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xxdita

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Everything posted by xxdita

  1. I think it could be a bad idea, depending on how compatible the files themselves are to start with. But with the BSC LEX Superior Collections, I know that each and every file is compatible with the rest, with the exceptions of DN/MN or a few CAMelots vs vanilla lots in the industrial pack. But in each case, vanilla players that don't go through all the reading will be able to use the proper version for them. It's those of us that do want to use the mods that need to pay more attention along the way. And I would definitely be available to test and approve the robots for use. @Tarkus and I have been looking for a way to incorporate a batch installer to the dependency tracker download, at least as an option. I just have no idea how complicated something like that would be server-side.
  2. I guess the question is how you've done it, and what's necessary in releasing the automation for it to work. I haven't found a comparison to File Juicer yet that I can officially recommend, but I am totally in favor of a standalone app or program if that's a possibility. I would love to hear more details about your process though.

  3. SC4 for Mac 64-bit

    xxdita replied to macinjosh's topic in SC4 Mac Users

    Ok, that's a new one.
  4. Ah, see that would be much more complicated than what I've done and comes with drawbacks for the end users as well. I can't begin to explain the love and respect I have for my BSC teammates, or how honored I am to take on the role of BSC Custodian with the support of our active members. It's a commitment I take very seriously in all regards. So I have to balance honoring my teammates with making their files more accessible. The LEX Dependency Tracker allows me to do this without breaking with some of our community's most fundamental principles, or compromising my own. That's a testament to the work that @Tarkus and @CasperVg have done on the site. That empowers me to put these Collections together without having to make tough decisions. You guys get the content much easier than downloading each file one at a time and hunting for all the dependencies, and I can not only promote the creations of my friends, but do so in a way that completely honors their wishes as I know them. Best of all, I don't have to worry about any of my friends coming back a year from now and being irate over the decisions I've made. I am ecstatic to be able to present these BSC LEX Superior Collections just as they are. Aside from the other benefits for end users that I've mentioned, keeping the files as they are allows for any necessary updates to require a much smaller download. This is extremely important when we're talking about 200 to 300 lots in each collection so far. You can check your LEX Download History and see if anything you've downloaded has been updated recently, then click on each link to find out what that update is. It may be a bug fix (especially for MAC), added content, or just me finally getting around to removing the installer. It is totally impossible to keep up with every thread about problematic lots reported and fixed, over multiple forums, plus Reddit or Discord. I'm pretty much everywhere. So having one simple page to check regularly in order to keep up with that is just another huge advantage. Plus, if you download a file as part of one of the Collections, then you'll know you won't need to download it again. The LEX will tell you. Now I still totally encourage anyone that is able to make that donation for the STEX discs to do so. There is a lot of really great content there. And let's be honest, the real world is kinda scary right now. It's impossible to know what that will do to donations in the coming months. So we need to support one another the best we can, to make sure we get through this as a community. I can't really help financially, but I will be here to help with any tech support I can. And please, take care of yourselves.
  5. I honestly can't think of any other reason. The problem with this logic is that it just doesn't work that way. It doesn't matter what sort of vehicle is used, there will be noise, whether it is generating traffic or not. You can set every transit type to not create traffic, and you will still have the exact same road noise for Residentials and customers for Commercials. So there is no possible benefit to including buses as traffic, period.
  6. Actually, there's a separate property controlling Max Mass Transit Strategy Trip Length, which is set at 180 for Simulator Z. Maxis has this set at 4, Simulator A has it at 14. The walking speeds are different for each of these as well, 15 for Z, 3.5 for Maxis, and 5 for A. I don't think I've ever known anyone that had to walk or drive 10 hours to work each day. Even if that's total commute back & forth, 5 hours one way might be a bit much.
  7. EA has been vehemently against torrents being used, as these are best known for digital piracy. From what I understand, they specifically requested that @Dirktator take a hard stance on them, and so all site owners have honored that request since. SC4 fansites exist at the pleasure of EA, so there are some things we aren't going to fudge on. The text file that serves as the download is merely a placeholder, so that the actual content could be made available via the Dependency Tracker in a single convenient download. Clicking the green "Supports the Dependency Tracker" button shows the full list, as well as another green button labeled "Download dependencies", which will download every file included in the Collection. As far as I've seen, the BSC LEX Superior Collections are the largest sets of custom content available without requiring donations, and have the added bonus of me personally standing behind the modding of each and every file included. This is all content I use all the time anyway. So unless somebody else can do better, I guess I'll just say 'you're welcome'.
  8. Mayors can be impeached by letting their money go too far negative.

