FooFox

I picked up simcity 4 after a few years abstinence. I never really got much into CAM, so I decided to install it along NAM. I want to install the CAM starters packs for all categories which are... CAM Residentials BSC CAM Commercial Offices BSC CAM Commercial Services BSC CAM Industrials BSC CAM Stage 6 & 7 Farms BSC I decided to download all dependencies like the props, lots, packs and the plugins themselves for all of the above. Apparently this is a 2 day ordeal! Because SC4 Devotion has a limited download quota for one day, and I just exceeded it with 25+ zip files in my download directory. I know about a game that has a great modding community just like Simcity 4. Although it's far from a city simulator game. This game is called "Kerbal Space program" and has a Mod program called "CKAN" A repository plugin collector that hyperlinks and auto downloads/installs to the specified directory. It is funded by donations and adds on the database sites where the actual content is posted. I'm SURE that this will not happen for Simcity 4 since the game is so old. And I'm sure I'm not the only brain pie that conceptualized the idea in 13+ years of SC4 existence. But I couldn't go along without mentioning the idea and I'm happy to receive information why Simcity 4 doesn't have this. In any case, I don't understand why Simcity 4 never got something like this in the past. Basically it's a search box function within a program window. Let's say you search "Collosus Addon Mod" You would find necessities, dependencies that are auto checkboxed (with the ability to uncheck if you are aware of duplicates, although cleanitol is still necessary ofcourse) Followed by a selection tree of alternative/additional extras (unchecked by default)......... You get the general idea. Question: And why is it that many of the CAM packs on SC4Devotion that require dependencies have a listed amount of mods that are on-site dependencies and still loads of offsite dependencies? Can't these modders just be friends with one another and cooperatively decide to only have one site for the mods database, and if not, still make sure that their props, packs, plugins, lots are uploaded to both or multiple sites. I mean, it's not like I need to climb the mount everest or something but I find this rather strange. Apparently the modders of KSP (that previously named game) earlier in this thread have succeeded in cooperatively evading this problem? Maybe that is just a new age thing, if so, I get it. Because I have to say, this modding/dependency thing I'm reminded with as I have recently started, it's far from the ideal way... I'm not trying to gain anything from posting this. I just wanted to exhale my thoughts about it, and I'm sure alot of people think similarly. But I also think alot of people can explain it to me.

I want to install a custom region I downloaded from the Stex. It has a .SC4M file, so I need to use either SC4Terraformer or SC4Mapper 2013 Edition. Both programs are said not to work on Linux. SC4Terraformer does seem to start in wine. It shows a window in which I can navigate directories. Apparently it recognizes the "region" folder in which I have the SC4M file, it then loads and lists all city tiles with 3 options. 2 of them are (protect trees and protect mayor) SC4Mapper edition 2013 doesn't even load the region folder when I navigate there. It just hangs and I have to force quit the program. Is there any method so I can do it on Ubuntu. Or is every Linux user completely unable to import custom user made regions?

What a wonderfull job I'm not yet aware of the "starter packs" problem(s), and have no clue what that means. But I trust you if you say it has problems, I'll try out your CAMelots installation tutorial and post back how well I like it. As for your explanation to the dependency crisis (if I may call it that) I was under the impression that the underlying reasons are as such in the way you illustrated. Good to know the fine details about it. Those starter packs dependencies nearly got my head cracked open.

Mine is ordered from E-bay, and it should arrive early next week. A nonny moose has Pm'd me about the necessary patches, fixes, and Linux specific scripts and procedures to get the CD version working. Thanks for reminding though... I understand by now that a online non-DRM version of SC4 deluxe would have been a easier choice. But I'm not particularly unsatisfied with my decision in buying the physical CD's, even although it requires more work. I was wondering about something and since I'm discussing the CD version I wonder whether it's possible to create a mini image of the simcity 4 disc 1 so I don't necessarily need to put in the CD everytime I want to play. As far as I know this is still legal when it's for personal use. But I haven't kept track of copyright law changes within the market to know for sure. I know most newer discs are protected, regardless of any copyright law they cannot be made into one, and most Play CD's (usually Disc 1) of older games can be written into mini images. Does anybody know if this is possible for the Simcity 4 CD, (the one necessary for starting the game "disc 1")

