SC4 community - Interested in new content for 2013

[xoxide 377]

I have a great respect for many people in SC4 for 11 years of content and buildings.  We are interested in people whom would like to cross pollinate content and create custom content for 2013.

 

We need 3D artists and 2D artists which will work with our scripters and tools to help create a new direction in content with the heart and dedication you have brought to your incarnation and version of your favorite sc4.

 

Many content would be welcome in sc2013.

 

So I'm asking for those whom are interested please contact us and I hope we can start to bridge modding and buildings with new rules and possibilities.

 

Buggi, Oppie and so many others started in SC4 while myself I'm mostly a 2013 community member but as I said have a lot of respect for Haljakey and others of NAM and BAT teams whom have given me inspiration for many of the ideas that created UDoNS and other aspects.

 

So thank your for your hard work and dedication for sc4 and making it last 11 + years.. WITHOUT YOU it would not be where it is today PERIOD.

 

With that said any future for 2013 also is in the ultimate hands of the community so please again get involved.

 

Thanks for everything

XoXiDe / Jeff

[CapTon 592]

I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but I believe that due to the botched launch of SimCity 2013 and the fact that many SC4 players still believe that the game is worthless and full of bugs, only a few SC4 custom content creators will want to invest their time into the growth of the game through custom content.

[Indiana Joe 1,750]

I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but I believe that due to the botched launch of SimCity 2013 and the fact that many SC4 players still believe that the game is worthless and full of bugs, only a few SC4 custom content creators will want to invest their time into the growth of the game through custom content.

 

Not a bad game.  It's been thoroughly patched.  It's just that learning a whole new game to mod is quite a task.  Modders will come to this game (notice the STEX recently?  SC13 activity is picking up).  But most of the current SC4 modder population is happy to continue with their game, which in no way seems to be growing old or outdated.  There's still lots of work to be done on it.

 

The better population to recruit in would be the modders who have left and retired, but tracking them down would be lot more difficult.

[SimCoug 5,972]

I agree with Indiana Joe... personally I've weighed all the arguments for and against SC13 and in the end it doesn't seem like the open ended game that I have come to enjoy in SC4.  And because of that, SC4 continues to hold my interest (playing and modding wise) 11 years later - I can't see myself giving it up anytime soon.  Of course, that is just me... in the future, I can see a number of talented BATers on this site attempt their craft on SC13 once a standardized program is created that will allow them to show off their skills.  But for that to happen I think Maxis will need to introduce tools similar to the BAT and PIM that will allow the SC13 modding community to really flourish. I know there are a few home grown tools available, but besides some of Oppie's works, I'm not aware of many independently modded buildings that are available to use in SC13 (maybe I can be proven wrong on that though).  

[CapTon 592]

I agree with Indiana Joe... personally I've weighed all the arguments for and against SC13 and in the end it doesn't seem like the open ended game that I have come to enjoy in SC4.  And because of that, SC4 continues to hold my interest (playing and modding wise) 11 years later - I can't see myself giving it up anytime soon.  Of course, that is just me... in the future, I can see a number of talented BATers on this site attempt their craft on SC13 once a standardized program is created that will allow them to show off their skills.  But for that to happen I think Maxis will need to introduce tools similar to the BAT and PIM that will allow the SC13 modding community to really flourish. I know there are a few home grown tools available, but besides some of Oppie's works, I'm not aware of many independently modded buildings that are available to use in SC13 (maybe I can be proven wrong on that though).  

Trust me you'll be seeing some new SC2013 buildings soon.

[Cyclone Boom 16,875]

It's certainly a nice idea, but these are valid points. SimCity 4 content is still very much alive and well, even after so long. Because of this, the NAM Team are still ultimately focussed on developing new features, alongside improving existing ones. The last I heard they've no plans to mod for SC13, and most members don't even own the new game!

 

People will only invest time in modding a game they're interested in, and you can't get into something if there's no real motivation. As you'll know xoxide, modding demands a strong passion. The thing is at present, many SimCity 4 players are content, and are not yet willing to jump ship. Also for the modding side of things, it certainly wouldn't be a simple transition -- far from it. With the differences, it'd require learning and studying the architecture of SC13. I suspect this isn't something most SC4 modders find appealing at this stage.

 

It'd be interesting to know how many people regularly play both games. For now, we'd likely see most are sticking to one game or another.

[Ganaram Inukshuk 906]

Because of this, the NAM Team are still ultimately focussed on developing new features, alongside improving existing ones. The last I heard they've no plans to mod for SC13, and most members don't even own the new game!

