Residential Zones Stay Empty

[BrokeDiamond 2]

I've posted about this in the past, but this time it's a little different.

I'm starting an entirely new city, zoning everything, etc. and pressing play only to find that Sims refuse to build on the Residential Zones. They build in every type of Commercial and Industrial zone, just not in Residential areas. The zones are completely watered and powered.

This problem also occurs in entirely different tiles in the same region.

Moreover, I wiped my region data in My Documents with the region data from Program Files, but the problem still persists.

I have 1.1.638.0 (I tried updating to 1.1.640.0 but the version number in Apps properties didn't change even though the patcher said it worked, but that's beside the point), NAM, CAM, bldgprop 1 and 2, Operahouse fix, and the anti-dilapidation mod, but none of that has been changed since my last successful city.

The last time I had this problem I had to completely reinstall the game, but I'd rather not do that this time. Anyone know how to fix this problem?

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Check your desirability display for residentials (only) and see what you get. If the areas are red, you've missed something. Try dropping in a school or a fire hall.

Putting the game in pause then starting it up after zoning is not the way the program was designed to work. You may have found a hiccup.

Try running in Turtle speed while you zone, and see what happens. This is SimCity not pop-up city.

[BrokeDiamond 2]

Check your desirability display for residentials (only) and see what you get. If the areas are red, you've missed something. Try dropping in a school or a fire hall.

Putting the game in pause then starting it up after zoning is not the way the program was designed to work. You may have found a hiccup.

Try running in Turtle speed while you zone, and see what happens. This is SimCity not pop-up city.

I wiped my region and tried building in Turtle speed only but the same thing keeps happening.

Interestingly enough though, the problem now sees to have migrated to agriculture to (or maybe it's just low demand) and residentials still refuse to build even though there are lots of used commercial zones nearby. They only start to build as soon as a few factories get set up.

Perhaps someone can explain why they only build when factories are present in terms of game code?

[Mister Giggles 310]

The phenomena you're noticing is a result of how the game determines its numbers. In a nutshell, sims require jobs somewhere before they'll move in, regardless of demand. The jobs must exist in the city or somewhere in the connected region. That's why some factories pop up before the sims move in.

If the game didn't work like this, abandonment would be rampant.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

And as far as game code is concerned, we'd be delighted to do so, if we only had it. EA is holding on to that so tight you'd think their company charter depended on it. When the new version of SimCity (5,2013) comes out, I hope it becomes abandonware. It clearly needs debugging and a recompile with modern software.

[BrokeDiamond 2]

The phenomena you're noticing is a result of how the game determines its numbers. In a nutshell, sims require jobs somewhere before they'll move in, regardless of demand. The jobs must exist in the city or somewhere in the connected region. That's why some factories pop up before the sims move in.

If the game didn't work like this, abandonment would be rampant.

Why aren't agricultural and commercial jobs enough to make Sims move in?

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

The phenomena you're noticing is a result of how the game determines its numbers. In a nutshell, sims require jobs somewhere before they'll move in, regardless of demand. The jobs must exist in the city or somewhere in the connected region. That's why some factories pop up before the sims move in.

If the game didn't work like this, abandonment would be rampant.

Why aren't agricultural and commercial jobs enough to make Sims move in?

They usually are. What type of zoning are you using?

[BrokeDiamond 2]

The phenomena you're noticing is a result of how the game determines its numbers. In a nutshell, sims require jobs somewhere before they'll move in, regardless of demand. The jobs must exist in the city or somewhere in the connected region. That's why some factories pop up before the sims move in.

If the game didn't work like this, abandonment would be rampant.

Why aren't agricultural and commercial jobs enough to make Sims move in?

They usually are. What type of zoning are you using?

Agricultural and low-density commercial usually.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Zone some 2 x 1 low density residentials directly on the street on the actual farmland if necessary. You'll have to dezone (v-key) the area first. Only one grid deep.

[BrokeDiamond 2]

I've made a little progress with the problem. It seems that low density zoning is okay, but you just need a LOT of small shops/farms for houses to be built. Is there a minimum job number that Sims need to move in? My guess would be a few hundred.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

I don't think so. I've had people move into 2 x 1 low density residential with only a few farms and a windmill. Have you reinstalled the game lately? It is starting to sound like it has been stepped on.

[BrokeDiamond 2]

I don't think so. I've had people move into 2 x 1 low density residential with only a few farms and a windmill. Have you reinstalled the game lately? It is starting to sound like it has been stepped on.

No I haven't, but I did install the CAM mod somewhat recently. Maybe that's the issue.

[ytrewqaaa 1]

have you tried to place some parks?

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

I don't think so. I've had people move into 2 x 1 low density residential with only a few farms and a windmill. Have you reinstalled the game lately? It is starting to sound like it has been stepped on.

No I haven't, but I did install the CAM mod somewhat recently. Maybe that's the issue.

This might produce quite a tangle, but try moving the CAM to a folder outside the game, and see if the problem goes away. CAM is really only good for building a megalopolis.

[Tramwhet 53]

I don't think so. I've had people move into 2 x 1 low density residential with only a few farms and a windmill. Have you reinstalled the game lately? It is starting to sound like it has been stepped on.

No I haven't, but I did install the CAM mod somewhat recently. Maybe that's the issue.

You have the double workforce bug :

Remove the CAM or fix it with Mister Giggles's tutorial.