  9. Airport shuttle woes

    xxdita replied to Edvarz's topic in SC4 Bugs & Technical Issues

    I'm quite certain this is a totally different lot that was included in AC Functional Airports. BLS is our BSC Goddess, @BarbyW's Lot Studio. The enabler should have installed to the X-Ports folder. But that file is fine. @jeffryfisher I've checked your LEX history and you haven't downloaded the SFBT airport lot in question. It looks like you're using AC Functional Airports v2.2 instead. You should be good to go.

  10. Can't find it?... Ask here!

    xxdita replied to JakeMD's topic in SC4 - Custom Content

    https://www.sc4devotion.com/csxlex/lex_filedesc.php?lotGET=1076
  11. When you're on the LEX, you can see any of your downloaded files that have been updated under User Tools / Download History. Some updates are more critical than others, so it's not a bad idea to check regularly.
  12. I can confirm this. All functional landmarks have a growth stage, usually 255. There just has to be more going on. Airports and Seaports can be problems, especially if you'd added or removed some lately. But really any new plugins should be checked out.
  13. Oh, I thought the matter was closed. In fact, you're talking about a SC4D staff decision that was made over a decade ago, so as far as I'm concerned, it is officially closed. Unless any of you can provide a sound argument in favor of avoidable CTD's and lost city tiles, there really isn't anything to discuss. And let's be clear, that was the issue at hand. No one has the right to release or distribute custom content that knowingly causes such problems and conflicts. I think that is fairly clear in the Maxis/EA EULA, which overrides anything a custom content creator has in place. I have no doubt that RippleJet did the right thing, for the good of the community. So I do find accusations of anything being shady completely out of line, not to mention totally pointless so many years later. Most of you didn't even have accounts at ST or SC4D in 2009, when the files were originally attached to a forum post. So what's the point in making an issue of it here and now?
  14. I actually put these Collections together with the novice or returning player in mind. I'm a fairly recent returnee myself, so I do know the drawbacks. The installers can be a bit much in such large quantities. I do need to give @CasperVg time to chime in on the matter, so that when I do overhaul so much of the LEX uploads, it only has to be done one time. So that's the delay right now. It would be different if it were an issue regarding errors or problems with actual content, but this is packaging and that just doesn't have as high a priority for me. I do have other projects to work on and there is just the one of me. If anyone has a suggestion or recommendation on a Windows equivalent of File Juicer for MAC, that would be extremely helpful, to myself and anyone that has an issue with installers.
  15. Thank you for the feedback. I have downloaded and installed each Collection as well. So I know that it can be quite a task to install so much content at once. We are discussing ways to make it easier, including removing the installers in favor of zip files with suggested folder hierarchy. But as one of only a handful of people that can actually make this changes, I would prefer to find a solution that doesn't require replacing thousands of files on the LEX. MAC users are encouraged to use FileJuicer to extract the files from installers. So I would recommend finding such an alternative method for Windows or Linux users that aren't comfortable with the installers for any reason. I don't have any recommendations on that at this time, but I am checking out a few options. The BSC LEX Superior Collections are made up of content created by BSC members. Unfortunately, there just haven't been many BSC team members that have specialized in skyscrapers through the years. So the options for BSC skyscrapers are fairly limited, and even more so for nonCAM gameplay. As far as skyscrapers go for nonCAM, I would recommend searching the STEX for Equinox, Dusktrooper, PaulvMontefort, Bixel, and others. NDEX and HKABT pretty much ran that show back in the day. I'm also a huge fan of gonzelo1234's buildings on CapitalSimCity. I do have a few more Collections in the works. The next one will focus on farming, which will include lots suitable for vanilla and CAM, as the Industrial Collection did. After that will come park and civic collections. But then it will be time to work on the CAM packs. One of the biggest drawbacks for people considering whether or not to install CAM is just how complicated it can be to get started with a solid variety of custom content. The CAM Starter Packs on the LEX require not only a number of prop pack dependencies, but a number of building model files that require downloads from other sites (including the original nonCAM lot). So I hope that I can provide a much easier way through the BSC Superior Collections, so that making the move to CAM isn't such an issue. I certainly agree with installing plugins no more than a handful at a time in most circumstances. But with the BSC Superior Collections, the testing has already been done. Each and every file has been vetted and LEX Certified. And this is content that I am using in my own gameplay. So I can personally vouch for it all working on Windows 10 GOG SC4 Deluxe, which is important, since I'm the one that would be providing tech support for any issues reported. So really, aside from the actual installation, the BSC LEX Superior Collections can each be regarded as a single download. When you're dealing with content from multiple creators or from multiple file exchanges all at once, that same level of quality control just doesn't exist.
  16. With the LEX Dependency Tracker, any on-site dependencies are downloaded in a single click, unless it's already in your download history. So it's just not necessary to upload every dependency with every file. Common dependency packs are common for a reason. They contain the best available props for a specific use. Now, I don't expect anything like this to ever be attempted, just because of the amount of time it would require. It's also not necessary for over 1000 lots to each include BSC Mega Props SG Vol01 in their downloads. That's kinda the whole point of dependencies. You download and install them once, and you're good to go for whatever content may use them. So file exchanges don't need to bloat their server sizes by several gigs to provide so many duplicate files. There has never been a LEX requirement to use installers. That has been a personal decision made by uploaders. The BSC Team was quite fond of the ClickTeam Installer for quite some time. Some of us still are. The only requirement has been that the installers work as intended, if they are used. We do take any reports of viruses extremely seriously, as I'm sure STEX staff would as well. False positives have been well documented over the years. It is highly unlikely that a file uploaded in 2008 would contain a virus that was created in 2018. Of course, I do recommend using caution when downloading anything from the internet. All custom content is use at your own risk.
  17. Forum attachments have been used to provide requested file fixes on many occasions, so there really isn't anything shady about it. You are more than welcome to discontinue use of the files provided, if that's how you feel. I would also invite you to read over the SC4D Rules, particularly #18 in this case. We do have a procedure for Staff decisions to be discussed and that does not include badmouthing those decisions publicly on other sites. I have a feeling you won't particularly like the next staff decision made either.

