I am always intrigued :E

[mayorgreener 37]

Hello Simtropolians,

 

Please allow me to do some bla bla bla... Lightens me up

 

I am just an ordinary SC4 player and so are my cities. Grid based, Default ugly R, C & I bldgs. Simple road and ground texture. Railway lines laid down in a simple manner. Don't know whether in real life they are laid down like that or not. Elevated and mono rail covering some parts of the city.

 

And the bus and subway stops sprinkled haphazardly here and there with no proper planning.

 

And then when I see the mindblowing CJ's, I feel intrigued and to some extent depressed.

 

For ex. this CJ and the way the rail lines are laid out just made me go gaga.... hahaha

https://community.simtropolis.com/journal/4778/entry-23842-brancaccio-life-is-not-a-bowl-of-cherries/

 

There are more such mind boggling CJ's and I think that what bldgs or what planning method they use to make such mind boggling cities.

 

OK full stop

Thank you.

[47ply 1,100]

just a thought mayorgreener

 

start a new open a new region call my playground and just play around with railways and downtown layouts most if not all of the stuff I post on my cj are just ideas I came up with. play and have fun.

check out the Omnibous. all kinds of stuff to learn on there

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

That's right, if I may say so.  Experiment.  Play around.  Try things out.  Slowly you will become more creative.  An inventor is a guy with 10,000 failures for each success.  If at first you don't succeed, try the next alternative.

[TheTransitMan2525 2]

If you want, try going online and look at either some other SimCity layouts or real city layouts and see what you like, and you can try and model it from there...worked for me.

[jmsepe 2,038]

Coming from a vanilla town, I must say that when playing the most important thing is consistency and perseverance. True, try to experiment with different mods and plugins, do not limit yourself with created concepts. Above all, do not be afraid to fail, sometimes, even when even if you spend hours creating something it just doesn't work the way you want but dont give up and create a new one. Soon youll find yourself creating things you never thought you are able to.

 

Also, ask the help of the people here in ST when in doubt, they sure do have a lot experience and can they can help you in a lot ways. 

[mayorgreener 37]

Thank you everybody for your kind replies.

 

Yes, I think 1st I have to decide that by which style I want to play the game. Realistic game play or aesthetics game play. I have decided the later and the way to learn it is by seeing CJ's and trying them, watching & reading various tutorials and by having patience

 

Thank you

[APSMS 1,892]

It might be important to note that sometimes really incredible setups have been lotted, especially the railyard in question that you linked to. It's completely custom, but also rigid and the person that made it didn't draw it but painstakingly set it up in the LE that way. When people show lotting projects, I feel a little bad, but not as bad as if the picture is completely drawn, grown, or MMPed, because while I know I will never be dedicated enough to do a complex/massive LE project (I might decide to try some simple ones, though), I do know that I play the game.

 

I guess the lesson is that if you can't follow the methods they used, don't feel to bad. If they make something using methods that are available to you, then observe, learn, and use patience to practice and achieve something similar. Also, don't be afraid to ask how they did it. Sometimes the methods are non-obvious.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

For a real diversion and examination of capabilities, try model railroading.  I think there is a group somewhere on the site.

[CapTon 592]

This kind of stuff intrigues me as well I don't have the patience, the intelligence, or the creativity to contrive such masterpieces but I'm glad there are people on this site with these skills. And with an extensive imagination.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Well, CapTon, this game requires patience.  It is not a modern game for the modern instant response crowd.  It is a leisure time activity and needs a relaxed player.  It is an exercise in problem solving and each time you solve a problem, a new one is caused by the very solution.  This is why it seems chaotic if run at full speed all the time.

 

There are so many hidden variables that just keeping the game in some sort of balance is a big job in itself.  I usually set an initial goal of getting in the black, and after that keeping the balance of Sims:Jobs ~ 2:1 while enhancing the city/region. 

 

I have one region that is not nearly full that I've been running for about 18 months now, and I've reached the point where I only run that one occasionally because the cities are mostly big enough to lag me to death.  I have currently got nine active regions and for variety I switch between them.  Each has a different map, and some of them are not difficult and some are very weird.

 

Currently, I am not using RHW, GLR, nor RRW because my basically rural building style doesn't require them.  I don't even have them loaded.  One of the nice things about the current NAM is the custom installer.

 

I hope this view of the game is helpful to you.

[APSMS 1,892]

For a real diversion and examination of capabilities, try model railroading.  I think there is a group somewhere on the site.

Have you read up on the 3RR (mostly on SC4D)? I'd say that's pretty close to model railroading, especially considering Dedgren's intentions in making the RAM/Single-Track Rail.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

 

For a real diversion and examination of capabilities, try model railroading.  I think there is a group somewhere on the site.

Have you read up on the 3RR (mostly on SC4D)? I'd say that's pretty close to model railroading, especially considering Dedgren's intentions in making the RAM/Single-Track Rail.

 

No.  Got a link?

[mayorgreener 37]

 

 

For a real diversion and examination of capabilities, try model railroading.  I think there is a group somewhere on the site.

Have you read up on the 3RR (mostly on SC4D)? I'd say that's pretty close to model railroading, especially considering Dedgren's intentions in making the RAM/Single-Track Rail.

 

No.  Got a link?

