important Microsoft releases update, blocks SC4 from starting

Jeeeez, people. Enough hate already, don't exaggerate. Microsoft is a really OK company.

I think they are, too. Given SC4's problems and the money I wasted in buying it, I think MS did most of us a favor....

Great. Now i can't play SC4 via disk. THIS SUCKS SO BAD!

I've had problems with SimCity 4 every windows update for its disgusting. some scheme to make us buy new games. its one of the few games I can play that doesn't make my eyes tired and sore. Do I have to spend my time reading books now? nice way to ruin a sunday.

books aren't so bad! haha still, I'm not ready to give up my SC4 just yet. I haven't even upgraded to Windows 10 and I don't intend to.  I just noticed I can't log into my game this morning and came to the SimTrop boards for fixes. I guess getting a digital copy with my old CD case and serial number will have to be it.  luckily I haven't thrown away my CD case and manual!

  Edited September 29, 2015 by Fearlessmayor  

For those of us who has never purchased a digital game online can someone answer some questions? 1) Will the game be installed on the computer hard drive, or do you have to log on to a website and play everytime? 2) Do you have to uninstall the game that was originally from a CD?

  Edited September 29, 2015 by deanva  

I've just redeemed my old disc codes for a digital copy of SC4 Deluxe at Origin/EA Live Help. A pleasant 'no problem' experience. The contact even tried to give me a separate copy of Rush Hour which is no longer available digitally but hey... It all works fine now, time to remod. Thank you to all here for the info and advice.

 

@ deanva.

If you purchase from Steam, games are installed to;

Program Files(x86)/Steam/steamapps/common

If from Origin they are installed to;

Program Files(x86)/Origin Games

There are icons in the main game folders that you can 'send to' desktop for quickstart shortcuts.

For those of us who has never purchased a digital game online can someone answer some questions? 1) Will the game be installed on the computer hard drive, or do you have to log on to a website and play everytime? 2) Do you have to uninstall the game that was originally from a CD?

Hi there,

1) Yes, the game would be downloaded and then installed onto the PC. Don't worry, they're not online browser-based versions!

However, to run the game using Origin or Steam, you'd need to start the game with the client service running, which works like a launcher.

For some other digital retailers (e.g. Amazon, GOG, GamersGate), the game runs separately and can be started without the disk, directly from the exe or shortcut. These function pretty much identical to the CD version, and are also fully updated. Also as mentioned in the main article, the SafeDisk issue will be avoided, so you could safely install KB3086255.

2) Specifically for Origin / Steam, I believe you may need to uninstall the CD version. I think there'd be conflicts in the registry which may prevent you from installing another copy. Remember to backup any plugins in Program Files, as these would be removed if uninstalling. On Windows, it might also be worth creating a restore point, just in case.

I've just redeemed my old disc codes for a digital copy of SC4 Deluxe at Origin/EA Live Help. A pleasant 'no problem' experience. The contact even tried to give me a separate copy of Rush Hour which is no longer available digitally but hey... It all works fine now, time to remod. Thank you to all here for the info and advice.

 

@ deanva.

If you purchase from Steam, games are installed to;

Program Files(x86)/Steam/steamapps/common

If from Origin they are installed to;

Program Files(x86)/Origin Games

There are icons in the main game folders that you can 'send to' desktop for quickstart shortcuts.

I haven't had any luck with contacting EA/Origin to redeem my codes via webchat. which did you find worked for you? webchat, having EA give you a call, or calling their customer service hotline?

I  contacted Origin/EA help online chat and they gave me a free download version of Simcity 4 Deluxe. I had to provide a photograph of my disc and the 20 digit game code that came with it. The game now plays on my computer, it took me a few minutes to do it , but the person on the help chat was very nice and waited for me to do what they had asked and saved me $20 from having to buy Simcity4 from Amazon.

I've just redeemed my old disc codes for a digital copy of SC4 Deluxe at Origin/EA Live Help. A pleasant 'no problem' experience. The contact even tried to give me a separate copy of Rush Hour which is no longer available digitally but hey... It all works fine now, time to remod. Thank you to all here for the info and advice.

 

@ deanva.

If you purchase from Steam, games are installed to;

Program Files(x86)/Steam/steamapps/common

If from Origin they are installed to;

Program Files(x86)/Origin Games

There are icons in the main game folders that you can 'send to' desktop for quickstart shortcuts.

I haven't had any luck with contacting EA/Origin to redeem my codes via webchat. which did you find worked for you? webchat, having EA give you a call, or calling their customer service hotline?

Sorry, but for me it was the Live Help webchat, there was no phone calling involved. It took about 10 minutes to connect and I chatted ,live, with a contact for about 30 minutes, swopping codes and security info in the process. You do need the Origin client installed with an open account. Give the Live Help another try, just make sure you have the time to wait for a connection.

Rather than fix the security leak, they disable a driver that a wide number of older games require to run.

Brilliant. You can bet I'm gonna be using the workaround until SC4 goes on sale. This is just plain ridiculous.

This is the way they do things for quite a long time : "there's a leak in this boat, we won't allow it to go in the water anymore"

Great. Now i can't play SC4 via disk. THIS SUCKS SO BAD!

You can, and it doesn't. You guys are really, really easily startled.

u're right.

Interesting! Had a few months away from the game, and I come back to this! Digital version downloading as I type.

I'm one of those nutters still on Vista and I had a multitude of problems with the game in the recent past, which I reckon might have been the cause of another Windows update (though I was never able to confirm that).

I wonder if the new digital copy will suffer those same problems I used to get, or will it be glorious and not require a restart every time I try and load it?!

Just installed it on Windows 10 Build 10586, the Fall Update. It runs fine w/o any necessary changes like registry edits or compatibility mode settings etc, and it is the DVD version too.

 

I finally gave in, and downloaded a $%&^! $%&^!.  It works, because it bypasses the Safedisc check which is what Windows 10 doesn't support.

Yeah! I can play Simcity 4 again!

I already bought this game 3 times on CDs. I don't intend to buy it again via a digital version, just because Win10 broke it.

It's been several years since I was active in this game, but nostalgia (and bad reviews for Simcity 5) got me interested again in Simcity 4.

It's good to see this community is still active.

I worked with EA on this one. I provided my code and they provided a digital download. I now play through Origin and everything works well.  As long as you have your codes, and know where you bought it, EA should be able to help you acquire a digital version of the game. #score

  Edited November 18, 2015 by JoshuaGellock  

From what I've heard, the digital versions don't include the BAT update, do they? i.e., does BAT building night-lighting work?

 

Yeah, getting a digital version was plan A, but turned out to be too much of a PITA.  I opted for plan B, which was painless and took about 3 minutes.

Let's not mention that other 'alternative'...

Yes, the digital versions should include the published patches, including the BAT nightlights.

There was an issue a while ago with Origin not including them, but all reports are this is resolved.

This is why Windows 10 is not a good idea

Which is why after only 1 day of having it, I'm upgrading back to windows 7

I know the powers to be here don't like to hear it here but mine plays perfectly fine on Win10 after installing a $%&^! patch. They work for store bought CD's and DVD's but its up to you to find them don't ask me, they are dependent on your version and if you don't backup first you can't run patches if needed. Use at your own risk!!!