I purchased SC4 online after years of abstinence, I haven' t got it installed yet, but I'm doing a bit of inspiration on my own. I want to build a region with alot of mass transit, with several cities with downtown regions, and alot of forest and agriculture in between. I' m already looking for mods I might use. One of my ideas was to replicate a agricultural Terrace. This kind of agricultural building is often used in vineyards in Europe and for rice plantations in Asia. What is required is to have a elevated surface area that has a rising slope. I estimate it's never more then 10-15degrees angle. So in order to make this you need to create a slope and have it somehow equalized so all tiles rise at the same slope, then theres another elevated surface with similar features. And you could add layer after layer until your satisfied. Then you just plop your roads and zoning in between and Voila. My gut feeling that this is not technically possible given with the SC4 toolkit, but I don't know that for sure. So I have no idea how to make this, and no idea whether this is possible, with or without mods. If it isn't, is it technically possible to mod the necessary tools so people may be able to replicate agricultural terraces? I also want to make a very large region with lots of nature and spacing, and would ideally create a set of several larger towns, and perhaps one big city in a mountain area. Hence this is why I thought about the agricultural terraces. Something that's similar to what the Incas produced. I don't think it's necessary, but I would like to have more regional tiles to work with. More then is available by default, which is arguably already a vast area to work with. If one or both are possible I would like to hear about it. If it is not, perhaps I might have given a few ideas for modders to work with.

I used the GTM mod alot, so I'm sure going to use it for this purpose. I'm not going for a vanilla feel. I've already been searching for new lots buildings for my agricultural zoning. I'm not sure if I want asian or european lots, or if I can actually use a variety of styles for agricultural lots, with a method to select which zoning grows into european style farms or anything else. Do any of the agricultural mods have seperate zoning tiles? As I said, I don't have SC4 yet, so I'm forced to ask this, I would have tested it myself otherwise.

Great! The fact that it is possible is good enough for me, I wasn't expecting it to be click, drag and finish. Do you or anyone else ever heard somebody trying to create these Terrace farms before? Have they ever posted their techniques or results to this or any online forum so I can see how I may apply it in game. And yes, I found "Landscape designer" I think it's just what I need for this.

Haven't touched Simcity 4 yet in a while, but I was heavily addicted to it when I played it, and I'm returning back to it (maybe I shouldn't start again haha) I was reading this thread, and I to played Simcity 2013 for a while. Current gaming trends is aimed specific at the larger audience. Making money is the driving force for the gaming industry. Making a game to a specific smaller audience doesn't happen. These days that strategy doesn't even occur to big game developers. In fact, such aproach in the game industry is probably on the "not to do" strategy list on the right hand side of their companies whiteboard. Simcity 4 is a never ending Sandbox game, it's real aim is that of simulating a city. Not necessarily fully realistic, but with lots of knobs and whistles and has a large learning curve. You really need that devotion, driving force to learn and have a creative mindset to play Simcity 4. Many people seem to have that, because as I see there are still many people playing Simcity 4. Simcity 2013 is like most other games these days, a marketing product, not with a goal in terms of realism, sandbox freedom and plugin freedom. Rather it's a product for a audience that seems to get dumbed down more by the day. These are people who want to make a city, and they want some form of effort involved, but not to the point of spending more then a day on it. It's more important to make it work in a cooperative online environment, so people can take pictures of each others city, have fun and obtaining achievements the same day, rather then spending a week on it or more. This is why SC13 may appeal to a greater audience, and I don't even know that for fact, I haven't searched for any figures. But it's what the gaming industry prioritizes with all the consequences as a result. These gamers (Target audience) are the same people who want to play a city simulation game, and want their results within a several hour time span, after which they put in their shooter game where they'll prefer to grind the next few hours of their precious day, rather then sitting creatively behind their monitor to create a boundless city environment. Simcity 4 is audience specific! In my gut feeling, the only reason Simcity 4 was ever created is because at some point in the past it was yet uncertain which aspects of a game would involve a greatest result in reaching the larger target audience. A real learning curve kind of simulation game was at some point in the past a test, and it succeeded in reaching a great target audience nonetheless. But the same appliances of trendy game aspects like cooperative play that more applies to a online shooter are misused in other game genres like a simulation game where they do not belong. This is eventually a by product of the narrowly guided vision within the corporate gaming industry. And as long as that environment within the gaming industry persists, you will never ever see a new competitor for Simcity 4. So dont wait for it, be happy with what you got. The future might even be more gruesome. Because if this trend continues, Simcity 2017 (assuming we get one) a new city simulation game will be exempt from financial columns, graphs and sliders altogether, just to play to the tune of the mindset of the average double digit iq gamer. As for SC4, I hope it will live on for a long, long time. According to the devotion of modders as stated by the TS in recent days, I do not fear theres ever going to be a moment where SC4 becomes obsolete.

