How to play SC4 Deluxe again?

[djash1000 37]

I joined to find out how to play this again.

 

I found in the installing old sticky, but in Section A, it just says once it's downloaded, .. next...

 

Well this is the bit I'm stuck on. On win10 it won't load.

 

I have seen on fb page someone wrote some instructions, how to bypass windows things. I'm not that technical!

 

I just want to play the game again, surely it's not difficult!

 

How do you all play it? Have you all done this technical bit to bypass the window10 fault/system,

 

thanks in advance

[djash1000 37]

also I'm off to work, so will check back later. It's not a one-off post and never come back!

I play on the app buildit, but that just passes time, I want to start on the main game again. I have all my old stuff saved on computer, but I suspect (and don't mind) starting from scratch

[Toby Ferrian 875]

I'll just quote what I said in the introduce yourself thread to keep everything in one place.

15 minutes ago, Toby Ferrian said:

The disc version doesn't work on Windows 10 because Microsoft dropped support for a driver it needs.

You'll have to get it digitally on GOG (where it's currently 75% off as of this post) or Steam if you want to play it.

 

[djash1000 37]

Thanks Toby.

 

The next obvious question, is which is best? Are they identical, or do most people prefer one over other?

6 hours ago, Toby Ferrian said:

I'll just quote what I said in the introduce yourself thread to keep everything in one place.

 

 

[CorinaMarie 29,894]

10 minutes ago, djash1000 said:

The next obvious question, is which is best? Are they identical, or do most people prefer one over other?

In a poll I believe the Gog version would win. However, the Steam version is perfectly fine too. Most important is that the one from Origin simply sucks. It does not contain the Maxis patches and it cannot be patched.

If you go with the Gog version note that you do not need their Galaxy thinger to launch the game and that can even interfere with passing game parameters such as the all important -CPUCount:1 and the ones for custom resolution. (We can help you with those if you need more details.)

[Cyclone Boom 17,031]

22 hours ago, djash1000 said:

The next obvious question, is which is best? Are they identical, or do most people prefer one over other?

Welcome to the community!

Both the GOG and Steam versions are digital and come fully patched. The actual title retails as the Deluxe Edition, which includes the base SC4 along with the Rush Hour expansion pack. Between them, the most notable format difference being the GOG edition is 100% DRM free, and runs independently without relying on a games manager client (which may require signing in). With Steam I've heard it's possible to start the game directly, though I'm not too sure whether that also starts the client application.

There could be possible uses with a manager, especially if having a large digital games library. Maybe that helps with categorising or processing updates. Though personally I'd say the GOG edition is superior since it has no additional ties. The Galaxy app will be offered as a "recommended" extra, but this indeed can be safely skipped.

If interested in going with GOG, purchasing from link @CorinaMarie posted above will give Simtropolis a small commission of each sale, at no extra cost.

[djash1000 37]

On 23/01/2018 at 8:39 PM, Cyclone Boom said:

Welcome to the community!

Both the GOG and Steam versions are digital and come fully patched. The actual title retails as the Deluxe Edition, which includes the base SC4 along with the Rush Hour expansion pack. Between them, the most notable format difference being the GOG edition is 100% DRM free, and runs independently without relying on a games manager client (which may require signing in). With Steam I've heard it's possible to start the game directly, though I'm not too sure whether that also starts the client application.

There could be possible uses with a manager, especially if having a large digital games library. Maybe that helps with categorising or processing updates. Though personally I'd say the GOG edition is superior since it has no additional ties. The Galaxy app will be offered as a "recommended" extra, but this indeed can be safely skipped.

If interested in going with GOG, purchasing from link @CorinaMarie posted above will give Simtropolis a small commission of each sale, at no extra cost.

I was just about to buy it (using link above) and it's gone back up in price, dammit!  I might hang fire for a bit and see if on offer again.

[Cyclone Boom 17,031]

2 hours ago, djash1000 said:

I was just about to buy it (using link above) and it's gone back up in price, dammit!

Oh no, that's too bad!

 

2 hours ago, djash1000 said:

I might hang fire for a bit and see if on offer again.

Good plan. It seems GOG run these sales fairly often, and sometimes even spot discounts on selected items. So as has happened previously, you may find the game up to the marked down 75% off as it was a few weeks ago. Do keep checking because for the longevity, $5/£4 really is a steal, let alone a deal.

