SimCity 4: Deluxe Edition Makes Triumphant Return to the Mac

[NCGAIO 562]

 

Aspyr Media today announced that fan-favorite and best-selling city simulator SimCity ™ 4 Deluxe Edition is now available as a digital download. The game has been updated to support OS X Mountain Lion 10.8.5 (or higher) and includes bug

 

INDEX:

 

Best analysis so far   - 

 

Update for old users - 

 

Program Files folder - 

 

Screen Resolution - 

 

Custom Content  :

 

FOLDERS Plugins - 

unplayable without Internet connection!s

 

 

 

Night Lights for third party plugins -

DarkNite Modd -

 

ExtraCheats  -

Using Wineskin Winery SC4 -

[Beezer 0]

This is SO exciting. Anyone used it yet? Will it work with mods and downloads?

 

Really love to hear anyones experiences with this, how does it run compared to say virtual PC versions?

[brunoresende29 6]

Yippie! I just got their announcement email and it is already available at the Mac App Store!

[samplane123 1]

Steam?! I bought the game on steam for bootcamp a few weeks ago as I didn't have the disc with me, hopefully I'll be able to get the mac version as well! Very exciting.

[brunoresende29 6]

Steam?! I bought the game on steam for bootcamp a few weeks ago as I didn't have the disc with me, hopefully I'll be able to get the mac version as well! Very exciting.

 

I believe you won't. :/ The Mac version is distributed by Aspyr Media, while the Steam version is distributed by EA Games. I highly doubt this would happen.

[samplane123 1]

 

Steam?! I bought the game on steam for bootcamp a few weeks ago as I didn't have the disc with me, hopefully I'll be able to get the mac version as well! Very exciting.

 

I believe you won't. :/ The Mac version is distributed by Aspyr Media, while the Steam version is distributed by EA Games. I highly doubt this would happen.

 

Good point, that kinda sucks. I'll probably buy it again (3rd time) at some point if the performance enhancements are good.

[Beezer 0]

Ah screw waiting for opinions I'm just going to download it and see...

[Beezer 0]

It certainly loads fast. Seems great. Going to see how it copes with addons.

[2four 21]

This is fantastic news. I'm assuming of course that the code for the application has been updated.

If this is in fact the case..... Happy Days AGAIN!!!

:-)

 

Can anyone verify that the code has been optimized and SC4 now kicks ass?

[jaredh 195]

We can only pray somebody can get the same code changes ported to the PC version.

 

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE

[Tirea 0]

 

 

Steam?! I bought the game on steam for bootcamp a few weeks ago as I didn't have the disc with me, hopefully I'll be able to get the mac version as well! Very exciting.

 

I believe you won't. :/ The Mac version is distributed by Aspyr Media, while the Steam version is distributed by EA Games. I highly doubt this would happen.

 

Good point, that kinda sucks. I'll probably buy it again (3rd time) at some point if the performance enhancements are good.

 

Well... the announcement clearly says "Customers may purchase the game now exclusively through Apple’s Mac App Store, and the game will join Steam and other Mac digital outlets in coming weeks."

 So just wait it will surely come to Steam! 

[warrior 169]

The plugin path for this is not in Documents thanks to sandboxing, it's here:

 

~/Library/Containers/com.aspyr.simcity4.appstore/Data/Documents/SimCity 4/Plugins

[Tirea 0]

After running the Windows Version of SimCity in bootcamp, on my 2013 MacPro and the new Mac AppStore Version on my Retina MacBook Pro, I have to say the new Mac Version is faster at loading and overall seems smoother than the Windows Version. As for the Code it's definitely optimized for the newer OS X Versions and performance really benefits from that! 

The only thing I'm missing support for the Retina resolution, but that's just me... 

 

Seeing that EA asked Aspyr to create a native new(!) Mac Version for one of their games is great news and I hope they are doing this for all of there new games to come. After that Sims 3 Cider Port Failure...

