=SimCity 4 Setup Guide for 2023=
Intent
- a modern vanilla setup with NAM and bugfixes that don't change the base game
- plus, region and terrain design
Resources
- basic setup with NAM and a few mod suggestions that I'm currently ignoring: https://community.simtropolis.com/forums/topic/762126-the-ultimate-guide-to-simcity-4-mods-for-new-players/
- pc gaming wiki: https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/SimCity_4
- simtropolis: https://community.simtropolis.com/forums/forum/59-simcity-4-players-forum/ | https://community.simtropolis.com/files/
Short Steps
- Install the game, run once to create profile folders, remove XP compatibility if enabled (GOG version), check in-game graphics settings.
- Add to game shortcut:
-CPUCount:1 -intro:off -f -CustomResolution:enabled -r1920x1080x32
for fullscreen 1080p. - Apply "large address aware" 4GB patch (also applied during NAM installation).
- Ensure video card support for hardware acceleration. (May not be needed.)
- Install SC4Fix.
- Install other bugfixes:
- Save Warning
- Industrial High Tech Missing Jobs
- Texture Fix of Jenkins Consulting
- R$$ Traffic Noise Fix
- UV Map Fix for Maxis Monorail Models
- Fire Plane UDI mission fix
- ModPacc Zero City Halls
- Carpool Incentive Program Ordinance Fix
- Piggyback Freight Car Fix
- Space Port Fix Mod
- HippoTank Demand Fix
- Opera House Fix
- Check for issues using SC4 DataNode.
- Install NAM
- Install Maxis Buildings
- Create maps/regions
Install
- Just install the GOG or Steam package somewhere.
- Run once to generate user folders and verify it works.
- Remove XP compatibility unless it's proven as needed (GOG will often force this setting on games that don't require it)
- Run game, load a basic city, and adjust graphics settings.
Command Line Options (incl. setting widescreen res)
- Append to the game shortcut:
-CPUCount:1 -intro:off -f -CustomResolution:enabled -r1920x1080x32
- maybe also: windowed:
-w
cpu priority:CPUPriority:low|normal|high
alternative renderer (only if needed):-d:(renderername)
- explanations:
- 1 CPU = fewer crashes, but may have a performance tradeoff
- cpu priority: is normal by default
- Other resolutions: 1280x800, 1440x900, 1680x1050, 1920x1200, 1360x768, 1024x600, 1600x900, 1920x1080, and 2048x1152 (otherwise, crash)
- -intro:off -> no awful intro videos
- command line ref: https://community.simtropolis.com/omnibus/simcity-4/reference/sc4-command-line-options-r362/
- maybe also: windowed:
- Other notes:
- GOG ships default running the exe in Windows XP SP3 compatibility mode. It does this with many old games, whether they need it or not, so disabling for now.
- (not currently using) SC4Launcher: Dedicated game launcher that uses command switches (requires installation): https://community.simtropolis.com/forums/topic/54082-simcity-4-launcher-updated-100915-154b-r12/ | https://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/28544-sc4-launcher/
Essentials
Apply 4GB Patch to the game executable
- "large address aware" patch, patches the game to use more RAM (up to 4GB)
- this is also applied by NAM installation, so can skip this step
- unzip and apply to the main game executable
- source: https://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/large-address-aware.112556/
Enter video card details into config files to allow hardware acceleration (optional)
- this adds the graphics card to the graphics settings rules files (may not be needed)
- manually edit
Graphics Rules.sgr
andVideo Cards.sgr
using the instructions in PCGamingWiki, or see thread below, or use the Graphics Rules Maker application (easier and basically works)- Graphics Rules Maker (installer) source: https://www.simsnetwork.com/tools/graphics-rules-maker
- SC4 is still a bit of a dog, so consider lowering some in-game graphics options (such as shadow quality or portrayal of sims/vehicles)
- maybe use a graphics wrapper (see future ideas below)
SC4Fix (Essential Fan Patches)
- unzip the dll file to ~\Documents\Simcity 4\Plugins
- can verify it works by looking at the window title (includes the SC4Fix rev#)
- source: https://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/30883-sc4fix-third-party-patches-for-sc4/
Other Bugfix patches
To install most of these, open the archive and copy the .dat file to plugins folder. Read the readmes for possible conflicts.
