Over 2 million people and no skyscrapers

[Simbabe54 15]

I am having a problem with skyscrapers. My region has over 2 million people and the biggest buildings I have are mid rise skyscrapers. I have parks, education, low traffic, basically everything you need for skyscrapers, yet I still have none. I have no problem growing mega residential towers, it's the commercial ones that will not grow. I have tried not building any commercial in several of my towns to increase demand, but I still do not have skyscrapers. Am I supposed to zone large lot sizes for them? I tried that and all I get are malls. (enough with the damn malls). I even use a demand mod.

 

What am I doing wrong?

[Gurning_Chimp 398]

Have you put down plazas?

Bunched a lot of high density commercial together?

Plopped a couple down? I know you can get ploppable landmarks with jobs.

Do you have a stock exchange?

High wealth residents?

[Dazzyls 576]

Maybe you'll need a convention center?

  Edited June 28, 2013 by Ultimate727  

[Cpt Johnny 57]

If you don't mind cheating and didn't install CAM, you can try

[Ltw 401]

Maybe you've zoned too much at once. When you zone a lot at once the demand will flatten, this means that there is no need to build skyscrapers since there are too many other locations to build. If this is the case, I guess patience is the safest method. You could demolish buildings but this is risky and expensive.

 

 

 

If you don't mind cheating and didn't install CAM, you can try

 

Do you consider CAM cheating? It adds some stages and changes the demand simulation in favor of commercial demand, but you can also argue that this adds more realism in most western countries (since there is also a big demand for offices in these countries).

[Cpt Johnny 57]

Maybe you've zoned too much at once. When you zone a lot at once the demand will flatten, this means that there is no need to build skyscrapers since there are too many other locations to build. If this is the case, I guess patience is the safest method. You could demolish buildings but this is risky and expensive.

 

 

 

If you don't mind cheating and didn't install CAM, you can try

 

Do you consider CAM cheating? It adds some stages and changes the demand simulation in favor of commercial demand, but you can also argue that this adds more realism in most western countries (since there is also a big demand for offices in these countries).

I asked the TS whether he installed CAM because the mod which I posted a link to is non-CAMpatible.

[Ltw 401]

I am having a problem with skyscrapers. My region has over 2 million people and the biggest buildings I have are mid rise skyscrapers. I have parks, education, low traffic, basically everything you need for skyscrapers, yet I still have none. I have no problem growing mega residential towers, it's the commercial ones that will not grow. I have tried not building any commercial in several of my towns to increase demand, but I still do not have skyscrapers. Am I supposed to zone large lot sizes for them? I tried that and all I get are malls. (enough with the damn malls). I even use a demand mod.

 

What am I doing wrong?

 

Perhaps you're zoning the lots too large. Since you're getting malls, that could mean that skyscrapers can't develop because Maxis skyscrapers grow on 4x4 lots. Otherwise, it might be an idea to download custom lots.

 

 

 

 

Maybe you've zoned too much at once. When you zone a lot at once the demand will flatten, this means that there is no need to build skyscrapers since there are too many other locations to build. If this is the case, I guess patience is the safest method. You could demolish buildings but this is risky and expensive.

 

 

 

If you don't mind cheating and didn't install CAM, you can try

 

Do you consider CAM cheating? It adds some stages and changes the demand simulation in favor of commercial demand, but you can also argue that this adds more realism in most western countries (since there is also a big demand for offices in these countries).

I asked the TS whether he installed CAM because the mod which I posted a link to is non-CAMpatible.

 

 

Allright, I see. Couldn't this be overridden by placing it in a zz__ folder?

 

Edit: The description of the download mentioned that it is compatible with CAM.

[Cpt Johnny 57]

 

I am having a problem with skyscrapers. My region has over 2 million people and the biggest buildings I have are mid rise skyscrapers. I have parks, education, low traffic, basically everything you need for skyscrapers, yet I still have none. I have no problem growing mega residential towers, it's the commercial ones that will not grow. I have tried not building any commercial in several of my towns to increase demand, but I still do not have skyscrapers. Am I supposed to zone large lot sizes for them? I tried that and all I get are malls. (enough with the damn malls). I even use a demand mod.

 

What am I doing wrong?

 

Perhaps you're zoning the lots too large. Since you're getting malls, that could mean that skyscrapers can't develop because Maxis skyscrapers grow on 4x4 lots. Otherwise, it might be an idea to download custom lots.

