guide For the Eager, Yet Overwhelmed Newcomer

[squidgeny 2]

Thanks for this excellent thread. Long-time simcity player here, and have come back to SC4 after something like a 7-year break

But I have a problem!

You should apply the two updates to the game in this order: EP1 to fix bugs, and the BATupdate to allow nightlights.

When you are finished, you should check to see that the version number of the .exe file for the game in Program files/Maxis/Apps has been updated to 1,1,640,0. This is proof that your updates worked.

Although each of these updates say they have successfully updated my game, the exe still shows as version 1.1.610.0

Is there a way to determine from inside the game whether it's been updated? I snooped around the menus but couldn't find anywhere where it tells me the version. Also nothing seems different when I'm in a city (though that might be because the changes aren't immediately visible or noticable).

Any help greatly appreciated!

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

It is likely your updates did not take for some reason. The usual reason is that the space has been taken up by some illegal patch like a 'no disk' patch. You can check your latest crash dump. The version of the game is given several lines from the top but before the junk.

If you have applied an illegal patch, you will have to reinstall without it to get these to work.

If you want a legal no-disk version, purchase the digital download from Amazon or GamersGate.

  Edited July 8, 2012 by A Nonny Moose  

[squidgeny 2]

Ah of course! I should've known Sadly I gave my disc away many years ago, but it's worth buying again (especially at current prices!). Thanks for the links.

[jonasboi 2]

I am new to simcity 4. I am trying to download mods/custom content but the files are blank. I am not sure what updates are still working. i only purchased the game last week. HELP!!!!

  Edited July 11, 2012 by jonasboi  

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

First edit your post to remove your e-mail address. This is a public forum, and you don't want mail from every tom, dick and harry.

There have been STEX problems recently and they are being worked on. To check that your end is OK, try another site. I suggest SC4Devotion's LEX. Registration required for the site and the exchange, both free.

[jonasboi 2]

First edit your post to remove your e-mail address. This is a public forum, and you don't want mail from every tom, dick and harry.

There have been STEX problems recently and they are being worked on. To check that your end is OK, try another site. I suggest SC4Devotion's LEX. Registration required for the site and the exchange, both free.

I have done that but the custom content items are still a blank file.............

[jonasboi 2]

i found this. im not sure what this patch allows though... http://www.ea.com/simcity-4-deluxe

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

First edit your post to remove your e-mail address. This is a public forum, and you don't want mail from every tom, dick and harry.

There have been STEX problems recently and they are being worked on. To check that your end is OK, try another site. I suggest SC4Devotion's LEX. Registration required for the site and the exchange, both free.

I have done that but the custom content items are still a blank file.............

There have been some STEX problems. Please tell us what the version of your game is. You can find this by using windows explorer to navigate to Program Files ... SimCity 4.exe and hovering your mouse over the file. It must report at least 1,1,638 for you to use any custom content.

Please give the URL of what you've been downloading.

[jonasboi 2]

First edit your post to remove your e-mail address. This is a public forum, and you don't want mail from every tom, dick and harry.

There have been STEX problems recently and they are being worked on. To check that your end is OK, try another site. I suggest SC4Devotion's LEX. Registration required for the site and the exchange, both free.

I have done that but the custom content items are still a blank file.............

There have been some STEX problems. Please tell us what the version of your game is. You can find this by using windows explorer to navigate to Program Files ... SimCity 4.exe and hovering your mouse over the file. It must report at least 1,1,638 for you to use any custom content.

Please give the URL of what you've been downloading.

I have the updated version. 1.1.613.0

which isn't the right one to use cc. some stuff from https://www.sc4devotion.com has worked, but some stuff is just brown boxes. nothing from simtropolis works for me.

It is just blank files. So how do I get the right version?

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

I think that version is either UK or far east. On the disk or after you've installed it, there is a file/folder named SKU. Look in it and it will tell you the stock keeping unit number. This is the thing that controls which version of the EP1 patch you need. After applying the correct patch, which is a huge bug fix, your game should be up to 1,1,638. After that, for night lights on some custom buildings you will need the update4bat or whatever its called these days.\

I think Capt. City has a list of the various base versions, so you could maybe PM him on this.

[jonasboi 2]

I think that version is either UK or far east. On the disk or after you've installed it, there is a file/folder named SKU. Look in it and it will tell you the stock keeping unit number. This is the thing that controls which version of the EP1 patch you need. After applying the correct patch, which is a huge bug fix, your game should be up to 1,1,638. After that, for night lights on some custom buildings you will need the update4bat or whatever its called these days.\

I think Capt. City has a list of the various base versions, so you could maybe PM him on this.

it was an update patch for several regions including Australia (which is where I am). so I am not sure. maybe there is another patch I need I will look into it. Its just so confusing.

[jonasboi 2]

I think that version is either UK or far east. On the disk or after you've installed it, there is a file/folder named SKU. Look in it and it will tell you the stock keeping unit number. This is the thing that controls which version of the EP1 patch you need. After applying the correct patch, which is a huge bug fix, your game should be up to 1,1,638. After that, for night lights on some custom buildings you will need the update4bat or whatever its called these days.\

I think Capt. City has a list of the various base versions, so you could maybe PM him on this.

it was an update patch for several regions including Australia (which is where I am). so I am not sure. maybe there is another patch I need I will look into it. Its just so confusing.

I have "Plugin_002_TheLivingMall.dat" in the "Sku2_European" folder you told me to look in. which is confusing as hell. lol.

I am guessing I have the europian version of the game????

[jonasboi 2]

So I downloaded the update for the Europe region and I know have the correct update. 1.1.638.0

How ever, what ever I try to download on here is still a blank file.... So I dont know........

