Complete rookie here... help?

[ijmitchell 3]

I haven't played this game in about 10 or so years... and I just randomly decided today I'd look into buying it. I'm no computer genius and I really don't know anything about... well, anything... but I am especially clueless in regards to modding and PC gaming... This is going to be the first PC game I've ever acquired (as in, purchased or downloaded), actually. Yes, in my entire life.

 

So I have a couple questions:

 

1. What is the best place/method to get SimCity 4 (Deluxe), so that I can go about patching the game AND modding the game? I see it's on Steam (by the way, I didn't know what Steam was until about 2 hours ago, so go easy on me)... but Steam says I don't actually get the game, I just get access to it via the desktop application. So would I still be able to mod the game if I bought it via Steam? How good is Steam really? I only have a laptop, no desktop... and I don't always have internet. I'd like to be able to play SC4 regardless of where I was.

 

2. On a scale of 1-10, where 1 is successfully flushing a toilet, and 10 is building a City entirely in the maximum fast-forward setting, with no mods or cheats, without using pause, and with disasters enabled... How difficult would you say it is to get all these various mods? This includes downloading them, and putting them wherever they need to be on your computer, so that they start working.

 

3. I just briefly skimmed another thread and saw one of the benefits of a mod called NAM: better traffic algorithm. Could you briefly summarize some other important mods and their changes/benefits/uses, as well as where to get them? Anything else I need to know as a new player? I've skimmed both of the "New people click here" threads but granted, I didn't understand 100% of what I read.

 

I think that's it for now ha.

 

Thanks in advance!

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

I haven't played this game in about 10 or so years... and I just randomly decided today I'd look into buying it. I'm no computer genius and I really don't know anything about... well, anything... but I am especially clueless in regards to modding and PC gaming... This is going to be the first PC game I've ever acquired (as in, purchased or downloaded), actually. Yes, in my entire life.

 

So I have a couple questions:

 

1. What is the best place/method to get SimCity 4 (Deluxe), so that I can go about patching the game AND modding the game? I see it's on Steam (by the way, I didn't know what Steam was until about 2 hours ago, so go easy on me)... but Steam says I don't actually get the game, I just get access to it via the desktop application. So would I still be able to mod the game if I bought it via Steam? How good is Steam really? I only have a laptop, no desktop... and I don't always have internet. I'd like to be able to play SC4 regardless of where I was.

 

If you are in north america try Amazon or GamersGate.  These give you the game with an installer that you can keep and use whenever you like.  The version you get from these vendors will be build 1,1,641 which runs without any optical media and is fully patched up to the latest bug fix from Maxis (published long, long, ago).  Don't let anyone tell you you need to patch the game.  Do not buy this game on CD.

 

2. On a scale of 1-10, where 1 is successfully flushing a toilet, and 10 is building a City entirely in the maximum fast-forward setting, with no mods or cheats, without using pause, and with disasters enabled... How difficult would you say it is to get all these various mods? This includes downloading them, and putting them wherever they need to be on your computer, so that they start working.

 

Depends on the mod.  The ones that come as executables are the easiest.  Otherwise, a little fooling around with compressed archives is needed.  Not difficult: Look in the Omnibus.  For the mom and pop computer user, I'd say the difficulty could go as high as 5 for some of the complex mods that don't have installers.

 

3. I just briefly skimmed another thread and saw one of the benefits of a mod called NAM: better traffic algorithm. Could you briefly summarize some other important mods and their changes/benefits/uses, as well as where to get them? Anything else I need to know as a new player? I've skimmed both of the "New people click here" threads but granted, I didn't understand 100% of what I read.

 

The NAM is a huge expansion pack that includes a new traffic controller.  The traffic controller is a general bug fix for the very broken Maxis version.  You can use the NAM installer to only install the traffic controller if you wish.  Because you claim no computer skills at all, this would be a good thing for you.  There is other custom content you should get to save yourself some grief.  Do a search on the STEX for mods with titles containing the word fix.  You'll find several.

 

The NAM installer is an executable, so you just run it.  You can run it as often as you like.  Read the panels in the installer carefully.  As a new player you won't want the default install  which really assumes previous experience.  The game itself has a rather steep learning curve and the full NAM has several more.  It is one of the things that has kept this legacy game alive well past its predicted 'best before' date to the great surprise of Maxis/EA.

 

I think that's it for now ha.

