help a newcomer! question about transitioning from Med to High density.

[Naeco06 0]

hi guys.

 

I've been a gamer for years but only recently discovered Sim City.

I mean, I've always known about it but never played it before last year. reading less-than-stellar reviews of the new Sim City (2013) and looking for a better simulation than Cities XL has brought me to Sim City 4 Deluxe.

 

I haven't downloaded any mods yet.

just playing Vanilla SC4 Deluxe.

 

so.

I feel like I've gotten a pretty good handle on basic city planning and evolution. I can work a scratch plot of land into a profitable metropolis of about 20,000 people and virtually all space filled in with low density plots. I can get a downtown area going with medium density Commerce and Residential that grows into High-Wealth and valuable structures (they don't turn dark or deserted). my industry goes from Agriculture and Dity to 100% High-Tec (all of which is High density) and I can leave a city running like this indefinitely without any issues.

 

but if I want to expand from Mid to High (in respect to Commerce and Residential), then it's right around this point that something always seems to go wrong and I haven't been able to figure it out yet. it's like "brain drain" phenomenon where my High-Wealth / high Education suburbs begin to function like transitional housing. they're constantly moving in and out, and their Education level drops to from solid green to red. my old age, Low density suburbs with all the luxury homes begin to constantly be abandoned due to high commute times.

 

it's like freakin' clockwork.

shortly after I get a nice balance between downtown Mid density and suburban Low density, people begin having a hard time staying in the expensive Low desnity homes in the suburbs and Education levels drop off. I don't understand. the Mid density zones don't have this issue. my Downtown areas remain highly educated and the population is relatively static

 

so basically all the wealth and eduation moves downtown while the suburbs begin to decay and look like revolving door transitional housing.

what gives??

[loudpack 5]

try balancing taxes, favor the rich in the suburbs, area around downtown mostly be ghetto as the low number streets seem to be worst. so favor the low wealth and mid wealth more, but dont kick the rich wealth out because you want the rich skyscrapers

[Naeco06 0]

I don't understand.

I see how to adjust taxes per-income-bracket, but I can't adjust taxes based on location... ?

[docj101 99]

your main issue is "vanilla" sc4 deluxe. 

 

download the "network add-on mod" otherwise known as the NAM.  this plug-in is a very well developed fix for traffic issues that are found in the "vanilla" game.  it is pretty much the patch that was never officially released because it was developed by a brilliant fan community team.

 

what is happening is your sims move out because of commute time.  with the "vanilla" traffic controller and simulator it is hard at high density to provide enough jobs close enough for everyone to stay happy.  you can read a lot about this this, but is because the original coding for was basically flawed.  the NAM replaces the controller with it's own and modifies various other traffic related issues.  not only is it a bugfix for the original game though, it is also the structure for adding new, optional transit networks to the game such as the "real highway mod" (RHW) and much more.

 

I am currently using NAM v30 because the new release v31 hasn't yet been patched (as of this post) to fix a few bug that have been discovered.  I will include links to both versions for you.  They install with wizards to ask you which components you would like, easy to understand, things like how high do you want to increase traffic capacity.  just as with any plug-in this does not permanently modify any game files, it only over-rides them by being in the plugins folder.  the username\documents\SimCity 4\plugins folder is where the NAM will place it's files.  it comes with an uninstaller, but you can alternately just delete the files from that folder and it's uninstalled. 

 

plugins are very user friendly and easy to get working with.  although the NAM is a plugin, myself and many others would tell you it's not an optional one.  you'll find your sims able to commute much more efficiently enabling them to go farther and faster, in more ways.  this leads to higher development, less abandonment, and over-all better cities.

 

please read the included readme with whatever NAM you choose.  if you choose the new one and find problems with crashing or performance, its easy to uninstall and roll back to v30.

 

NAM version 30

NAM version 30 Hotfix package

 

 

if you choose NAM v30 either now or later for any reason, you must install it and then it's hotfix package, in that order.

 

I suggest checking out some other plugins as well as they greatly improve the game both visually and fundamentally.  easy to add and remove them, just always read the included documentation.

 

edit (4/18/2013):

 

NAM v31.1 has been released.  I disabled the links for NAM v30 above; those files were deleted from that site.  I also changed the NAM v31 link to read v31.1 to reflect current version .

[Turjan 1,048]

Unfortunately, in vanilla SC4, both, the traffic simulator and the high-tech jobs for the wealthy citizens are broken. If you know SimCity 2013, you will know some of these problems, which have long been fixed in SC4 by mods, but for whatever reason found their way back into a 2013 game. Go figure.

 

Fortunately, you are playing SimCity 4. Use the NAM, as suggested above, and the high-tech jobs fix, and that should put an end to the revolving door behavior of your wealthy citizens.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Yes.  Spend some time with the NAM.  If you choose V31 some of the features of the Real Highways (RHW) pack are broken so you should delay their use until V31.1.  However, I've been using V31 with some success.  If you do a custom install you can omit RHW and leave it for another time.

