Introduce Yourself Here!

[PJ Davis 24]

Hi everyone, I've been a member here for *checks profile* wow, 9 years. I have been playing SC4 since 2004. I recently built a new PC and was able to start playing on that instead of my Mac, and have gotten back into the game a lot. I really like making detailed cities, with the surrounding suburbs and country-side farms. Also really enjoy trying to design realistically scaled airports.

Recently decided i want to get into loting and trying to make a modular warehouse (like amazon distribution centers) and am still learning how to do that. I'm trying to read everything I can before i start asking questions, but i'm sure there'll be plenty!

Thanks for everyone's advice and dedication to keeping this game alive for so many years.

[CorinaMarie 29,605]

Hiya, @PJ Davis. Welcome to posting.

You already know what a great place Simtropolis is, so no need for me to mention that. Jump in with some pics in the Show Us threads as I'm interested in your farms and agricultural to city transitions.

[Cyclone Boom 16,879]

Hi @PJ Davis and welcome to forum posting here at Simtropolis!

It's never too late to make that first step, and you've just done so which is great!

For realistic cities, there so happened to be a topic posted the other day, and there's some excellent suggestions for specific content items.

As follows:

 

We look forward to seeing your lotting projects too, and also for airports there's some complicated sets which it sure sounds like you've mastered. Feel free to post inside any topics in the SC4 Showcase forum, and even make a project lotting thread for anything you wish to share with the community.

[Jeffrey500 567]

Hi there. I feel sorry but i haven't introduced myself here nearly 10 years ago. My name is Jeffrey. I live near Amsterdam and since my student council work has ended and covid-19 has hit in i'm playing SimCity again. Thanks to the help of quite a few people i've started to make my first steps with the BAT and hopefully i can create my own style in my simsconutry of which you see posts in the show us topics. 

[Cyclone Boom 16,879]

Hi Jeffry, and nice that you've posted here.

I recall seeing a few of your posts in the Showcase forum already, and it's always cool to see what others create in their cities.

To learn the BAT also sure sounds interesting, and having the ability to create any particular building must be such a useful skill to have. And of course, you're most welcome to share anything you create to the STEX too if you'd like. The variety of content adds so much long-lasting appeal to keep SC4 fresh for more choice of styles.

All the best in your current and future projects!

[CorinaMarie 29,605]

Hiya, @Jeffrey500. Nice to see you posting here in the Intro thread. ( I still haven't gotten around to introducing myself. )

Good luck with your batting projects.

[Raymond7cn 6,772]

Hiya Jeffrey, @Jeffrey500 Nice to meet another good BATter, I knew there were many Dutch BATters in SC4 world, And I have been to Holland during a business trip, even though just one day, I was impressed very much with the unique buildings there, especially the W2W and so many beautiful tulips,  Looking forward your great works.

Sincerely,

-- Raymond

[david.padgett 5]

Good Afternoon, all!

 

Thought I would introduce myself, and maybe get a few Simtropolis friends!

 

My names David (if you couldn't guess!), I first played a city scape game in the early 00's when I was about 14. I came across SimCity 4 again this year whilst browsing on Steam. Downloaded it, and here I am again!  I found Simtropolis when I started playing SC4 again and have had a read of a couple of topics, then decided to join myself.

 

I've notched up a few hours play, just having a mess around and getting used to the planning and growth speeds of the cities, education and health needs etc. What I really am interested in though is the MOD bits. I'd love to really build up a city with an integrated transport network (trains, trams, etc), towering MOD buildings and such, but I'm a bit uneducated in how to install the programs I would need to be able to run said mods. There's also a few maps that look really fun and interesting to build with, but again, installing the extensions that I would need to run these with is a bit of lost cause for me!

 

I'm hoping I'd be able to get a bit of help with these bits so I can really get into SC4 and hopefully be able to share progress and maybe some other bits as i become a bit more knowledgeable on it.

 

Other than that, I'd like to say hello!

[Whte_rbt 1,431]

@david.padgett Hi, welcome to the site. The usual welcome team (CorinaMarie, Cyclone Boom and Raymond7cn) will probably appear to welcome you over the next 24 hrs (timezones, work & whatnot).

