(Mod) AMPS Development Thread

[RobertaME 1,376]

UPDATE!!!

So I finished another round of bug-squashing and rebuilt my test city from scratch. After seven years I have it built back up to about 50k population with over 10k MWh/mo. consumption. Here's the overview: (not much to look at, but it's functional and profitable)

Here's a closeup of the power district:

And here's the new query under the Beta:

As you can see, everything now reports the corrected power production to account for degradation. Hydroelectric has also been added between Geothermal and Wood-fired as a new Base power facility type. I also cleaned up a lot of code on the back-end so it runs faster and cleaner, even though I have added functionality and none of the code sections are turned off via commenting anymore... so the full code is up and running.

In going over the code blocks, I did decide to make one change. The old 1,800 kW Diesel Generator has been upgraded to a Small Oil Power Plant with a 4.5 MW rating and the old 4.5 MW Oil Plant has been downgraded to 1.8 MW, but is still a Small Diesel Power Plant. (i.e they BOTH now require Distribution Capacity to use)

In going over everything else, I also improved the query sounds for each facility. Transformers hum, substations throb, you can hear arc welding in the background at the Maintenance Facility, etc.

I also laid the groundwork for revamping the entire Cost/MWh metric shown in the power plant queries. (I never liked it because it was simply Monthly Cost / Output, which neglects the cost of construction amortized out over the expected life of the plant... which is the true cost of any source of power)

Now, I can either keep it as §/MWh... or I can do as I would prefer and move it to §/GWh as it gives a value 1,000 times greater, so you can see more of the cost. So... instead of being §0.24 per MWh it would be §242.75 per GWh.

Preferences?

I've also started delving into other in-game variables in an effort to get power data that ALL updates in real time instead of some of the data being a month delayed. All I need to do is find an internal Global Variable that reports current power production. I know one must exist as the Power Graph updates in real time when you add or demolish a power source... so i just need to find what THAT uses. (I think it's game_trends.G_POWER_PRODUCED... I'll find out)

Anyway, comments welcome!

Edit: Oh! One last thing... I updated the negative effects of Transformers and Substations based on playtesting: (changes highlighted)

Now the negative Park and Landmark effects of a 10 MEV Substation can be countered by two Medium Parks and two Large Plazas.

Comments welcome!

  Edited March 26, 2021 by RobertaME  
Typos and an addendum

[Kloudkicker 4,561]

1 hour ago, RobertaME said:

I also laid the groundwork for revamping the entire Cost/MWh metric shown in the power plant queries

1 hour ago, RobertaME said:

instead of being §0.24 per MWh it would be §242.75 per GWh.

Not a bad idea and it sounds like you want to do it this way already, so why not.

1 hour ago, RobertaME said:

I updated the negative effects of Transformers and Substations based on playtesting

Not bad, still "looks high", but thats before testing it.

 

[RobertaME 1,376]

OK, so I found out how to pull data on power in real time:

game.trend_value(game_trends.G_POWER_{PRODUCED/IMPORTED/EXPORTED/CONSUMED/DEMANDED/UNUSED},0)

Any of those functions will pull the current data as of the moment it's poled, so AMPS can now run in real time for ALL data. ::happy dance::

Now to do some testing as see if it's possible to separate non-supported power sources from power degradation using "game.trend_value(game_trends.G_POWER_CONSUMED_COAL,0)" and all the other types...

Maybe we might get some serious use out of this tidbit of data! :^)

Edit: Working in game:

Before As above; note the date and game is paused   After adding a 3.5 MW Nat Gas Plant, still paused

  Edited March 26, 2021 by RobertaME  
More stuff

[Kloudkicker 4,561]

Maybe we could use some "park friendly" versions of the substations. I know of may places around me, some in the city, that are hidden in a house structure and most people would never know its there. 

 

Good job > " so AMPS can now run in real time for ALL data. ::happy dance::"

  Edited March 26, 2021 by Kloudkicker  

[Kloudkicker 4,561]

Oh, I forgot way I came, To tell @RobertaME that the new AMPS file fixed it. Just swapped out the file and did some query sampling and no crash. The news article is now fixed. Thank you! 

[RobertaME 1,376]

42 minutes ago, Kloudkicker said:

Maybe we could use some "park friendly" versions of the substations. I know of may places around me, some in the city, that are hidden in a house structure and most people would never know its there.

