Daryn07

You know Will's own words were "it backed itself into a corner" - but I think - he tapped into a type of genre and class of game design that no one has yet to re-achieve. In my opinion, this was Will and Maxis' best game, even if it did get stuck in a corner.

There was little disappointment when sc4 came out and as such - too many nails - its dead to me. There are just things that needed to be done that haven't and with the community they gave us over at cities xl, I would have expected further detail in their explanation rather than posts informing us when the much needed content is to be given... foot by foot I've stayed with them... but now at six feet they've nailed every nail in the coffin and it's dead to me.

You're so right, come to think of it. I have been so pressed to get things done I have forgotten how to present myself. Let me gather some info and post in detail. EDIT: So to put it point blank - here it is: Currently I have just finished all of the terriforming tools. They include custom commands that move the vertexes on the region's plain (NOTE - because each region segment is limited only by the cities radius - they are not pre determined as in simcity 4. So terraforming takes place only in your city when not designing a region which is being debugged) The tools include dig river, lake, stream (smaller river), build mountain, canyon, cliff and hill. The radius of the tool can be altered by specifying a value. It is possible to create standing water on multiple levels based on the dig radius. The radius is taken in to account when the water plane is created and shaded. This makes multiple levels of standing water possible. Creating rivers can only be done on a single altitude as of now. But I plan to apply the same method used for the standing water on rivers - based on vertex positions. Different shaders would be placed on the water object based on the angle of the water's route. (Consider if point a was on the top of a mountain and point b was at the bottom - this is no smooth flowing river) I am also (point of asking help #2) creating a custom GUI using photoshop and a DBPro plugin. I am no media expert but hey - I'm tryin. Transit - The models I have created are simple and are drawn in dbpro as a single segment... you can draw lines in any direction and curve the transit tools (road, train ... so on) by holding shift. They are connected by limbs and when the click is released they are bound and saved as a single object (extending from intersection to intersection) in the users save directory. The position of the road can then be loaded from the menu with other data (still being designed) when the player chooses "Load Game." Currently there is an auto save feature that can be optionaly turned on or off. It saves every 5 min synced with the system clock. Of course this means there is also a user-save feature. The transit AI uses Dark AI (DBPro plugin) and I am adapting it to work with true 3D space (since it is really 2D applible in a 3D zone) This is very bugged. The script for city options and civics along with RCI demand is still being refined and is more robust than the one in SC4 - from which it is based. I think that about sums up what I've done within the last couple of months, I'll provide screens when I think I can withstand the criticisim -Daryn

DCMetro, why don't you email me and tell me a bit about what you would like to do or what you could help with. If you have a vision and swear to the commitment and you do offer something to the project, I don't see why there wouldn't be a desire to bring you on board. So to you and to everyone else, if there is something you would like to do I haven't listed email me regardless. Email me

A while ago I started a little project after reading a thread some where called "Simtropolis 1000." If you read the thread than I need not explain what it was about - our own game. Since that day we have seen Cities XL / Cities Unlimited for the ancients - come into shape and take form in our community. There is even onther in the works called "Cities of World" which looks promising. After learning a new programming language (Dark Basic Pro) I started work on "Simtropolis 1000" which I am now calling just plain and simple "Simtropolis™". But along with the media, design and what I'll call the 'playibility' I have found myself OVERWELMED. So here is what I am looking for followed by what you need to have or not have in order to 'help' out. You'll gain full rights to use and manipulate accordingly as well as domain over certain portions of development. Programmers - Need to be fluent in Dark Basic Pro (and pugins required - BlueGui 2, Unity, Dark AI, Ian M's Matrix Commands) and proficiently fluent but not equally fluent in LUA Based on age, old enough and willing to commit certain periods of time to programming Able to handle frustrating situations and complicated circumstances (disappointments can do this to a person) Have a vision of what needs to be done before you try to do it Must have an understanding of MMOSG (Massive - Multiplayer - Online - Simulation - Game) Media- A) 3D Media You need to have 3dMax with the Panda Xporter in order to export to an .X file. I have been using 2009 version and to keep the same level of compatibility I would suggest you use the same, but do not require it. Have an understanding of how your models will work in the game from contact with programmers. Export your UVW templates for designers and must therefore be fluent in mapping models. Aa) Designers It is best that you use Photshop to import UVW templates from 3D Studio Max and apply model textures to them this way. A fluent understanding of photoshop is best. Beginners can be taught if proven to be fast learners by those who have desided to teach them. You must be able to apply a 'look' to the game. If there are multiple designers, the vision must remain the same. You must be able to leave personal opinions of work(s) and/or people at 'the door.' B) Other Media Ba) Sound and Music Having been a musician for 17 years, I will advise you that my opinion is completely professional and that in no way do I or shall I belittle anyone on the basis of musical capability and/or talent. This is said now because I am a picky musician. Must be able to colabirate with fellow members (designers/programmers and such) to 'enhance' the shaping 'feel' of the game. Music / sounds © (copyrighted) ARE NOT TO BE USED. In no way shape or form shall there be any exception unless the rights of music / sounds are owned explicitly by the music / sound designer(s) and by using their media - this notice binding - they agree to relinquish the rights to their media. But joining or contributing music / sounds, they agree they have read this post and have agreed to all terms listed. Writers of music / designers of sound who design 'on-site' media for "Simtropolis™" the game, retain the right to their media with the agreement that their media is partial to the game for which it was designed. Bb) Web and Commercial Need to be fluent in flash and HTML/PHP. Able to supply original designs to programmers if needed. Able to 'sell' to a group or community YOU MUST ALSO- Be able to be contacted on an instant messager. Each person must be able to contact every one at any time. There is no other option for this amount of communication. There is so much more I am willing to share with Simtropolis about "Simtropolis™" but for now, this is what I need and what the game needs. If you're interested or would like more information, please email me at DarynAlsup@Hotmail.com If you took the time to read this I would like to thank you and if there is nothing you can do but wait for the screenys, please pass this thread around. I have worked for a while without anyones help, and now I turn to you all! -Daryn

