SimCity 3000 OFFICIAL THREAD

[Huston 5,800]

That is wonderful work, Yellowfin!

Building Architect Plus tool for SimCity 3000 was actually accessibly clever for what Maxis was trying to offer, but it was still a notoriously difficult and constraining program to work with.  Those who crafted sleek modern skyscrapers or low-rise modern European streetscapes were amazing.  Many real-world historic buildings were much tougher, and I only managed two satisfactory buildings...

 

Dàyàn Tǎ, Xi'an - Sony Tower, Osaka, Osaka:

 

 

I think just the signage on the Sony Tower were actually imported decals, and everything else was just bashing Maxis-provided decals and hoping they would stick.

 

After some fan cajoling, Maxis later released the SC3URK, which allowed players to instead actually directly paint, cut-n-paste, and import all four views of their buildings in a manner similar to the original SimCity 2000 SCURK.  We didn't have a popularized gmax at the time, let alone a lighting system tweaked for SC3000's look, so some of us just made buildings through brute pixel plucking.

 

Bullock's Wilshire Department Store, Los Angeles:

 

I admit, even though the coloring, lighting, and shadowing are far divergent from Maxis, I was very proud of pixel plucking Bullock's Wilshire for SC3URK.  I wasn't using a 3D program at the time, so everything had to be counted out in the isometric projection.  SC3000 did not have night lighting, but I did once color adjust these to look like night and created nightlights in Photoshop and Paint Shop Pro, just to imagine the pretend effect.  I one day do want to make this one for SimCity 4 with actual nightlights.

 

Russ Building, San Francisco:

I was stumped on how to fill out the block, as SC3000 did not allow non-square lots. I think I was gathering pictures of surrounding low-rise buildings with dread when SimCity 4 came out.  I think a Monte Cristo version of this building ultimately appeared in Cities XL, but it would be nice to see it properly in SimCity.

 

I admit, I was not too great of a fan of SimCity 3000, as I wasn't thrilled with some of their artistic choices.  Remember, Maxis was initially going to make it fully 3D, but it was painfully clear at the time that their ambition was greater than the available consumer market technology, and so they suddenly had to whiplash back and start entirely over with an alternative compromise graphic scheme and with little time left for development.  Still, it is amazing that they did give us tools like Building Architect Plus and the SimCity 3000 Unlimited Rendering Kit.

 

I've never seen better BATed bldgs in SC3KU than these right there that you've made. How you did it, idk, but it's freaking brilliant!

[trar 336]

I know there are unused query sound effects in the game's files, but I was wondering if those sounds could be linked to buildings they were meant to be linked to, for cases where they were meant to be linked. I know it's possible to fix the Defense Contractor's query sound, at least.

[sc3kufan 16]

Thought I'd bring some life to this this thread.. things have been pretty quiet. Would be nice if we could get some more people posting in here Some awesome looking buildings and cities so far! Despite the game's age, it's still amazing what people are able to do with it. Especially that city someone posted, I love that skyscraper jungle, the industrial zones, and the res blds.. nice selection of modern/ancient landmarks too. Reminds me of some of my own cities back in the day..

[trar 336]

That's pretty good! Don't know why there are a bunch of castles out in the farmland, but honestly at this point it just adds to 3K's charm.

[TekindusT 3,809]

You have some pretty cool industrial areas, if we think how things were with SC3K! I'm not too convinced about the shiny skyscrapers and some other buildings here and there, their texturing doesn't really fit with the SC3K mood... But hey, awesome job overall!

  Edited July 7, 2015 by TekindusT  

[Huston 5,800]

Wow you've got some neat stuff there. Ever since the SC3000 site went down, I haven't been able to find the BATs that it had up for download. You think you could shoot over some of the files to me or upload them to the STEX? I'm pretty sure there's almost no where else to get them

And just to say again, really love this. SC3K(U) was such an awesome game; still is IMHO

[catty-cb 4,413]

Wow you've got some neat stuff there. Ever since the SC3000 site went down, I haven't been able to find the BATs that it had up for download. You think you could shoot over some of the files to me or upload them to the STEX? I'm pretty sure there's almost no where else to get them

And just to say again, really love this. SC3K(U) was such an awesome game; still is IMHO

My site has all the SC3 and SC3K official files here

https://community.simtropolis.com/clubs/26-city-builders-website/cbex

Currently the manuals are public downloads the other files you need an account ... you can use your facebook login if you prefer

[sc3kufan 16]

On 7/7/2015 at 3:40 PM, Huston said:

Wow you've got some neat stuff there. Ever since the SC3000 site went down, I haven't been able to find the BATs that it had up for download. You think you could shoot over some of the files to me or upload them to the STEX? I'm pretty sure there's almost no where else to get them

And just to say again, really love this. SC3K(U) was such an awesome game; still is IMHO

I think you can get those at catty's website so try looking over there.

[metarvo 711]

I know from playing the game that getting good farmland is a major chore, so I have to congratulate you for creating such a fine rural area.  The CBD looks good, too, with those custom BAP skyscrapers.  I don't recall ever seeing the red seaport cranes before, though.  Are they custom as well?

[catty-cb 4,413]

For the next 24 hours (or thereabouts) the SC3 and SC3K files here

https://community.simtropolis.com/clubs/26-city-builders-website/cbex?folder=SC3%2Band%2BSC3K%2BDownloads

will be public downloads ... no account necessary during this time, after that they go back to requiring an account to download.