This is easily accomplished in the Beta by putting a couple parks next to them. Thus...

So you can see that it's fairly easy to reverse the effects. That shows 3 substations that have -50 park rating each right next to developed areas with no negative effects. Those 2 Medium flower gardens and the 4 Small Plazas behind them make +240 Park rating out to 15 tiles for a net effect of +90 in that range.

So I don't really see a point to adding more lots to the power menu when the game mechanics can solve it for us.

Of course, people are free to mod the mod... ;^)

1 hour ago, Kloudkicker said:

Good job > " so AMPS can now run in real time for ALL data. ::happy dance::"

Yep! Just did a 2nd test using a brand new "city"...

As can be seen, it's day 1 of year zero and The AMPS queries are updating the power consumption and production in real time with the game on pause.

I am VERY happy! ::happy dance::

31 minutes ago, Kloudkicker said:

Oh, I forgot way I came, To tell @RobertaME that the new AMPS file fixed it. Just swapped out the file and did some query sampling and no crash. The news article is now fixed. Thank you! 

You're very welcome! I'm just glad it was an easy fix. I didn't even have to push a bugfix because i already DID! You were just too quick on the download key! (sorry about that, BTW)

I'm thinking of putting the Beta up on the STEX. It's getting pretty close to "ready for the big time", so to speak.

Comments welcome!

[RobertaME 1,376]

In my ongoing effort to avoid going back to work on the load enforcement routines, I decided to write up the Read Me for the Beta instead.

AMPS v.0.1.pdf

Comments and suggestions welcome, as always!

[CorinaMarie 29,574]

13 hours ago, RobertaME said:

I decided to write up the Read Me for the Beta instead.

Very nicely written. I've downloaded and read it. Now I have a much better understanding of how your project works.

[Kloudkicker 4,561]

5 hours ago, CorinaMarie said:

Very nicely written. I've downloaded and read it. Now I have a much better understanding of how your project works.

Funny, that's exactly how I felt. LOL

Really, I read it also and it is well written. Good job, @RobertaME!

[Simmer2 23,785]

Here is the next AMPS lot.

SM2 AMPS Energy Research Facility

[RobertaME 1,376]

On 3/28/2021 at 12:47 AM, CorinaMarie said:

Very nicely written. I've downloaded and read it. Now I have a much better understanding of how your project works.

19 hours ago, Kloudkicker said:

Funny, that's exactly how I felt. LOL

Really, I read it also and it is well written. Good job, @RobertaME!

Thanks, but I'm sure there must be some parts of the Readme that could be improved. Please, feel free to make any recommendations you feel would make it clearer or easier to read, or if nothing else just where you feel it isn't as clear as it could be, even if you have no recommendation on how to fix it. I appreciate any feedback as it can only serve to improve on it. :^)

3 hours ago, Simmer2 said:

Here is the next AMPS lot.

SM2 AMPS Energy Research Facility

Wonderful, @Simmer2! I'm integrating it into the Beta now.

Just a couple questions though.

At the center, there's what looks like a bunch of concrete blocks as the central open space, but it looks... domed. Is it supposed to be a glass dome or a solid walking surface?

What are these flags? Do we know where they come from? Just wanting to know since this has the AMPS name on it. :^)

Thanks!

  Edited March 29, 2021 by RobertaME  
Added 3rd flag

[Simmer2 23,785]

@RobertaME The geodesic dome is metal paneled, not glass. It is supposed to be an auditorium for meetings and press releases. AMPS not only does research for themselves but they also share proprietary technology with other nations, businesses and universities.

The banners are put out every time there is such meetings with businesses and universities. Think of a way to make them feel more at home by displaying their colors and logos. As you can see there are a bunch of scientists from all over the world with their protractors and calculators eagerly waiting for the press release of a new discovery to start

Make sense?

Simmer2

[Kloudkicker 4,561]

I was just notified of this set and thought I would share it here. It comes with a rural transmission substation that connects to these pylons. Looks cool!

 

[Simizen 1,088]

A suggestion for the readme file: would you be able to change the link text color to say, green? Was gonna say blue, but, you've already got blue font in there. Only ask, cause, when i was first reading through it, I thought it was just plain text, till I scrolled past some links further down.