For basic setup/correction of game faults there are a few mods you'll want to prioritize. The Network Addon Mod (NAM) for extra transit options, SC4Fix.dll by @simmaster07 to stop some annoying crashes and bugs, CrimeDoesn'tPay to stop the large lots having such a huge problem with crime rate. Basic terrain textures have been covered in a series by @CorinaMarie. There are several threads in the forums on what mods should be used as a beginner set to stabilize the game.

[SIM-ple Jack 17,444]

1 hour ago, david.padgett said:

 I'd like to say hello!

Well...hello. What did you say your name was again.

[Raymond7cn 6,772]

Hiya David, @david.padgett Nice to meet you, I guess @Whte_rbt was just kidding, I'm just a normal guy who like to meet people around the world. SC4 is a quite special game, Especially to those mod lovers, sometimes it's not that easy, whereas we have tons of great Moders and earnest and knowledgeable people here with us, They will help us to find out that special joy belongs to all of us. so…Welcome!

Sincerely,

-- Raymond

[CorinaMarie 29,605]

9 hours ago, david.padgett said:

Good Afternoon, all!

Good morning, one! Welcome to Simtropolis.

I have a handful of linkys on my About Me page (scroll down a wee bit there) that should help you find beginning things you'll want for the game.

[Cyclone Boom 16,879]

Hi @david.padgett and welcome to Simtropolis!

That sounds great for getting back into SC4 again, and it's never too late to do so either. The community here and at SC4Devotion still stands strong after all these years, and it is custom content which has helped to sustain and prolong interest for many of us from around the world.

A very useful overview of possible content to use is this one which has numerous suggestions. There's a few useful guides to read through as posted here too.

Just remember there's no need to install everything in one go. Far from it at that, and taking it slow is a good way to gradually build up as desired. It all depends on personal taste with adding certain items. Most of all if you've ever any questions about content, the simulation itself (or any technical aspects), that's where we're all here to help.

[Joel_The_Jackle 16]

First off, I'm 39, married and play too many video games (in my wife's opinion). I like world builder, RTS, type games. 

[Cyclone Boom 16,879]

Hi @Joel_The_Jackle and welcome to Simtropolis.

For anything city building, you've sure arrived to a great place! Hope you enjoy it here while pursuing the games you're into.

[CorinaMarie 29,605]

Hiya, @Joel_The_Jackle. Welcome to Simtropolis.

[Oxterzone 2]

Hi there everyone, i'm Oxterzone and i'd like to introduce myself.

My name's Juan Antonio and i live somewhere in the Mexican border with the US in a god's-forgotten city, i am 21 years old and i work in a pharmacology laboratory focused in research, my experience with city simulation games started in 2012 with SimCity 2000, got really hooked and back then i didnt have an internet connection so i couldn't look for more similar games, luckily enough for me, i got SimCity 4 CDs for christmas and it only propulsed my passion for these kind of games, after a couple of years when i enrolled for university i had to stop playing, but recently due the pandemic, the lab is closed and now i have some little time to dig up on my passions, and one of them building cities (Also playing rhythm games but thats another different passion of mine).
Btw i didnt know there is a relatively huge fanbase, i have always played alone, i hope we can be friends!
If i have something id like to learn from the members its to create more aesthetic and well structured cities, if i lack in something it's creativity, even though i want to create good looking cities i just get mindblocked and cant bring myself to structure something that i like.
Greetings to everyone, i hope youre having a great day/night.

[CorinaMarie 29,605]

Hiya, @Oxterzone. Welcome to Simtropolis.

Have a browse around the forums and feel free to ask questions.

[Cyclone Boom 16,879]

Hi @Oxterzone and welcome to Simtropolis.

Finding the opportunity to get back into SC4 seems like a common trend in recent times.

The way the world is currently, at least SC4 and this community is a place to relax and have fun. For many people (myself included) and it's become more of a hobby than a game too, giving a focus which otherwise would be difficult to find.

