First time starting. What do I do, where do I go? AAAAAAH!

[magepro99 0]

So, I've been playing SimCity 3000, and I've finally brought myself to get SimCity 4.

I heard that I should download the NAM thingie, but there's a dozen of them, what exactly does it do, and should I download them all?

Next, I've started downloading the Lots and Modds and stuff, but some files are the SC4 files, and some are DAT files, whats up with that?

Also, when I download some files, some of them are in folders, can I just keep them in the folders? Will they still work?

Next, what are 'BAT' files?

This site is great, but can someone hold my hand to show what goes where? Thanks

P.S. Sorry if I posted in the wrong section.

[Xyloxadoria 1,099]

Hello and welcome to Simtropolis.

I would suggest reading this guide. It answers all your questions but the one about the NAM

The NAM is a addon that adds various types of transit to the game and you can get it here

Everything about the NAM is explained on the download page and in its readme.

[magepro99 0]

Aight cool.

Btw, when I build bus stations without NAM, how can I know where they go? And do the buses appear automatically? (sorry, haven't played in a while).

[CaptCity 4,752]

Well... Welcome to SimCity 4 and the site...

Originally posted by: magepro99

I heard that I should download the NAM thingie, but there's a dozen of them, what exactly does it do, and should I download them all?quote>

There is only one main NAM (Link) The others you have seen maybe some of the addons that are available (SAM, HSR, bridges, etc.)

Next, I've started downloading the Lots and Modds and stuff, but some files are the SC4 files, and some are DAT files, whats up with that?quote>

Pretty much any files included in the downloads are needed (at least in any well-made item) unless there are specific instructions as to which files to keep for a particular setup. The various file types are used for various things in the game. You'll usually be safe placing all in your plugins.

Also, when I download some files, some of them are in folders, can I just keep them in the folders? Will they still work?quote>

Yes, the game will read subfolders in the Plugins folder. The only time this could be an issue is if load order is important for the items to function correctly. If such is the case, the instructions are usually given. You might also think about developing an organization system for your plugins to make things easy to find as you add more items to the game.

Btw, when I build bus stations without NAM, how can I know where they go? And do the buses appear automatically? (sorry, haven't played in a while).quote>

Stations can be placed in areas with high traffic volume to provide mass transit. Just be sure to have them where "Sims" need to go (jobs). And yes, buses will appear automatically if the stations are being used.

Have fun on the site and playing the game, and feel free to post any questions in the forums here.

[asteconn 9]

Hello Magepro.

Give me 10 minutes and I'll give you a list of all of the essential stuff that you'll need to enhance the game; plus some general tips on how to install them.

Get the NAM and NAM Essentials

Get the RHW

Get the SAM

Get the HSRP

Get the Maxis Street End Cul de Sac

Get the BRF Slope and Tunnel Mod (or any slope mod, the BRF is just my favourite as it's the best compromise)

Get the roundabout crosswalk mod

Get the street-intersection crosswalk remover

Get the abandonment and delapidation mod

Get the radius doubler mod

Get the bridge height mod

Get the hole digging lots

Get the Opera House fix

Get the diagonal jagged edges mod

Get the highway sign remover

Get the no track checker mod

Get the Street Tree Mod or the JRJ Street Mod (which includes parked cars and stuff)

Get the lower pedriana's mod

If you're using a Sidewalk Mod, then get this little mod to let roundabouts show through

If you want European style road markings, use this mod

Highly recommended:

PEG's seasonal woods

Canals

PEG's Pond Kit

Install the NAM parts in the order that they appear in this list (the top three).

Make sure that you read up on the Street Tree Mod; as it has a few choices that you need dependencies for.

That should have you all set!

[Cobraroll 138]

Hmm... perhaps I can use this thread for this question, as it's fairly on-topic:

I'm looking for a custom police station (preferably stronger than the Deluxe one) and a hospital with a better capacity than the puny 3299. Do anyone have any recommendations? There are lots on the STEX, but it's hard to pick out the good ones from the glitchy, ugly or dependency-ridden ones.

[BoxCarRacer 1]

hi! I was going to make the same exact post! I had seen this site once or twice like two years ago when I first got SimCity 4, but than I stopped playing SimCity! Got back into and decided to register, but wow! This site looks so different! thanks for the links CaptCity, Astecon, and others!

-Ed

[TekindusT 3,809]

@Cobraroll: You should have posted your question in another thread or in the "Can't find it? Ask here" thread but anyways...

I would recommend both LBT packs, the LBT Police Stations Pack and the LBT Hospitals Pack Version Gold. I use extensively the hospitals one and there are three which have a higher capacity than the Maxis one.