While, typically, this shouldn't be an issue, I figured, having them stick out some would be helpful to those who wish to try and grab the text to get the files.

Spoiler

And, I have another idea for it, but, I want to test it out on my end first...

 

[City_Slider 2,716]

Hmmm.. explain it to me please :-D. After reading the most Pages, i don´t understand one Word.

[Kloudkicker 4,561]

12 hours ago, City_Slider said:

Hmmm.. explain it to me please :-D. After reading the most Pages, i don´t understand one Word.

If you are referring to the below statement, then its in reference to the new AMPS README file and highlighting the links contained inside it so they stand out.

12 hours ago, Ryuu Tenno said:

A suggestion for the readme file: would you be able to change the link text color to say, green? Was gonna say blue, but, you've already got blue font in there. Only ask, cause, when i was first reading through it, I thought it was just plain text, till I scrolled past some links further down.

While, typically, this shouldn't be an issue, I figured, having them stick out some would be helpful to those who wish to try and grab the text to get the files.

  sumthin (Reveal hidden contents)

And, I have another idea for it, but, I want to test it out on my end first...

 

 

[RobertaME 1,376]

15 hours ago, City_Slider said:

Hmmm.. explain it to me please :-D. After reading the most Pages, i don´t understand one Word.

Wenn Sie meinen, dass Sie die Readme nicht verstehen können, könnte ich versuchen, sie ins Deutsche zu übersetzen. Es würde jedoch zeitgreifen. Ich habe Deutsch wieder in der gymnasium und einige in der kollege gelernt, also bin ich sehr außer praxis.

(Advising that I could try my hand at a German translation of the Readme because I studied German back in High School and a little in college, but it would take a while because I'm so out of practice)

Was that even close to correct, @City_Slider? I think I got some of the tenses wrong... it's been a long time ;^)

[Kloudkicker 4,561]

Since @RobertaME was excepting more than one version of the reward buildings and I didn't want Simmer2 to have all the fun, I finished a central office lot I had started and made a corporate towers HQ lot with two skybridges and is network enabled. Both lots are meant for the power company.

Surprise RobertaME! I hope you like them and they are worthy of the AMPS name.

 

@RobertaME, let me know what if the two lots are good enough to say that they are AMPS certified in the readme and on the upload page? No worries if they are not, feel free to give your opinion, it's your mod.

[Simmer2 23,785]

On 3/31/2021 at 3:00 PM, Kloudkicker said:

Since @RobertaME was excepting more than one version of the reward buildings and I didn't want Simmer2 to have all the fun, I finished a central office lot I had started and made a corporate towers HQ lot with two skybridges and is network enabled. Both lots are meant for the power company.

Surprise RobertaME! I hope you like them and they are worthy of the AMPS name.

 

 

Jesus man its not a competition.  Give it a rest.

Unfortunately for you, the AMPS city central office I custom made, is the most natural choice due to the overhead AMPS signs I made just for that lot.

She can use the second one shown above as a regional HQ. Its ok.

Only thing left is to use my AMPS night lit sign somewhere on the lot. You will find it in my SM2 AMPS Energy Research Facility zip, in the Props folder.

You will have to include that lot as a dependency.

Simmer2

[Kloudkicker 4,561]

44 minutes ago, Simmer2 said:

Jesus man its not a competition.  Give it a rest.

Sorry you feel this way. I'm having a good time learning and making lots. I'm not trying to step on anyone's toes. I hope you still will make the HQ office.

I was just trying to help out and provide some alternate versions RobertaME had hoped to have, earlier in the tread. I only think I finished the lot layout, there is no telling when they could be ready. And I still don't know if RobertaME will like them.

Not sure what just happened? 

[mattb325 28,880]

1 hour ago, Simmer2 said:

Jesus man its not a competition.  Give it a rest.

Unfortunately for you, the AMPS city central office I custom made, is the most natural choice due to the overhead AMPS signs I made just for that lot.

She can use the second one shown above as a regional HQ. Its ok.

Only thing left is to use my AMPS night lit sign somewhere on the lot. You will find it in my SM2 AMPS Energy Research Facility zip, in the Props folder.

You will have to include that lot as a dependency.

Charming. I will reserve my judgement of the bat(s) you are referring to that you have made for this mod.

10 minutes ago, Kloudkicker said:

Sorry you feel this way. I'm having a good time learning and making lots. I'm not trying to step on anyone's toes. I hope you still will make the HQ office.