I will say this: my initial thoughts on SC2013 was "wait and see what happens and if a new NAM Team for SC2013 springs up, wait until I have played the game before we begin to regroup." That has never come to pass, and our stance on SC2013 is pretty much the same as what you said: we are not actively modding SC2013, and it's not likely it'll ever change.

And practically only one person on the team has actually played the new game: Haljackey.

[SimCoug 5,972]

Trust me you'll be seeing some new SC2013 buildings soon.

Can't wait to see 'em

 

 

One disadvantage I see for SC13 is the fact that modding requires a strong passion... I believe that happened for SC4 because it is much nearer to a hobby than a game.  At the moment,  I don't see the same thing happening for SC13 because it is still a 'game'.  Perhaps with newer modding tools and greater diversity of game play that will happen in the future, but I don't see it yet.

[jdenm8 362]

We need 3D artists and 2D artists which will work with our scripters and tools

 

If those tools actually worked properly, there probably would be cross pollination through backports of SC2013 content.

 

I've reported that OBJ Exporting is broken several times and it's only gotten worse.

 

It doesn't help that the attitude of a couple SC2013 modders in certain forums is nothing short of arrogant. First you're saying the SC4 community is dead and now you're trying to poach its members?

[Haljackey 17,302]

 

And practically only one person on the team has actually played the new game: Haljackey.

 

 

...And it's been about a year since I last played it.

 

To each their own though. When I want to play a city simulation game I now have a choice between the two, and I still pick SC4. It's not like I did not give SC13 a chance either, but this thread isn't about a SC4 vs SC13 discussion.

-One day I'll play it again. I am interested to see how the game has improved with updates, offline mode and new the highway and city expansion mods.

 

 

 

Personally, I'd love to see more content for SC13, but I agree with SimCoug that until we see tools / programs for the game like the BAT for SC4, the development front for SC13 will remain small. I'd love to see a easy-to-use tool come out that let's people design their own buildings for the game.

-On that front, perhaps something may happen with the release of The Sims 4. In SC4, there was some integration with The Sims where you could import characters you made and let them live in your city. I think it would be awesome if EA/Maxis expanded this, allowing you to import the buildings you made in The Sims 4 into SC13. (From what I've seen from the game you can make more than simple houses.) This would be a step in the right direction.

 

 

Bottom line: If it was as easy to create content for SC13 as it is for SC4, it's possible that many of the community's content creators would have moved to the new game.

[Tropod 144]

Myself personally, lack of free time is my biggest setback. That & fact I don't have the game (yet) because my focus is (still) currently on SC4. And so I'm not quite tempted to buy SC13 but when I eventually do I'll probably have a crack at modding it.

[xoxide 377]

All of you this is this is about art and content not about which is a good or better game

 

Some of you are taking a position of sc4 vs sc2013. I'm saying that content is content and could exist in both place.    Capton and others are very involved now with myself and a group whom are reinventing and almost writing the book on public modding with the help of others.

 

But honestly its about people just trying and getting involved.

 

Photoshop is photoshop

3ds is 3ds

 

a Building is a Building

 

Both worlds give the content various aspects of life within the digital realm of a creators inspiration.

 

Just like there is no way to compare various components that do similar things Both have their advantages I do not see disadvantages just new directions.

 

Anyways.. for those whom wish to get involved please do so .. we are not here to try and create further division between version of the game we Midas well be having a topic on sc2k vs sc4 or sc3 vs sc4 as well ..

 

Its mute

 

This is a call for artist and rendering people to get involved to inspire creations within a game which in the last week got over 2000 new items. SC4 didn't have that much content added in 1.5 years and new people and new creative ideas are needed.

 

Peace

XoXiDe

[xoxide 377]

@jdenm8 We can now make content .. we have the process down and can pretty must instruct people and work with others to get them into the game

 

the last week alone a lot of new content has been added and its just a matter of who you attack it as an individual or part of a group which handle components of the mod in various stages.

 

At this moment teams implement artwork from 3D to script and something useable by the engine via a process is very different than what was done in sc4 to make the same content.  Its not the same its very different but its also in many ways much more complex due to the nature of implementation.

 

Most of the tools are all community created and driven and we are very unlikely to get anything from maxis on "Modding Tools" etc.

 

Artists that can do

Buildings and 3D will have an advantage at this point then work with those whom can write the scripts and help with conversion of models to something useable as we make the process easier.

