How will NAM change my gameplay?

[dogsaregreat 3]

I am new to simcity 4 and this forum ( this is only my third topic posting), I've read the content description of the NAM on the ST/EX and I wanted to know how it will improve/ change my gameplay. Will it clash with the rush hour pack that I have? Will I need to change anything in the game's performance options menu?

PS: I apologize if someone already asked something like this years ago.

  Edited August 2, 2012 by dogsaregreat  

[blunder 1,080]

NAM will make you hate yourself for not installing it earlier, it is probably the single most important mod to install. NAM doesn't conflict with rush hour, and you won't need to fiddle with performance. The biggest change to your gameplay is that the NAM traffic simulator does away with the silly multiplier maxis coded into the traffic code. This means that your sims will be able to travel much, much farther with less commute time than they did with the vanilla game.

And, of course, there's a ton of new transit options and pieces that it opens up for you.

[Pipcard 20]

How much farther? Like can a sim travel across a large city tile from their home to work?

[Indiana Joe 1,752]

You can actually adjust how far with the Traffic Simulator Configuration Tool (TSCT) that comes with the NAM. It's automatically set to the most efficient value; your sims can travel across several city tiles to get to work. You can also manually adjust the capacities of all of your transit networks, decide how much you want people to use Mass Transit vs. Cars, decide how much people have to pay to take the train vs. the bus vs. the monorail, etc.

You will also be able to build all of those neat networks (Trams going down the middle of the road) and cool overpasses you see in people's City Journals.

I would recommend getting two more mods made by the same people: the Network Widening Mod (NWM) and the RealHighway Mod (RHW). The former will allow you to build 3, 4, and 5 lane one-way roads, 6 lane avenues, roads with turning lanes going down the middle, and more. The latter incorporates a realistic freeway into the game.

All of this can be tricky to use so at least scan the readmes and check out some tutorials in the forums.

  Edited August 2, 2012 by Indiana Joe  

[Ganaram Inukshuk 906]

As of traffic simulation, it makes sims use the fastest route as opposed to the shortest route.

As of additional networks, assuming you have RHW and NWM installed as well, you have the following: Additional AVE widths, additional OWR widths, additional RD widths (It's supposed to be RD, not MAVE), TLA networks, a full-fledged realistically-scaled highway system, a ground-level version of Elevated Rail, and Dual-Networking pieces (Elevated rail over Road, for example).

  Edited August 2, 2012 by Ganaram Inukshuk  

[dogsaregreat 3]

Thanks for all the information everyone! I've downloaded NAM and unzipped it, but after looking at all the read-mes, I gotta say I'm a little intimidated now.

[Mithrik 562]

You should take some time to experiment with it. You will not get used to it in one day, but in several. The NAM is complex, and requires time to know how do work with it, but once you do, everything will go on smoothly.

[blunder 1,080]

Thanks for all the information everyone! I've downloaded NAM and unzipped it, but after looking at all the read-mes, I gotta say I'm a little intimidated now.

Then just go ahead and run the installer using the default options and start playing around. You can always uninstall it later and reinstall different options. Go for it!

[A Nonny Moose 8,263]

If you got it as a .zip without an installer you must be on a MAC. Read the installation instructions very carefully. If you didn't download the Windows version and actually are on Windows (or Linux), download it again and use the installer. It will save you headaches.

Overall, I can no longer play without it.

[z1 566]

Something that no one has mentioned and that was actually the biggest motivation for creating the NAM traffic simulator is that the NAM will greatly reduce the number of residences abandoned due to commute time, especially in larger cities. It will also reduce the amount of dilapidation that occurs apparently for no reason.

[G6KFW 0]

Where does one get NAM or the other items mentioned - very new to both CityXL Sc4 although have sc2000/3000 and an original sc with the code numbers

[cacks 41]

The NAM can be easily found using google search, the NAM also only works with SC4 deluxe or with the rush hour expansion pack, as for the NWM or HSRP, these can easily be found by using a STEX search

[A Nonny Moose 8,263]

Look And you should also look It is not just a simple install of a plugin.

[dogsaregreat 3]

Well, I've got NAM installed and I'm glad I did; my commut time problems cleared up right away. Now I've just got to learn how to use the tram-in-the-road stuff.

[A Nonny Moose 8,263]

Tram is the most difficult item. When constructing it, use the in-game save (CTRL+s) frequently because there are problems with crashes using these pieces. The NAM does not include any lots so you will have to download your tram stations from the STEX. Read the installation instructions for these very carefully.