I was just trying to help out and provide some alternate versions RobertaME had hoped to have, earlier in the tread.I only think I finished the lot layout, there is no telling when they could be ready. And I still don't know if RobertaME will like them.

Not sure what just happened? 

Kloudkicker, I really like what you are doing, it's creative and unique. Variety and choice is always welcome whether batted or lotted. 

So if, as Simmer2 says, the choice is predicated by an AMPS sign, allow me to level the playing field for you. 

I've attached two props, using the logo Cyclone Boom made. They are slightly offset: one is the AMPS word and the other is the Light Bulb. They are in HD, they light up at night and are scaled to fit the maxis buildings.

 

AMPS.zip

[Cyclone Boom 16,852]

I've chatted with Cori about this and we just feel the need to step in here and say...

The great thing about this project is how there's been so many contributions to make it possible. Each of us has our own respective talents to help in ways big and small, and it's something we know Roberta is really thankful for. This isn't a competition of course, and like a power grid there are multitudes of components. Each little light adds up to the overall intricate display, which is the formation of the bigger overall picture. This is indeed meant to be fun after all.

So whether a creator or a tester, or giving any sorts of constructive feedback, this collectively adds up. Let's keep looking on the bright side.

-CB & Cori

[RobertaME 1,376]

Regarding @Simmer2 and @Kloudkicker's Power Company lots... (please note that I am highlighting this so it is well understood, not "shouting" or being rude)

The way I got things to work out, as many as 16 variations on each of the 5 building types (Front Office, Maintenance Facility, Central Office, Research Facility, and Corporate HQ) can be Officially supported AND installed at the same time. You just can't have more than one of each building type built in the same city at the same time. (thus you could have Kloudkicker's Front Office, Simmer2's Maintenance Facility, KK's Central Office, Simmer2's Research Facility, and KK's HQ all in the same city at the same time... or just Simmer2's or KK's buildings, if that's what you prefer) Plus, I have 11 building types still unassigned... a total of 256 different types and variations. I wanted lots of expansion capability so people could have a lot of choice in which buildings they use with AMPS, even the ability to add all new types I didn't think of.

@Simmer2: You have no idea how much I appreciate all the work you've done to make the first AMPS buildings and for inspiring me to do this project in the first place. They're amazing, every one... and so are you! I still would love to see your Corporate HQ based on that 60-story building you referenced up-thread. Knowing you, it would be... amazing! Please don't feel that @Kloudkicker's submissions in ANY way detract from yours. If you want, you can also take a stab at making alternate Transformer lots to the ones @Kloudkicker made that you started to make back at the beginning of all this, so there's variety and choice in THAT area, too. I still have nine kVA rating slots unassigned in that section. (and like him, you can have multiple styles of one rating, if you like)

@Kloudkicker: Your work to help make AMPS a reality has been invaluable. I am happy to add official support for your versions of the AMPS Central Office and HQ buildings once they're up on the STEX. Will you also be submitting a Research Facility so your set is complete? (hint)

@mattb325: I LOVE the sign! Thanks for making a prop so everyone can add to the fun!

@Cyclone Boom & @CorinaMarie: I think we ALL appreciate your work in keeping this place running smoothly. I think everything will be fine. It's likely my fault for not making it clear that AMPS can support multiple variations on each building at the same time and that each can be officially supported simultaneously.

I'm hoping that now that things are more clear that We can move forward with even MORE variety! We still need a Front Office and Maintenance Facility in a more urban style... and a Central Office and Research Facility in a more rural style... anyone willing to take a stab at those? ;^)

Oh! Here's a thought... I don't know about other places, but around here we have places in the local supermarkets like a mini Front Office inside the store. We could have something like that... all you'd really have to do is put @mattb325's AMPS sign on the outside of a supermarket and voila! Instant Front Office!

Thoughts and comments welcome. :^)

[Whte_rbt 1,431]

13 hours ago, RobertaME said:

We still need a Front Office and Maintenance Facility in a more urban style... and a Central Office and Research Facility in a more rural style... anyone willing to take a stab at those?

I'm kinda sketching stuff for this in my head, but I have no plans to even attempt making anything until my degree project is done (5-6 weeks yet). I want to make a full set of reward lots, but this will be a steep learning curve, I've never made a mod for SC4 so far.

