Never Go Bankrupt Again

[Voar Tok 4]

If your cities are like mine, then the idea of being able to satisfy your sims desires and make a profit at the same time seems like an oxymoron.  A couple of weeks ago, I was thinking about this, and I convinced myself that it had to be possible to give the sims what they want and still make money doing it.  Hence, that is what I am going to try to do.  I have some ideas in my mind as to how to do it, but I'll have to put them to the test.  Also, in an attempt to make a fool-proof inquiry as to how to do this, I'm going to make it about as hard as I possibly can.

Here are the ground rules that I am laying down before I start.

• The city difficulty setting will be set to hard.
• Unless otherwise specified, the city simulator speed will be running at it's slowest setting.
• A particular civic service doesn't have to cover the WHOLE city, but the majority of it (in the case of the educational services, the majority of the residential zones) and there can't be any complaints about the lack of a service.
• No game mods (not even the NAM) will be used in this experiment.  Also, no cheats or non-standard methods of influencing the game will be used.  (This includes the use of disasters for any purposes and UDI missions).
• No loans will be used in the experiment.
• The city in the experiment will be built from the ground up, and will not have any connections with other cities (since the city will be located in a specially created region, all of the city connections will be with SimNation).
• The experiment ends after the date on the calendar reads 1/1/10.  For the experiment to be called a success, the city must have had a budget excess for one whole year.  (The balance in the city's vault doesn't matter to this experiment.  The only thing that matters is that Simoleons are being added to the balance every month for a whole consecutive year).

Here is a picture of the city of Porter Field.  This will be the city that I use for the experiments.

 

http://www.imgcity.net/server/primary/Region%20Picture.jpg align=baseline>

 

Well, do you think that I can do it.

[Chris M 406]

I look forward to seeing what happens here..

[Micah 16]

Sounds very interesting. I'll wait to see what happens.

[xcalbier 43]

nothing to it . as a matter of fact you could do it in 5 sim years .

[Voar Tok 4]

Date: 12/23/2005 8:09:14 PM Author: DragonAnime I look forward to seeing what happens here..

 

I look forward to seeing what happens in the future too.

 

Date: 12/23/2005 8:19:28 PM Author: Micah Sounds very interesting. I'll wait to see what happens.

 

Well, same thing I said to DA.

 

Date: 12/23/2005 8:31:25 PM Author: xcalbier nothing to it . as a matter of fact you could do it in 5 sim years .

 

I think that it can be done in sooner that ten years also, but I'm not entirely sure.

Well, only five votes and someone has said that it couldn't be done.  Time will tell.

[jackel.22 3]

i take it you wount be using special buildings like the army base and toxic waste dump to drum up cash?

[Gnargenox 6]

Before i upgraded to rush hour a month or so ago (no difficulty settings), that was how i ran all my cities. You will not have any problems i assure you, even with out loans. The trick really is keeping all the zoned areas inside the civic circles. Perhaps the cities won't be as pleaseing to the eye or have huge populations, but you won't fail at all. I'm acutally quiet surprised you proposed this. basiclly for me after about ten years the cities became boreing to me. Perhaps a truer test would also include mayor rating. have fun

[Voar Tok 4]

Date: 12/23/2005 8:38:04 PM Author: jackel.22 i take it you wount be using special buildings like the army base and toxic waste dump to drum up cash?

 

No, I won't be using any sort of business deals (and neighbor deals are obviously impossible as I have no neighbors).  If you stick around for a while, you'll see a rather amusing picture.

 

Date: 12/23/2005 8:45:10 PM Author: Gnargenox Before i upgraded to rush hour a month or so ago (no difficulty settings), that was how i ran all my cities. You will not have any problems i assure you, even with out loans. The trick really is keeping all the zoned areas inside the civic circles. Perhaps the cities won't be as pleaseing to the eye or have huge populations, but you won't fail at all. I'm acutally quiet surprised you proposed this. basiclly for me after about ten years the cities became boreing to me. Perhaps a truer test would also include mayor rating. have fun

 

That is definitely true.  The other trick is getting the services to the sims early on, because they can do the most good then.  As for the mayor rating, well, I don't want my sims to hate me; but if I give them everything they want, then I probably will be pretty popular.

[Micah 16]

Hmm... no neighbors??? Now that is tough!

[yoder7652 21]

I look forward to see how well you do.

[HunterIrked 1]

Great idea. Has anyone has ever done this before?

