The fourth density???

[soltangris 42]

I bet nobody of you guys has noticed a fun/interesting fact:

When you open in the game something that requires zoning (be it residential, industrial, commercial), you also open the three density buttons (along with the 'special buildings' button that keeps turning on and off). If you take a closer look at the graphs in those three buttons, you'll notice that each has FOUR lines.

- Low density - one of the four lines is highlighted, three remain grayed out 

- Medium density - two lines highlighted

- High density - three lines highlighted.

The fourth line is never highlighted, even in high density!

(again, I'm not talking about the 'special buildings' button, it's the three density buttons I'm talking about)

I'll venture into some speculation here: we'll have a fourth type of density in the future. Most probably it'll be mixed density. But how exactly this is gonna work? You'll place whatever lots fit in the zone (regardless of density/form)? Or you'll have some sort of growable zone?

What do you guys think?

[GlobexCo 33]

... mmh I can't understand what you're talking about! Can you please post a picture?

[BattleshipAgincourt 1]

I think that's the de-zone you're talking about.

Every kind of zone has it, including one for the landfill 'zone.'

Is that what you mean?

[soltangris 42]

um, no. De-zone was a SC4 concept, it doesn't exist here. OK, I'll try to post a pic.

Guys, I'm having problems uploading the screen. Which tool in the forum should I use?

[Sainty 0]

AltGr + F11

[kiwispanker 1]

i remember seeing those lines a while ago. i just assumed the fourth line was for the specialty buildings (although the special "star" button didn't have any lines). that would be nice if there was a fourth density, or at least two different densities to distinguish between tall (high density) 10 story buildings and super tall (high density) 40+ story buildings. like the fourth density could just be solely for skyscrapers.

if i ever play the game i'll take a photo.

[GlobexCo 33]

Originally posted by: soltangris

um, no. De-zone was a SC4 concept, it doesn't exist here. OK, I'll try to post a pic.

Guys, I'm having problems uploading the screen. Which tool in the forum should I use?quote>

1. Upload the image to imageshack and post it by pressing the blue mountain button and pasting there the direct link.

2. Upload the image from the reply window by clicking the yellow frog button, then post it.

[Ocram's Razr 963]

In the demo (I own Limited Edition but I had to reorder RAM because I mixed up my billing address the first time), there were 6 lines with 2 lines being highlighted at each density which made me assume that 2 different sizes of buildings would develop in zones in the full game. It might just be an error on the developer's part.

[soltangris 42]

Notice the number of lines, and how many are highlighted in each density!

Image Edited for size... 800x600 please -89

[povis123 0]

I add screenshot about what talking soltangris - http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/7421/121213.png i look to all game icons and there is no icon with four lines highlighted after icon with 3 lines goes icon with star.

 

[Ocram's Razr 963]

I must have misremembered the demo...

I see now: the icons have 4 lines and the highest density currently available only highlights the bottom 3.

[Skimbo 304]

The fourth line is for the special buildings, I guess 4th=Star

Hm, the next one, who meets a CM in the Chat should ask him....

[soltangris 42]

 must have misremembered the demo...

I see now: the icons have 4 lines and the highest density

currently

available only highlights the bottom 3.

 

Exactly. So, what's it gonna be ? ?

[DazzaDazza 29]

o.k. it has taken me some time to work out what you are all talking about, but I get it now, this is what you think we will see in the future   

  

[Asheroo 53]

Well, I do think that the whole density system really needs a whole make over. There are plenty of buildings on the low density that should be in medium density, and buildings in high density that should be in low density (but are in high because of the lot size). MC needs to find a way around so the big size lots with the small mansions can be in the low density category, and it really shouldn't be too hard to transfer those medium density buildings in the low density to the proper category. I get sick of having buildings of 3 stories or more popping up when trying to place low density offices.

As for this "fourth density", well the high density buildings are tall enough, so the only bigger it can get is maybe massive shopping centres or big office complex centres, that is something though that is missing. But, I'm not too sure we will receive a fourth density, I think that the fourth density with all highlighted is really supposed to be the "exceptional" buildings.

[Ocram's Razr 963]

Some of the larger high density buildings could potentially be moved to the 4th density.

[pete1061 0]

It would be cool to see things go to an extra high density. Really tall towers like the burj dubai, the 1KM tower planned for kwait city, the chicago spire, and this building I saw on the discovery channel about a huge pyramid like structure proposed for tokyo bay (these would serve as residential, office, and hotel providing a relief to traffic). An example of 4th density manufacturing would be the Boeing assembly plant in Seattle. 4th density heavy industry would be a major steel mill or something like that.

These buildings wouldn't be unlocked until 5-10 million or more. They would have to improve performance on large cities though, cities with 10+ million crash on many systems.

[soltangris 42]

Hihihi, good work mrdazza! Yeah, that's what I think is comming.

And yeah, it's kinda strange to see a 2-story high density mansion with pool. Do they suggest there are 15 elite families sharing the mansion? 20 elite kids at the same time in the pool??

Anyway, what I think they're trying to do is emulate the european zoning style - there are buildings there that are not that tall (5 - 6 floors), but they stretch for a whole block. They include inner courtyards, for example. There's no way you could mistake this for low or medium density.

Anyway, all of this should snap into place if they allow more lot sizes and forms per density.

[soltangris 42]

I noticed another interesting fact recently:

If you look closer at some Medium and High density residential and office buildings, you'll notice that on their bottom floors there IS commerce - stuff like beauty parlors, shops, cafes, garages and so on! Of course, it's only an eye candy....

[zwr100 2]

Your last two posts are really interesting.  It seems like they have the right ideas for zoning, they just aren't really functional in the game.

[DazzaDazza 29]

yah I saw the same thing when I zoomed in to was look at the quality of there work. You are right there are some building in the R$ R$$ zones that look more like shops than apartments. lets hope it to be ture