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Well, that's a start. On Sc4devotion you should also go to the BAT page and pick up the update for the game (only) so that night lights will work when the rest is sorted out.

Please post the URL of the STEX item you are trying to download.

[jonasboi 2]

Well, that's a start. On Sc4devotion you should also go to the BAT page and pick up the update for the game (only) so that night lights will work when the rest is sorted out.

Please post the URL of the STEX item you are trying to download.

I just tried all off these and the files were blank (saying i need to find a program online)

https://community.simtropolis.com/files/category/1-simcity-4/page__sort_order__DESC__sort_key__file_downloads__num__20__filter_key__all__st__80

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Well, I tried your first one, and I got Joerg's Police headquarters which unpacked into a .sc4lot perfectly. The problem may be at your end with either your AV software or your firewall.

What AV are you running, and is it set up to allow files from Simtropolis? The same for your firewall.

[CaptCity 4,752]

I just tried all off these and the files were blank (saying i need to find a program online)

Not sure what you mean by "blank file." Are you getting a zip folder when you download? If so, are you unzipping it or are you trying to open the file inside the zip? That is not necessary. The files inside the zip are what go in the Plugins, unless it's an executable file (which most are not) that has to be run.

[jonasboi 2]

i get the zip folder i open it and the files are there but they dont open. i cant click on them to install. when i do click on them it tells me to find a program online to open them...

the files download fine. ive downloaded stuff from other websites. most work fine some dont and some are brown boxes.

  Edited July 14, 2012 by jonasboi  

[CaptCity 4,752]

i get the zip folder i open it and the files are there but they dont open. i cant click on them to install. when i do click on them it tells me to find a program online to open them..

Some sites have different policies as far as uploads go, and different uploaders use different methods. Some use installer files while others don't. Most of the files on the STEX do not contain installers, just .dat files (probably what you mean by "blank" files). These types of files don't "install". That is why you are being asked for a program. You don't need to "click" on them. These are the .dat files that are read by the game and should simply be placed into the Plugins folder - hopefully in some type of arrangement that you can determine yourself. What I usually do is unzip the downloaded zip folder to make a "regular" folder (containing the .dat files) and place that in my Plugins depending upon how the folder fits into my structure.

The "Brown Box" issue you mentioned is due to the items you downloaded needing other files to appear/function correctly. These other files are known as Dependencies. The Dependencies are usually listed on the item's listing page or in a "Readme" file file that accompanies the download.

[jonasboi 2]

ahh, I see. so i go to program files - maxis - simcity4 deluxe - plugins. make a new folder in the plug ins folder and then add the files to that folder and it adds them to the game?

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Absolutely not!!!

All plugins except those targeted in installers go to C:\<your id>\Documents\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Plugins in an appropriate sub-folder. Stick to the user area and keep away from the privileged installation area.

There are many explanations of how to invoke plugins on this site. Did you read any of them?

[jonasboi 2]

ok cool. Ive downloaded those files again most are in my game. thank you to everyone who has helped me sort all this out, you have all been a big help. thanks

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

You get a point for getting it working. If you need anything else, start a new topic.

[CEOofAirports 6]

THHHHHHHHHHHHHHANK YOU

[rockygallman29055 0]

I cannot thank you enough. As a returning player from the days when this game was brand new, I am astonished to see what the custom community has done and I felt extremely lost when I started to look around. Great walk-through to get up to speed and resources to start digging around for, at the very least, the most commonly used mods. I now feel less and less like I'm missing out on something big as, thanks to this thread and this community, it's all put out front.

I'm just like you played the game when it was new also. Just had a question. I'm useing windows7 now and the game plays ok it just gets slow like when I move from one side of the map to the other and when I zoom in and out. Also it seems to pause alot. Just wondering if you were haveing the same problems. Thanks for any help.

[CaptCity 4,752]

...Just had a question. I'm useing windows7 now and the game plays ok it just gets slow like when I move from one side of the map to the other and when I zoom in and out. Also it seems to pause alot. Just wondering if you were haveing the same problems. Thanks for any help.

This might have to do with the system you are running the game on, or what else might be running at the same time. The size of the city might also affect this. You might want to post your issue and your system specifications in the Bugs & Technical forum for more assistance.

[rockygallman29055 0]

...Just had a question. I'm useing windows7 now and the game plays ok it just gets slow like when I move from one side of the map to the other and when I zoom in and out. Also it seems to pause alot. Just wondering if you were haveing the same problems. Thanks for any help.

This might have to do with the system you are running the game on, or what else might be running at the same time. The size of the city might also affect this. You might want to post your issue and your system specifications in the Bugs & Technical forum for more assistance.

I Thought the size of the city might be my problem. I checked out some of the thing on the Bugs & Technical forum but I'll look a little harder next time. Thanks for the help.

[rockygallman29055 0]

I downloaded something that took away the left turn lane on my roads. Down loaded so much that I tried to fine what I did with no luck right now so I thought I would ask if any one new what would make this happen.

[CaptCity 4,752]

When you say "took away," do you mean the normal road intersection is back or the spaces where the lanes had been are blank. The left-turn lanes are added by NAM - perhaps you accidentally removed it? Or perhaps you installed a road texture mod that is over-riding NAM. Are the roads the same texture (color) as before? You might look for folders that start with "z". Many re-texture mods begin with that so they load later. Just a thought...

[rockygallman29055 0]

I downloaded something that took away the left turn lane on my roads. Down loaded so much that I tried to fine what I did with no luck right now so I thought I would ask if any one new what would make this happen.

Ok I know I just posted this but if I had looked just a little harder and new what the hell I was doing I would have found it sooner.

I love this place.