[Voar Tok 4]

Date: <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 />12/24/2005 11:45:34 AM Author: Micah Hmm... no neighbors??? Now that is tough!

quote>

That is the whole idea.  The way I see it, if I can make it work under the most extreme conditions, then I can make it work for everything.

Date: 12/24/2005 12:28:59 PM Author: yoder7652 I look forward to see how well you do.

quote>

I think that I will do alright, but I can't prove that yet.

Date: 12/24/2005 12:41:46 PM Author: HunterIrked Great idea. Has anyone has ever done this before?

quote>

 

I'm sure that someone has done it before, but I don't think that the results were ever published.  Hence, that is what I am going to do here.

 

On with the update!

---

 

 

To get a general idea as to the measurements for my zoning, I used some avenues to mark off some dimensions in the trees.  After marking off the dimensions, I obliterated the city so that my markings would stay, but I wouldn't have to pay for the avenues.  (After all, you shouldn't have to pay to make measurements).

 

http://www.imgcity.net/server/primary/City%20Zoned.jpg align=baseline>

 

As you can see here, I've gotten a preliminary outline of what the starting shape of the zones will be.  Since there always seems to be the need for more sims than jobs, I've zoned two alternate corners as residential.

 

http://www.imgcity.net/server/primary/City%20Budget.jpg align=baseline>

 

Right now, the city budget isn't that bad, but I also don't have anything in the city, so it's probably going to balloon shortly.

 

http://www.imgcity.net/server/primary/Budget%20with%20Coal%20Plant%20Funding.jpg align=baseline>

 

The budget shot up, but since most of the power isn't being used, I should be able to shave a few simoleons off of it. 

 

http://www.imgcity.net/server/primary/Budget%20with%20Coal%20Plant%20Funding%20Reduced.jpg align=baseline>

 

Waste not, want not is what our grandparents probably told us a lot, and in this case it still is true.  I saved the city coffers

[winonanick 0]

I'm sorry, but have not been able to do this in the past???

[Voar Tok 4]

Date: 12/25/2005 1:35:25 AM Author: winonanick I'm sorry, but have not been able to do this in the past???

quote>

I'm not quite sure that I understood your question.  Are you saying that you haven't been able to do this before, or are you wondering if I've not been able to do this before?

[winonanick 0]

Date: 12/25/2005 1:58:54 AM
Author: Voar Tok

Date: 12/25/2005 1:35:25 AM Author: winonanick I'm sorry, but have not been able to do this in the past???

quote>

I'm not quite sure that I understood your question. Are you saying that you haven't been able to do this before, or are you wondering if I've not been able to do this before?

quote>

opps, I got to start reading my posts...

have you not been able to be profitable after 10 yrs with services berfore??

[Voar Tok 4]

Date: 12/25/2005 2:03:26 PM Author: winonanick

Date: 12/25/2005 1:58:54 AM Author: Voar Tok

Date: 12/25/2005 1:35:25 AM Author: winonanick I'm sorry, but have not been able to do this in the past???

quote>

I'm not quite sure that I understood your question.&nbsp; Are you saying that you haven't been able to do this before, or are you wondering if I've not been able to do this before?

quote> opps, I got to start reading my posts... have you not been able to be profitable after 10 yrs with services berfore??

quote>

I have been able to be profitable after 10 years with services, but I have never tried doing it with such a limiting set of restrictions.  The game isn't designed for a city to prosper without neighbors, so basically I'm trying to do what the game doesn't really want to do.

 

OK, on with the update!

---

 

http://www.imgcity.net/server/primary/Budget%20with%20Higher%20Education%20Funding.jpg align=baseline>

 

The sims now have a bright future to look forward to, but it definitely doesn't need to cost that much to do it.  So far, I've added two libraries, two museums, and a city college.  The city college wouldn't seem like something that a person would need, but it's helpful to have.

 

http://www.imgcity.net/server/primary/Budget%20with%20Higher%20Education%20Funding%20Reduced.jpg align=baseline>

 

The educational needs of my sims are well taken care of.  What's more, the budget deficit is still manageable.  Now it is time to add some clinics.  After all, this city needs something to protect it from catching a giant cold.

 

http://www.imgcity.net/server/primary/Budget%20with%20Healthcare%20Funding.jpg align=baseline>

 

Well, our sims will be nice and healthy, but our deficit needs to see the doctor.  Let's see what we have in the way of reconstructive surgery options.

 

http://www.imgcity.net/server/primary/Budget%20with%20Healthcare%20Funding%20Reduced.jpg align=baseline>

 

After surgery to reduce the deficit, the budget checks out with an almost clean bill of health.  Because adding total fire and police protection would put the budget up to almost

[godsend 1]

Can you tells use the measurement of the each zone. Looks kewl.