 

 

may be this one?

https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?board=162.0

[APSMS 1,892]

This one is more direct: https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=112.0

 

There's also a ridiculously comprehensive table of contents and a whole set of additional "mythology" pages.

[CapTon 592]

Well, CapTon, this game requires patience.  It is not a modern game for the modern instant response crowd.  It is a leisure time activity and needs a relaxed player.  It is an exercise in problem solving and each time you solve a problem, a new one is caused by the very solution.  This is why it seems chaotic if run at full speed all the time.

 

There are so many hidden variables that just keeping the game in some sort of balance is a big job in itself.  I usually set an initial goal of getting in the black, and after that keeping the balance of Sims:Jobs ~ 2:1 while enhancing the city/region. 

 

I have one region that is not nearly full that I've been running for about 18 months now, and I've reached the point where I only run that one occasionally because the cities are mostly big enough to lag me to death.  I have currently got nine active regions and for variety I switch between them.  Each has a different map, and some of them are not difficult and some are very weird.

 

Currently, I am not using RHW, GLR, nor RRW because my basically rural building style doesn't require them.  I don't even have them loaded.  One of the nice things about the current NAM is the custom installer.

 

I hope this view of the game is helpful to you.

Thanks for the lengthy post

 

I understand that you need patience I've spent about four weeks on one city (about ten to fifteen hours a week) attempting to "perfect" it so that I can say that I've actually accomplished something in SC4.

 

Usually, my goal is to have a metropolis that is thriving; everyone is happy, the hourly budget is in the green, and there are no major problems that I would have to deal with.

[mayorgreener 37]

Usually, my goal is to have a metropolis that is thriving; everyone is happy, the hourly budget is in the green, and there are no major problems that I would have to deal with.

 

I can say that I have achieved that and can make such a city easily. What I am trying these days is to build such mind blowing cities with beautiful aesthetics. 

[General Lee 9]

 

Usually, my goal is to have a metropolis that is thriving; everyone is happy, the hourly budget is in the green, and there are no major problems that I would have to deal with.

 

I can say that I have achieved that and can make such a city easily. What I am trying these days is to build such mind blowing cities with beautiful aesthetics. 

 

Then you're definately going to need some mods. First of all, I'd recommend getting the NAM (Network Addon Mod). You can grab that That will cover all your roads, rails, and other transportation needs (including aethetics). Though, you're going to want to select the "Custom" install option. Pay attention to each option carefully. There are different aethetics options for your different needs (e.g. German road markings, British details, left hand drive, etc.). Also, I'd start with selecting the Ultra road capacity right off the bat. Also max out the Mass Transit capacity multiplier. This will be a lifesaver for when your cities' population tops 100,000, and besides you're going for mind blowing cities with beautiful aethetics, not necessarily traffic realism.

 

Also, you can't go wrong with you can now place Bus Stops, Subway Stations on the roads themselves! This saves space, and is more realistic. READ THE README CAREFULLY! This mod is slightly harder to install than most.).

 

Some other cool aesthetic mods are:

Treble Plaza ()

Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant ()

McDonald's (one of, if not the BEST McDonald's model on the entire ST/EX: https://www.simtropolis.com/stex/details.cfm?id=11053)

The McDonald's Factory (The shame of your city    )

Arby's ()

Church's Chicken ()

Amsterdam Westerkerk (Actually, just search "church" on the ST/EX to find a ton of well done Cathedrals and Churches: )

 

And finally, because Dr. Vu is such a bad@$$, a few buildings featuring his namesake:

Vu Security Services ()

Vu Research (a Disease Research Center Reward building similar to the Maxis one...except way cooler! )

Vu Laboratories ()

 

So yeah, just search the ST/EX and don't be afraid to try new mods. Need any help, feel free to post again.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Mods are such a personal decision that the only ones I ever recommend in a general thread are the NAM and the bug fixes.

[nath1980 3]

Hi mayorgreener, this game has endless possibilities, I use cjs for inspiration but my city building style has developed over 20 odd years of building cities on the different sim city titles, my cities are a lot more organic I enjoy this approach my city changes slowly over time I have never come close to finishing a region and I can spend months on one city building when ever I find time. As for the various extras that can be downloaded nam is by far the most important everything else is down to taste, if you like eastern europe like myself give simcity polska a look.

[mayorgreener 37]

Hi mayorgreener, this game has endless possibilities, I use cjs for inspiration but my city building style has developed over 20 odd years of building cities on the different sim city titles, my cities are a lot more organic I enjoy this approach my city changes slowly over time I have never come close to finishing a region and I can spend months on one city building when ever I find time. As for the various extras that can be downloaded nam is by far the most important everything else is down to taste, if you like eastern europe like myself give simcity polska a look.

 

Hi,

What is CJS?

 

And can you provide a link to Polska city?

[qazzy1122 2]

 

Hi mayorgreener, this game has endless possibilities, I use cjs for inspiration but my city building style has developed over 20 odd years of building cities on the different sim city titles, my cities are a lot more organic I enjoy this approach my city changes slowly over time I have never come close to finishing a region and I can spend months on one city building when ever I find time. As for the various extras that can be downloaded nam is by far the most important everything else is down to taste, if you like eastern europe like myself give simcity polska a look.

 

Hi,

What is CJS?

 

And can you provide a link to Polska city?

 

CJs are City Journals

[nath1980 3]

Hello again mayorgreener it ia http://simcitypolska.pl