Installing a New Region

[BaldisEmpire 1]

I tried installing a region I found here on Simtropolis using the instructions I found here. I tried using all of the different *.bmp formats (can't figure out which one is grayscale) but got nothing but a config file and region file on my desktop; the region did not change. Now I see just clouds rolling in, no sign of loading. Is the region loading even though it doesn't look like it, i.e. when something is "loading in video games" I usually see the graphics pause. Can I let this run in the taskbar while I do something else? Or am I doing something wrong?

[CaptCity 4,756]

Hi @BaldisEmpire

The map you linked to (Chicago) does not contain a greyscale image. It does not use the in-game Ctrl + Alt + Shift + R method. That particular region was created using SC4 Terraformer and contains an SC4M file. You will need to follow the link in the article you found to the directions for rendering the map using either SC4 Terraformer or SC Mapper. SC4 Mapper is the easiest to use if simply rendering.

As to your question about letting the map render in game while doing something else. Rendering maps with SC4 Mapper doesn't take nearly as long as the in-game method, so it wouldn't really apply to this case. However, if rendering a map with the Ctrl + Alt + Shift + R in-game method, you shouldn't let the rendering process lose focus. It will conflict with the rendering process (at least in my experience). That said, it has been a very long time and various computer systems ago since I have interrupted the rendering a map (out of habit, I just let it run), so I don't know if more modern systems handle it differently. My first guess would be no since the game hasn't been updated since it was created.

Edit: I see that the links to the other articles are not re-directing correctly. They should somewhere around here... I'll need to check on that.

Here's the Installing with SC4 Mapper article.

[CorinaMarie 29,607]

8 hours ago, CaptCity said:

However, if rendering a map with the Ctrl + Alt + Shift + R in-game method, you shouldn't let the rendering process lose focus. It will conflict with the rendering process (at least in my experience).

Yes. That's still true today. If letting the render run while not in focus, there will be a bunch of completely flat city tiles.