[Mikeaut1 261]

This looks really interesting!! I will follow this... hopefully you will suceed!!

[Voar Tok 4]

Date: 12/26/2005 11:12:56 AM Author: godsend Can you tells use the measurement of the each zone. Looks kewl.

quote>

The zones have all been using a simple 6x6 block.  There are two reasons for that.

• A simple 6x6 block is very easy to work with.
• As is evidenced in frndofyaweh's tutorial , it appears that 6x6 blocks work the best for transportation.

Date: 12/26/2005 12:14:27 PM Author: Mikeaut1 This looks really interesting!! I will follow this... hopefully you will suceed!!

quote>

 

I hope so too.  From the looks of the poll, many of you think that I can, so that is encouraging.

[Chris M 406]

Nice.. this is really interesting!

[Adam4848 0]

Wow

 

Nice so far what kind of commerical buildings are you planning in such small space.

Also we souldn't expect to see mass transit lol?

[TheCrybKeeper 275]

Yes! This is very interesting experiment, Voar Tok. I would love to see how this turns out.

 

Honestly, since I have done something similar in the past, before my cheating era began. I believe you can do it, but not sure if you can give them all the goodies they want though.

 

Cool city layout too! I like how you have quartered the districts up. Nice job, Voar Tok.

[Gnargenox 6]

I see you got the bases covered - with services, but many areas hang outside the city. I've been down this road before. Meaning; no connections and griding out a small city. Met with failure. I tried a large city with symmetrical road layouts, but cropped zones at the edges of the service circles. Noticed improvement. Fooled around and ended up with a huge 'Y' or radiation symbol layout on another independent city. That was the first city that got a movie studio (I didn't have Rush Hour and never grew a city for more than about 17 yrs). However, you mention you will use the connections with SimNation rather than your other cities, so I guess it's a different experiment altogether. Efficiency (maximizing geometry or whatever) is key to keeping it tight, and bigger is better for me.

About when its deemed a success - even if you are a dispicable despot of a mayor, as long as you have positive cash flow, then it's a winner? oh and no u-drive it missions to gain cash, right?

Thanks for the ideas and keep us up to date with the great experiment!!!

[Voar Tok 4]

Date: <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags />12/27/2005 12:14:01 AM Author: DragonAnime Nice.. this is really interesting!

<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office />

Thanks DA!

 

Date: 12/27/2005 12:14:49 AM Author: Adam4848

Wow

Nice so far what kind of commerical buildings are you planning in such small space.

Also we souldn't expect to see mass transit lol?

 

For the commercial zone, I'm planning on using whatever buildings happen to grow.  Since I don't have any files in the plugins folder, then it is impossible for me to use ploppables.  Also, I'm probably not going to need to use mass transit, but if I do, then it probably won't be more than just busses.

 

Date: 12/27/2005 4:46:18 PM Author: frndofyaweh

Yes! This is very interesting experiment, Voar Tok. I would love to see how this turns out.

Honestly, since I have done something similar in the past, before my cheating era began. I believe you can do it, but not sure if you can give them all the goodies they want though.

Cool city layout too! I like how you have quartered the districts up. Nice job, Voar Tok.

 

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope that this does turn out to do alright!

 

Date: 12/28/2005 9:26:31 PM Author: Gnargenox

I see you got the bases covered - with services, but many areas hang outside the city. I've been down this road before. Meaning; no connections and griding out a small city. Met with failure. I tried a large city with symmetrical road layouts, but cropped zones at the edges of the service circles. Noticed improvement. Fooled around and ended up with a huge 'Y' or radiation symbol layout on another independent city. That was the first city that got a movie studio (I didn't have Rush Hour and never grew a city for more than about 17 yrs). However, you mention you will use the connections with SimNation rather than your other cities, so I guess it's a different experiment altogether. Efficiency (maximizing geometry or whatever) is key to keeping it tight, and bigger is better for me.

About when its deemed a success - even if you are a dispicable despot of a mayor, as long as you have positive cash flow, then it's a winner? oh and no u-drive it missions to gain cash, right?

Thanks for the ideas and keep us up to date with the great experiment!!!

 

In a city this small, everything has too be kept tightly packed together.  I never tried a Y-shape method of city zoning, I've basically kept to some sort of grid.  In the past, it used to be a 6x10, but after reading the tutorial by frndofyahew, I decided that a 6x6 would be better for this experiment.  So, I like what it has produced.

