Don't you have to have industry?

[Rufus Honker IV 100]

Several times I have joined up with a multiplayer region, went through the trouble of building up Omega, only to find that when I try to send Omega out to nearby cities no one has any industry to convert.

 

Back in patch 6.0:

• New: RCI Tuning - Tuning to make Industrial needed more. Commercial buildings will now lose profit if they don’t receive enough freight from industry. The demand bars will respond more accurately to which zones are needed. This change will impact existing cities.

 

I assumed this meant at least some industry was required to have a city, so I've always made sure I have at least a little industry on the map.  Has it become normal to ignore industry all together?

 

You would think that if there was no industry on the map except for yours you'd be rolling in the profits, but this doesn't seem to be the case.

[deluges 0]

If people are making cities without industry I would love to know how, it's such a hassle. The best I can do is limit my need for it by turning down the tax on commerce, but even then I still need to have a bunch of industry.

[Ocram's Razr 964]

If a shop gets enough shoppers and is taxed low enough, it can grow to high density without freight. MegaTower malls also don't use any freight whatsoever.

--Ocram

[ausmayor 7]

I often built cities without industry ie commercial with a splash of tourist attractions and casinos too easy lol

[AmpsterMan 5]

The "happiness" system works on a scale. That is, everytime a comercial site doesn't have freight for the day, it loses happiness. However, everytime it makes a sale, you gain some. If you are able to sell enough to offset the freight mallus, then eventually (albeit, slowly) they will grow.

A good way to do this is to make sure you don't build much commercial; make sure you always have dark blue in the demand bars. Next, get tourists. Build a cheap landmark or expo/stadium; have adequate transit and you should be fine. Further, lower com taxes. This helps offset the lacking freight mallus. Finally, the gambling specialty has good synergy with a comercial focused city. The profits can more than help offset the costs of lowering taxes.

[Rufus Honker IV 100]

True, but really frustrating when you're trying to ship Omega out to other cities.

[AmpsterMan 5]

Heh, it seems I answered the post after yours rather tham discusd the topic .

I don't understand much how CoT works because I don't have it; if there is a low supply of industry in the region though, you may have an opportunity for profit by exporting freight. High Tech, High Density Industry gives the greatest tax per tile AND employed sim. If you can somehow build an University, or Dr. Vu's tower, then you can really rake in the cash.

In your position, I would have a relatively wealthy city ($$ and $$$ making up the majority) with a Basic Uni all working at the numerous high wealth plants in your city. I'd have a relatively small CBD with enough comercial to get by.

If this sounds good to you, you might even be able to to build a nuclear plant and provide power to the region.

I think the key to running a city such as this is to focus on tax revenue. Since you won't really have a specialization, you have to keep your social programs low. $$ & $$$ actually require less upkeep than $ because they are less cars on streets, less fires, less crime, etc. meaning you can downsize you police stations, hospitals, etc.

This might go against your original intent though. Still, if it's a region you want to play in, I'm sure the other mayors would appreciate it