Can't load downloaded Regions / Maps

[PappyVanWinkle 2]

OK I have SimCity Complete from Origin. and when I place the download region/maps in C:\Users\Username\Documents\SimCity 4\Regions it doesn't show in the game load menus.  I also have a folder "ThisPC\documants\SimCity      Can someone tell me what I'm doing wrong and tell me the correct way to load the content from this site?  Thank you

 

[Cyclone Boom 16,829]

Hi @PappyVanWinkle and welcome to the site.

For custom maps, these will require rendering to appear in the game.

There are two ways to achieve this, and it depends on the type of map. Some will be in the grayscale format with just containing a JPG or BMP file, along with a config.bmp which allocates the city tile size (small, medium, or large). These can be rendered by creating a new region in the game, then using the Ctrl+Shift+Alt+R keys which opens a dialog from where the image can be selected. The other type is a SC4M file which is a higher detailed format which can be rendered using SC4Mapper.

You may find these 2 tutorials I posted useful which explain how to do this. The first link below explains how the process can be done for grayscales also, and this is very similar to importing a SC4M file which the program renders. Then the second link is about editing the city tile layout for a map, of which the tool includes a visual editor for.

As follows:

• Tutorial: Rendering a Grayscale Map using SC4 Mapper
• Tutorial: How to edit the Config.bmp file using SC4Mapper

Once rendered upon opening the map, from region view they'll appear to have abstract looking colours. This is normal, and just how the snapshot previews are generated. By saving each tile and these are updated accordingly with a new preview image.

Let us know if you'd like anything else clarifying. I suspect the "SimCity" folder might be for SC13 and not SC4.

[rsc204 21,804]

13 hours ago, PappyVanWinkle said:

OK I have SimCity Complete from Origin

SimCity Complete is the 2013 game, including addons, they called the game just SimCity, even though it's a sequel to SimCity 4, which creates confusion. Maps for SimCity 4 simply can not be used with this game. In fact, I'm pretty sure that you can not add custom maps to SimCity (2013) at all. So in the first instance I think you need to check which version of SimCity you have.

[PappyVanWinkle 2]

On 6/15/2019 at 6:06 AM, rsc204 said:

SimCity Complete is the 2013 game, including addons, they called the game just SimCity, even though it's a sequel to SimCity 4, which creates confusion. Maps for SimCity 4 simply can not be used with this game. In fact, I'm pretty sure that you can not add custom maps to SimCity (2013) at all. So in the first instance I think you need to check which version of SimCity you have.

Ok, that makes sense as to why I was not able to get SC4 Mapper to work.  Well, this just sucks I was looking forward to playing with other peoples regions/maps from here

[Cyclone Boom 16,829]

52 minutes ago, PappyVanWinkle said:

Ok, that makes sense as to why I was not able to get SC4 Mapper to work.  Well, this just sucks I was looking forward to playing with other peoples regions/maps from here

If you wish to purchase SC4 these days, a recommended retailer is GOG who sells the game digitally.

Alternatively there are other options as @rsc204 nicely summarises in this post, but the advantage with the GOG version is it's fully patched and also comes DRM free. They tend to have seasonal and spot sales every so often, where it sells for as little as $4.99 at 75% off. Should you wish to go down this route, a good idea is to avoid the GOG Galaxy client and instead to install the game as a stand-alone application. My post here mentions about this with an annotated preview.

Most of all it's highly advised to avoid the Origin version of SC4. This is unpatched and unpatchable, meaning many content items won't work properly.

I hope this helps to say how there is hope.

[PappyVanWinkle 2]

Thank you sir,  you've been a big help