SC4ever Maxisland doesn't show up?

[xboxlive4ever 2]

Been a while since I've been here. But I tried downloading the region maxisland. Here's the link to what I'm referring to.

http://www.sc4ever.com/media/maxisland.cfm

I download it, unzip it, and the name shows up in my regions list, but it's just an empty region. What did I forget to do? Thanks for any help.

[Yarahi 1,823]

Did you remember to put it in your Documents folder, and not the Programfiles folder?

  Edited August 18, 2011 by yarahi  

[xboxlive4ever 2]

Did you remember to put it in your Documents folder, and not the Programfiles folder?

First, I'm not a computer expert so keep that in mind.I'm really lost here.

However, after doing some searching on the C Drive, I found program files and SImcity 4 deluxe under program files. I then see the regions folder with only the regions that shipped with the game.

I see none of the regions that I created or any regions I have tried to download.

I go into My documents and see Simcity 4 and check the regions folder. All my created regions and regions I have tried to download are here, plus all the mods in the plugin folder. So my guess is that I did put it in my Documents folder, like I originally thought.

[CaptCity 4,907]

In looking at the download, I noticed that the zip contained a folder named "Maxisland." When you un-zipped the zip folder, it will create a folder that contains the subfolder named Maxisland. City files must be in a single folder, not within another subfolder even with the same name. The game will find the outer folder and look for city files. It won't look in a subfolder. So having a folder within a folder will result in the game "seeing" the outer folder but not "seeing" any city files, thus showing the default "empty" region.

If this is the case, simply drag the Maxisland region folder to another location (desktop), open it, and drag the inner folder back to the Regions folder so it is outside the original. Or just open the zip (not un-zip) and drag the inner folder to the Regions folder.

Hope that makes sense...

[xboxlive4ever 2]

In looking at the download, I noticed that the zip contained a folder named "Maxisland." When you un-zipped the zip folder, it will create a folder that contains the subfolder named Maxisland. City files must be in a single folder, not within another subfolder even with the same name. The game will find the outer folder and look for city files. It won't look in a subfolder. So having a folder within a folder will result in the game "seeing" the outer folder but not "seeing" any city files, thus showing the default "empty" region.

If this is the case, simply drag the Maxisland region folder to another location (desktop), open it, and drag the inner folder back to the Regions folder so it is outside the original. Or just open the zip (not un-zip) and drag the inner folder to the Regions folder.

Hope that makes sense...

It Worked! Thanks for the help!

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

Well, I downloaded that and unzipped it, then moved the new Maxisland folder into my regions folder. Opened perfectly. Opened one of the big cities, got some notices about missing plugins packs, but no brown boxes, so I assume they are props I don't currently have. The very large city ran fine, no real problems.

My friend, I think you have been putting things where they should not go. You must not stick stuff in the Program Files structure unless you have a lot more operating/programming skills. That is a priveliged folder and is considered part of the operating system. Anything you add to the game should be placed in your C:/<user>/Documents/SimCity 4 Deluxe/ folders unless you are otherwise instructed in the read me's. If you were to do a reinstall, everything in the Program Files area will be replaced by the installer.

The separate set up allows more than one user on the machine to play the game (not at the same time). When a new user starts the game, the game code sets up the user structure automatically and copies in the default regions. At the same time, the user structures can be retained across a reinstall.

  Edited August 19, 2011 by A Nonny Moose  

[CaptCity 4,907]

Well, I downloaded that and unzipped it, then moved the new Maxisland folder into my regions folder. Opened perfectly.

Depending upon the zip program used and how, the "double" folder situation would result. In my above example, 7-Zip was used to unzip the zip. Because the zip folder was named Maxisland which, itself, contained the folder Maxisland, the zip created a Maxisland folder that contained the original in the zip. Hence the "double" folder, which won't work in the game. The same could be seen if one of the existing default regions were to be placed in a folder with the same name. For example, placing the Fairview region in another folder named Fairview and placed back in the Regions, the game will open a default region with nothing on it. This sounds like what happened with the Maxisland region due to the structure of the zip, even if placed in the correct Regions folder.

Opened one of the big cities, got some notices about missing plugins packs, but no brown boxes, so I assume they are props I don't currently have. The very large city ran fine, no real problems.

This came up in another discussion... Even though it wasn't mentioned on the download page, the creator had to have had the downloadable Maxis landmarks (and probably the bldgprop files) installed when creating the cities. Without them, some of the cities (three, if I recall correctly) did have brown boxes appear.

For what it's worth...

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

Well, I downloaded that and unzipped it, then moved the new Maxisland folder into my regions folder. Opened perfectly.

Depending upon the zip program used and how, the "double" folder situation would result. In my above example, 7-Zip was used to unzip the zip. Because the zip folder was named Maxisland which, itself, contained the folder Maxisland, the zip created a Maxisland folder that contained the original in the zip. Hence the "double" folder, which won't work in the game. The same could be seen if one of the existing default regions were to be placed in a folder with the same name. For example, placing the Fairview region in another folder named Fairview and placed back in the Regions, the game will open a default region with nothing on it. This sounds like what happened with the Maxisland region due to the structure of the zip, even if placed in the correct Regions folder.

Opened one of the big cities, got some notices about missing plugins packs, but no brown boxes, so I assume they are props I don't currently have. The very large city ran fine, no real problems.

This came up in another discussion... Even though it wasn't mentioned on the download page, the creator had to have had the downloadable Maxis landmarks (and probably the bldgprop files) installed when creating the cities. Without them, some of the cities (three, if I recall correctly) did have brown boxes appear.

For what it's worth...

Well, I used the Linux file-roller application to open this, and of course got a second folder. Anyone with any file system knowledge at all would move the new folder which contains the cities into the regions folder.

I am hunting for brown boxes, and haven't found any yet. When I do, I know how to fix them. I have all the usual default plugins, but not all the landmarks, so it will probably be one of those. I am not very excited about this, and only looked at it because the member said he could not get it to work.

After this repeated indication of weak file system knowledge, maybe we should put up a minimal windows explorer tutorial. Since I am on Linux, I am not the one to do this.

[THEBILLIONAIREOF1972 4]

but what happens if when you look for your stuff the game itself happens to be listed in the c drive under program files then where are all the downloads you get for the game including Maxis land suppose to go cause it show in the files i have it but when i open the game it is not in the list of regions and most of the downloads i took are not showing up in the plugin folder where you have to put them i'm soon ready to give up on playing this again.

[CorinaMarie 29,875]

Hiya.

Generally we frown on bumping up really old topics, but this one seems to contain relevant information so it'll be ok.

 

So, let's start off with which version of the game do you have and what operating system are you using? That'll help the experts here know more of what you might be seeing on your comp. Next, are your familiar with the My Documents (or just Documents) folder on your computer? Also, when you download items for your plugins are you letting the system put them somewhere by default or do you select which folder you want it to go to?

[Propfam 2,301]

I've tried it long ago and it works. Try to place the region at Documents/SimCity 4/Regions. 

I hope this helpful. Thanks.