Connections between non-contiguous cities?

[jp_scofflaw 1]

Hi all. Please excuse if this is a silly question, but I'm wondering if anybody knows much about network connections across the region. The Maxis handbook that came with the game has a vaguely worded bit about connections that had me thinking (and playing as if) a city would only respond to it's immediate neighbors. But something funny happened in a new city I just started that looks like I'm getting demand, and even traffic, from other cities in the region that are 2 and 3 cities (empty of development except the connecting rail & roads) away. Can this be true. If it is, it'll completely change how I play the region so I just had to ask. Thanks in advance.

[CaptCity 4,756]

...a new city I just started that looks like I'm getting demand, and even traffic, from other cities in the region that are 2 and 3 cities (empty of development except the connecting rail & roads) away. Can this be true. If it is, it'll completely change how I play the region so I just had to ask. Thanks in advance.

Yes, you opened those empty cities, laid roads and rail, then saved, so the details have, in effect, been "transferred" across the empty cities to the new one you started. One curious thing, though, you mentioned you had traffic entering the new city. If you go into the empty cities, is traffic moving across it? Just curious...

[Tysons4 68]

All cities connected in a region running in mayor mode have an effect on the system as a whole. even if it is a rail line going through the forest.The more cities=more demand= higher populations= more defined areas of the city= a more exciting region. Never get caught up in one thing for too long, always be adding cities and trying different zoning arrangements.

[jp_scofflaw 1]

Thanks, good to know.

Capt, I checked with both query tools and there's no traffic in the empty (except road/rail) cities and no automata. That's what I'd expect. I guess what made me think I was getting actual traffic was the appearance ofincoming automata at the edge of a developed city- sims will appearanty drive anywhere.

Tyson, I'm trying not to stay in one place too long, but its easier said than done. Each one of these cities can be its own bottomless pit. Oy.

Cheers!

[CaptCity 4,756]

I checked with both query tools and there's no traffic in the empty (except road/rail) cities and no automata. That's what I'd expect. I guess what made me think I was getting actual traffic was the appearance ofincoming automata at the edge of a developed city- sims will appearanty drive anywhere.

That's why I was curious. It is possible to get real traffic through empty (but saved) cities, but it takes some kind of "starter" jobs and doing things in sequence.

[Tysons4 68]

\\

Tyson, I'm trying not to stay in one place too long, but its easier said than done. Each one of these cities can be its own bottomless pit. Oy.

Cheers!

.

I have the exact opposite problem. It is very easy to build cities that cover many city tiles and fill up regions and make truckloads of money without any mods. It is another thing, however, to explain my process. Easier done than said.

example:

This region took me less than 24 hours to fill, each city has a landmark and has a positive cash flow. I am only considering this a stage 1 region. There are only 8or 9 power stations, and not one bridge, tunnel, or ferry. I have been running each city on turtle speed, never once pausing or speeding up. There have even been no fires (nor fire station, or any civics for that matter) and all cities have pretty high mayor rating.Also only a few cities have had to upgrade any of their streets to roads. There is no congestion in this whole region as of now, completely unmodded (im going to have to start building bridges to get trash off the islands). Regional population is just over 100,000 sims, and there has be no abandonment. Each city is less than 3 years old, and it is expected by year 10 that i have made back all the simoleons it cost to construct. Each city in my region cost anywhere from $100,000 to $250,000.

  Edited March 22, 2011 by Tysons4