I'm just so happy to finally play SimCity native on my Macs again! 

[TEG24601 32]

The only question I have, is will Aspyr be offering a patch to existing owners, allow people to download using the CD Keys we were given, but weren't compatible with Maxis/EA's website.  I don't really want to spend another $20, but might if there is no alternative.

[Cyclone Boom 17,031]

Quite surprising this should happen after so many years.

 

It'd be interesting to know if this improves the performance compared to the PC version. More than likely, it wouldn't perform any better on Windows using an emulator / virtual machine, in terms of overall speed and stability. From the article, the main intention seems to solve the problems with original flawed Mac version, making SimCity 4 optimised for the latest Macs.

 

For anyone that owns it, could you share the version number of the application? This might provide some more insight. Not sure how or where this would be displayed for Macs, but the digital PC version is 1.1.641.

[jeepboy 1]

On my Mac, the current version for SimCity 4 Deluxe is 1.1 Rev A.

[Tirea 0]

The only question I have, is will Aspyr be offering a patch to existing owners, allow people to download using the CD Keys we were given, but weren't compatible with Maxis/EA's website.  I don't really want to spend another $20, but might if there is no alternative.

Honestly I don't really know if this is going to happen... If you bought the game through Steam you will surely get the new Mac version!

EA will definitely upload the Mac Version to Origin so that you can buy it there and maybe you will be able to enter your CD serial in Origin to get the digital version of SimCity 4 for both Mac and PC. It would make sense since EA is doing this with the new SimCity, Spore, Sims 3, etc.

[FuzzyPuffin 0]

The only question I have, is will Aspyr be offering a patch to existing owners, allow people to download using the CD Keys we were given, but weren't compatible with Maxis/EA's website. I don't really want to spend another $20, but might if there is no alternative.

If Aspyr releases a new version that is required for the latest OS, they are usually pretty good about sending people keys on request. Just send them a pic of your CD or receipt. They did this with Jedi Academy.

(And if not, it's frequently on sale for $5 on Steam.)

Can anyone confirm this works with NAM?

[Beezer 0]

I can't get it to work with the version of Nam i had lying around but it may be the wrong version. It's just beachballing on open city. Trying other addons with some success.

[TEG24601 32]

They did respond to my inquiry on FB and their Press Release - Because this is a complete rework of the code, and technically a new release (as it was developed by a different company than the original port), they are not providing patches or upgrades to existing owners.  I'm not upset, as I would gladly pay for the new version, I was just hoping.

[Sabretooth78 808]

Has anybody compared this to running the PC version under Wine?  I'm curious if it would be worth it for me to make the jump.   Faster and improved performance is nice, but sticking with something that is free and works rather well is nice too.      As it is, running under Wine is slightly but noticeably better than running under Parallels (v8).

 

Also, I would assume it's possible to run under hardware mode?  That would definitely be a plus, but seeing as I have already entrenched myself into a plugins suite that supports only software mode I'm somewhat loathe to rip that all up.  Not that I would necessarily have to - it's just more to, ugh, download and reorganize.

 

The plugin path for this is not in Documents thanks to sandboxing, it's here:

 

~/Library/Containers/com.aspyr.simcity4.appstore/Data/Documents/SimCity 4/Plugins

 

Is there an equivalent to a "program files" plugin directory?  Will DAMN work with it?  (If not, that's a dealbreaker for me right there; performance gain opportunity cost be, well, DAMN-ed lol.)

[stewdog1 0]

Before I buy this, does anyone know if the addons and files in the Exchange will work for the Mac version?

[Beezer 0]

I'm using building add ons just fine right now. roadtop mass transit works fine. Haven'n managed to get the NAM working yet but not clear which version I should be using.

[LiQuiDWaVe 0]

whoa, it's more than a decade since i touched SC4.. runs pretty well on Maverick!

