the correct folder.... please  help would be much appreciated...

Best Regards,

Ryan

[bigthing 35]

First of all, WELCOME TO SIMTROPOLIS!!

Simple,

A mod is something that you add to change something in the game i.e a terrain mod changes the appearence of the terrain

a prop is something that is normally a dependency, its something that appears on a building like a sattalite dish or a deck chair.

I beleve lot and bat is the same thing, im not sure though, they tend to both be included in a building. Or the lot may be the lot size and textures and the bat may be the building. (truth is im not sure)

To install just unzip and then look inside, if you see an installer (it would be an aplication so have your details on :-P) then just run that and make sure you read it (there may be options or stuff). If you dont and just see a load of lot and bat files then just copy and paste it into your plugins folder.

[ryanhamaty 0]

thanks very much, was playing Sim City 4 Classic, did not even know about the Rush Hour Expansion pack...what a difference.....must say , i am getting addicted to the game.....so all these things to download really increase the excitement.....

Are there any other hints or tips on what to download out there.....

[Rady 94]

Well,. if you haven't  done so meanwhile I would strongly suggest to download and install the NAM (Network Addon Mod) which offers tons of new possibilities for your transport networks (highways, ground light rail, ...) --> just search for NAM and go through the description of the content.

This then would be the MUST-HAVE, anything else that is available at the STEX or over at sc4devotion will be of interest once you played the game for a while. E.g. you will have to download the stations for the ground light rail.

But possibly it's best to play a while with the NAM installed to get accustomed to the game 'cause propably too much of downloading will get you confused at the beginning. Additionaly, you might have a better understanding whether or not to download certain stuff once you played SC4 RH for a while.

If you install custom contetn BE SURE TO TAKE CARE OF THE DEPENDENCIES! They are listet in the readme of the respective download. If you miss to download one of them, you will have brown boxes appear in your game.

As for installing: some of the files do come with an installer who willput the files in the proper directory. Some of them however will come as a zip file that you have to install manually.

All of the custom files need to go into the my document\simcity\plugins folder. It is strongly adviced to kee this folder orgnized. One good way of dooing so is to keep the custom files seperated by the creator name (one directory for each creator). This way you will find it much easier to find the custom stuff of a certain creator.

Additionally you might check out the SC4 DIC (Download &  Installation Catalogue) by DocRorlachn (have a look at this thread: https://www.simtropolis.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=22&threadid=103888&enterthread=y ).

It will help you keep track of your files and readme's.

[Attila464 2]

If you really start getting into mods meaning you will have many bats, props, textures. Then Cleanitol is a must. Many BATS, or buildings carry text files with them listing dependencies and files that may be need to be removed if it a new version. Cleanitol does it all for you instead of searching through files for 20-30 min.

Also another mod i would really, really think about is the Census Repository Vault, basically it keeps track of everything in your city and gives projections about the future, very important mod when you need solid information about what your sims need and why.

But above everything ALWAYS READ THE README ITS THERE FOR A REASON. Countless threads have been created that could have been solved if people had read the readme and even after you read it when installing do not just mindlessly press next read what it says.

Most good BATS come with an installer, but if it doesn't take care to use the right files and create a new folder for it. Also i would use the simcity in my documents not the one programs, for some reason sometimes when i put a mod in the plugins in programs it doesn't work but whenever i then move that into the sc4, plugins folder in my documents it always seems to work and most installers ive used always install into my documents/sc4/plugins, just something i have observed.

Another popular one that i use is the CAM (colossus addon mod) What it adds is more building stages which allows for taller buildings and higher workforces and populations in those buildings, that also applies for industry and farming. Many small things are done. Farms and factories now have a realistic workforce. (2 people working in a farm and 50 in a factory isn't very realistic lol) it adds more transportation options.

There are hundreds upon hundreds of BATS most of which deserve a download but you will need many, many dependencies, (my plugin folder is about 500mb not a lot compared to many others ive seen people with 8gb plugin folders. Id start with the NAM, see if you like it then keep downloading if you do. Just take it slow, i just started moding about 5 months ago and i installed too many things without reading manuals and not using cleanitol for checking for dependencies and old files that should have been replaced. So just take it slow no reason to rush.

[Pitt-Fan 0]

Is there a mod that sophisticates the Education demographic map and separates the "rings" into Library, Elementary School, High School, etc. I am finding it hard to serve my nice residential districts the educational amenities they desire because I cannot tell within ALL the different rings which region has a library and which doesn't.

