Installing CAM, a 2 day ordeal? :=S

[FooFox 8]

I picked up simcity 4 after a few years abstinence. I never really got much into CAM, so I decided to install it along NAM.
I want to install the CAM starters packs for all categories which are...

CAM Residentials BSC
CAM Commercial Offices BSC
CAM Commercial Services BSC
CAM Industrials BSC
CAM Stage 6 & 7 Farms BSC

I decided to download all dependencies like the props, lots, packs and the plugins themselves for all of the above.
Apparently this is a 2 day ordeal!
Because SC4 Devotion has a limited download quota for one day, and I just exceeded it with 25+ zip files in my download directory.

I know about a game that has a great modding community just like Simcity 4. Although it's far from a city simulator game. This game is called "Kerbal Space program" and has a Mod program called "CKAN"

A repository plugin collector that hyperlinks and auto downloads/installs to the specified directory. It is funded by donations and adds on the database sites where the actual content is posted.
I'm SURE that this will not happen for Simcity 4 since the game is so old. And I'm sure I'm not the only brain pie that conceptualized the idea in 13+ years of SC4 existence. But I couldn't go along without mentioning the idea and I'm happy to receive information why Simcity 4 doesn't have this. In any case, I don't understand why Simcity 4 never got something like this in the past.

Basically it's a search box function within a program window. Let's say you search "Collosus Addon Mod"
You would find necessities, dependencies that are auto checkboxed (with the ability to uncheck if you are aware of duplicates, although cleanitol is still necessary ofcourse)
Followed by a selection tree of alternative/additional extras (unchecked by default).........
You get the general idea.

Question: And why is it that many of the CAM packs on SC4Devotion that require dependencies have a listed amount of mods that are on-site dependencies and still loads of offsite dependencies?

Can't these modders just be friends with one another and cooperatively decide to only have one site for the mods database, and if not, still make sure that their props, packs, plugins, lots are uploaded to both or multiple sites. I mean, it's not like I need to climb the mount everest or something but I find this rather strange. Apparently the modders of KSP (that previously named game)   earlier in this thread have succeeded in cooperatively evading this problem?
Maybe that is just a new age thing, if so, I get it.

Because I have to say, this modding/dependency thing I'm reminded with as I have recently started, it's far from the ideal way...
I'm not trying to gain anything from posting this. I just wanted to exhale my thoughts about it, and I'm sure alot of people think similarly.
But I also think alot of people can explain it to me.
 

 

 

[Tarkus 6,932]

On the CAM side, I'd advise staying away from the CAM Starter Packs (which aren't required, and are indeed tricky to install), and instead take advantage of several years worth of later CAMeLot and CAMpatible uploads on the LEX, all of which have fewer dependencies and still get you a pretty wide array of buildings and lots.  I have a list on my blog, SimTarkus. 

There isn't really a package manager or anything of the like, in part because they weren't nearly as common in 2003 as they are now, but also because creators migrated away from the one place that had a light version of that (the official EA Maxis exchange, which became overrun with plagiarists and spam, and was shut down a number of years ago).  Additionally, most of the content creators in the SC4 community have traditionally been artistic types, who aren't programmers.  The heavy-duty programmers who exist in mass quantities in the communities of more recent FPS and RTS games--and even old ones like Doom--have never been very common in the SC4 world.

As far as the whole on-site/off-site issue, the issue stems from the fact that the first version of the CAM came out in 2007, during a period of prolonged turmoil between various sites and content developers in the community.  The CAM's developers did go around and ask for permission to repackage other creator's buildings, both to meet the new CAM standards and make a more convenient download on the LEX.  However, there were a number of prominent holdouts whose loyalties lie elsewhere, who denied the requests, thus leading to the dependency situation.  Intersite relations are far, far better than they were back then, but the permissions issues are still somewhat complicated, partially by the fact that many creators from that era are no longer active, and yet, their inclinations still linger.  Discussions about those sorts of topics, while perhaps uncomfortable to those with long-held institutional knowledge, are going to have to happen at some point, if we want SC4's community to remain active.

-Tarkus

[FooFox 8]

What a wonderfull job

I'm not yet aware of the "starter packs" problem(s), and have no clue what that means.
But I trust you if you say it has problems, I'll try out your CAMelots installation tutorial and post back how well I like it.

As for your explanation to the dependency crisis (if I may call it that)
I was under the impression that the underlying reasons are as such in the way you illustrated.
Good to know the fine details about it.
Those starter packs dependencies nearly got my head cracked open.

[InvisiChem 121]

Tarkus, Perhaps posting a link to your blog in my download listings may help alleviate this issue. I remember coming across the blog when I was researching rebooting CAM. Beautiful article. With your permission, I'll add it to the download links here and at SC4D.

[Tarkus 6,932]

Glad I could help, FooFox--hope the list helps you in getting things up and running.

And InvisiChem, thanks for the kind words on the article! I'd be absolutely delighted for it to be added to the download links.

-Tarkus

[apeek 191]

I must have adopted CAM prior to quotas on the LEX.  At the time, I made it my mission to download every (yes every) CAMeLot available on the web. After a year of intermittent searching, including the European and Asian sites, and long after losing count, I was satisfied I had accomplished my goal. Then, still hungry for more, I discovered how relatively easy it is to "CAMify" just about any building using PIM-X.  I also realized that a good chunk of my downloads were plagued with inaccurate filling degrees and other aggravating flaws like missing query data. On the contrary, so much recent content includes some absolutely breathtaking BATs, but almost none of them include CAMpatible versions.  Therefore, my recommendation is to select buildings that appeal to you the most and reconfigure them if needed according to RippleJet's instructions on sc4devotion. If you really prefer not to get your hands dirty, selecting custom CAMeLots from the LEX, like Tarkus says, is definitely the best way to ensure the downloads are solid.