By the way, if it helps...

I've just discovered a 3rd party run database site which tracks and displays the price of GOG games, with a page for SC4 Deluxe available here. It reveals that since June 2017, the offer has been available on 5 occasions, on average lasting 2 weeks. However, what this doesn't show is the annual Spring sale which GOG traditionally runs around the middle to end of March, seeing as the data hadn't yet been recorded. So it's likely to happen again in the not-so distant future.

Given the site isn't officially maintained, I'm unable to vouch for the accuracy of the data. But as I recall, it seems to fit the reported timings of the sales.

[djash1000 37]

1 hour ago, Cyclone Boom said:

Oh no, that's too bad!

 

Good plan. It seems GOG run these sales fairly often, and sometimes even spot discounts on selected items. So as has happened previously, you may find the game up to the marked down 75% off as it was a few weeks ago. Do keep checking because for the longevity, $5/£4 really is a steal, let alone a deal.

By the way, if it helps...

I've just discovered a 3rd party run database site which tracks and displays the price of GOG games, with a page for SC4 Deluxe available here. It reveals that since June 2017, the offer has been available on 5 occasions, on average lasting 2 weeks. However, what this doesn't show is the annual Spring sale which GOG traditionally runs around the middle to end of March, seeing as the data hadn't yet been recorded. So it's likely to happen again in the not-so distant future.

Given the site isn't officially maintained, I'm unable to vouch for the accuracy of the data. But as I recall, it seems to fit the reported timings of the sales.

I'll keep an eye out for that then, thanks for the help

 

As it happens, I think £15 is perfectly acceptable price for the game. I'll get my money's worth back in a week!

 

However, since the latest Win10 update last week, half of the things on my computer have stopped working, so I don't have faith in anything. If I spend 15 quid and it doesn't work, I'll cry after the month I've had ! ha

[djash1000 37]

Got it!!

 

I've been checking that link above every day and it's down to £3.70 and I've bought it.

 

Get this though, this is the big surprise, it seems to have detected my old game, and my nation is there!! (thank goodness I didn't delete it!

 

Can we link pictures in this section? I shall show you it. I'm most please because my giant ring road (which probably won't do anything, but I wanted it anyway) is back! That took me ages to construct

[djash1000 37]

19 minutes ago, djash1000 said:

 

Can we link pictures in this section? I shall show you it. I'm most please because my giant ring road (which probably won't do anything, but I wanted it anyway) is back! That took me ages to construct

 

[That Retro Guy 321]

That's a very cool looking Region!  Congrats and welcome to Simtropolis! 

[AsimPika3172 1,155]

Wow! KUALA LUMPUR also appear on your map!!! 

[T Wrecks 10,210]

On 14.2.2018 at 2:49 PM, djash1000 said:

Get this though, this is the big surprise, it seems to have detected my old game, and my nation is there!! (thank goodness I didn't delete it!

This is probably due to the fact that SimCity stores your cities and regions in folders inside your "My Documents" folder. Since these (A) get created as you build and do not form part of the original game installation, and (B) are not inside the game's installation directory, they typically remain on your hard drive after game deinstallation and would have to be deleted manually.

If you make yourself familiar with the folder structure used by SimCity, you can also use this to safely back up anything you build - store it on a USB drive, use it on any PC, and so forth.

Congrats on getting the game back - and at such a killer price! - and being able to continue playing your region. Have fun!

[djash1000 37]

10 hours ago, T Wrecks said:

This is probably due to the fact that SimCity stores your cities and regions in folders inside your "My Documents" folder. Since these (A) get created as you build and do not form part of the original game installation, and (B) are not inside the game's installation directory, they typically remain on your hard drive after game deinstallation and would have to be deleted manually.

If you make yourself familiar with the folder structure used by SimCity, you can also use this to safely back up anything you build - store it on a USB drive, use it on any PC, and so forth.

Congrats on getting the game back - and at such a killer price! - and being able to continue playing your region. Have fun!

The SimCity folder as you say is in documents, so always gets backed up when I back up the whole lot

I'm not sure but I think once I dowloaded a few new plugins, I might start from scratch. I assume I can save this.

[CorinaMarie 29,894]

3 minutes ago, djash1000 said:

I assume I can save this.

