Steam & prop-packs etc.

[Casqad 2]

Hello everyone! After many years I decided to reboot SC4 again. Unable to get my disks to work properly I got the steam version. After installing the NAM, and testing it, I wanted to add some prop-packs and other custom content. The problem I have now is that they will install properly, but not show up in the game. I cant remember having this problem using the original disks years back. Does any know how I can fix this? Or maybe where to manually move the files? Sorry if this question has been asked, I did a few searches and couldn't find anything useful.

Edit: To add some detail. I got the stuff installed here: C:\Users\D\Documents\SimCity 4\Plugins. The NAM works fine in there.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Did you remember to unpack them?  They don't work as *.zip files.  And if you did not, move the archive files to someplace else, unpack them and only move in the files that are actually plugins -- *.sc4lot, *.sc4desc, *.sc4model, *.dat

You complicate your life by having your user area on the D: drive, but I guess you have set the option for that.

[Casqad 2]

Thanks for the reply!

I did unpack them, and placed the individual files in the folder I mentioned. the D stands for the user folder,  everything is located on the C drive.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Beats me.  Did your structure exist before the Steam install?  Maybe Steam has its own user structure.

[Indiana Joe 1,750]

A "prop pack" is a dependency and will not show up in the game.  It adds prop files that can show up on lots, downloaded separately.

[Casqad 2]

Thanks for the replies guys!

I copied the entire plug-ins folder, removed the original and then placed back the copy. My game now recognizes everything. Don't know why or how this worked, but everything seems to be running fine now

One last question before I dive in. Is the random crashing to desktop still a thing with this game?

[rsc204 21,805]

There are two main problems which cause the CTDs.

One is running SC4 on more than one core of a multi-core CPU, that can be fixed easily. In the Steam Library highlight SC4, right click and select properties. Here click on Set Launch Options. Add the following into that box:

-CPUCount:1

This will force SC4 to run on only one CPU and prevent CTDs. Whilst you are here, you might want to consider some other settings:

• -intro:off
  Disables the SC4 Intro Videos
• -f
  Runs the game in full screen. Or you can use -w instead to run in windowed mode
• -CustomResolution:enabled -r1920x1080x32
  Sets a custom resolution, in my case 1920x1080 is the resolution of my monitor. You need to adjust the parts in red to match your system.

Remember to leave a space between each new command.

As for the second issue. This is a bug that Maxis left behind, in essence if you hover puzzle pieces (mostly found in the NAM) over TE lots, the game can CTD. A fix was recently made for this problem, you can download that here.

With both these fixes in place, SC4 is very stable for me. In fact, I can honestly say I never get CTDs.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Over the years, I've developed a habit of using the internal save (CTRL+s) frequently when constructing a city.  I have the fixes, but habits die hard.  If you are paranoid about it, it is a simple two finger keystroke (chord) with the left hand.

[Casqad 2]

Using the single core trick and the other stuff has greatly reduced the times it crashes! But I guess, it being an older game, it's something that is inevitable at some point anyway.  ctrl+s has saved me many times in the past and present

Btw, I can't seem to get the Traffic Config tool that comes with the game to save. It tells me that the game is already running even though i did a fresh reboot of the system :/

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Check the permissions on your plugins (NAM especially) and make sure you have enough permission to write the files from your account.

[markussaage 762]

On 29.5.2016 at 3:33 PM, Casqad said:

Using the single core trick and the other stuff has greatly reduced the times it crashes! But I guess, it being an older game, it's something that is inevitable at some point anyway.  ctrl+s has saved me many times in the past and present

Btw, I can't seem to get the Traffic Config tool that comes with the game to save. It tells me that the game is already running even though i did a fresh reboot of the system :/

Well, those options helped me a lot, too, but I need to say, that there is a lot of custom content out there, that causes crashes, too. I had my issues with crashes like anybody else here and finally I had enough. I started to look deeper into the game, meaning I look now in every single file before it gets into my plugins. I use several tools like iLive's Reader 0.93, SC4DataNode, SC4Tool etc. etc. as well as a tool that looks for duplicates in my plugins to check on the consistence of my plugins. A few downloadable lots out here still have the
Occupant Size=0 bug, that causes crahes as well (you'll probably don't know, what this means, if you're interested, we'll explain).

Since I started doing this and take care of my files now, I NEVER have a crash of the game. Never! It is possible, but it's a lot of work! Took me three years to come this far...

Kind regards!

[Casqad 2]

I see I never replied to you guys. The problems have been fixed! Had to do a re-boot of my system recently and with this thread I got my game running smoothly again! @A Nonny Moose Rest in peace good sir!