[SCaddicted 15]

I'm trying to install that game but Windows 10 is totally blocking it =/

On topic: I'd like to share this guy's work. His tips are very "interesting" to say the least.

  Edited October 16, 2015 by Prefeito  

[catty-cb 4,413]

I think you have the same problem as the SimCity 4 users have with Microsoft disabling the secdrv.sys driver or at least that's my best guess giving my copy of SC3K stopped working after the Microsoft update and unfortunately on Windows 10 there is no way of getting it working again, you would need an electronic version of SC3K that bypasses the secdrv.sys driver problem

I've just done some checking and there doesn't seem to be a SC3K digital release anywhere 

[SCaddicted 15]

I've just done some checking and there doesn't seem to be a SC3K digital release anywhere 

That's sad... I've been seriously thinking about downgrade my OP just for playing it. SC3K still best Maxis game imo

For now I'll just hope for a GoG's version of it  

Doesn't amazon have a SC3K digital edition?

[catty-cb 4,413]

No as far as I can tell there are no digital editions of it, I can confirm the problem is with the secdrv.sys driver as I just re-abled it on my computer as I have WIN7 and SC3K is now working as normal 

[Nesral Sredna 62]

Best way to plead for a digital edition of SC300 to be made, is to support this thread on the gog.com wishlist: http://www.gog.com/wishlist/games/simcity_3000...

Btw, I've upgraded from Windows10 to Win 7 myself, can't say I miss it...

  Edited November 2, 2015 by Nesral Sredna  

[Larks2242 251]

Looking at this thread makes  me wish they would make an HD Rerelease like they do with  other game series.

[CaterpillarKing 52]

Has anyone here ever made a custom scenario? I played SC3000 when I was a lot younger on my Windows 98 and I remember the custom scenario working, I just didn't know what I was doing. On newer computers, however, it just opens up excel without really doing anything. Has anyone here actually made a custom scenario though? On a new computer or old one. How was it if you did?

[catty-cb 4,413]

Something I've always meant to try out using the London Fires Scenario Script as am example and never quite got around to it

https://community.simtropolis.com/clubs/26-city-builders-website/cbex/download?path=SC3%2Band%2BSC3K%2BDownloads%252Flondonfires.zip

[Tgvieira 1]

I had the same problem with Windows 10 and after trying almost everything (compatibily programs, toolfix programs, buying a new simcity game version) I decided to downgrade Windows and now I'm back in the game :))

[TekindusT 3,809]

The Totalitarian Buddhist who Beat SimCity. An interview with Vincent Ocasla, creator of a city I'm sure you've all heard of: Magnasanti.

[Ducio 285]

FYI GOG has SimCity 3000 on sale until next Thursday the 21st!

https://www.gog.com/game/simcity_3000

[catty-cb 4,413]

11 hours ago, Ducio said:

FYI GOG has SimCity 3000 on sale until next Thursday the 21st!

https://www.gog.com/game/simcity_3000

Really appreciate the update ... I'd sort of given up playing it because of the increasing difficulties with it being on disks.

-catty

[SCaddicted 15]

I'm having a hard time managing my workforce above 50% in that city. My playstyle concist of bulldozing until I get the building I like, settling it as historical. Over the years, my population get older and my workforce drops severaly, as well as my RCI commercial demmand. The solution is bulldozing entire neighborhoods of residence and zoning some more at the corner of the city, but it makes the proces painfully slow.

[catty-cb 4,413]

Simtropolis hosts one of the old SC3000 sites, unfortunately searching on it can be next to impossible ... anyway to make it easier there is an index to all the pages here

https://community.simtropolis.com/clubs/26-city-builders-website/cb-documents/10-simcity-3/56-simcity-3-knowledge-tree

EDIT: Just been looking in it, it looks like someone has fixed the problems it was having with page links, etc  :)

[Quicktiger 1]

On 6/2/2015 at 0:31 AM, biff said:

I know there are unused query sound effects in the game's files, but I was wondering if those sounds could be linked to buildings they were meant to be linked to, for cases where they were meant to be linked. I know it's possible to fix the Defense Contractor's query sound, at least.

How did you manage to fix the Defense Contractor sound?

[trar 336]

This was a little while ago, but as far as I remember there was a line in a config file that I simply changed to correctly read the sound file's directory. I haven't cracked the other sound files yet, sadly.

[Quicktiger 1]

On 8/5/2016 at 10:49 PM, biff said:

This was a little while ago, but as far as I remember there was a line in a config file that I simply changed to correctly read the sound file's directory. I haven't cracked the other sound files yet, sadly.

I fixed it. Turns out I just had to delete a space that was after "Buildings" (see below). I had a feeling something was wrong with that. 

 

[BugeyedDragon 412]

On 7/15/2016 at 7:14 PM, Ducio said:

FYI GOG has SimCity 3000 on sale until next Thursday the 21st!

https://www.gog.com/game/simcity_3000

WAIT A MINUTE, THEY HAVE SIMCITY 3000 AT ALL? I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS MOMENT MY WHOLE LIFE!!!!!

[Hellken 1,658]

Thank goodness I am still using Windows 7 on my new computer. I just reinstalled SC3K Unlimited and (luckily) I made a backup of one of my old cities from almost a decade ago. It was so surreal to load it again. So much time has passed.

[trar 336]

I'm glad 3000 Unlimited is on GOG. It was getting a little tedious installing it on modern systems with all the little fixes you need to do.