Yes, you can save any current plugins and regions you create and play. I have my disc based version on a separate XP game comp and I've copied my plugins and regions to my Win 7 comp that has my GoG version and everything works just fine.

[djash1000 37]

2 hours ago, CorinaMarie said:

Yes, you can save any current plugins and regions you create and play. I have my disc based version on a separate XP game comp and I've copied my plugins and regions to my Win 7 comp that has my GoG version and everything works just fine.

I thought of Q, With the plugs in, do they change existing buildings?

i.e. I added the degrading thing which you recc, and the power plants. Will they not degrade or do I have to rebuild? (btw  rebuilding power stations using that other one you recommended, they look good, and far less smokey!

edit: also, do you know of a thread discussing the most popular plugins? I found the list of them and there is 336 pages! haha I'm tempted to look for something to help the schools and hosps, as much game time is adjusting the finances on those.

[Propfam 2,305]

2 hours ago, djash1000 said:

I thought of Q, With the plugs in, do they change existing buildings?

i.e. I added the degrading thing which you recc, and the power plants. Will they not degrade or do I have to rebuild? (btw  rebuilding power stations using that other one you recommended, they look good, and far less smokey!

Yes, they (some) do. Replacement for Maxis buildings is whether relots or just BAT changes (this is lesser than relot).

Thanks.

[djash1000 37]

2 hours ago, Chief ZDN said:

Yes, they (some) do. Replacement for Maxis buildings is whether relots or just BAT changes (this is lesser than relot).

Thanks.

I'm seeing a lot of letters, now reading more of forums...

I've noticed NAM , DAT, BAT, MOD off top of my head, lol

I'm really back to basics!

[Propfam 2,305]

If you want back to the basics, don't forget to check this Omnibus article:

Thanks.

[djash1000 37]

2 hours ago, Chief ZDN said:

If you want back to the basics, don't forget to check this Omnibus article:

Thanks.

Great link, thanks for that. Yes I won't go mad, I need to absorb some of that first, and have bookmarked it.

So far, I just have the 3 plugins suggested earlier, and I'm happy with those.

Constantly replacing the water and power stations, used to do my head in.

I don't mind so much altering the schools and meds, because it's often only reminder that city is growing fast, if I'm concentrating on other things, and I feel is part of the game. (saying that, I will probably install that, as my game playing is different stage than before, the online version. I've only every played on the standard version out of the box

[djash1000 37]

I have done the first one, (the NAM thing) but can't see anydifference in game, have I done this right?

this is screenprint of my plugins

[Propfam 2,305]

1 hour ago, djash1000 said:

I have done the first one, (the NAM thing) but can't see any difference in game, have I done this right?

this is screenprint of my plugins

This is not ideal. You should place your raw plugins (for instance installers and zips) to separate directory. This is already stated in my article:

Spoiler

In order to make your raw mods folder (not the SimCity 4's Plugin folder) tidy, you should group it wisely.

And, continued with

Spoiler

For instance essential mods placed in the Essentials folder.

Thanks.

[djash1000 37]

3 minutes ago, Chief ZDN said:

This is not ideal. You should place your raw plugins (for instance installers and zips) to separate directory. This is already stated in my article:

  Hide contents

In order to make your raw mods folder (not the SimCity 4's Plugin folder) tidy, you should group it wisely.

And, continued with

  Hide contents

For instance essential mods placed in the Essentials folder.

Thanks.

ok thanks again. I'll check more tomorrow, and not do anything more in meantime.

[Tarkus 6,933]

The reason nothing's different with the NAM is that all you've done so far is place the installer into your Plugins directory, which will indeed have no effect.  Double-click the "NetworkAddonMod Setup 36" file there to run it and install the NAM.

-Tarkus

[djash1000 37]

1 hour ago, Tarkus said:

The reason nothing's different with the NAM is that all you've done so far is place the installer into your Plugins directory, which will indeed have no effect.  Double-click the "NetworkAddonMod Setup 36" file there to run it and install the NAM.

-Tarkus

ok, doing now...

yes this is definitely doing something! lol

[djash1000 37]

HOLY MOLEY! haha (sorry not worked out the absolutely shocked smiley yet!)

Yes that worked!

Oh my goodness, that IS different!