For a bit of inspiration, you may find this thread useful for a few content ideas. Also take a look around the SC4 Showcase forum, and often the best way to be inspired is to see what others create. It does take a while to build up a Plugins folder one's happy with too, but take it slow in small steps and you'll get there.

We hope you enjoy the site and community.

[Jaysin 11]

Hi everybody,

I’m not really good with introductions but I figured I should. I’ve been playing one version or another of SimCity since I was young.  However I always come back to SimCity 4. It’s been a few years but I got the urge and decided to start again. 
 

In the past I have only used a handful of mods. Mostly the NAM mod. However this time around I’d like to build some more realistic cities and regions. If anyone can recommend where to start with finding some good mods, I’m all ears. 
 

I was also curious how many people build roads and network infrastructures before letting the city/ region grow. I always let my city grow and then try to shove in highways and other networks but I think it might work better to have that infrastructure in place first. Thanks to anyone who responds. And I’m looking forward to making better looking cities and regions. 

[Cyclone Boom 16,879]

Hi @Jaysin and welcome to Simtropolis.

For starters, you may find Cori's Shoppes useful to look through. These are picture previewed indexes of all known graphical type items for water, rock, beach, terrain, and tree mods. Also then it might be worth having a look through this guide for other custom content recommendations.

 

37 minutes ago, Jaysin said:

I was also curious how many people build roads and network infrastructures before letting the city/ region grow. I always let my city grow and then try to shove in highways and other networks but I think it might work better to have that infrastructure in place first.

This is a technique which I believe can be beneficial if wanting to put in the hard yards initially.

In the past I remember doing the same as you do, in trying to construct transport networks later on once a city is developed. This is a challenge in its own way with trying to integrate them into development. The real benefit of pre-building major routes is how they're all in place, to then ensure the networks are evenly distributed by connecting different parts of a region together. There is no wrong way to play, and it depends on each of us really. The great thing about SC4 is the freedom of choice.

[CorinaMarie 29,605]

4 hours ago, Jaysin said:

I’m not really good with introductions but I figured I should.

Hiya, Jaysin. Welcome to Simtropolis.

You've done more than me. I never got around to introducing myself in this thread.

 

4 hours ago, Jaysin said:

I was also curious how many people build roads and network infrastructures before letting the city/ region grow.

Like you and CB, I initially started (and played this way for about 3 years) with creating things per city tile and not being much concerned about the overall regional networks. However, in time, I've decided I really do want to pre-plan the regional structure from the start so it's much more coherent. As it happens, I play a mostly agrarian world with the transportation structure somewhat similar to that of central Indiana and the surrounding states like they were in the late 1800s. More specifically, the main long distance transportation is via rail lines. Ofc, I don't totally restrict myself to that and do have avenues and highways too. I also don't restrict the growth to only old things, but allow the modern buildings including high tech industry.

With all I've learned over the years, I've been somewhat ready to start a new region, but I do like how this one has developed and so I went thru adding rails to city tiles I've not yet started.

Here's the general idea I've been working with:

^ In the pic the rails are orange, streets gray, roads cyan, avenues yellow, and highways in red.

Maybe something similar would work for you?

[Jaysin 11]

Cyclone Boom,

Thank you for mentioning Cori’s shoppes, I’m definitely going to use some stuff out of there. And the guide is helpful too. 
 

I 100% agree that the greatest thing about the game is you can play anyway you want.  I am just more curious to learn how others do things. I personally don’t know anyone into SimCity or city builders in general or sim games in general. Most of my friends play games that I find boring. Of course I’m sure they say the same about me. So It’s kinda nice to talk to people that play it. 

I also seem to have lost my old saves, changed computers and thought I saved them but can’t find them. So I’m sadly starting over with a blank region and no cities. So Im going to try laying out the highway and railroad first before starting any cities to see how that way works.

 

[Jaysin 11]

CorinaMarie,

Thanks for the response and input.

I think you said the word I was looking for “coherent”. A lot of my regions and cities in the past almost looked like there wasn’t a lot of pre-planning. 
 