 

The front line has to start somewhere guess to continue with the idea mentioned by haljakey but some of us are involved and others are waiting for a single solution which I don't see happening.

 

XoXiDe

[xoxide 377]

Cyclone we have released mods that rival any of those released in such a short time for sc4 but this isn't about versions of the game its more about content and art.

 

UDoN's are NAM for SC 2013

A new interface was presented in Akar

RCIH Plopping with Avalon

 

Now we have new decorations coming out this week and more capability to introduce much more complicated models and art for those whom wish to get involved but this like always is about community and making small steps in the direction of working together.  Most of us including myself own multiple versions of SimCity .. I'm involved in that community by choice but I could be just as involved in sc4 I just didn't feel it myself.

 

That may be true for a huge portion of sc4 loyalists but its again not about version of the game its about those whom wish to just be involved and help bridge the gap between games by adding new content not about which is better.

 

Your a moderator you know how this is and how it goes.  But unless people work together there would have never been 11 years of sc4 unless people like myself had done the same thing back in the day for sc4 as we are for 2013.

 

This is just the start.

[Cyclone Boom 16,875]

Yes, it's not a debate over which game is better (let's not go there again). The main issue is whether active SimCity 4 players are willing to switch their interest.

 

There's no doubt content for the new game is growing. You guys are doing an awesome job with the limited resources available, and no help from Maxis. It'll just take time for the SC4 modding community to diversify. Not something that'll happen overnight.

[BLANKBLANK 4,414]

Personally I'm adopting a wait and see approach to see how the modding community and Maxis can improve SC2013. Recently great strides have been made with the 3K mod, one way roads, elevated rail and other features. But the three biggest obstacles for me playing SC2013 are the lack of custom regions, lack of terraforming and lack of contiguous city tiles. For SC2013 to have a future these big three items need to be addressed by either an expansion pack from Maxis or a quantum leap from the modding community.

 

But SC4 has got a lot more mileage left in it. I hope to see more diagonal buildings, while FAR buildings would be nice to (there's only a couple of them). While overhanding fillers of the diagonal and FAR kind will make grid-busting even more visually appealing. With more developments in diagonal and FAR territory, SC4 grid-busting will still keep in check the curved roads of SC2013. While the NAM still cranks out new highway types, more grid-busting, more transport infrastructure and more cosmetic clean-ups (like getting around to sorting out the pavement textures in the new TURBO roundabouts <cough, cough>).

 

Other areas of possible development will be overhanging buildings, which have a small LOT size but will have free squares in and around the building footprint to add in MMPs, plazas and all sorts of stuff.

[xoxide 377]

@cyclone exactly ... some artists have the ability to nearly work in all areas of 3d which are more key to the idea of buildings and other aspects.  Yes there are mechanics that need to still be done but its not really like people or I'm even asking them to switch as much would anyone like to try and work on buildings within the other framework.

 

Those whom build cities its about building cities. 

 

ln X most of the items you mentioned are mute.  If you haven't been paying attention to the actions of the other community then you may not even realize what we are talking about.

 

for several months one ways are possible and freeway interchanges along with other aspects as well as building them regionally or outside the designed area that maxis gave us.

 

Some of the other aspects like road textures we have had for ages down to cobble stone if someone wanted.  Its very easy to change vs some of the more difficult items.

 

Jeff

[CapTon 592]

I have to say that most people just believe that SC4 is the superior city-builder when it comes to comparing it to SC2013, which is why they will not want to help create custom content for the game. SC4 is still the game on the top in this community, and it's likely to stay this way for at least a couple more years.

[xoxide 377]

cap we know what the road blocks are but you don't side with the reasons you side with the request of interest... as we already have people interested we both know its a matter of perspective and choice not always one of logic or unbias.

 

just like your comment is bias in its own way

 

cyclone and I understand the dynamics of social sites and the bridges that need to be built but we as a community have proven time and time again its by working together we grow stronger by our differences as well as our similarities.

 

To work together you must be willing to try and reach across the gap in order to bring people across in either direction..  There is no right or wrong when it comes to a city builder its just a choice or personal opinion like or desire.

 

in the last 24 hours we have had 5 people join in for graphic arts and we are interested in more .. we wish to get 5 teams running total to learn what is needed and everyone is welcome to be apart of this first wave or front lines as someone else mentioned

 

Jeff / XoXiDe

[Jim14409 448]

 

...we have released mods that rival any of those released in such a short time for sc4... [emphasis mine]

As far as I know SC4 did not have the advantages that SC2013 has, such as Simtropolis and the other popular sites to inspire and encourage content creators. As a SC player from the start I never knew anything about modding or mods (was I living in a cave?). Point is today mods are much wider known, supported and so SC2013 has not had to start such a community from scratch. 

