Simulator Broken?

[Chocosizzles 0]

Okay, I'm pretty sure my simulator isn't actually broken, but I'm racking my head trying to figure out how the game works, I picked up a copy after several years of not playing and am trying to get reacquainted with the game mechanics but I'm finding myself bewildered on the process the simulator uses to construct residences and also some RCI demand mechanics. 

 

I don't have a problem with low-wealth Sims, if that's what the demand calls for, then so be it. What I do have a problem with is the simulator building extravagant mansions when there is NO high-wealth demand whatsoever. Within seconds of the high-wealth buildings being completed, a jobless icon appears over the house, almost always due to "long commute time".

 

A few high-wealth sims in the city have a long commute time, but still have a job.

 

This is what pisses me off. There is no demand for high-wealth, but the simulator builds high-wealth mansions even if there is no high-wealth jobs available, JUST for the sole purpose of putting more low wealth Sims in there. Again, I do not mind putting low-wealth Sims in my city, what annoys me is that these huge mansions are built and are automatically downgraded and look like a fat stain on my city blocks. 

 

Is this normal? Is the simulator meant to do this? 

 

Then a problem coupled with the aforementioned one is this seemingly un-satisifiable low-wealth demand. I will zone new areas and have mansions constructed and are downgraded to low-wealth instantly. All the residences are supplied with power, water, excellent education, supple police and fire coverage, close commute times to Commercial Office, High-Tech and non-RCI buildings and even a few landmarks to boost mayor rating. 

 

Any thoughts, comments or ideas are greatly appreciated. 

 

 

[Nielsen 10]

R$$$ don't move in unless there is something about your city that attracts them. That doesn't necessarily mean that the circumstances haven't changed since they moved in.  Furthermore, you can influece their demand with taxes. Be sure to keep desirability factors high for them and their jobs. You may need this mod too, which fixes a bug with the game: 

 

Also get the Network Addon Mod ( ) if you don't have it already. Your game simply won't work properly without it, i.e. your sims don't know how to reach their jobs properly.

 

Finally, make sure you play the fully patched Sim City 4 Deluxe or Rush Hour. Details here: 

 

Welcome.

[Metalpuritan 160]

If you do not want high wealth sims moving in, just deprive them of water, if you do not give them water then they will not grow high wealth lots.  It may be a simulator but YOU are the mayor.  If you give them water they grow high wealth, if you don;t give them water they remain low wealth, the decision is yours, mayor.  You gave them water and fire  and police and healthcare and education all of this leads to high desirability and high wealth demand will be filled instantly, even if it only calls for one high wealth sim to move in, a high wealth sim will seize on that opportunity...if the mayor(you) gives them that opportunity.

 

Something, if you are going to continue to play with no mods, that you can do is to zone every other lot medium density, that way they do not grow and link together and will not form larger lots than what you zone for, they won't combine.  Another solution, if you insist on caving to the sim's every service demand, is you can catch the buildings as they grow and are in construction and "make historical" every other building, again this breaks up the possibility of them forming larger lots.

 

Personally, I look at my advisors as just that, advisors and nothing more.  I swear these advisors are making commision or something, calling for every little thing out there.  They need water...They need offices....blah blah blah.  The sims don't need any of that.  They get it when I say they can get it and not before. I say to them "Who is mayor in this town?"...."Me!"

 

The sims are mine(yours), they rise and fall at my(your) every whim.  If they progress and make huge wonderful wealthy cities is only because I(you) said they can.

 

You could completely fill an entire map up with nothing but stage 1 low wealth buildings and shacks, don't give them water, don't give them schools, don't give them hospitals and don;t place any mayor rewards(mayor's mansion, statues city hall or anything else) and don't place any parks.  Do that and I can guarantee you no high wealth sims will move into your city, any city, not even medium wealth will move in, well a couple medium wealth houses will grow and then immediately dillapidate, but only a handful at a time, whenever you place a fire station or police station, you just have to destroy them and usually they will not grow back until you place another fire or police station.  The point is, you are and have always been in complete and total control of the sims and you always will be.

[Bdub01 201]

Tax R$$$ higher and they will not come. Also don't zone 4x4 or 2x2 back to back. So mansions can't grow. As your region grows build one "ghetto" city of all low wealth and eventually you can easy the R$ demand.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Stop using the default 1 x 2 zoning which allows consolidation of back to back lots into 4 x 4 for mansions.  Make it impossible.  Zone 2 x 1 (manually) instead.  When you are ready for more extensive lots, then zone some 3 x 1 or 1 x 3 (carefully).  The impracticality of lot sizes in this game is an outgrowth of the developers living in such an area, and they programmed what they knew.  Most cities are not in Silicon Valley and many lots are neither 50 feet wide nor 100 feet deep.  (16 x 32 m).  If you accept the conditions of the game as constructed you will get some nice California-style communities.