I Really Hope We Can Somehow Mod in Different Zone Densities

[maddogmark25 58]

IMO, the whole thing with zone density being tied to the size of the road just doesn't work well in reality at all. This is probably my #1 pet peeve in the game; really, the whole way zoning is handled just feels broken for me. It is difficult to be able to tell how big the lot sizes that will develop are, and this makes supposedly dense grid cities look awkward and empty.

Anyone else feel this way about zoning in general (especially the way densities are handled?)

[Harlequin_666 17]

Everything is driven by the server I would think; variables are all there, everything is saved there. Will have to see what mods will even be possible, don't think they're even announced anything about mods except in passing...

[Ocram's Razr 963]

There seems to be a hardcoded limit of density linked to roads but height restrictions (AKA low and medium density zones) might be possible. What I want more than that is and "Corporate/Offices and Business Hotel" zone where offices would consume paper, a little plastic, and some electronics and produce office services, which increase profits for factories. Business hotels would then grow in that zone as they are demanded (offices and hotels having synergy).

--Ocram

[Charizard 284]

Everything is driven by the server I would think; variables are all there, everything is saved there. Will have to see what mods will even be possible, don't think they're even announced anything about mods except in passing...

They just said that modifications will be possible but only "sometime after release" which basically means it's up in the air at this point. I don't understand why they can't have a single player mode, even if you are still connected to the internet, with less restrictions and things that the previous Simcities had such as larger cities, subways, highways, cities being right next to eachother, terraforming, etc. If they had such a singleplayer mode with the ability to employ modifications to the extent that you can in SC4 I think it could be a very great game since both the Simcity veterans as well as the casual multiplayer-only crowd could be satisfied. However from what I understand the singleplayer mode is exactly like the multiplayer mode except without the obvious ability to play with other human mayors. And we have no idea what type of mods (if any) we will be able to use in either the multiplayer or singleplayer modes. What a bummer.

[Indiana Joe 1,750]

I still want to know how modifications will even be possible if its a completely online game. How can you play in a region with other people if you have different plugins?

[Cob92 360]

The problem is that they set it up so that lot sizes are not fixed. What you are zoning is not a lot, but rather just general rights for developers to build whatever they want along the road in question. It's a system that I rather dislike, as it is an unrealistic and inefficient way of doling out land in your city. This generates a lot of wasted grass space even in what is supposed to be a heavily urbanized city.

[Charizard 284]

I still want to know how modifications will even be possible if its a completely online game. How can you play in a region with other people if you have different plugins?

I don't think modding will be implemented in the multiplayer mode since everyone in the region would have to have the plugin. However it will most likely be implemented in the singleplayer mode. Which still raises some questions as to the extent they'll allow us to modify the game because even in singleplayer mode you're still connected to the Internet. Officially they said you have to be online even during singleplayer so that you can participate in the global resource market but we all know it's EA's hilarious attempt at stopping piracy.

[fatbuster 44]

I still want to know how modifications will even be possible if its a completely online game. How can you play in a region with other people if you have different plugins?

I don't think modding will be implemented in the multiplayer mode since everyone in the region would have to have the plugin. However it will most likely be implemented in the singleplayer mode. Which still raises some questions as to the extent they'll allow us to modify the game because even in singleplayer mode you're still connected to the Internet. Officially they said you have to be online even during singleplayer so that you can participate in the global resource market but we all know it's EA's hilarious attempt at stopping piracy.

I'm wondering, Has anyone that knows about modding tried looking at the files yet? I saw that they were *.package files but don't open In the ilive reader (at least not yet). Though I would imagine someone would have to go through and figure out how they're saved again, hopefully it's not too different or hard. I would really love to see what is currently accessible from those from those files.

They do have a sandbox version that they said will be available on release. Supposedly it will disallow you from affecting the global market (also allows cheats & instant access to all buildings), not sure if multiplayer will be available through it yet (though I'm sure many people on this site wouldn't care either way). I think that any modding that will happen will probably be limited to sandbox mode, which I would perfectly fine with.

[Indiana Joe 1,750]

SimCity 4 DAT, LOT, and other files weren't able to be edited when SC4 first came out. No doubt that someone will have to create new tools to mod the new game. Let's just hope that if it's Maxis, they don't charge us for them.

[jcarlilesiu 37]

IMO, the whole thing with zone density being tied to the size of the road just doesn't work well in reality at all. This is probably my #1 pet peeve in the game; really, the whole way zoning is handled just feels broken for me. It is difficult to be able to tell how big the lot sizes that will develop are, and this makes supposedly dense grid cities look awkward and empty.

Anyone else feel this way about zoning in general (especially the way densities are handled?)

I agree with you about being able to zone different densities.

As far as zoning lot depths, I like the old model where you established the plot size and as it developed new bigger buildings take up more lots. I can see how that would be problematic because zoning now follows curves. So I can see why the zone is just established at the street edge.

That isn't a big deal to me.