Graphic Problem in Mac Version

[barnatom 0]

Hi fellow Mac players,

I have a question. When I look at my cities, I always see strange, ugly lines between all developed tiles. Here are some pictures to explain what I mean:

Zoom 4:


Zoom 3:


Zoom 2:



As you can see, the lines are not the normal grid lines, as they do not appear on open grass land. And turning the grid on or off doesn't change them. They are clearly visible in all zoom stages, but most disturbing in zoom 2.

These lines appear everythere, at plopped tiles, at roads, at grown lots, at farms...
There are only a few exeptions: Between GLR tiles there are no such lines and as well between ped-mall-tiles (NAM pieces).

Now the question is:
Do you have this lines as well? Is there a possibility to fix this?

I have seen that all PC players don't have them. But there are even some Mac CJs, there these lines don't appear.
Does this only happen on certain computers?

I have a Powerbook 12, 1Ghz, 768MB RAM, nVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 32MB.
The game version is the german edition of SimCity4 + RushHour Expansion, distributed by Application Systems Heidelberg.

I have changed every graphic setting, but without succes.

Please let me know if you have the same issue or not. And if there is a solution to it.


Thank you

barnatom

[barnatom 0]

Hi again,

I would be very happy to get some replies here. Even if you don't have this problem but are playing on a mac - please let me know about it.

I would really like to know if it is only my problem or if there are some others who have the same graphics bug.


Thank you very much...

barnatom

[Apocalyptica_Chello 0]

Well have you tried updating yur game at maxis? or reinstalling it? I dont know any technical stuff about simcity but those usually do the trick for me

[barnatom 0]

Well, I cannot update my game, because I cannot register on Maxis site (the serial numbers of the Mac version don't work there). However, as far as I know, there are no updates for the Mac version. Only a small patch (168 kB) fixing some minor problems. I have installed that one.

I have allready installed the game twice, but without any change in this issue.

[Zelgadis 638]

I'm afraid you're out of luck on this one. The company that ported the game for Aspyr didn't bother to take the grid out.

You're stuck with it. Unfortunately, it's most visible on such things as tarmac, grass, and beach. You'll just have to live with it.

ISF

[oranger74 3]

Hello.
Well, first: There are definately more than one patch for the mac version. You can find them on the aspyr website. You can download two updates for the normal sc4 game and one update for the Rush Hour expansion.
You will have to install SC4 and use the first two updates (v101 and v102). Next, install RH and then the RH update (v1_1).
I am playing SC4 RH on a G4 733 and I don't have the problem with the grid lines. But on the other hand a friend of mine is playing exactly the same game (with all patches installed) on a G4 Dual 1,2 GHz and he HAS the problem with these grid lines. So it seems as if this problem depends on the machine/processor.
But perhaps trying all updates might help you ...

[barnatom 0]

zelgadis:
Thank you very much for your answer. It is the same I got some months ago. But I still do hope (see post of oranger74).

oranger74:
Thank you so much! This is exactly what I thought. This problem seems to affect only some Macs. Could you post your system specs (especially video card) as well as your graphic options of SC4? That would be very helpful.

Since this problem does not occure on your (older) Mac, I am thinking it could be related to the video-card. Do you have the hardware or the software graphic option checked?

About the updates: I was unable to find the v101 update. However I have the other ones. Could you provide a link to the missing one?

Thank you.

[Jerebannus XVI 7]

Press G when in the game. it seems that you're playing the game in 'grid' mode.

[barnatom 0]

Jerebannus:
Thank you for trying to help, but this is not the usual grid. You can see that in the pictures I posted above. On the open grass areas there are no grid lines. And pressing 'g' doesn't change the lines I am talking about. The lines appear between developed tiles and are not affected by the usual grid. This is clearly a bug in the graphics system.

barnatom

[Zelgadis 638]

I have also installed all the patches and there the grids remain.

I'm running a PowerMac G4 1.25 GHz with an ATI radeon card. I've never seen a Mac version without the grids, but if Oranger says he got rid of them, I'll buy that.

The Mac version seems to be quite quirky depending on what machine it's on, after all.

ISF

[oranger74 3]

Hi barnatom.
My system specs:
G4 733 MHz, 1 GB RAM, GeForce2 MX (AGP, 32 MB), 1024 x 768 @ 85 Hz.

Game specs (1=low, 3=high):
Visual effects 1, Cars/Sims 2, shadows 1,Building Load Speed 1, Texture quality 3, Graphic Detail 2.
Atmospheric effects OFF, Water effects ON, Translucent UI ON, Coloured Cursor ON, Var.Speed Automata ON, Colour 16bit.
Graphics mode: Hardware.

Patches for SC4 and RH can be downloaded at:
http://www.aspyr.com/page.php/support/

BTW: SimCity4 always had problems with ATI video cards. RH patch v1_1 normally should solve many problems.

I hope this helps you.

[oranger74 3]

Well, about the SC4 v101 patch:
I think that v102 should do it. All fixes from v101 should be included in v102.

[barnatom 0]

Thank you very much oranger74!

I tried to reproduce your settings, and many more again. But without succes. The grid lines stay.

Seems to depend on your computer hardware...

[jjakucyk 0]

This looks like an ATI vs. Nvidia graphics card issue. Aspyr has had problems with the game that only manifest on certain graphics cards. I don't expect a fix for something this trivial will ever come from them though.

[oranger74 3]

OK. I tried the following:
I'm using two G4 Macs. One with an NVidia Gforce and one with an ATI graphics card. I installed SC4 RH with all patches on the ATI card machine. On the ATI machine the grid is visible like you, Barnatom, described it. So now it's for sure. This grid definately depends on the graphics card.
Barnatom, since this problem depends on the graphics card I'm afraid that the only solution for you would be to change the graphics card to a none ATI card.
BTW I downloaded the newest driver/tool for the ATI card but it didn't help.

[barnatom 0]

Well, I have a powerbook - changing the graphic card seems unpractical. BTW, there is a GeForce FX Go5200 32MB in it, isn't that a card by Nvidia?

[oranger74 3]

barnatom: OK, it's NOT the graphic card. And yes, you have a card by Nvidia.
Now I really don't know why this grid appears only on some Macs. My no grid showing Mac is a G4 Quicksilver and the grid showing Mac is an older G4 (the previous) model. I'm running exactly the same system on both machines.
Of course, this bug depends to the hardware. Sorry barnatom, but from here on I'm out of ideas. Perhaps the people at aspyr's support can help you?