 

NAM is a major fix for the transportation system as well as an enormous expansion pack.  Nice that it is free.

 

If you are sick of farms based on Pedriana Plants, you might also take a look at the SPAM (SimPeg Agricultural Mod).  This is on the Simpeg site, but registration there is free.  This is yet another big mod, and it has several supplements.  Read the download page and get the necessary add-on pack.  Coupled with SimGoobers Ditch Set (irrigation ditches) you can develop an entirely rural scenario.

[.anonyman 28]

If you only install one mod, let it be NAM. I can't believe how much good work went into that.

 

As far as strategy goes, it's best to develop your cities slowly. Keep all demand levels balanced. Make sure that the city is really ready for high-density development. Otherwise, some unexpected problems will likely crop up and you may regret ever re-zoning.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

A rule of thumb is to remember that momma Sim doesn't work.  So the ratio of Sims to Jobs is generally 2:1 unless you run the CAM when everyone is considered a bread winner and the ratio changes to 1:1.

[Naeco06 0]

wow thanks for the info guys.

I can't believe female sims don't work! they're all stay at home moms?? so Will Wright is just a sexist bastard lol...

I tried NAM this afternoon and already noticed a difference. people are staying in Low density/High wealth homes much easier now.
and someone else mentioned a 'High Tec jobs' fix? sounds like a mod which complements the fixes applied by NAM.

 

anyone have a good link on that?

thanks again! you guys rock.

[Cdesigner 8]

and someone else mentioned a 'High Tec jobs' fix? sounds like a mod which complements the fixes applied by NAM.

 

Ney Naeco06

 

I think it's this you are looking for could be wrong though.

[omnimutant 2]

Once you get familiar with the basic functions of the extra transport stuff the default install of NAM provides and all it's quirky behaviors(there is a learning curve), the go ahead and relaunch the installer, from there you can do a custom installation, and start adding a whole host of other fun toys that they packed into the mod.

 

I too wanted to play strait vanilla at first to get a handle on the game, but was forced into NAM's basic functions. Lately I've been playing around with it's more advanced features and it's really opened up a whole new slew of gaming and planning options which I quite enjoy. It's still my only mod currently.

 

I've actually not needed the high tech fix for some reason. Whatever it is I'm doing on my own seems to be working OK in that regard. Have fun with NAM!

 

I just hope they get 31.1 out the door soon because I'm currently using 31, so far without any major glitches, but am worried of running into so big problems down the road.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

I did some testing on a separate account and then switched to V31 without RHW which seems to be where most of the problems are.  I've had a couple of funny crashes but couldn't pin them down to the NAM, so I continue.  I haven't really used RHW at all, and I will start playing with it when 31.1 comes out.

 

Everyone should walk through the capabilities in the V31 installer.  There is some really neat stuff in there and the default install doesn't get all of it.

[Bdub01 201]

I've actually not needed the high tech fix for some reason. Whatever it is I'm doing on my own seems to be working OK in that regard. Have fun with NAM!

.

I know, I downloaded the HT-I fix to my flash drive and its still there, but I only installed NAM 30 and the opera house fix and of course a ton of custom content. But there really isn't a HT problem now . Actually now when I get a NJZ it's literally cause there are no jobs for my little sims. Before NAM they just didn't want to drive half a mile to go to work! It's great cause when I see a NJZ I just throw down some commercial and the evil briefcase goes away .

If someone could explain about the HT job fix though I would appreciate it.

[Turjan 1,048]

If someone could explain about the HT job fix though I would appreciate it.

 

The I-HT job fix fixes a bug in SC4. If you have an industrial city with lots of I-D and I-M that converts to I-HT, you will lose all industrial jobs for R$$$, because the game doesn't like it if two job categories are set to the same percentage value. Normally, I-HT should employ 10% R$, 80% R$$, and 10% R$$$. If you check what I-HT actually employs, it will be 0% R$$$, because of the bug. The I-HT fix just shifts the numbers to 10% R$, 78% R$$, and 12% R$$$, and now there are no two same percentages, and R$$$ gets actually employed. 12% was chosen as it was the lowest number that circumvented the bug.

[Naeco06 0]

hey guys I'm currently running NAM + RCI Multi mod pack by niloluiz.

I don't need the high tec jobs fix, right?

the readme on the hi tec fix says that it is included in the RCI apparently.

 

"If you use one of the jobs_xx files from niloluiz's RCImulti-MODpack, you don't need my mod because it's already fixed."

[azxcvbnm321 17]

I got to 1 million residents in my main city years ago before I discovered NAM.  I did it with no mods.  What you have to do is build commercial around your residences and surround high wealth areas with flower gardens.  Have good transportation like heavy rail to your industrial sites.  You city will grow slowly, but it's possible.  I'm using NAM now and am up to 600,000 people currently.