- Save Warning
- disables "save and quit" which can cause savegame corruption
- https://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/32812-save-warning/
- Industrial high-tech (I-H) missing jobs
- fixes issue with high-wealth high-tech jobs not being provided
- included with CAM, so remove if using CAM
- https://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/22771-ih-missing-jobs-fix-update/
- Texture Fix of Jenkins Consulting
- R$$ Traffic Noise Fix V1
- fixes probable bug in traffic noise effects for R$$
- https://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/33277-r-traffic-noise-fix-v1/
- check readme for compatibility issues with CAM and Less Abandonment (not in this list)
- UV Map Fix for Maxis Monorail Models
- very minor fix for incorrect texture on monorails
- https://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/31023-michiyls-uv-map-fix-for-maxis-monorail-models/
- Fire Plane UDI mission fix
- fixes a U Drive It mission
- ignore the CityHall Package directory, just copy the .dat in the main folder when installing
- https://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/28810-fire-plane-udi-mission-fix/
- fixes a U Drive It mission
- ModPacc Zero - All Three City Halls + 1 (1.1 beta)
- makes all three city halls available (but doesn't explain how they weren't available in the first place?) (in SC2K and SC3K City Halls were also free rewards, so this isn't inconsistent with those)
- I handpicked this to supersede an older mod listed on PCGamingWiki
- unzip only MZ City Hall Package (Beta v1.1).dat to plugins. The other .dats preserve some minor non-standard features of the mod this is based on.
- https://community.simtropolis.com/forums/topic/761100-2nd-beta-all-3-city-halls-fixes-1-for-modpacc-zero/
- makes all three city halls available (but doesn't explain how they weren't available in the first place?) (in SC2K and SC3K City Halls were also free rewards, so this isn't inconsistent with those)
- Carpool Incentive Program Ordinance Fix
- fixes bugged ordinance (which, unmodded, has no effect on pollution or traffic) by applying a 10% reduction in pollution caused by traffic
- https://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/28786-carpool-incentive-program-ordinance-fix/
- incompatible with other mods that affect ordinances, compatible with NAM
- for some reason replaces game's default description of the ordinance with a poorly written substitute
- Piggyback Freight Car Fix
- fixes appearance of freight car models
- https://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/28618-piggyback-freight-car-fix/
- Space Port Fix Mod
- patches the space port to provide its promised benefit
- the "alt" version of the mod makes a few realism tweaks and uses less power (using the basic version this go round)
- https://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/27340-space-port-fix-mod/
- patches the space port to provide its promised benefit
- HippoTank Demand Fix
- fixes bug with the demand values for Medical Clinic, Solar Power Plant, and Nuclear Power Plant
- https://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/30836-hippotank-demand-fix/
- Opera House Fix
- fixes the capacity of the Opera House so it doesn't inhibit city growth
- https://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/21342-opera-house-fix/
- when done, look up the modding thread: https://community.simtropolis.com/forums/topic/762126-the-ultimate-guide-to-simcity-4-mods-for-new-players/?tab=comments#comment-1776689
- some mods in this list may be outdated or superseded by others, or may conflict with each other (hopefully not)
- check with SC4DataNode on each mod install (see below)
- sources: PCGamingWiki (above) | https://simcity4.hippotank.com/ | recent modding guide thread: https://community.simtropolis.com/forums/topic/762126-the-ultimate-guide-to-simcity-4-mods-for-new-players/?tab=comments#comment-1776689
NAM (Network Addon Mod)
- requires (installer)
- this is the a-number-one recommended mod (or mod collection) for SC4, so it's considered essential
- no clue which features to select/not select, but it seems harmless to install all of them, even if you're not going to use them
- complicated, so just use the install instructions (which require a JAVA runtime)
- the installer basically just copies the "right" files to your plugins directory, plus a few other minor things
- source: https://www.sc4nam.com/ | https://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/26793-network-addon-mod-nam-cross-platform/
Maxis Landmark Buildings
- Official DLC buildings from Maxis, copy to plugins
Resolve any mod collision issues with SC4 DataNode
- SC4DataNode - thing that checks plugins for missing dependencies and conflicts
Create maps
- a mapping tutorial using GIMP
- Landscape Designer (installer)
- has a noise generator, but not much of an editor
- very easy to use
- https://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/12679-landscape-designer-0973-beta/
- SC4 Mapper 2013 (installer)
- lets you edit an existing region into city areas
- imports and exports regions to/from the game
- better than the one that comes with Landscape Designer
- https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?action=tportal;sa=download;dl=item102
- SC4 Config Maker:
- randomly generates a config.bmp for randomized region city layouts
- https://community.simtropolis.com/forums/topic/758568-configbmp-random-generator/?tab=comments#comment-1720184
- not an official download so it may disappear
- SC4Terraformer:
- lets you import and edit images to create regions
- seems kinda complicated and doesn't have a generator
- requires:
- a copy of mscvp71.dll to be in the same dir
- directx 9.0c
- http://sc4devotion.com/csxlex/lex_filedesc.php?lotGET=731
- Importing into SC4:
- assuming that the region folder is set up correctly, load the region in SC4.