Wow!! I read on this forum years ago when I last played this game. Great to see this game still gets so much attention these days. Anyway, I'm one of the unlucky ones who bought this version of Simcity 4 through steam. So I realized, no problem! Simcity is supported, and I know steam is also supported on Linux, and since Simcity 4 is supported through steam, everything should just work out. It doesn't. I got Wine and steam installed and logged into my Steam account. When I "install Steam" i get a message box saying "Simcity 4 Deluxe is not available on your current platform." I suppose steam is confusing itself, or I don't know how to command it installing something into Wine, and that creates this particular error message. I cant find answers to this question online, the only guide that explains a installation procedure in linux is from a cd/dvd box. I hope that doesn't mean I can't install the game. So I hope it can be done, one way or another.

I remember from back in the day when I used to play SC4 more often that the MOD dependencies have to be met, and that there are indeed conflicts around. Eventually this made me use only a few mods, because it has already gotten to my attention in the past that a mod Binge is asking for trouble. I will probably spend a whole day alone on testing and mixing until I have a desired collection of mods around. I also know about NAM and it being essential rather then optional (your opinion may vary), and have actually had success in the past with all the RHW mod pieces, and know many terrain elevation tricks like the use of single road terrain equalizer method, and how to make intersections, tunnels and such. Relearning will probably be part of the deal after a few year abstinence, thanks for reminding about the barriers in front of me, I know this is not a out of the box shoot and kill kind of game.

24 year old! Simcity 3000 world edition was my first Simcity games. I have played SC4 a few years ago, during 2-3 years. I had build a 3,4 million region once, with lots of forest, hills and agriculture zoned in between, it had a really realistic look, and it had a couple of mods installed. Sadly I lost that savegame, and have no picture to supply, and I'm very sad because of this, because I would have liked to further develop it. I'm going to start over when my Simcity 4 cd/dvd box drops through my letter box in the following days, because I lost the original cd to, and only have a old Steam download Key for simcity 4, but this cannot be installed on Linux so this game is going to cost me a little bit of money even although I already bought it twice in the past. A bit of a waste haha. Hope I can enjoy asking questions or even answering others in the long run, assuming this game never dies. Which is what I'm surprised about, the still persisting traffic on a city simulation game that's more then 10 years old. Have a nice day!

I didn't really know this, I hardly game, except for some simpler/arcade like Unity written games that run directly on Ubuntu without assistance from Wine. I am very confused however, because if Steam is supported for Linux, and i.e. even has website pages dedicated to guiding it's use and installation procedure, then why have Steam for Linux at all if you can't install any games with it? I'm sure Steam can be used for some things, otherwise there wouldn't be a Linux version. As you may have picked up by now, I'm new to gaming through wine/steam on Linux. But I'm just very confused by what purpose Steam has on linux if you can't install games with it, lol. I'm going to hunt for one of the non DRM versions, and as I've been browsing, I'm very, very, very shocked by the price they ask for this particular game, simcity 4 is very old. But that's probably explainable since it still gets attention these days, atleast the "Simcity 4" subsection activity still shows plenty of SC4 activity. And I'm sure the corporate gaming industry still profits heavily from the never ending trend. I am looking for sales, I have found a low discount sale, not any major ones. Steam has a big Sale on simcity 4, atleast it's much cheaper there then anywhere else. Maybe the hoax goes like this, "Oh we have no right to sell this item" ... "let's sell it for a 2nd hand price and hope the yokels keep their mouths shut" Well, I'm not a yokel haha, and I think it are a buch of money fraudulent fools, To topp it all off, you require loads of time to install mods to finish the Simcity 4 game which is imho unfinished in it's vanilla form. Yes I'm going to ask for a refund, hopefully I get one, either way they're criminals imo. I didn't know there were 3 ways of rendering, I'm not that much into games anyway, but I assume one of 3 ways will work best for me, so yes I'm willing to see those scripts, so I'll pm you. Anyway, once I get a non-DRM version delivered to my doormat I'll spend enough time by poking and tweaking until it works to my desires. Sad it can't work, but thanks for explaining it to me.