 

Although the experiment is technically a success if it ends with a positive cash flow, I am pretty sure that if I give the sims what they want, they will like me for the most part.  It is my unspecified goal to try and have some sort of good mayor rating.  Preferably, the mayor rating would be above 60, but that's technically not a requirement.

 

Also, there aren't going to be any UDI missions used in this experiment.  I remember in the past that I'd have a city that was losing money for a while and I would just run Freedom of Expression and float my budget for a while.  However, it gets trying to run UDI missions because you have to.

 

Well, I tried to make an update on Wednesday, but a random power outage (which happens a lot where I live) didn't let me get the post through.  So, I'll try again.

---

 

http://www.imgcity.net/server/primary/Land%20Development.jpg align=baseline>

 

The sims are starting to move in, but not a lot has happened.  It doesn't appear that any of the houses are built, yet there are already business with jobs filled.  Only in SimCity can you have jobs be filled when there aren't any people there!

 

http://www.imgcity.net/server/primary/January%20Budget%20Deficit.jpg align=baseline>

 

Although the deficit did increase over January (which is to be expected when the city first gets started) there isn't really anything to worry about yet.  The real test will be in February.

 

http://www.imgcity.net/server/primary/February%20Land%20Development.jpg align=baseline>

 

It looks like the sims have been busy building their places of residence.  Now that there are considerably more places to collect property tax on, let's see how the budget is doing.

 

http://www.imgcity.net/server/primary/February%20Budget%20Deficit.jpg align=baseline>

 

NOW that is definitely beneficial.  If my math is right, I will be able to run the city with that kind of a deficit for 18 years before the vaults start to echo.

 

March is fast approaching upon the sims, and since it is the end of the first quarter of the year, it will be a critical time for them.  You'll just have to check back to see what happens.

[soldyne 111]

an interesting experiment.  If I could be so bold as to make a suggestion though:

 

you can reduce maintenance costs and increase revunue if you zone over the power lines with commercial or residential.  zones will transmit power just like power lines and will eventually generate money for you.  of course, if your design is part of the experiment then disregaurd this suggestion. 

 

also, if you have not already done this yet, you can lower the maintenance costs on the power station.  you dont need all 6000 mega watts of power for such a small city.  also, you can put in an incinerator and reduce the monthy costs to 0.  it will still burn garbage but produce no power.  it is a free garbage disposal with some pollution.  I do it all the time.

 

good luck and I will certainly keep checking in to see the updates.

[simoplis_mayor 3]

this should be a pice of cake for you your all ready near the postive mark

[Goldfish4209 9]

Wow... That's impressive... I think It can be done.

[Voar Tok 4]

Date: 12/30/2005 4:54:28 PM Author: soldyne

an interesting experiment.&nbsp; If I could be so bold as to make a suggestion though:

you can reduce maintenance costs and increase revunue if you zone over the power lines with commercial or residential.&nbsp; zones will transmit power just like power lines and will eventually generate money for you.&nbsp; of course, if your design is part of the experiment then disregaurd this suggestion.&nbsp;

also, if you have not already done this yet, you can lower the maintenance costs on the power station.&nbsp; you dont need all 6000 mega watts of power for such a small city.&nbsp; also, you can put in an incinerator and reduce the monthy costs to 0.&nbsp; it will still burn garbage but produce no power.&nbsp; it is a free garbage disposal with some pollution.&nbsp; I do it all the time.

good luck and I will certainly keep checking in to see the updates.

quote>

I am going to eventually replace the power lines with zones, but for the first few months, I'm just going to stick with what's there and see how that works out.  I did cut the funding on the power plant, but I didn't know about that little incinerator trick.  Thanks for passing that along!

 

Date: 12/30/2005 9:02:20 PM Author: simoplis_mayor this should be a pice of cake for you your all ready near the postive mark

quote>

 

Well, I'm a little ways off from going positive, and I don't have any fire and police stations yet, so success is not guaranteed.

 

Date: 12/31/2005 12:49:11 PM Author: Goldfish4209 Wow... That's impressive... I think It can be done.

quote>

 

Thanks for the vote of confidence (that goes for you too simoplis_mayor)!

 

Hopefully, I'll have an update soon.  However, RLS is kind of messing with me right now.

[godsend 1]

Call me nuts but I made a whole region with every city looking like this.

I use 7x6 lot medium city 7 across 8 down and small city 4 Across 4 down

I havn't built anything yet I am waiting to see how you do this one.

[sloppet 3]

now this VT is really interesting!