- you'll get a flat terrain. use SHIFT+CTRL+ALT+R to import the grayscale jpg.
- or, use SC4 Mapper 2013!
- this method produces really messed up-looking tiles in the region view, but they are OK once loaded in SC4. Opening and saving them manually generates a proper version in region view (a tedious process).
- or, use SC4 Mapper 2013!
List of random things
- "It is advisable if you plan to download and use any user-created mods that you have both Buildings as Props files." (i.e., SimCity 4 Buildings as Props and Rush Hour Buildings as Props")
- SC4Ckpt (backup checkpoint tool)
- Sawtooth's Region Census: for taking big fancy screenshots of entire regions
Larger Future Ideas
- ShiftWindow: enables Borderless fullscreen windowed (may increase stability, esp when alt-tabbing): http://grismar.net/shiftwindow/
- must run the game in a window for it to work, command line is
-CPUCount:1 -intro:off -w -CustomResolution:enabled -r1920x1080x32
- must run the game in a window for it to work, command line is
- SPAM - agriculture overhaul for big & pretty farms, not compatible with CAM (choose one or the other)
- I'll probably play SPAM first if any
- CAM Colossus Addon Mod - claims to have slower, more realistic growth model (ok to use with NAM)
- using a graphics wrapper to (maybe) increase performance or res higher than 1080
Smaller Mods of Interest:
- No Kick Out Lower Wealth Mod (decreases removal of low-wealth buildings when passing economic thresholds)
- https://community.simtropolis.com/forums/topic/759530-coris-no-kickout-lower-wealth-mod-now-campatible/- edit MySims.dat for custom sims
- https://community.simtropolis.com/forums/topic/757889-mysimsdat-the-techy-hexy-details/, or their mod https://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/32690-mysimtropolis-members-immortalized-in-sc4/ has the details (in addition to sims I don't want clogging up my game)
- Less Abandonment
- lower likelihood of rich people building in areas they'll later probably abandon (check compatibility on the R$$ Traffic Fix page.)
- https://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/14931-less-abandonment/?tab=comments)
- Opera House Fix for ModPacc Zero
- possibly stalled, but offers the possibility of using extra theaters for high pop cities (1 million+) for when the Opera House isn't enough
- Diagonal Jagged Edges Fix: This mod does not address a bug, it addresses a visual preference. It changes the way the game renders cliffs to make certain diagonal roads look more natural. The tradeoff is that more "cliffs" will show in the terrain.
- this was included in the PCGWiki as a fix, but I don't agree at this point, and haven't included it as an essential
- https://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/15048-diagonal-jagged-edges-mod
- Area 5.1 and Air Force Base No Exclusion Fix
- allows AFB and Area 5.1 to be placed in the city at the same time (otherwise, you're given an error that the building has already been placed)
- this was included in the PCGWiki as a bugfix, however the behavior above may be intended.
- https://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/13478-area-51-air-force-base-no-exclusion
- SMP Yellow Pause thingy remover
- removes the ugly pause frame so you can take good screenshots
- https://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/18680-smp-yellow-pause-thingy-remover/