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Some general advice:  None of the exchanges are going to go away anytime soon.  Take your time and be completely organized with respect to custom content.  Create a folder on your machine with a name of C:\<user account>\Documents\Downloads and direct all your custom content downloads there in a proper set of subfolders so that you can find things that may be maintained.

 

When you start the game it will create C:\<user account>\Documents\SimCity 4\Plugins where you put all your custom content.  Don't mess with the game residency in C:\Program Files ... because this will be replaced if you ever do a reinstall.

 

It is best to learn this game by doing.  I do not recommend setting up private cities in the Timbuktu region.  Keep it for tutorial material only.  The default regions may not suit you, and if not, there are lots of maps on the STEX, but that's another story.

 

P.S.  All of the foregoing is assuming you are running Windows.  The preferred version for gaming with legacy games is Windows 7 but you can also run with Windows 8 but need to get rid of the tablet interface.  And, FYI, I am running Linux (Ubuntu 13.10).

[cromabianca 158]

Hi, It seems I'm the only one around, so I'll go first!

 

1) I don't now jack about Steam, so I can't help you there. That's right: I'm still using the original CDs I bought in 2003/2004 (I was one of the ones who first bought the vanilla game and then the expansion pack), but I strongly suggest downloading the game from authorised vendors, as it comes fully upgraded whith patches.

 

2) If you like reading, this is the place for you! I mean: playing with mods (I discovered this site and the very fact that the game could actually be modded only last year or so!) isn't really easy for a total beginner, but there are very good guides here on this site (and other most respectable places, SC4D in primis), so you are not left alone. Also, the forum is great (and I DO mean great!!), the peaople that poulates it, is just awesome! But you got to learn a thing or two and yes... fail (and a lot!! ). But it's gonna be fun, I can vouch you that!

 

3) The NAM is the very mod you need to have. Period. Also, there are lists of mods and custom contents suitable for your needs, and I suggest you go ahead and read, because some are really great!

 

Hope I have answered a little... there are others, though, more experienced than me that can help you more! Welcome to the club!

[Cool_Z 1,547]

Well...

 

You can use a steam version of the game with no problem, and you'll have fewer things to do (cd version has to be updated a bit before it works 100% good, nothing undoable heh)

If you use a steam version once it is installed you can play it with or without internet connection.

 

2 Some mods or cheats are very easy to install, some come with installers. For some others there will be some reading required but nothing a normal human can't do.

Most plugins or mods just need some files copied into a folder to work.

 

At time you might encouter new buildings requiring the installation of what's called "dependencies", files containing items (like textures or small objects) that were used in the building of the one you want. It can get a bit troublesome at times because you might not know if you already have these files, or sometimes the files can't be found anymore on the internet. I personnaly avoid things that require such files.

 

3 The NAM corrects the traffic and quite transforms the game. Without it it is still playable but some things are not logic (sims have trouble fidning their way in the city )

With it the game is much more enjoyable.

 

The NAM is composed of the revamped traffic simulator and lots of new traffic construction options. These options for some can be a bit hard to learn, but if you want you can only install the traffic simulator.

The NAM comes with an installer but when you install some choices must be made... search about it or ask questions here and you'll surely get answers.

 

The NAM's traffic engine really IS the thing you want to install.

 

I think it's the only thing you truly need to have fun with SC4, once you are on your way you might want to get new buildings or new options... you will still be able to do so. No hurry

[ijmitchell 3]

Thanks guys for all the help. I'll about to go buy the game now. I guess I'll just go with Amazon, since I can't even get Steam to connect to the internet right now, and I'm not in the mood for navigating around my firewalls and router.

 

Thanks again!

[ijmitchell 3]

Ok I'm lost with this NAM thing. I downloaded it but I have no idea what I'm doing or what's supposed to be happening. I run the installer and then it asks where to extract to, then the meter fills, as it extracts and then thats it. I get no confirmation screen, no information, no readme, nothing. And then I get a Windows 7 dialog saying "(filename for NAM thing) may not have installed correctly"

 

But then when I look through other threads, they mention that the NAM installer walks you through it, and that there's directions included. So why don't I see these directions or anything? How do I know if it worked?