 

I played SC4 yesterday and I am playing it today and can't see it getting usurped in my entertainment/challenge arsenal any time soon.

[Tarkus 6,932]

Yes, it's not a debate over which game is better (let's not go there again).  The main issue is whether active SimCity 4 players are willing to switch their interest.

 

 

This sounds dangerously close to the "poaching" that one colleague of mine described earlier.  In the above quote, the "switch their interest" contradicts the desire to avoid a "debate" in the previous sentence.  For the record, I respect what the SC2013 modding community has been able to do with the game, and regard you guys as brothers-in-arms for that.  However, I don't own SC2013, and have no plans to purchase it.  While I have enjoyed looking at the inside of SC4's file structures, I didn't buy SC4 for that purpose.  In general, I don't buy games just so I can mod them.

 

-Tarkus

 

Edit: Minor grammatical fix for errant preposition that stayed in after reworking a sentence.

[xoxide 377]

poaching would be stealing someone elses work however sc4 work can't be used in sc2013

 

however the artist skills needed in 3ds studio and other tools require an eye for those type of aspects and true 3d image and effects and texture mapping with multiple UV layers.

 

besides its not like anyone whom makes a building would be asked to make exclusive content.. people interested are people interested.. those whom have helped include some long standing sc4 members anyways like buggi and oppie ... nobody took them they made a choice and its what they wanted

 

again I think that's the wrong direction for the topic since its not even part of the subject at hand.  its borderline conspiracy theory.

 

We are growing new teams to work on artwork for the newer version.. many people in the sc4 community whom have done buildings are great artists and some have 3ds experience.. we have already received 4 as of now whom have shown interest and that's fine.. we don't expect everyone to want to do it anyways.

 

We have toll roads being worked on, new cultural landmarks and things that maxis would have never touched and done anyways.  We have plans for additions to train yards and working decorations and details for realistic rail as well.

 

 

Jeff / XoXiDe

[JessiLaurn 183]

This forum is "SC4 Modding - Open Discussion".  Why is a bid for SC2013 stuff here?

[CapTon 592]

This forum is "SC4 Modding - Open Discussion".  Why is a bid for SC2013 stuff here?

Xoxide and others (including myself) are attempting to recruit people to help us create SC2013 custom content. We were looking to see if any SC4 modders/players were interested.

[xoxide 377]

recruit?

poach?

switch interests?

 

I'm not sure why everyone is so differently thinking than I am.

 

everyone sees this as a negative post its a post about people whom mod buildings wondering if they would like to mod buildings in 2013 with us since we all like your work and would like to have more people from the community involved

 

its about community helping community nothing more or less

 

those whom have made buildings for sc4 are those whom I'm interested in finding whom would be interested in making content for 2013 now that we know how to do it.. its that simple

 

XoXiDe

[RipRap 4,400]

It is only a matter of choice. If there are people who would be happy to participate, then they would. If they don't want to, then they don't.

[Tarkus 6,932]

xoxide, I can tell your intent isn't negative here, and I detect no "conspiracy" here.  However, I think some of the other comments on this thread by you and your SC2013 colleagues are crossing the wires on your message, and given some of the statistics you've cited about how much new content you've been generating, it doesn't sound like you have problems on the production front, let alone a substantial need to recruit SC4 developers to pick up SC2013 development.  And yes, what you are trying to do here, good intentions or not, qualifies as recruiting.  Per Wiktionary, to recruit (verb definition 1) means "to enroll or enlist new members or potential employees on behalf of an employer, organization, sports team, military, etc."  Recruitment is something one does in the process of expanding a team, or maintaining its size in the wake of the loss of one or more members.  The NAM Team recruits members.  Simtropolis recruits staff members.  The Cleveland Cavaliers recruit members.  That's part of the definition.

 

Additionally, if one looks at the definition of poach (etymology 2, definition 1), "to cause an employee or customer to switch from a competing company to your own company".  If you are indeed wanting cross-pollination, then you're in a bit of a nebulous area.  You're not causing these developers to give up SC4 development, though those developers will be spending less time with SC4--SC2013 will be effectively "competing" (albeit in a passive sense) for their interest.  However, when someone uses the term "switch over"--which, to your credit, you did not (though others did)--then yes, that's "poaching".  Given that there are many SC4 developers who don't own SC2013, there's also the implication of a required financial investment, in purchasing SC2013.  This financial investment may be getting smaller as the game ages, but you're still looking at $30 or so for the base game.  Unless, of course, you're simply having SC4 developers hand models over to you for use in SC2013 format.  It's not really clear here.

