4-to-13 Plugin Converter: Support and Development Thread

[CaptCity 4,752]

 
Welcome to the 4-to-13 Plugin Converter Support and Development Thread!
 
The 4-to-13 Plugin Converter is a newly released tool that enables users to import models created for SimCity 4 directly into SimCity 2013, all without the need for access to the original 3D source files.
 
More information on the specifics of the tool, as well as the download, can be found:

 

• The current public beta release (v0.42).
• The current private beta release (v0.49) can be obtained via invitation to the private beta program. The private beta development is currently focusing on the importation of night-lighting as well as 3^rd party lot properties. Please contact Cockatoo via private message if you are interested in applying to join the private beta team.

Once again, please make sure you read and understand the readme before filing bug reports.

 

Screenshots:

(n.b. above night image created with the private beta release.)

(Thanks to Hamish and Cockatoo for letting us use their models for demonstration purposes!)
 
Thanks, and please enjoy our tool!
-The Modd Squad ‘13 Team.

[Indiana Joe 1,750]

 

 

This took me like 15 minutes to make so you better appreciate it.

[ROFLyoshi 1,760]

What do you mean?

[Harlequin_666 17]

What do you mean?

It was posted 2 A.M., April 1st...thus...APRIL FOOLZ!!! =)

[ROFLyoshi 1,760]

Yes... but time zones too.
I've been tinkering with the 0.49 version beta and can assure you that if you download, it definitely does work. Hopefully we can release another version soon.

[Hellken 1,658]

Joke or not...

 

I am still AMAZED!

 

[RipRap 4,400]

It's only March 31 for the majority of the United States users and it was released March 31, in the United States.

 

So it can be true

[Indiana Joe 1,750]

It is, regardless, some truly amazing photoshopping.  But this is almost cruel to some people, don'tcha think?  I can imagine people crying when they find out this isn't legit.  But it's still funny as mess xD

[ROFLyoshi 1,760]

It's only March 31 for the majority of the United States users and it was released March 31, in the United States.

 

So it can be true

In hindsight, it was probably a bad day to release. We were just so eager to get it out.

 

[CaptCity 4,752]

Folks, this is a support thread. Let's please stay on topic and not debate what day it is.

 

Anyone with questions on the converter tool, feel free to ignore the date and post your questions or comments? Thanks...

[000000012 5]

Best tool ever made!! but It crashes sometimes when I try to convert a model but I guess it's because im using vista 64bit. I was able to fully convert bixel pencil tower!

[ROFLyoshi 1,760]

Ah yeah, I believe we stabilized that one in 0.49...

For the meantime, try making sure that no other windows or programs are open. This should ease it a little and reduce likelihood of crashes.

[Cockatoo 2,256]

^ Unfortunately, we have encountered some stability issues on 64-bit systems, generally during the OJB export phase. The development team (for whatever reason) insisted that all development work be done on 32-bit Win XP SP3.

 

We are working hard to fix these issues though, we anticipate an updated release within a few days or so to correct the 64-bit compatibility issues.

 

If you're on Vista, best try running it in compatibility mode too.

[Indiana Joe 1,750]

It's awfully slow...even just converting a 3 MB building takes upwards of five minutes.  Any chances of optimization and speed increases?

 

_{Oh you guys are cruel...just cruel...my sides hurt so bad....}

[cirugo 1,889]

the buildings in SimCity 2013 aren't the problem. Filling it with SimCity 4 buildings isn't going to fix a thing.

[packersfan 666]

Wow, amazing?  But it also shows how incredibly cartoony the 3D feels in the new game...when you put the SAME model side by side, wow.

[ROFLyoshi 1,760]

Indiana Joe: Unfortunately this is something that probably cannot be fixed in the near future. If you have done work with BAT for Him City 4, you would see that rendering takes AGES. Similar thing here, but there may be methods to optimise it.

[Cyclone Boom 16,875]

It's awfully slow...even just converting a 3 MB building takes upwards of five minutes.  Any chances of optimization and speed increases?

 

Have you tried using "Hardware acceleration"? For me, it does seem to speed things up a bit. Also, having "Texture re-scan mode" enabled can significantly reduce performance (in the help file, it says this double checks the scanned model):

[TheRage500 8]

Umzzz I found an issue ;D If you change a .txt file to a .SC4Model file it ' converts it ' It randomly generated the White House! :) Hehe, Happy April!

[Kiiroitori 55]

This is simply a breakthrough for SImcity 2013, and will save heaps and heaps of hassles for the community. Though I don't have SC2013, I'm sure this will be the beginning of bringing the Smcity the way maxis should have made it. Hmm, judging from the pictures of the converted models, I think im gonna stick with Simcity 4 for the long run till SC2013 develops deeper amongst the community. Until then, I'm looking forward to this and any future 'breakthrough' of modding SC2013, bringing us closer to the Simcity 5 we always dreamed of and beyond.

[commanderkai 38]

You are an evil, evil man. EVIL I SAY!

[Adjiebrotot 94]

At first i think this is very cool... i will buy SC2013 after finish the upcoming national examination, but since read another guys' posts, and look at the calendar, i'm still amazed, This is the best April Fools ever made.  you guys are sooooo intelligent, smart, terrific, and evil  :kitty:

[Fantozzi 4,067]

Sorry but may I ask if there might be a bug in this? After using the converter I opened again my region in sc4. Everything gone: the people, the buildings. Only network system and civic buildings left. And, of course, the major statue. But all residentials offices and industries are gone. Seems whole population moved from sc4 to sc 2013 while converting buildings.

 

Can someone veryfy this?

 

Is there a workaround to make buldings and people move back in their old hometown in sc4?

[ROmeoBOT 23]

This is what happened to me too?

 

Sorry but may I ask if there might be a bug in this? After using the converter I opened again my region in sc4. Everything gone: the people, the buildings. Only network system and civic buildings left. And, of course, the major statue. But all residentials offices and industries are gone. Seems whole population moved from sc4 to sc 2013 while converting buildings.

 

Can someone veryfy this?

 

Is there a workaround to make buldings and people move back in their old hometown in sc4?

 

But I still have some farmers left in SC4, I had a rather large city of 120,000 citizens but after I converted most of the buildings only about 800 R§ and a couple of farms stayed in the city.

This is making me lose §3000-§4000 a month. I'm lucky I got the make some money, but still a §1000 short every month. Any suggestions?

[ROFLyoshi 1,760]

That seems rather odd and honestly can't see how the converter affects this; only buildings are copied from the plugib folder and regions are untouched.

[Buggi 684]

oO

 

I hesitate to believe it. I mean, how do you set the occupancy, pollution, and other setting for a building?

[gido505 12]

yeah i need help and support here! my household is up in arms and they're gonna lynch me!! 

[Craig-Abcvs 1,595]

Yeah, this is pretty amazing alright...  I don't even have SC13 and this little baby has converted all my SC4 stuff to SC13!

 

How sweet it is!

[jbbry232 87]

April fools joke aside, its been a long time since i did any custom work for sc4 but aren't the .sc4model files simply a collection of rendered images and not the actual model?  

[Craig-Abcvs 1,595]

OK...  there is a bit of a problem...

 

 

You mean I have to do this for every single SC4 BAT file one by one?

 

Do you people have any idea how big my plugin folder is....?     This is going to take all night!

 

Edit:   Duh...   just read Cyclone Booms post further up...   I forgot to use the hardware acceleration thingy...   I will try it again...