  18. SIM-ple Jack's This is War! Directory and Showcase

    xxdita replied to SIM-ple Jack's topic in SC4 Showcase

    I think the thread serves well on both counts, highlighting a specific area of custom content and putting it to use. It's a hard topic, but I think you've done a good job on it so far.

  19. City/Region Census & Data tools

    xxdita replied to BlueCloud's topic in SimCity 4 General Discussion

    I would recommend using the Census Repository to monitor these things in-game.

  20. Show us What you're Working On

    xxdita replied to Haljackey's topic in SC4 Showcase

    That night shot... I'm beyond words right now.
  21. DataNode isn't going to really help unless you have duplicate files. It's on the STEX.

  22. Selective Residential Revamping

    xxdita replied to CorinaMarie's topic in SimCity 4 General Discussion

    Right, there's no way for a building to upgrade in wealth without total rebuilding. Under the right circumstances, plopable residentials work just fine.

  23. Selective Residential Revamping

    xxdita replied to CorinaMarie's topic in SimCity 4 General Discussion

    If you can cook Totino's Pizza Rolls underneath your XP laptop, Turbo will still work, but you have bigger problems. True story. Hence the warning. I have played the game on a wide range of PC's and laptops since 2003 and have never come across a machine that forgot to do the traffic simulator math, even for a single month on cheetah. So that would worry me. But since this is definitely a hypothetical maybe, with no actual evidence or documentation provided, it's just really hard to wrap my brain around. Fluctuating population is a sign of fluctuating desirability. Traffic congestion & commute times are the usual suspects. Your pollution curve doesn't quite match up with the population changes, but it may be a factor. Hard to say without seeing the actual pollution map for the area. The only thing I can tell from the pics with any certainty is that you have more patience than I do. Even during this quarantine, I doubt I'll ever put tram on street puzzle pieces together.

  24. SC4 for Mac 64-bit

    xxdita replied to macinjosh's topic in SC4 Mac Users

    I have no way to diagnose an 'IID bugged out' error, much less fix it. I don't even know what that means.
  25. If you've kept the removed files in a safe place outside of your Plugins, then I would suggest adding them back again, in a single folder, then running DataNode. This way you can find any copies of these files that are still in your Plugins.
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