[ArchangelMichael 51]

@Pitt-Fan -- I don't think it's possible to change the colors of the effect radii for the various types of educational buildings.  I agree, it would certainly be helpful.  When I need to check the radius of a school, I adjust the bus finding slider and see which radius moves.  For libraries, I select the same building from the menu and superimpose it over the one that has already been plopped to see which radius it matches.  The other option is to only use the Maxis Main Library -- its radius will cover every tile of a large city no matter where you plop it (no need to check coverage) and it holds 400,000 books.  Plop four (or is it five?) regular libraries, run the simulator for a while until the Main Library is offered, plop it, then demolish the little ones if you don't want them.  Or, download a nice BAT that looks suited to educational purposes and mod it to have the same properties, but without the reward status.

[ragufireman 0]

i downloaded some files and now need to know how to get them into sim city four any ideas

i understand i need to unzip them but im not completly sure how to do that too. Any help would be appreciated thanks!

[Rady 94]

Originally posted by: ragufireman

i downloaded some files and now need to know how to get them into sim city four any ideas

i understand i need to unzip them but im not completly sure how to do that too. Any help would be appreciated thanks!quote>

One way to find help is to read this thread, by that way you would posibly have found my post describing this

It's situated four posts above yours and is followed by an similar post extending mine.

[CaptCity 4,915]

ragufireman... Welcome to Simtropolis...

You can check out the How To Install Buildings section of this post here. It has some other info that might be beneficial to read through also. Hope this helps...

[ryanhamaty 0]

Thanks very much guys, really appreciate the feedback. Just to let you guys know that i downloaded the Nam Mod, it adds a lot of extra roads to the menu.....at first i was a bit confused, so i decided to uninstall it as i was not yet use to the rush hour expansion pack. Been playing Simcity 4 Classic for about 4 months when i got the rush hour expansion pack....just by doing that there were plenty more options available, so installing the nam mod really created a bit confusion as i was not completelt clued up with rush hour.....

When do you guys think is a good time to install all the mods....i would presume when i feel comfortable with the total gameplay and all functions....I must be honest, still struggling with the road and traffic problem and where to exactly place stations and bus stops......hopefully i will improve there..

By any chance is there a mod that allows the users to pin point the best location for stops and stations or does one just have to play and get a feel for it....

Best Regards,

Ryan

[Rady 94]

Ryan, as for the proper moment to install the NAM ... I installed it some 6 months after playing sc4 more ore less frequently (that is 1 .. 2 hours a week as I'm a working man unfortunately Most likely you will feel it by yourself once the time is right for that add-on ...

As for the bus-stops:

1) SIMs wont walk a long distance to reach the bus stop so you should place them rather tight. IMHO I need to place them tighter than I would by just judging the optical impression,. On the other hand if you look at a big RL city, the bus stops are each in seeing distance to the next, so this seems to be ok. Basically I put a station at every second block (given that a block is something around 6x6 or 8x8 sqares.

2) Use the traffic volume view of the menue to figure out the volume of traffic the sims are creating. Additionally you should use the "question-mark-cursor" (it's called "route query tool", to be exact) and click on your sims housing. This will draw the exact route that the sims living in this building take.

3) Based on that, you will find it easy to put your stations (given some gaming experience of course )

4) Beware - dont rush in with you public transport too early as it has severe impacts on your budget!

The traffic volume view and route query tool will also show you wheter you have cerated a bottleneck in your road system that needs to be widened. In adition you should try to have a mixture of residental and commercial zones, but seperate the industrial for reasons of pollution. By mixing res and com zones

a) some sims will have the opportunity to find a job near theyr home whih will reduce traffic problems

b) this will boost your commersial areas, which again will improve your tax income

Phew, hope I could help a little

[ryanhamaty 0]

thanks, will try it out......will update my progress.....as for the nam mod, think i will wait as well...

Thanks very much

[CaptCity 4,915]

Originally posted by: ryanhamaty

...I downloaded the Nam Mod, it adds a lot of extra roads to the menu.....at first i was a bit confused... When do you guys think is a good time to install all the mods....i would presume when i feel comfortable with the total gameplay and all functions....I must be honest, still struggling with the road and traffic problem and where to exactly place stations and bus stops...quote>

Just a couple thoughts on the NAM... Yes, it does add quite a bit to the game, and it may seem a little overwhelming if you are installing it for the first time and haven't 'grown-up' with it over time. Something you might do is select only certain components to install, and then add others over time as you get used to it. The installation program allows you to pick and choose. You can also create a 'test' city and just start plopping and dragging the various NAM components to get an idea of what all is available and where each is located.

Something else to consider is the traffic controller to use. Originally Sims would not walk very far, thus requiring many mass transit stops. However, some of the newer simulators allow Sims to walk much farther and use mass transit more efficiently relying less on cars.

Just a few thoughts...

[Merlin of Flyote 8]

Something not mentioned with NAM, when you click on a square in the menu use the tab key to get through all of the options.