 

I think you would have gotten a lot less controversy and feel less as if you've been "poached" (etymology 1, definition 1) if:

 

a) this post were made in an SC2013 board.  The SC4 people who also own SC2013 and want to mod it will be over there anyway, and if the thread is attracting attention, people will see it on the top-level forum pages as people post on it;

b) you and your colleagues were more on the same page about what your goals were here; and

c) it was clearer what was expected of SC4 developers who would be contributing--do they need to buy the game?  Learn new file formats? 

 

I suspect the SC2013 community would have had a similar reaction to many of the SC4 folks here if one of us had made a "SC2013 Community - Interested in New Content for SC4" thread and posted it in "SC (2013) Modding - Open Discussion".  Or if CXL modding folks had done the same sort of thing in either place.

 

You guys have done some neat things with SC2013, so you have my admiration for that, and I wish you the best with further development.  Good intentions aside, however, I'm not really sure what to make of this thread.

 

-Tarkus

[Indiana Joe 1,750]

recruit?

poach?

switch interests?

 

I'm not sure why everyone is so differently thinking than I am.

 

everyone sees this as a negative post its a post about people whom mod buildings wondering if they would like to mod buildings in 2013 with us since we all like your work and would like to have more people from the community involved

 

its about community helping community nothing more or less

 

those whom have made buildings for sc4 are those whom I'm interested in finding whom would be interested in making content for 2013 now that we know how to do it.. its that simple

 

XoXiDe

 

The real deal is:  SC4 modders don't sit about leisurely in mansions in their free time.  They take valuable time out of their day to work on a game they like.  We can't take time out of working, going to school, or our outside lives.  So time for modding SC13 would come out of our time for SC4.  Of course you can develop content for more than one game.  But the most skilled members of the SC4 community, the ones that would be helpful as the modding process for this new game is fine tuned (you can't even begin to pretend that there is the same range of modding tools available for each game), are the ones that make SC4 their priority.

 

The forum section is right at the top of the site.  We know the game is there.  People will take interest in it when they want to.  

 

It's also an extremely valid point that any form of support for SimCity 4 found in the SC13 section is treated as spam.

[xoxide 377]

I came here for honest dialog and to work with the community.  I did not approach this as pro / con on any aspect and I'm disappointed by the behavior to be honest and I'm going to speak my mind

 

You are all taking my comments and peoples comments as if they mine when I am not like that.  I stand my ground asking for bipartisan collaborative efforts but will not be walked on as if I was starting an argument  when I was doing anything but.

 

I want to work with the community and help the community grow and build bridges like I have for the last over 1.6 years now and continue to grow the community in all directions

 

I'm not here as an enemy or an adversary I'm here as a fellow Modder for one of the franchise..  I thought the community was built on friendship and interaction..  and yet you have some of you been very hostile when I am not.

 

I have no false pretenses I'm not here to take away but to add to all sides and efforts going on.

 

I could use the help of people and the wisdom of those with so many awards whom have supposedly achieved admiration if that is the case then whey be hostile to me or anyone when I'm here to work with you not against you or anyone else.

 

I will not post again but I refuse to be attacked based on someone else's bias opinion and obvious lack of cooperation when I'm here under now false pretenses and as a community member and one whom is respected even if its in that segment of the community

 

I hoped to reach across the isle and bridge that gap  that exists but if your not ready to get out of the sand box and work together and keep being hostile and hateful for no reasons when I'm not like that then I'm going to leave this section and say I'm sorry I upset anyone .. I came here with only good intentions and it was twisted into something it wasn't meant to be

 

Good night and bye

jeff

[CapTon 592]

Truthfully, xoxide... I don't want to start an argument with you or ruin a good friendship we have going, but I have to disagree with you when you say that some people in this thread are being hostile. I don't believe that anyone in this thread has many belligerent posts.

 

Some people are confused as to why this thread is in this board and some people simply do not want to participate and want to stick to the game they've been playing and/or modding for years.

 

Eventually, I do believe that some SC4 custom content creators will make their way over to the modding world of SC2013. But right now? I don't think too many will want to stray away.

 

I'm sorry, xoxide. I really am. I don't mean to sound callous, and I don't mean to offend you in any way.