[Simmer2 23,785]

14 hours ago, RobertaME said:

 .

I'm hoping that now that things are more clear that We can move forward with even MORE variety! We still need a Front Office and Maintenance Facility in a more urban style... and a Central Office and Research Facility in a more rural style... anyone willing to take a stab at those? ;^)

 

Hello Roberta.

The AMPS City office (urban style) is already out

 

[Kloudkicker 4,561]

This has been a long thread over a short period, with many good proposals, ideas and suggestions. The AMPS mod is evolving just like our own skills are, from learning new tricks to learning about how each one of us has something to contribute, to help better our future. Which is something I would imagine we all want out of life, not just from a video game. I am not here to win anyone over or get "reactions" from them, I am here to better my experience in SimCity 4. Which is happing because of others that care. I never thought I would meet so many cool people and learn so much in such a short time. I helps I have more free time than ever before. But the last thing I want is to unintentionally start trouble or cause problems.

@Simmer2, I am sorry for not replaying my plans to you on what I was doing. I wanted the lots to be a surprise for RobertaME since it was talked about having multiple versions of the lots. I really loved the HQ you have spent time on and would really like you to include it for the AMPS mod. I thought having a alternate backup version would be nice to have for the big regions with many metropolis's. And besides, I was going after a mid size building, where yours will looked better and stand out in a dense skyscraper setting. Please continue on yours, it would mean a lot to me if you would.

@mattb325, thank you for providing the cool sign you made. As much as I would like to use it, because you made it, my plan is to not use any AMPS signs on my the lots, in order to keep them looking as generic as possible. That way the lots are more appealing to a bigger group of users. And since I did not have access to any sign on my earlier lots, I believe I will stick to the same path. Thank you for making them, I will think about how I can use the signs another way.

@RobertaME, writing on a tablet sucks! I don't know why I do it on one when I don't have to! Anyways, I will hope to get the new lots posted in a few days but no guarantee. The weather is my main boss right now and today mother natures April fools joke was snow over night and today. Than the temp will get into the 60 in a few days and I will be working again. (Gotta love it!) Then I will give the research center a try. I have been wanting to make a space center, so this will give me practice for that BIG project, someday.

  Edited April 2, 2021 by Kloudkicker  
Spelling

[Whte_rbt 1,431]

Okay, so here's my planned lots. Got two ideas for the first tier lot so gonna try doing both.

1st:         Small standalone shop with small carpark (2x2 or 2x3)

    &         W2W 1x2 with AMPS office on ground floor

2^nd:        The SP Networks facility, thread page 14 post #402 (4x4 Lot)

3^rd          EDF Lab Paris-Saclay thread page 10 post #288 (Prob 8x10 or 10x12)

4^th          The NV energy building from Reno, thread page 10 post #286 (10x10 Lot for the building and some paths, parking can be SAM'd)

5^th          The Georgia Power Company Building, thread page 10 post #283 (Prob. 4x4)

I'm thinking that given the amount of glass in the EDF building I should probably tackle that last, once I've cut my teeth learning on the other lots.

Thanks to @Kloudkicker, @Allein and @RobertaME for some of the building suggestions.

 

[RobertaME 1,376]

Wow! That's rather ambitious, @Whte_rbt! But if you make 'em, AMPS will support 'em!

One thing... just a suggestion mind you... you might want to swap #3 and #4. The NV Energy building is a General Office Building, not much of a research center. (in fact, internally they call that location the G.O.B. ... General Office Building... imaginative, no?)

Unless of course you weren't listing them in any particular order... in which case... <Emily Litella>Never mind!</Emily Litella> :^Þ

Edit: Wow... I just dated myself, didn't I?

  Edited April 1, 2021 by RobertaME  
Oops

[Whte_rbt 1,431]

3 minutes ago, RobertaME said:

you might want to swap #3 and #4

I had the stages round the wrong way on those two. NV Energy was meant to be the office.

[RobertaME 1,376]

12 hours ago, Whte_rbt said:

I had the stages round the wrong way on those two. NV Energy was meant to be the office.

OK, so then! I guessed right!

BTW, for anyone interested, here are the lots he's talking about with a grid overlay of 16 meters (50 feet) for SC4 tile sizes:

Like I said... ambitious! 8^/