Some newcomer's technical questions about custom content

[Vitalka 2]

Hello.

I'm new to SC4 custom content, and I'd like to clarify something before using it. Excuse me for asking these, but somehow I can't find answers in FAQs and articles.

1. What are exactly the in-game differencies between BATs and lots? For example, if I install some growable "XXX Plaza" made as BAT, or made as lot - will they behave differently?

2. Do growable custom buildings replace original Maxis ones, or are they just added into game? If added, then will they be associated with a certain building style?

3. Do I need to start a new city to see the installed stuff?

[Amthaak 1,501]

1 lots is what you get in the game , they can be growable or plopable. they are made with the lot editor (for instance) and are made basically with bats (props and "building"), base and overlay textures. Props and "buildings" are mainly batted with gmax (free) or 3dsmax (free for students).

2 they mainly just add into the game. Yes!

3 No!

Wellcome to Simtropolis!

[T Wrecks 10,209]

Just to expand on Amthaak's answer a little:

1: From your point of view as a downloader, BATs and LOTs behave identically. The difference is that a LOT contains only... well, the lot itself, and relies on existing models for everything threedimensional that's on it. If you download a BAT, you will download a SimCity lot that has a newly made BAT model on it.

2: As Amthaak correctly said, the add to the game. The building style depends on what the creator did with the model. It can be adjusted, but some uploaders don't know how. If you don't change anything, your building will grow in all styles. Many uploads feature some information on building style ("tileset") in their description. If you don't read anything, chances are the building will grow in all tilesets. (You can change tilesets yourself using software such as SC4Tool).

[Mr Glide 2]

I would like to add a question if I may. Is there a limit to how many BATS and LOTS can appear on a map?

In other words, if I downloaded 100 growable BATS or LOTS, is there a chance all of them could appear simultaneously alongside the existing Simcity LOTS?

Or is there a theoretical maximum number of models and LOTS that the simulation can handle at any one time in a given map?

[cogeo 960]

The term "Lot" means a parcel of land (of fixed size, eg 2x3) that accomodates a (main) building (either visible or invisible) and possibly a number of props (ancillary 3D models). For example, in a house lot, the house is the main building and all other items (fences, patios, tubs, flowers etc) are props. In a park lot, there is typically no main building (actually thwere is, but it's not visible) but there can be numerous props as well as flora. Everything that can be grown or plopped ingame is a "Lot". BAT means "Building Architect Tool", the tool used to create new 3D models. These are usually called simply "models" or "BATs". A BAT can be used as a (main) building or as a prop.

In the STEX jargon, the above definitions are somewhat skewed. By "BAT" we mean a STEX upload that contains original 3D modelling work (typically the main building). Of course such an upload usually contains one or more lots too, using the above model(s). Uploads that contain only props (without lots) are called "Prop-Packs" (these are used in other lots, as "dependencies"). And by "Lot" we mean an upload that contains only lots (but not new models). Such lots may use the Maxis models, or models made by another creator, listed as "dependencies".

As for the building styles, yes, this is of course possible, as T Wrecks said, but the truth is that most creators actually do not WANT to make their creations growing in one tileset only, unfortunately. It's sad seeing a building that's clearly eg Chicago style growing in a Houstonian city. But Maxis has to some degree done this as well. For example, almost all office buildings of stage 5 or lower grow in all four tilesets, and your cities get full of Bennett Music Corp, Chalmers Co, Modde Inc, Curtin Fabrics, Kearney LLC, Fancey Foods, Galvin Techtronics and the like, no matter which tileset(s) you have selected. Otherwise the building collection would be very limited, and you would have the same buildings repeated again and again (even more than with the current setting). Please note that for each tileset there is ONLY one ingame "huge" skyscraper (4x4)!

Hope this helps

[Indiana Joe 1,750]

I would like to add a question if I may. Is there a limit to how many BATS and LOTS can appear on a map?

In other words, if I downloaded 100 growable BATS or LOTS, is there a chance all of them could appear simultaneously alongside the existing Simcity LOTS?

Or is there a theoretical maximum number of models and LOTS that the simulation can handle at any one time in a given map?

You could download a thousand BATs and all of them could show up in a city. No limit, other than physical space.

[Meg 368]

I recommend this article: For the Eager, Yet Overwhelmed Newcomer

We are not finished converting all of the Omnibus articles. but there are some interesting ones out there.

[Vitalka 2]

Thanks to all for the detailed and clean explanations! Now I'm on the right way.

[Mr Glide 2]

Yes, thanks guys; and thanks for the article link Meg. As a result I discovered that I wasn't updated with the latest verson (1.1.640)...and I've had the game since the day it came out in 2003!

At least I now get to enjoy the nitelites I keep reading about in the Exchange