[CorinaMarie 29,894]

One thing to keep in mind: Go slow with adding new plugins. (It's really easy to get overwhelmed.)

[Fantozzi 4,068]

6 hours ago, djash1000 said:

I'm really back to basics!

It's really impressive how much content creators changed the game during the years. I strongly recommend to not to go through the development of 10 years in a couple of days but slowly step by step installing certain areas/topics/fields of plugins. For the NAM f.e. - it's good to know what the NAM changes, so to know how the game looks like without it. Then there are several - plenty - of small addons or changes or expansions for the NAM (like f.e. SAM texture alternatives, additional automata - cars, trains). Also there are some older train stations etc. that doesn't meet the capacity requirements of the NAM (which can be adjusted with little modding skills and tools). Modding became such a big and complex area during the years that you might get lost picking something nice here and something nice there and throwing all together in your plugin folder.

There are threads about how to organize your plugin folders and the mods. With (estimated) roundabout 40.000 mods there are also different philosophies how to handle all the possibilities. When you get into lotting - to create your own lots by combining existing models to make something new on your own, you may discover the fun is endless and you can spent a lifetime with sc4 (as a combination of playing/building and content creating). 

Also it might be interesting to have a look at the city journals and see how diversified and rich in possibilities city creation became. If you see something interesting in the CJs and to ask in the forums: "how this was done, what was used to create this, what is this?" can also help to get a direction in custom content. But getting into sc4 modding is not swimming a lake, it's like swimming an ocean. When I started in 2007 (as an adult) I felt to proud to ask simple question about a childs game. I got terrible lost. The sheer amount of available content makes it necessary - like when swimming an ocean you need an accompanying boat to swim it straight, some cartography, a plan and a compass - or you do it without it and swim zigzag (which might be fun too, of course. If you're a patient and curious masochist like me f.e.).

[djash1000 37]

8 hours ago, Fantozzi said:

It's really impressive how much content creators changed the game during the years. I strongly recommend to not to go through the development of 10 years in a couple of days but slowly step by step installing certain areas/topics/fields of plugins. For the NAM f.e. - it's good to know what the NAM changes, so to know how the game looks like without it. Then there are several - plenty - of small addons or changes or expansions for the NAM (like f.e. SAM texture alternatives, additional automata - cars, trains). Also there are some older train stations etc. that doesn't meet the capacity requirements of the NAM (which can be adjusted with little modding skills and tools). Modding became such a big and complex area during the years that you might get lost picking something nice here and something nice there and throwing all together in your plugin folder.

There are threads about how to organize your plugin folders and the mods. With (estimated) roundabout 40.000 mods there are also different philosophies how to handle all the possibilities. When you get into lotting - to create your own lots by combining existing models to make something new on your own, you may discover the fun is endless and you can spent a lifetime with sc4 (as a combination of playing/building and content creating). 

Also it might be interesting to have a look at the city journals and see how diversified and rich in possibilities city creation became. If you see something interesting in the CJs and to ask in the forums: "how this was done, what was used to create this, what is this?" can also help to get a direction in custom content. But getting into sc4 modding is not swimming a lake, it's like swimming an ocean. When I started in 2007 (as an adult) I felt to proud to ask simple question about a childs game. I got terrible lost. The sheer amount of available content makes it necessary - like when swimming an ocean you need an accompanying boat to swim it straight, some cartography, a plan and a compass - or you do it without it and swim zigzag (which might be fun too, of course. If you're a patient and curious masochist like me f.e.).

Thanks, yes it's all quite new this. Everything is far more technical than I imagined. When I first started playing the original version the www didn't even exist! I went through 2000 and 3000, then eventually sc4, but even then it was just a 'stick the disk in and play'... I always thought whilst playing it, that this could be better or that could be better. The button to 'go online' used to just crash it. I thought because there were no new games that the developers had just abandoned it. I've been playing built it on the phone for a few years, but didn't even realise that was popular, it's only since I joined the facebook group, then of course saw the sc4 one too, and here I am now. My experience in the game is back in 2007

11 hours ago, CorinaMarie said:

One thing to keep in mind: Go slow with adding new plugins. (It's really easy to get overwhelmed.)

Yep. Today I'm off work, so will look at how to organise this plugins file, start a new city and just have a play around with the new differences