 

 

 

 

Maybe you've zoned too much at once. When you zone a lot at once the demand will flatten, this means that there is no need to build skyscrapers since there are too many other locations to build. If this is the case, I guess patience is the safest method. You could demolish buildings but this is risky and expensive.

 

 

 

If you don't mind cheating and didn't install CAM, you can try

 

Do you consider CAM cheating? It adds some stages and changes the demand simulation in favor of commercial demand, but you can also argue that this adds more realism in most western countries (since there is also a big demand for offices in these countries).

I asked the TS whether he installed CAM because the mod which I posted a link to is non-CAMpatible.

 

 

Allright, I see. Couldn't this be overridden by placing it in a zz__ folder?

 

Edit: The description of the download mentioned that it is compatible with CAM.

 

Actually it isn't. I tested it and it crashed my game to the desktop.

[Ltw 401]

 

 

I am having a problem with skyscrapers. My region has over 2 million people and the biggest buildings I have are mid rise skyscrapers. I have parks, education, low traffic, basically everything you need for skyscrapers, yet I still have none. I have no problem growing mega residential towers, it's the commercial ones that will not grow. I have tried not building any commercial in several of my towns to increase demand, but I still do not have skyscrapers. Am I supposed to zone large lot sizes for them? I tried that and all I get are malls. (enough with the damn malls). I even use a demand mod.

 

What am I doing wrong?

 

Perhaps you're zoning the lots too large. Since you're getting malls, that could mean that skyscrapers can't develop because Maxis skyscrapers grow on 4x4 lots. Otherwise, it might be an idea to download custom lots.

 

 

 

 

Maybe you've zoned too much at once. When you zone a lot at once the demand will flatten, this means that there is no need to build skyscrapers since there are too many other locations to build. If this is the case, I guess patience is the safest method. You could demolish buildings but this is risky and expensive.

 

 

 

If you don't mind cheating and didn't install CAM, you can try

 

Do you consider CAM cheating? It adds some stages and changes the demand simulation in favor of commercial demand, but you can also argue that this adds more realism in most western countries (since there is also a big demand for offices in these countries).

I asked the TS whether he installed CAM because the mod which I posted a link to is non-CAMpatible.

 

 

Allright, I see. Couldn't this be overridden by placing it in a zz__ folder?

 

Edit: The description of the download mentioned that it is compatible with CAM.

 

Actually it isn't. I tested it and it crashed my game to the desktop.

 

 

Okay, that's not good. Haven't used anything RCI-altering (except for the CAM). There are a lot of mods that aren't CAMpatible, mostly because the same thing is already altered in CAM, which could give errors in the RCI-simulation. Maybe there is a fix for this one but I haven't found it. 

[Bdub01 201]

Non mod ways I can think of is to tax CO$$$ and CO$$ too the max in surrounding cities while still keeping taxes low on C$ and CS$$. Next as Ltw said make sure you haven't zoned too much high density commercial where you want your CBD to be. Of course plenty of parks, plazas, police, and if you want R skyscrapers near the area, schools, universities, librarys, and museums. Lower the taxes on CO$$&$$$ in that area as well. I admit I was hard for me to get my first skyscrapers before I downloaded custom material. Now that I have done that I get skyscrapers all the time, even in areas I don't want them and have to bulldoze them from time to time...

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

The secret to big high-rises given the conditions in your downtown core are correct is heavy traffic on all adjacent streets.  Overload the streets and things should start happening provided you've met the other criteria with open space (plazas), no pollution, water, power, and education.  Check your desirability in the area for CO$$$.  If all is well, it is a matter of waiting.  Waiting will fill.

 

Lots should be high-density commercial 3 x 3, 3 x 4 or 4 x 4 for Maxis buildings.

[Simbabe54 15]

Thanks for all the advice. I have considered installing CAM but it scares me a little....what will it do to my existing cities? and don't I have to download more buildings for it?

[Bdub01 201]

Someone else can probably elaborate more on this but my understanding is CAM and NAM are not compatible without some sort of tomfoolery. Do keep that in mind...

[infamousjbe 592]

The secret to big high-rises given the conditions in your downtown core are correct is heavy traffic on all adjacent streets.  Overload the streets and things should start happening provided you've met the other criteria with open space (plazas), no pollution, water, power, and education. 

 

I'm shocked this thread reached post #11 before someone caught that the OP stated there was low traffic. All I ever read on this forum is C loves traffic. 

