Issue with CO

[Mymyjp 1,052]

Hello,

I am new to Sim City, therefore, before I started playing the game, I read all I could on everything, tutorials, etc. I purchased Sim City 4 Deluxe Rush Hour version.

 

I have intalled NAM, CAM, applied both the IH census and Workforce fix and a CO$$$ fix.

 

I manage my budget with no problem. However, my issue is with RCI and my commercial area stating "Low Customers."

My residential area is underneat my commercial area and my industrial area is above my commercial (with some space to avoid pollution as much as possible)

 

I have neighboring cities (2), my taxes are low (about 5 to 6%), I use buses, subways, trains (industry), elevated track, etc...

 

I tried to put my commerce next to my residential block and still the same - my RCI shows negative for CO, extremely high for residential and normal for industry. On top of that, I have zoning that did not develop and next to it there is a house with the beautiful "no work" sign (long commute).

 

I even tried to copy several layouts from various tutorials and still the same issue. Anyone out there who is willing to help a very eager new player who is starting to really thinking of giving up?

 

There is so many different opinions about CAM..and everyone says if you have NAM = No issues...

Your assistance with this or any advice would be greatly appreciate!

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

I should like to suggest that for a new player CAM is an unnecessary complication.  It doubles the extent of the game with respect to stage levels and will cause what appears to be a problem with commercial buildings.  You might have a better learning experience by following this scenario:

 

1. Create a new userid on your machine for this experiment.  This way, your present set up will be protected.  Unfortunately, if you have applied any patches or fixes to the game residency in C:\program files ...  you will have to save them somewhere.
    
2. To make sure you have a clean copy of the game, reinstall SimCity 4 deluxe and, if necessary, apply the two published patches.  If you have the download version 1,1,641 you can skip the patches.
    
3. Install all the plugins you previously installed except the CAM.  This will give you a CAM free environment.  You should omit any CAMpatible mods and lots as well.
    
4. You should now be able to play without the CAM, and see if this problem occurs.  Unfortunately, you will be unable to use the regions you previously used except for new copies of them.

 

 

I suspect that as a new player, you've simply gone too far before getting a feel for the game.

[Mymyjp 1,052]

Nonny Moose,  I greatly appreciate your advice and will try to apply it.

I have read your numerous post about CAM and I must admit I installed it with some reticence, but some people made it sound like it was essential.

 

I do have SPAM and simply adore the farm effect.

 

Again, thank you very much for your advice!

[Prophet42 1,500]

I agree with A Nonny Moose.  Do not use CAM until you fully understand the way SC4 works.  The CAM is not essential.  It drastically changes the mechanics of SC4.  Also, any buildings you download you will have to make sure are CAM compatible.

 

In contrast, NAM is essential.  It basically fixes the way the traffic simulation works and adds a lot of useful traffic networks.

[Compdude787 916]

I do have SPAM and simply adore the farm effect.

 

Having CAM and SPAM together doesn't really work that well. This could be your problem. Personally, I've avoided the CAM partly because it clashes with the SPAM (and until recently did not work with the Industrial Revolution Mod).

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

I believe that the story about SPAM and CAM not working together is either obsolete or apocryphal.  However, if you like farms you may want to get SimGoober's Ditch Set which increases the demand for farms.

[Compdude787 916]

I believe that the story about SPAM and CAM not working together is either obsolete or apocryphal.

You just have to make sure that the SPAM loads after the CAM, I think. Is that correct?

 

I have no idea for sure, but I think that's what you gotta do.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

This is all speculation.  But in any case, if the contents of the two mods are all .dat files and they are in the usual alphabetic order, that's what will happen.  I tried CAM years ago and found it to be not to my taste.  I still run SPAM.

 

There is enough in the game to keep me entertained for years, and with the NAM team activity, we have "mobilis in mobile" to quote Jules Verne.

[jmsepe 2,038]

At any rate what exactly does CAM do, last time I checked it was something to do with the RCI demand. Am I correct?

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Colossal Addon Mod doubles the number of stages of development from 8 to 16 with the appropriate changes to the demand curves.  Tall buildings are acquired much later, and the game is extended in this regard.  With CAM in place, you can pick up some new CAMpataible buildings as well.

 

Care must be taken to avoid conflicts.