Simcity 4 Steam CAM mod

[CorrivalRhyme 0]

Ok so, I have a big problem installing the CAM mod for Simcity 4, bought from STEAM. No matter what I do, it doesn't work. I've searched numerous discussions and videos and asked for help from several people but nothing comes up. 

Anyone know how to properly, and easily, install the colossus addon mod to simcity 4 steam version? You would be a lifesaver, thanks.

[rsc204 21,869]

You might need to be more specific. The bulk of the CAM mod is pretty simple, you just need to place it in your plugins folder according to the install instructions. In the case of CAM v2, it comes with an installer application that handles this part for you.

The one part that seems to stump many people, is updating the Sim City_1.dat file with the necessary CAM modifications. This only requires that you DAT pack a file included with the CAM download into the Sim City file.

Having the Steam version doesn't really change anything, except maybe for the location of the Sim City 4 installation. If you can tell us what part exactly you are struggling with, it would help to diagnose the problem.

[CorrivalRhyme 0]

Ok here is what's going on, @rsc204. Whenever I download it, it'll say whatever....fails to update simcity_1.dat.... then ill continue, it installs. But, the files NEVER SHOW UP. The a__Cam folder and whatnot cannot be found. I look everywhere but nothing. And since I can't find those, I can't do the manual move of the simcity_1 into the a__Cam or whatever the step is. I just want the 95% of the downloaded buildings to grow in my cities, ugh. (The stages 9-15 dealy)

[APSMS 1,893]

You need to give the installer administrator permissions.

a__CAM for the CAM v2 installer, has for me 3 files in 2 folders. It's a very lightweight installation, and doesn't have any buildings included (just redefined MAXIS exemplars).

a__CAM should be inside your plugins folder in your SimCity 4 directory in My Documents (I'm assuming you've checked there).

[CorrivalRhyme 0]

@APSMS, OK! I will try reinstalling through admin permissions.

[CorrivalRhyme 0]

@APSMS, ugh, it didn't work as usual. I can't find any cam files in my plugins folder...

[rsc204 21,869]

From what I understand, even if the installer fails to automatically update the SC dat file, it should still install the files for CAM. Does the installer (excepting the error we know about) complete without further errors? If it does, perhaps you are just not checking the right location for the installed files? If there is another error, please can you tell us what this says. You might need to look for the install Log.

As a last resort, I believe the CAM installer (v2) was written with NSIS. In which case, if you have 7Zip installed, you can open the installer as an Archive and manually install the necessary files like it was a zip file. This is a bit cumbersome since the file structure inside the installer won't necessarily make sense. But with a bit of poking around you should find what you need.

Don't forget though, until you update the Sim City_1.dat file, CAM simply can not work.

[CorrivalRhyme 0]

@rsc204 It said it'd all be in the plugins folder, but nothing. I don't have this "7Zip" installed. I went to the 7Zip website, but looks outdated.

[rsc204 21,869]

15 minutes ago, CorrivalRhyme said:

It said it'd all be in the plugins folder, but nothing

Have you checked both these locations:

Users\YOURUSERNAME\Documents\Sim City 4\Plugins

Users\Admin\Documents\Sim City 4\Plugins

Otherwise, perhaps you need to do something more drastic and search the entire Hard Drive. Try searching for the file "CAM_2.1.0_Main_Controller.dat" on your entire machine. Is that file present or not? Please can you also specify which version of Windows you have at this point, it may be relevant.

18 minutes ago, CorrivalRhyme said:

I went to the 7Zip website, but looks outdated.

Really? Are you using the official site? The latest build is from last month.

If you do open the installer this way, you'll see five folders with very odd file names. Open the last one and you'll find two folders inside, "a__CAM" and "SimCity_1". Highlight both and drag them to your plugins folder (which should be open in another window) to copy them.

Then you just need to manually dat pack the file inside the SimCity_1 folder into the SimCity_1.DAT file. MAKE ABSOLUTELY SURE you have a COPY/BACKUP of this critical file BEFORE messing with it.

[CorrivalRhyme 0]

@rsc204 Ok so I also tried installing 7 zip, but THE SAME THING OCCURRED, i cant find the dang files! I even tried creating a "New Folder" folder, and put it on the desktop, the most obvious and easiest location to find where it all installed. I don't understand this, it's very odd.

[CorrivalRhyme 0]

@rsc204 Even when i downloaded other mods using an installer, THOSE FILES WOULD BE SHOWN. I could see the "a__CAM"! Its when i do the "select location for the files to be installed to"

[rsc204 21,869]

I'm sure the files have been installed from your description. So you must be looking in the wrong location for them. If during the installation you can see the folders, you should be able to use the installer to work out where they are being installed.

You didn't tell us what version of Windows you have... but you know how to use Windows Search I hope? On the most modern versions, you click the start button and can type into the box at the bottom "Search Programs or Files", or in Windows 10, this box appears directly on the taskbar (Cortana). If you need more detailed instructions, see here.

[CorrivalRhyme 0]

@rsc204 Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 1607 for x64-based Systems (KB3194496) is the latest update, installed 9/30/16. Im tellin you, there being hidden or something... Everyone else that ive talked to say that win. 10 is evil and they have some sort of "protection" thing.

[CorrivalRhyme 0]

Holy smokes @rsc204 it finally worked out, i found a__CAM, THIS TIME, I installed CAM (skyscraper version i believe) Through program files x86. I then moved a__CAM to the plugins folder. Is that it? Anything else?

[rsc204 21,869]

Windows 10 will be your Nanny and refuse to let you at the cookie jar. Personally, I think it's overprotective, but then I've known users do some dumb things, which Windows is now protecting you against. I think people like me just want an off switch to take control. Part of this is files in Program Files or it's (x86) equivalent which it sees as system files, you may not always have full access rights, even with an Admin account.

Quote

Of course, if you really want a reason to avoid Windows 10, last night I sat whilst my friends computer refused to let him do anything for 2 hours (no exaggeration), because it was "updating". Firstly, it wasn't, it was downloading the update. It's a latest gen i7 machine, no way does installation of anything take time on such a machine. So why on earth can't you use it whilst it's downloading the update? Honestly, why are people OK with this? You can refuse to install an update, even if they make it difficult! You can refuse to use the latest version of Windows. If people just said no, MS would have to change, but the entire world is enabling them.

Geez, what else are people willing to allow MS to do <unprintable rant>

There are two plugins folders, one in Program Files and a second in My Documents, you want to be using the one in My Documents really.

Assuming that the error re: failing to update SimCity_1.dat still appeared, that's the last step you need to do manually. The file you need to merge with SimCity_1.dat is called "z_CAM_2.1.0_Stand_Permanent Merge.dat". If you've used DAT Packer before, you should know the drill. Otherwise, follow the instructions here to patch the original files.

[CorrivalRhyme 0]

@rsc204 The error didnt come up. I noticed that a couple buildings that never came up before, grew. Even if, the only file that was installed was a__CAM, with only those 2 files in it, a_Core and Core buildings.

[rsc204 21,869]

Sounds like the installer managed to patch it for you then. If it didn't, CAM buildings simply wouldn't grow (stages 9-15), since these stages don't exist otherwise and need to be added to the original SC files to work.