I can give you a clue... though unofficial. I got mine after looking through several topics (I bet about fifty to a hundred) after that my "codeword" popped up at the bottom of the screen. I am guessing every hundred, 200, 500, 1000 topic read throughs lies another code. Just a thought though... May not be worth the time... but the bottom of the page is a start (or the top, left and right )

I would love to see a revamp of sim planet - but thats me

Good night MC -100 points out of 200 for a larger eye on stability and a smaller one on compatibility w/ community. Shame on you. 12 betas has taught me that the term "bug" doesn't just apply to the game itself, but the company as well. For those who say I am inpatient- I write games for a living- my time is spent at a computer until it does what I want it to and if I can not leave a chair for four days without throwing a fit... well lets just say if I was inpatient I wouldn't have waited 24 hours for a "we're aware of it" That said I think some re-evaluation of the community online would be a plus for you- might get rid of some "bugs." I still commend your work despite the underestimated compatibility w/ all OS applicable. Night all- Daryn07

YAY I've been up for more then 24 hours now with no solution to my problem. I am so special

This is not only a Vista issue. You need the C++ Redist. Package in order for the launcher to launch the game. The issues I speak of in this topic are from the game (exe not the spash - login screen) to M.C's Beta server or anything else that Vista users may encounter that hasn't (under their impression) been posted in a topic or forum. For those who didn't know about this issue, you need to download this update (if your OS) needs it to run Cities XL. So royally pissed off

I am new to vista but am learning fast. If the compatibility to run as admin (check box) is grayed out, how do I "ungray" it? (Note: If those of you are wondering why I even started the thread - barely knowing anything about Vista - well in fact I do. I do because I write code in the same language it was written in and in some cases even the hard core primary code (lots of 000000 and 111111 or 0X000000 lmao) so I know a little but not much more then the standard functions and added functions to vista) I am greatful to anyone that can supply additional information about Vista, cities Xl and 64 bit services - which - I am sure we would all benifit from in learning. -Daryn

Break through! We have memory allocations for certain vista and XP users. occurs at the start up of the game. No idea how to do this and at 8 gigs I wouldn't have expected it lmao. I am waiting to hear from M.C. I'll let ya'll know

Okay well I don't know. Since 4 am this morning (almost 12 hours ago now) I have been unable to log into the game. I commend M.C. in their triumph over the mass amounts of people but must say it isn't merely up to the people to see how root code runs on multiple operating systems of different types.... (Vista, XP... so on and so on.) People who disagree with me can kiss my credentials I will be happy to provide whatever solution I find through examining M.C.'s files (legally M.C.- I am no dummy) should I find one. I have noticed however, that running the patcher/login screen in admin does not mean the game will be run as Admin, you must set both to be ran as admin before hand... (You can't just right click and select "Run as admin" you must set it to always run as such.) I hope that points vista users with issues toward a solution. If anyone else has had any luck... please don't let the rest of us wait.

If you recieve any errors and have a Vista 32 OR 64 bit system or any other operating system for that matter, please post your message below. Hopefully some one may provide a solution if they've found one or G.C. himself can answer... I dare say it!

Well I am the administrator. Vista not windows. Lil' different in how dir. are read. If any other vista users have the same problem note to (double click) and should this message occur, try moving the file from C- windows- downloads to your desktop and then try installing. Warrior I did move it back and try it again to see if it would work before installing it from my desktop... same problem. Just take my word for it!