[magepro99 0]

Thanks guys

One more thing, when I extract the files I download into the Plugin folder, it contains the readme and sometimes some picture files, can I just leave them in the plugins folder?

[DCMetro34 576]

Yes, you can leave them of delete them....although I would keep the readme.

[magepro99 0]

Cool, thanks alot!

[magepro99 0]

OOOOh, have some more questions

-Can I place bus stations anywhere? Or does it have to be in a continuous loop? Do I put them in all the lots?

-How do I increase my population faster without making neighboring regions?

-How come no one uses the highway I set up?

Thank you

[Cobraroll 138]

Magepro99:

1) You can place them anywhere adajent to a road. The buses don't care.

2) Good luck. The usual "generate jobs, which makes demand for residents, which makes demand for jobs..."-strategy might work. But I've found my cities to go from almost -2000 a month in income, to +5000, just by playing on neighbouring cities. So neighbours is the way to go.

3) The sims take the SHORTEST route to work, not necessarily the most efficent. If zig-zagging through the tiny streets of the residental areas all the way to downtown is shorter than jumping on the motorway, they'll ignore the motorway completely. Try to layout your city so that the sims are forced onto the highways (using toll booths and one-way roads).

And thanks a lot for the help, TekindusT! These lots are awesome!

[AwesomeO81 0]

Originally posted by: asteconn

Get the NAM and NAM Essentials

Get the RHW

Get the SAM

Get the HSRP

Get the Maxis Street End Cul de Sac

Get the BRF Slope and Tunnel Mod (or any slope mod, the BRF is just my favourite as it's the best compromise)

Get the roundabout crosswalk mod

Get the street-intersection crosswalk remover

Get the abandonment and delapidation mod

Get the radius doubler mod

Get the bridge height mod

Get the hole digging lots

Get the Opera House fix

Get the diagonal jagged edges mod

Get the highway sign remover

Get the no track checker mod

Get the Street Tree Mod or the JRJ Street Mod (which includes parked cars and stuff)

Get the lower pedriana's mod

If you're using a Sidewalk Mod, then get this little mod to let roundabouts show through

If you want European style road markings, use this mod

Highly recommended:

PEG's seasonal woods

Canals

PEG's Pond Kit

Install the NAM parts in the order that they appear in this list (the top three).

Make sure that you read up on the Street Tree Mod; as it has a few choices that you need dependencies for.

That should have you all set!

quote>

I just started playing SC4 for the first time in a while.  I installed all of these mods, but some of the streets are showing up as brown boxes.  Which one of the mods could be causing this?

[JewelsMax 0]

Originally posted by: magepro99

OOOOh, have some more questions

-Can I place bus stations anywhere? Or does it have to be in a continuous loop? Do I put them in all the lots?

-How do I increase my population faster without making neighboring regions?

-How come no one uses the highway I set up?

Thank you quote>

Do you highways have on and off ramps are the ramps connected to the highway and the roads?

[local_authority01 3]

@asteconn :   That is really awesome that you put all those links together for a new member.  I have been back a week or two but a lot of it was spent here on the Stex looking for those exact things!!!  lol, wish I had this list before

[magepro99 0]

One more problem :[ (sorry)

I created 4 regions, one for R$$$, one for I$$ and I$$$, one for C$$$ and one for farming.

About 1/4 of the R$$$ region has a suitcase with an X on it, and there are alot of abandoned buildings. The Industrial region is right next to it, how come they're abandoning? Thanks.

[Cobraroll 138]

Magepro99:

It's because the city doesn't offer jobs for their wealth class. Not many

[magepro99 0]

Is there a fix for the bug?

[SC4BOY 20]

Originally posted by: magepro99

Is there a fix for the bug?quote>

There is a "fix" but it is a minor issue.. just control your percentage of R$$$.. with the fix it only raises the demand a few units per 1HT... If you don't fix the real problem it won't matter anyway

[magepro99 0]

Oh man, I'm having problems after problems :[

My Industrial city is ok, but no high tech stuff is sprouting :[

The bottom half of my residential city is abandoned, even though the industrial city is just west of the R$ and the R$$ zones.

The top half of my residential city is doing ok, its mostly R$$$ and it has a commercial region just north of it

I placed another commercial region south of my residential region, but my Sims are still jobless for some reason, even though they're really near to the region border to the commercial place

Some of my commercials places north are abandoned too, I have no idea why.

And my trains aren't appearing, they cross through the farms, the industry, to the residential, all with freight train stations, but nothings happening. D;

Help? IF THATS NOT TOO MUCH LOL

My current regions:

I$$$, west

Residential, middle

C$$$, North

C$$ and C$, south

Farms, far west

Some more industry, east.

Can anyone recommend me some tax levels?