 

So I double the advice of trying to create arteries of traffic for the Cs on their way to Is.

[Simbabe54 15]

Someone else can probably elaborate more on this but my understanding is CAM and NAM are not compatible without some sort of tomfoolery. Do keep that in mind...

That's a deal breaker then, because I cannot play without NAM.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

It is a vicious rumour.  Just omit the CAMs obsolete traffic controller and you will be fine with the NAM.  The same applies to the SPAM.  Basically all 'traffic controllers' have been superseded by the NAM.

 

Feel free to add CAM, but if you want level 13 through 15 buildings, you'll have to get them from one of the exchanges, probably the LEX.

 

NAM+CAM gets you one heck of a big universe of discourse if you are into cities full of skyscrapers.

[Ltw 401]

Thanks for all the advice. I have considered installing CAM but it scares me a little....what will it do to my existing cities? and don't I have to download more buildings for it?

 

You can download CAM, it changes the demand simulation in favor of commercial, this should turn out positive. You don't need to download more buildings, but it does add some stages, so it is highly recommended to download a lot of buildings of all the stages (from 8 to 15). If you don't download this you still have the benefits of the changed demand. There is a workforce bug in the CAM but it can be fixed. z_cam is also a folder you might want to look at, it could be that this folder overruns the NAM folder which could lead to some strange simulation of your traffic-patterns.

[mincraftdude123m 2]

People you Dont need C.A.M,N.A.M,orBSC to make a big city u need jobs and parks MAKE SURE U PUT DOWN HIGH RESITDENCY ZONES  to make skyscmake sure u have civic and all of that too make bus stops and police stations and school andhospital and ECT

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Please stop shouting.

 

And get some game experience before making pronouncement from on-low.

[mincraftdude123m 2]

i stop with the big fonts

[Simbabe54 15]

I played for several hours yesterday and did manage to get some skyscrapers( finally). I didn't get many of them, but they were commercial (which is what I wanted), so I think I may have figured it all out. What I did was stop zoning for commercial-both in and out of the city-in order to trigger demand. Maybe I was building too much commercial and therefore saturating the demand. I must remember to stop building all the things I want instead of what my sims want:)

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Congratulations.  That is certainly one way to go if you want tall commercial.  If they can't grow out, they will eventually grow up.

[infamousjbe 592]

I played for several hours yesterday and did manage to get some skyscrapers( finally). I didn't get many of them, but they were commercial (which is what I wanted), so I think I may have figured it all out. What I did was stop zoning for commercial-both in and out of the city-in order to trigger demand. Maybe I was building too much commercial and therefore saturating the demand. I must remember to stop building all the things I want instead of what my sims want:)

Yes, you probably are saturating the demand by spreading out too much with the C zoning.

 

But, you don't have to stop zoning C, just stop allowing COs to build everywhere. It's ok to have CSs all over, and CS doesn't really build up as they do grow out. But hold off the CO till the demand increases, then zone one med/high spot where you want the tall building to grow.

 

Don't be afraid to bulldoze any building that grows that you don't want. It can be a bit tedious, but IMO it's worth the results.

[Ltw 401]

Services are mainly built on low density zones. Another option might be to downgrade high density and mid density zones to low density zones. An important downside is that it is really expensive. If you stop zoning new commercial areas you will get there too, it just costs more time. If your RCI demand allows it you could think about changing some commercial zones to high density residential zones. The pro of this approach is that big residential could be built (if your demand is high enough), those people need jobs, this could lead to a higher commercial demand. This way you stimulate the development of highrise offices in two ways, you lower the supply of commercial zones by dezoning commercial areas and you higher the demand for commercial jobs because your population is getting bigger. However, the residential demand should be high, if this is near to zero or negative this would not work properly.

[Simbabe54 15]

Thanks so much for all your help, guys. I am learning so many new things from this forum. Hard to beleive I have had the game for this long and didn't know all these things. Thanks again, much appreciated.

[Bdub01 201]

I can't tell you how many Werns, Abadijannes (can't remember how to spell it), and Rose Towers I've bulldozed to A. Artificially build up demand, and B. to make room for other skyscrapers in my CBD.

[Simbabe54 15]

I have also found that mixing my commercial densities is helping drive some demand. It's funny, because I have been playing this game for at least 10 years and never knew about mixing densities. I always thought you stayed with one zone and didn't stray from that zone for any reason. I started mixing my industrial zones as well and that has helped some of my areas that were stagnating. Thanks guys, helpful as always!