Lots not loading

[savevp 2]

Hi.

I have a recent problem that has started happening today. I've been off at uni and not playing SC4 Rush Hour but today when I came back there has been a problem where certain lots and buildings (plugin and from the game) have not been loading and there is just the base texture. The dialogue boxes still come up but not the textures.

Can anyone help?

Cheers! 

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

More information is needed.

 

First of all, are you on the same machine with the same operating system you used to play on before?  If not, what has changed?

 

Are you running with hardware rendering or software rendering?

 

What is the build version of your game?

 

Which version of the NAM do you have, if any?

[savevp 2]

Thank you for replying.

 

I am on the same machine, yes, nothing on it has changed at all.

 

I did switch from software to hardware because my bus skins had stopped working and had begun showing up as coloured blocks.

 

I'm not sure where I would find the information regarding build version, sorry. If you might tell me where then I'd look that up.

 

Finally, I have the latest NAM (32 is it?).

[T Wrecks 10,209]

Intel CPU with integrated graphics?

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Well, the coloured blocks on your bus skins says they are high definition textures and you must run with hardware rendering. 

 

Incomplete lots indicate something may be missing from the plugin.  You should check to make sure that when a plugin contains more than a *.dat file that all of the *.lot, *.desc, and *.model files are in your plugins.  Generally a missing model will give you a 'brown paper package tied up with string', I am not sure what a missing descriptor file will cause.  Note that some makers combine the lot and descriptor file and there is only the lot and the model, but make sure that if the descriptor file is present that you move it in with the rest of the plugin.

 

Of late, there have been considerable difficulties with Intel graphics chips with Windows 8 and later.  The other possible option, not shown in the control panel for the game, is -d:opengl instead of -d:directx.  These command line options lock the game into that form unless changed.  The remaining rendering option is -d:software.  If you've never used the command options before, there are many posts discussing it.  The command line is in the target box of the shortcut.

[savevp 2]

Hi, so sorry, just realised now that this is in the SC2013 folder and I had thought it was in SC4. I will move the thread over.

Cheers again!

OK. Here is a photo of the problem that can maybe help.

 

In response to the earlier question, I have an AMD processor, not Intel. Strangely, aside from the lots not loading, the game is very slow starting now and sometimes does not even start; I must log off and in again to make it start.

 

^a picture of what seems to be happening all over my cities (sorry for large size)

[Indiana Joe 1,750]

After switching the Rendering mode, or other major options changes, sometimes it resets the graphics options.  Make sure things like "City Detail" and "Texture Detail" are set to High (and adjust all the other options to your preference).  Does that fix it?

 

If not, does the problem happen in all cities?

 

Does the problem go away if you switch back to software rendering?

[savevp 2]

Indiana Joe, I've tried switching these settings around, does nothing to alleviate the problem unfortunately.

I wonder if anyone has ever seen this problem before, just look at Lincoln Centre for example, it is half gone. I hope this can be fixed; I'm sure many here are familiar with how much time and effort we can spend on our cities!
 

If not, does the problem happen in all cities?

 

Yes it is, and not just to plugin lots. Maxis lots like the water filtration plant have also gone partially blank.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Did you do a new install?  What build version do you have?  Sounds like you may have missed a patch.

[savevp 2]

I did not do any new installs afaik. Honestly, I do not know where to find the build version so if you might tell me where that is I would find it. If I missed a patch it is strange that it all of a sudden stopped working. Sorry for the delay in responding, I was and am still abroad and appreciate your help.
Cheers

[Cyclone Boom 16,852]

The build version can be checked from your SimCity 4.exe file. By default this is located at "C:\Program Files (x86)\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps\SimCity 4.exe".

Either mouse hover over it, or go to the Properties > "Details" tab. It's the property named "File version".

 

If it's not a graphics setting issue, it looks suspiciously like the Prop Pox bug. If affected, this basically means a city tile loses data each time it's saved. Visually this causes props to disappear, which can spread to other lots upon each save thereafter. Although the bug is rare, it apparently tends to affect large & developed city tiles the most.

 

These topics have some more info:

 

What causes Prop Pox (and how to avoid it)

Prop Pox?

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

A complete and up-to-date version of the exe will have build 1,1,640 or 1,1,641 depending on source.