I like that region, I have a soft spot for railroads and have always liked using them.  I’m starting a new region and I plan to put in place highways and rail before starting any cities. I want to see if I can make my region look better. 

[Whte_rbt 1,431]

@Jaysin Hi and welcome. When it comes to transit systems, the 'standard' we'd all love to match is @Haljackey's work. Dude has a series on Youtube covering how to buld almost any highway intesection you will ever need. The techniques he uses to prepare the ground for the highway are equally applicable to building your own rail system. The RRW (RealRailWay) mod is part of the NAM (Network Addon Mod) these days, and the pdf documentation that comes with it explains the patterns involved in getting smooth curves and intersections.

[Jaysin 11]

Whte_rbt,

 

I will have to check out haljacky’s work.  I would like to make some realistic highway intersections. I noticed the RRW is part of NAM , but I haven’t had a chance to check out the pdf yet. I don’t have a ton of free time in my life right now. 
 

thanks for the info and help. 

[I.M. Corbusier 11]

Howdy, all!  Getting back into SC4 after a long absence.  I finally got up and running  a couple days ago and it's good to be back in the fold, so to speak.  I had a passing familiarity with Simtropolis from my old days, and had done some downloading and modding in the past, but sadly, those skills have atrophied.  I figured now would be a good time to put more than a toe in the water and actually become a member.  

I installed the Steam version on my computer and in the course of going through old boxes and disks, I came across a DVD with around 3GB of plugins.  I dumped this data into the Plugins folder in the Steam path of installation and things seem to run ok.  However, in the course of reading up, I got the impression that I should have put the data in the /Documents/ SimCity4 /Plugins path.  Did I mess anything up doing what I did?  My second question is very basic - how do I put newly downloaded lots into the game?  I seem to recall from the past that somehow, many of these files would get installed where they needed to be when the files were opened.  I'm not looking forward to doing it manually.

Looking forward to participating going forward and maybe even doing some of my own modding.

Cheers!

[CorinaMarie 29,605]

Hiya and welcome to Simtropolis.

 

1 hour ago, I.M. Corbusier said:

However, in the course of reading up, I got the impression that I should have put the data in the /Documents/ SimCity4 /Plugins path.

Yep. That's the correct place for custom content on all Windoze versions of the game.

 

1 hour ago, I.M. Corbusier said:

Did I mess anything up doing what I did?

Nope. As far as the game is concerned both plugins are equally viable. The one in the install path is loaded first, but otherwise is the same. The reason everything you read says to place stuff in the Documents one is because if uninstalling the game, it'll offer to preserve your Regions and Plugins, but that only happens for those in Documents. The uninstaller treats its own with no clue you may have added to it.

Peeps doing advanced modding often deliberately ignore this sage advice by placing certain basic things in the install folder's plugins so they can wipe out the one in Documents as many times as they want during testing.

 

1 hour ago, I.M. Corbusier said:

I seem to recall from the past that somehow, many of these files would get installed where they needed to be when the files were opened.

It's hit and miss as to which ones will have an installer and which you'll have to move into Plugins manually. The trend now is to do away with the installers as the players still around all these years later are more sophisticated and prefer to manually organize their plugins themselves.

A good plan is to go slow and install only a few new items at a time and test them in a sandbox region. With so many things available, some will simply step on the toes of others and can cause weird problems. Unfortunately, there isn't (yet) a super easy way to get up and running.

[I.M. Corbusier 11]

Thanks for the welcome, Cori.  Your suggestion of keeping the game pathway as an archive is a good one.  I have a bunch of stuff I have recently downloaded and will follow your advice on careful additions.  I am particularly looking forward to using the CamElot and Colossus stuff up and running.

[CorinaMarie 29,605]

3 minutes ago, I.M. Corbusier said:

I am particularly looking forward to using the CamElot and Colossus stuff up and running.

As you get into that, I'd love to hear a beginner's impression of the mod. I've read impressive things about it and how it can really balance out the growth. I did have the honor of chatting live with @InvisiChem when I was only a couple or three months old here on ST. We then decided for my play style and newness to the game I should hold off, but it's always been in my mind to give it a test drive someday.