[Ganaram Inukshuk 906]

Ok I'm lost with this NAM thing. I downloaded it but I have no idea what I'm doing or what's supposed to be happening. I run the installer and then it asks where to extract to, then the meter fills, as it extracts and then thats it. I get no confirmation screen, no information, no readme, nothing. And then I get a Windows 7 dialog saying "(filename for NAM thing) may not have installed correctly"

The NAM Installer itself is a massive file (850MB), and as such, it needs to be super-compressed for easy downloading (238MB). What you did is unpackaged the installer from its 7zip file. You need to run the actual installer, the actual exe file you got out of unpackaging the 7zip file.

As mentioned already, you can just simply install the NAM with all of the traffic fixes (and there should be an option for it once you run the actual installer); this includes the NAM Traffic Simulator (this is the proper name; it's not called the traffic controller or traffic engine, as someone said; the term "controller" refers to something else entirely) and a set of bugfixed traffic stations (because half of the issues with the original traffic simulation actually come from the stations, and surprisingly, a lot of the stations available on the STEX aren't as bugfixed as the ones included with the NAM and in some cases can make traffic simulation even worse).

[ijmitchell 3]

 

Ok I'm lost with this NAM thing. I downloaded it but I have no idea what I'm doing or what's supposed to be happening. I run the installer and then it asks where to extract to, then the meter fills, as it extracts and then thats it. I get no confirmation screen, no information, no readme, nothing. And then I get a Windows 7 dialog saying "(filename for NAM thing) may not have installed correctly"

The NAM Installer itself is a massive file (850MB), and as such, it needs to be super-compressed for easy downloading (238MB). What you did is unpackaged the installer from its 7zip file. You need to run the actual installer, the actual exe file you got out of unpackaging the 7zip file.

As mentioned already, you can just simply install the NAM with all of the traffic fixes (and there should be an option for it once you run the actual installer); this includes the NAM Traffic Simulator (this is the proper name; it's not called the traffic controller or traffic engine, as someone said; the term "controller" refers to something else entirely) and a set of bugfixed traffic stations (because half of the issues with the original traffic simulation actually come from the stations, and surprisingly, a lot of the stations available on the STEX aren't as bugfixed as the ones included with the NAM and in some cases can make traffic simulation even worse).

 

 

lol oh... Well I feel stupid now. Thanks for the response.

 

On a side note, that's something that should probably mentioned on the respective STEX page, and/or the various other download sites for the NAM installer, especially since those sites themselves call it the "NAM installer" when technically - and this is confirmed by your post - it should be called the "NAM installer installer."

 

But it's all good. Thanks again, I got everything working now.

[Ganaram Inukshuk 906]

On a side note, that's something that should probably mentioned on the respective STEX page, and/or the various other download sites for the NAM installer, especially since those sites themselves call it the "NAM installer" when technically - and this is confirmed by your post - it should be called the "NAM installer installer."

It's really a NAM Installer Decompressor. Actually, when you think about it, just about all SC4 plugins are packaged in a .zip file (or .7z or .rar) and people who know what to do when installing a plugin will know to unpackage the zip file first. It's really no different with the case of the NAM installer in principle. (The real difference is that the NAM "package", aside from its super-ultra-mega compression algorithm, is placed in a specialised .7z file that can extract itself out; otherwise you'd need to download 7zip just to use even install the NAM.)

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

The time has come, the old man said, to not assume that users have any level of technical knowledge at all.  Many computer users these days are exactly that, and view the computer as a home appliance.  As a result, even the basic knowledge of the file system and the use of various file types is a black box to them.  Instructions have to be on the order of "Dick and Jane got a new computer".

[Fatherted 129]

That is true Nonny, but to be fair it is effectively a home appliance nowadays. I like to have a basic understanding of what is going on, what RAM, GPU, CPU, cycles etc. are, but it isn't required and I have to put in the time myself to learn it as opposed to being forced to learn it. I obviously have no idea what a 176GBps bandwidth on eSRAM is, that sound obnoxiously fast even for 32MB, but the basics are there.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Yes, but the hardware is beside the point.  There isn't much software for a refrigerator or even a stereo system, but a computer is a different ball of wax to quite a degree.  You don't have to know much of anything to use the Internet nor any of the Office Products for ordinary correspondence, but when it comes to installing things you should be able to:

 

1.  Know where things got installed and why;

2.  Recognize when things didn't go right;

3.  Be able to find things in the file system;

4.  Move from one version of the same operating system to another without panicking.

5.  Know enough that you don't fear you might break it if you do a little digging in the help files.

6.  If you don't understand something, don't let it go.  Make like Rikki-Tikki Tavi -- run and find out.