Running SimCity 3000 in HD (or other resolutions)

[Cool_Z 1,547]

Hello fellow citybuilders,

I just found out that you can  play our good old SimCity 3000 in HD... and thought that documenting the procedue would be a good idea.

 

Here's the short version (can be found here : http://www.wsgf.org/dr/SimCity-3000/en) 

Quote

Baseline (Widescreen) Solution & Issues

Only 4:3 resolutions are listed in-game; the steps below unlock all resolutions (from SimCity 3000 Unlimited Resolution Fix posted by Lanak)

1. Open SC3.EXE or SC3U.exe with a hex editor
2. Search for this byte sequence: 8b 4c 24 04 8b 44 24 08 53
3. Overwrite the first four bytes with c2 08 00 90
4. Search for this byte sequence: 8b 4c 24 04 8b 54 24 08 81 f9
5. Overwrite the first four bytes with c2 08 00 90

Everything has the correct aspect ratio but the menus and UI are always at the original size rather than scaling with the resolution.

The game crashes with certain resolutions (such as 1600x900).

The intro cutscene does not work on modern versions of Windows (it can be skipped using the -intro:off command line argument).

 

And here's a more visual version, because some people might feel intimidated by the "hex editor" part.

First you need a Hex editor, a good choice is Hxd Hex Editor, that you can download from here : https://mh-nexus.de/en/downloads.php?product=HxD

Once downloaded and installed let's get to work.

You'll need to work on a game file, so I suggest you make a backup of it or work on a copy of the file.

 

Launch Hxd Hex editor and open the SC3.EXE or SC3U.EXE (it's in the "Apps" directory of the installation location of the game).

 

Search for 8b 4c 24 04 8b 44 24 08 53 - you will need to change the datatype to "Hex-values"

 

 

 

Now just replace the first four bytes by c2 08 00 90 in the editor (place the cursor at the beginning of the sequence and type)

 

Repeat the same operation :

Search for 8b 4c 24 04 8b 54 24 08 81 f9

Replace the first four with c2 08 00 90 again

 

Now save the file. If you worked on the original it's done, if you worked on a copy you will need to replace the original file with the one you've modified.

 

Launch the game, in the preferences you will now see all the resolutions your GPU can support being listed :

 

Enjoy your SimCity 3K now in HD :

 

(Note: The intro video works perfectly on Win 10 for me).

 

[CorinaMarie 29,774]

Woot! It worked for me too.

 

[SecretMbr_735754 2,158]

Thanks @Cool_Z for breaking this down step-by-step with detailed instructions.   When I researched all this before I came up against the 1600x900 resolution problem and the division by 8 issue.   My physical screen is exact to 1600x900 and this is the only resolution that I can comfortably use as a desktop resolution.   I resisted using the available hack-patch or directly hacking the app myself as it just seemed like too much additional work, but you've done the work of making it a 'For Dummies' simple and easy to follow process which I can now do without suffering 'major multitasking malfunction overload'.  Okay, so here I go confidently into hacker mode...

[CorinaMarie 29,774]

9 minutes ago, RandyE said:

Okay, so here I go confidently into hacker mode...

I have confidence you can do it.

[SecretMbr_735754 2,158]

SimCity 3000 Application file version 2.0.949.0, file size: 1,155,072 bytes (1.10 MB), © 1999 Maxis, Inc.  SC3U.EXE.  Applied in Windows 8.1 64bit AMD APU dual core with Radeon™ HD.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ Backing-up original file, creating system restore point...  Complete.
+ Update (hacking) in progress...  Complete.
+ System security check... Clean.
+ Loading and executing updated (hacked) application... Successful.
+ Discovering functional resolution on 1600x900 screen/desktop...  1360x768 Radeon HD 756 discovered. (non-functional settings will CTD)
+ Running SC3U Simulator...  Runtime: 30mins (approx.). Clear, no CTD. 
+ Testing display mode...  Windowed mode only, windowing in and out may result in desktop freeze, user input can be recovered using Taskmanager.

...OMG...  its wide screen...  its so... beautiful.   The SimCity 3000 Unlimited Revolution is Here!  Let the Games Begin!!!

  Edited September 23, 2017 by RandyE  
reduced image size

[Cool_Z 1,547]

Wide screen changes things a lot. Not that SC3 was bad before, but it's even better this way. 

[huzman 445]

Grand! It works flawlessly. Many thanks @Cool_Z.

[Cool_Z 1,547]

Not so flawlessy as it seems... the original tutorial already said there was a problem with the 1900x600 resolution. I've also tested it on an old laptop with 1366x768 and I got crashes. I would not say that it will always work or not in certain resolutions... Until proven otherwise I think it's more a case by case situation (depending on the video card, the drivers... etc).

[huzman 445]

6 hours ago, Cool_Z said:

tested it on an old laptop with 1366x768

That's what I"m running and no crashes, no CTD, and it does look good! Did that in WIN 8.1.