Can't seem to find NAM download for mac tho

[TEG24601 32]

Before I buy this, does anyone know if the addons and files in the Exchange will work for the Mac version?

They have always worked, although some EXE'd files needed Wine, Crossover, a Windows Environment, or File Juicer to extract.

 

whoa, it's more than a decade since i touched SC4.. runs pretty well on Maverick!

Can't seem to find NAM download for mac tho

There is only the EXE installer at present, and you will need Wine, Crossover, a Windows Environment, or File Juicer to extract the files.  I recommend running the installer in Crossover, Wine, or Windows to maintain all the structure.

[natew 0]

I bought the update off the App Store last night and have been running it (admittedly plugin-free) with no issues for a couple of hours. It is remarkably faster than my previous method of using a Bootcamp install to run it in Windows, plus there are no weird hardware issues with having to turn off multi-core processors, etc.
 
The graphics have a native resolution setting that matches my monitor (2013 21.5" iMac/Mavericks/Fusion Drive) and they are running in hardware mode at the highest settings. Regions and cities feel like they load almost instantly compared to the Windows version on the same machine.
 
Tonight I will likely cruise around to find some plugins to add to the install and will post again if I run into any issues.
 
This is some of the most exciting news regarding SimCity that I've seen in a long time. The debacle that was SimCity (2013) nearly ruined me on the franchise.

[diamonddog_74 32]

Wow! This is great news since I just bought a new rMBP, and it doesn't have a built-in optical drive so I can't use my existing copy of SC4D. In my old Mac I actually was using Boot Camp to run SC4D in Windows XP. I was mulling over using Crossover for the new computer instead of Boot Camp again, but this news changes everything!

 

As some have mentioned, though, we need NAM for Mac now that we have a modernized version of SC4D. I hope the NAM team can make this happen soon. SC4D is just not complete without it.

[TEG24601 32]

Wow! This is great news since I just bought a new rMBP, and it doesn't have a built-in optical drive so I can't use my existing copy of SC4D. In my old Mac I actually was using Boot Camp to run SC4D in Windows XP. I was mulling over using Crossover for the new computer instead of Boot Camp again, but this news changes everything!

 

As some have mentioned, though, we need NAM for Mac now that we have a modernized version of SC4D. I hope the NAM team can make this happen soon. SC4D is just not complete without it.

NAM is there for Mac, and works great, you just need a Windows system or analog to run the installer.

[stewdog1 0]

 

Before I buy this, does anyone know if the addons and files in the Exchange will work for the Mac version?

They have always worked, although some EXE'd files needed Wine, Crossover, a Windows Environment, or File Juicer to extract.

 

whoa, it's more than a decade since i touched SC4.. runs pretty well on Maverick!

Can't seem to find NAM download for mac tho

There is only the EXE installer at present, and you will need Wine, Crossover, a Windows Environment, or File Juicer to extract the files.  I recommend running the installer in Crossover, Wine, or Windows to maintain all the structure.

 

Awesome, thanks for the info!

[samplane123 1]

 

 

 

Steam?! I bought the game on steam for bootcamp a few weeks ago as I didn't have the disc with me, hopefully I'll be able to get the mac version as well! Very exciting.

 

I believe you won't. :/ The Mac version is distributed by Aspyr Media, while the Steam version is distributed by EA Games. I highly doubt this would happen.

 

Good point, that kinda sucks. I'll probably buy it again (3rd time) at some point if the performance enhancements are good.

 

Well... the announcement clearly says "Customers may purchase the game now exclusively through Apple’s Mac App Store, and the game will join Steam and other Mac digital outlets in coming weeks."

 So just wait it will surely come to Steam! 

 

I know it's coming to steam, but I was wondering if it would support steam play (meaning I won't have to buy the game again for mac, I will already have it because I have the PC version).

 

If anybody is interested, the re-release will support steam play when it's released on steam!

https://twitter.com/AspyrMedia/status/454657961672331264