Best let's play/tutorial for someone on a few year break?

[MarkShot 631]

You could say that I am on a few year break since my last serious SC4.  So, I remember the basics or think I do (as they may be CS delusions).

What I have available is:

-- Written --

* Original SC4 pdf

* Original SC4 Deluxe pdf

* Original SC4 Deluxe Prima pdf

* 6 (remember when?) ascii text player guides

-- You Tube --

Tutorial/Let's play from over 10 years or more with some even produced in 2022.  Now, for CS '21/'22 are really valuable due ground breaking mods.  But for SC4 most of the third party work is constant (so 10 years old doesn't matter), but for NAM.  I am learning NAM44 as an independent project.

I thought I didn't really need a tutorial or let plays, but then I am watching one last night finding out that low density doesn't need pipes.  I don't need a river on map for water.  And most shockingly sims rise out of the ground, I don't need an off map highway connection.  Of course, you know I am talking about CS.

So, I would do well to watch or read, but I think I would prefer watching.  Ideally, I would like something no earlier that '20 showing the NAM used in an actual build.  (Who do I like to watch for CS?  Biffa, CPP, and YUMBL.)

So, I am looking for something which is clear, well organized, time efficient, and a good presenter.  Now, I have channels identified already, but I think it better to ask for PMs.

Why?

This community is relatively small compared to the Steam Top 100 CS community.  The channels are not pushing for 1M subscribers (thus, SC4 is love and not business).  So, I don't want anyone offended.  Finally, there is a good chance Cori or CB may reply.  I don't think it is a good idea for Simtropolis to endorse any one content creator.

Please PM.

Thanks.

[CorinaMarie 29,894]

7 hours ago, MarkShot said:

Finally, there is a good chance Cori or CB may reply.

And here I am!

I don't have a useful list tho. Many peeps here know more about where the useful guides and tutorials are. I'll just ride along and watch what they post.

[Tubthumper 499]

My 18 cents (increase from my normal 2 cents due to inflation):

I came back to SC4 about a yearish ago from a many year hiatus.  I like to watch several different creators/lets plays/tutorials. Reason being - I look at SC4 as an art, it isn't a game to "win".  And as an art, there are different ways to go about creating. I watch the videos for ideas and inspiration, not as a means to replicate. Some one might like grids, someone might hate them.  Some might love spending hours on MMPs to build a realistic park, some might enjoy just plopping a 2x2 medium park green and being done.  Some might enjoy seeing how many people they can get in a region, some may enjoy small rural communities. Neither one is right or wrong.  So explore different creators and draw inspiration from them to work on your masterpiece. 

Now, as far as actual tutorial videos go for specific items (i.e. NAM interchanges), I prefer the brute force and ignorance approach (just keep trying different options until something starts working) - so I can't really say.

[Ulisse Wolf 4,461]

Just know how to search and you can find things.  There are people who make videos on SC4 and stream with SC4

For SC4 videos I recommend the following youtube channels

FoxieHikari

haljackey

Wibbs Builds

Rob's Red Hot Spot

TheCouncill0r

Misk

These are some examples of YouTube channels that make videos on SC4.

 

Now let's move on to streaming SC4 which is a particular matter. 

There are currently few SC4 streamers. I recommend you to watch this youtube channel that streams SC4

FoxieHikari

Then if you are using Discord there are people who stream on discord and are NAM Members and consequently do more streaming on the SC4Devotion discord server than on the Simtropolis discord server.

Currently the only people who stream on discord are

Ulisse, Lucario Boricua, TheEstGuy and sometimes haljackey 

As you will be able to see each to its own style of construction and then you will understand that SC4 is not a game where you have to defeat a boss but SC4 is a The Joy of Painting by Bob Ross. SC4 becomes fun if you try to build a city that has an aesthetic, realistic and organic because building regions with organic development is more fun

[nos.17 5,256]

Adding an extra one to the list: a 44 part series by @Strictoaster  . I managed to learn a few tricks from this one back when I watched through it.

 

  Edited May 24, 2022 by nos.17  

[MarkShot 631]

Thank you.

There are, in fact, a few I missed.

A couple, I skipped as the first episode said they were learning, and we would learn together.  I tend to prefer experts and leave the bumbling to my own time with a particular game; in reality, I am quite adept at bumbling.

I tend not to watch live streams as they move very slowly.  I prefer to see detailing done at 5X-10X as opposed to realtime.  I mean who wants to sit through 7 minutes as your 4,000 asset CS master piece loads?

---

This is my third visit to SC4 and the most serious effort I am making at learning more than the basics.  SC4 has always been on my list, but I never go to it.

[Ulisse Wolf 4,461]

5 hours ago, MarkShot said:

I tend not to watch live streams as they move very slowly.  I prefer to see detailing done at 5X-10X as opposed to realtime.  I mean who wants to sit through 7 minutes as your 4,000 asset CS master piece loads?

I have noticed that streaming has proven to be very effective as an educational tool on teaching NAM components. People can learn faster by watching a slow stream than a fast video. Also because NAM contains some tricks that make the quality of the game even better. Some tricks are documented others are not.  Then SC4 has very fast loading times compared to CS and therefore loading times during streams are tolerable. (I have more than 7 GB of mod and on average I lose 4/3 minutes of loading SC4 compared to the exaggerated times of CS).

Then the streams are a moment of aggregation between players where you can exchange information and advice on how to improve cities as well as make new friends

[MarkShot 631]

Ulisse,

Point taken.  Okay, do you have a particular stream which you would recommend for NAM?

Here is what I lack at present.

* Junctions mixing either RHW/MHO + Maxis/NWM

* Anything regarding RRW

* REW?  (Shows up in literature, but not really in my NAM.)

I am running NAM44.

Thanks.

[Ulisse Wolf 4,461]

2 hours ago, MarkShot said:

Ulisse,

Point taken.  Okay, do you have a particular stream which you would recommend for NAM?

Here is what I lack at present.

* Junctions mixing either RHW/MHO + Maxis/NWM

* Anything regarding RRW

* REW?  (Shows up in literature, but not really in my NAM.)

I am running NAM44.

Thanks.

As I wrote earlier there are NAM Team Members who stream but these streams take place on SC4Devotion's discord server as people are gearing up their YouTube channels to do these things.  For all these questions you have I recommend you follow the streams that are carried out by NAM members as they can answer the questions you have.

Remember that streaming generally takes place during the American evening (USA EDT/EST Time Zone for reference)

 

[MarkShot 631]

I didn’t even know you can stream through Discord. I have rarely visited. I’ve only watched streams on YouTube. 
 

Real-time is not going to work for me as my time zone is like NYC+12/13; 北京 Beijing Time. But I am always in your tomorrow today; and I don’t even need a warping of space-time to do it.

[Ulisse Wolf 4,461]

11 minutes ago, MarkShot said:

I didn’t even know you can stream through Discord. I have rarely visited. I’ve only watched streams on YouTube. 

Streaming on discord is an excellent feature that is useful for multiple purposes and not just streaming games. Keep in mind that with Discord you can interact directly with NAM members who are always available to help you.  (This applies to both Simtropolis Discord Server and SC4Devotion Discord Server)

 

[MarkShot 631]

I will pop in after I do some due diligence. No one likes to have their time wasted with lazy questions. 
 

Thank you.