Wondering: I wonder if those guys at EA or MAXIS ever knew about this kind of resolutions? Did they knew they existed?  Don't think so...

On 6/5/2017 at 0:49 AM, Cool_Z said:

Here's the short version

I did that and I'm as happy as a rabbit in a lettuce patch.

[Cool_Z 1,547]

1 minute ago, huzman said:

 That's what I"m running and no crashes, no CTD, and it does look good!

Wondering: I wonder if those guys at EA or MAXIS ever knew about this kind of resolutions? Did they knew they existed?  Don't think so...

I did that and I'm as happy as a rabbit in a lettuce patch.

"happy as a rabbit in a lettuce patch"... nice expression 

 

I don't think you could find screens in widescreen back in 99... the move from 4/3, then 5/4 (almost all the first lcds were 5/4), and finally 16/10 and 16/9 aspect ratios is relatively recent.

[+Guest]

GoG already implemented this on a version of the game executable they have on their support site if you cannot do that yourself

https://support.gog.com/hc/en-us/articles/360018687573-SimCity-3000-Unlimited-widescreen-support?product=gog

Direct link:  https://files.gog.com/support/SC3U.zip

Since it's the GoG version it doesn't require a CD ;-)

Edit: I realize that this executable still works on any SC3U installation including CD ones after some tests. It's essentially just a No-CD+resolution patch, except that it's from a trustworthy source. With this executable you can just copy your entire CD to HDD and replace SC3U.exe with that version, and you will no longer need to play with CD. (Then adding Sim Broadway is an easy pie)

[TheMurderousCricket 5,061]

Wow... Is this for real? I gotta try this!

Edit: Works like a dream. It's an entirely different comfort of gameplay now.

[awkwardpickle 0]

Sooo... I just tried this, downloaded the new installer from the GOG support site and it doesn't quite work. Selecting higher resolutions the game doesn't fill up the screen, only 800x600 can fill up the screen. I checked with the hex editor and the hex values have been changed in the executable file, but the issue described in the OP persists. Any other ideas?

[TheMurderousCricket 5,061]

On 28.11.2020 at 4:44 AM, awkwardpickle said:

Sooo... I just tried this, downloaded the new installer from the GOG support site and it doesn't quite work. Selecting higher resolutions the game doesn't fill up the screen, only 800x600 can fill up the screen. I checked with the hex editor and the hex values have been changed in the executable file, but the issue described in the OP persists. Any other ideas?

The way I did it, I used the regular installer and simply exchanged the .exe for the one provided here. I did not use any extra installer. Maybe one just has to use that .exe regardless of the install method... I don't know.

[catty-cb 4,411]

On 11/28/2020 at 4:44 PM, awkwardpickle said:

.Selecting higher resolutions the game doesn't fill up the screen, only 800x600 can fill up the screen.

Had the same issue, and found it was a case of my selecting higher resolutions than were supported by my monitor .... so it was a case of looking at my monitor which was 1600x900 and then finding a resolution that matched that .... ended up selecting 1360x768 Intel (R) HD Graphics which so far seems to be working really well

[Turnstyled 517]

This GitHub page provides a Python script that does the hex editing for you. It says that Python 2.7 is required, but in the download is a script for Python 2.7 and a script for Python 3.x.

https://tetration.github.io/Simcity3000_Modding_Revival/index.html

I emailed the page maintainer regarding the lag that I was experiencing when the UI was open. It's an issue experienced on Windows 8 and above. I couldn't solve it. I tried disabling scaling in Nvidia Control Panel and several different ways in Windows. I'm using the latest stable release of Windows 10, Windows 10 20H2. "20H2" refers to it being the release from the second half of 2020. People on Reddit have gotten the UI lag fixed in Windows 8.1 and earlier releases of Windows 10.

https://www.reddit.com/r/SimCity/comments/2vz7zh/simcity_3000_unlimited_on_windows_81/

When attempting the fix detailed in the link above, I had used the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit for Windows 10 20H1. Windows 10 20H1 and 20H2 share the same files, so the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit wasn't created for Windows 10 20H2.

 

[c4bl3fl4m3 405]

On 7/5/2019 at 6:28 PM, HackDown said:

GoG already implemented this on a version of the game executable they have on their support site if you cannot do that yourself

https://support.gog.com/hc/en-us/articles/360018687573-SimCity-3000-Unlimited-widescreen-support?product=gog

Direct link:  https://files.gog.com/support/SC3U.zip

Since it's the GoG version it doesn't require a CD ;-)

Edit: I realize that this executable still works on any SC3U installation including CD ones after some tests. It's essentially just a No-CD+resolution patch, except that it's from a trustworthy source. With this executable you can just copy your entire CD to HDD and replace SC3U.exe with that version, and you will no longer need to play with CD. (Then adding Sim Broadway is an easy pie)

Just as an FYI, this also works using the Windows version with CrossOver ver. 20.0~b1 (20.0.0.33028) on a 2018 MacBook Pro running macOS Big Sur (11.3). (The Menus at the start are just smaller, but once you load the city, it uses the full screen.) However, using some of the higher resolutions, once you load a city, using the centering tool(?) makes it hang. More experimentation is needed.

The way to make it work with the Mac is to install the original via CrossOver and then to go in and replace the SC3U.exe file. Trying to use just the new SC3U.exe file in CrossOver doesn't work. The path to the SC3U.exe file, once installed by CrossOver, is incredibly long, but here it is:

/Users/<UserName>/Library/Application Support/CrossOver/Bottles/SimCity3000/drive_c/GOG Games/SimCity 3000 Unlimited/Apps/SC3U.exe

(Also, hey there folks I know from the SC4 part of the site! Nice to see you around these parts as well! *waves*)

  Edited April 30, 2021 by c4bl3fl4m3  
added filepath

[Turnstyled 517]

I wanted to share that on a previous Windows installation (still Windows 10 20H2), I got the lag when the UI was open fixed. That process in the Reddit post that I linked to in this thread is available here on the PC Gaming Wiki as something that you just have to double-click to apply: https://community.pcgamingwiki.com/files/file/699-SimCity-3000-compatibility-fixes/

[VetinarisClerk 271]

I had to reinstall SC3k Unlimited, but now the GOG patch doesn't work. Trying to launch throws an error - UV.dll not found. OS is windows 10, same as before. Help please.

[TheMurderousCricket 5,061]

On 15.06.2021 at 8:49 PM, VetinarisClerk said:

I had to reinstall SC3k Unlimited, but now the GOG patch doesn't work. Trying to launch throws an error - UV.dll not found. OS is windows 10, same as before. Help please.

@VetinarisClerk I think the answer is easier than you might have thought!

Make sure the sc3u.exe is in the "Apps" folder and not the main game folder. 

What I just did, I managed to reproduce your error message - I moved my .exe to the main game folder and also got the "missing uv.dll" dialogue. 

Good luck! 

[VetinarisClerk 271]

On 17/06/2021 at 10:14 PM, TheMurderousCricket said:

@VetinarisClerk I think the answer is easier than you might have thought!

Make sure the sc3u.exe is in the "Apps" folder and not the main game folder. 

What I just did, I managed to reproduce your error message - I moved my .exe to the main game folder and also got the "missing uv.dll" dialogue. 

Good luck! 

Thank you., i really needed this because the BAT only works on low-res, so I need a way to switch from standard to hd. 

[marx.renan 9]

Great topic! SC300 even more beautiful in HD!

[slamm3r_911 0]

This works with Wine pretty easily on LM Debian

[speakerK3 0]

Maybe someone can help me and find out this problem. The full HD resolution works fine, but the issue is the FPS when playing with the task bar of the game. (first image open with ''The Simulator is Paused'' ) The second image, I minimize the bar, and the game runs smoothly with no stuttering or FPS drops. If anyone knows a solution, thanks in advance.

[photogastro 1]

Check out this link.  It's a compatability fixer for SC3K and SC3KU.  I'm running SC3K in Win10 with no issues with the main screen or toolbar lag.  I am also running in ultra wide-screen resolution 2560x1080.

https://community.pcgamingwiki.com/files/file/699-SimCity-3000-compatibility-fixes/

12 hours ago, speakerK3 said:

Maybe someone can help me and find out this problem. The full HD resolution works fine, but the issue is the FPS when playing with the task bar of the game. (first image open with ''The Simulator is Paused'' ) The second image, I minimize the bar, and the game runs smoothly with no stuttering or FPS drops. If anyone knows a solution, thanks in advance.

 

[speakerK3 0]

On 2/17/2024 at 11:26 PM, photogastro said:

Check out this link.  It's a compatability fixer for SC3K and SC3KU.  I'm running SC3K in Win10 with no issues with the main screen or toolbar lag.  I am also running in ultra wide-screen resolution 2560x1080.

https://community.pcgamingwiki.com/files/file/699-SimCity-3000-compatibility-fixes/

I did install also this patch, but nothing changed. I might uninstall the game, and install all over again, if the problems continue I don't know what could be.

[photogastro 1]

On 2/18/2024 at 6:07 PM, speakerK3 said:

I did install also this patch, but nothing changed. I might uninstall the game, and install all over again, if the problems continue I don't know what could be.

What resolution are you running in?  Seems like there was an issue with the 1600x900 resolution specifically.

[speakerK3 0]

1 hour ago, photogastro said:

What resolution are you running in?  Seems like there was an issue with the 1600x900 resolution specifically.

1920x1080, and pc specs should't be a problem, i7 6700k, 16gb ram 3200mhz and gtx 1080. 

[catty-cb 4,411]

I use the download available on GOG "SimCity 3000 Unlimited - widescreen support" the download is a modified executable file to enable higher screen resolutions

https://support.gog.com/hc/en-us/articles/214077225-SimCity-3000-Unlimited?product=gog

From the smallest

thru to the largest

Then it was just a case of trying out different resolutions till I got one that best matched my computer