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Sam's Knowledgebase of FAQs.
If there's anything you think I should add, please let me know by posting.
If the text is this colour, it is a clickable link.
How do I install mods?
I'm getting brown boxes in my cities!
I don't have any nightlights in my cities/How do I update (patch) my game?
SimCity 4 keeps closing randomly!
SimCity 4 keeps crashing on startup!
SimCity 4 keeps crashing when I load a certain city!
SimCity 4 lags a lot all the time on Windows 7!
How do I install .SC4M files?
How do I get SC4Terraformer/SC4Mapper working on Windows Vista, 7 or 8?
I want moar cheats!
How do I change my game from RHD to LHD, or from LHD to RHD?
Where can I download the NAM?
Is my Network Addon Mod up to date and What are the Network Addon Mod components?
I downloaded the NAM but it has broken my avenues and rail!
How do I make my roads look European/with white dashed lines?
How do I create buildings?
Where can I find the Maxis Files?
How do I change the resolution and/or run SimCity 4 in Windowed Mode?
More to come
If there's anything you think I should add, please let me know by posting.
If the text is this colour, it is a clickable link.
How do I install mods?
- Spoiler:
- Download them, unzip them into (My)Documents/SimCity 4/Plugins.
However, some mods like the NAM have an installer. Unzip the folder and run the .exe file inside the file.
You need either SimCity 4 Rush Hour or Deluxe for mods, they won't work with plain SimCity 4. Also, make sure you're download all dependencies the file needs. These are links in the description that it tells you to download (See the Brown Box issue below to find out what can happen if you don't...)
I'm getting brown boxes in my cities!
- Spoiler:
- You are missing dependencies for the lot.
Firstly, use the query tool (the ? icon) on the building to get its name. Then, search for the download page of that mod. On the download page there should be a link in the description pointing you to file(s) you need to download. These extra files are called dependencies. Once you have downloaded and installed them, the brown boxes should disappear.
*If the link to the dependency is broken, try using this link to find it. If you still can't find it, Google's your best bet*
I don't have any nightlights in my cities/How do I update (patch) my game?
- Spoiler:
- You need to update your game.
The SimCity updates are free to download from SC4Devotion.
NOTE: This does not apply to the Steam version/any digital download (eg Amazon) of this game, that already comes patched, so nightlights will work.
1) Download the SKU Update for the area where you purchased your game.
2) Extract the downloaded folder and double click the installer, doing everything it tells you to do.
3) Download the SimCity4 BAT Update
4) Extract the downloaded folder and double click the installer, doing everything it tells you to do.
Your nightlights should now work. If not, make sure you are providing your buildings with power.
SimCity 4 keeps closing randomly!
- Spoiler:
- This cannot be totally avoided.
However, it can be helped if you have a multi core processor. This is what you must do:
1) Right click the desktop shortcut to SimCity 4.
2) In the Shortcut tab, add the following to the end of the Target:
- Code:
-CPUCount:1
- Code:
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps\SimCity 4.exe" -CPUCount:1
SimCity 4 keeps crashing on startup!
- Spoiler:
- You may have installed a dodgy plugin.
If you download plugins slowly instead of constantly downloading tens of plugins at once, this can be easy to sort. Delete the plugin you just downloaded/installed and test if the game is working. If not, rename your plugins folder to something different so the game won't load them, and bit by bit reinstall your plugins into a new, empty Plugins folder. Then, open the game and see if it crashes.
Keep doing this until you find the plugin which is causing your game to crash and delete it.
SimCity 4 keeps crashing when I load a certain city!
- Spoiler:
- The city might be corrupt.
If this happens, the chances are your city is corrupt. There is no way to 'uncorrupt' your tile, so you will have to delete that tile and start again. However, if you keep backups then you should be able to revert to a previous save.
SimCity 4 lags a lot all the time on Windows 7!
- Spoiler:
- Turn your Fog graphics options off, and turn your visual settings to Medium.
How do I install .SC4M files?
- Spoiler:
- Use SC4Terraformer.
You can download SC4Terraformer from here.
Here is a guide on how to install the map.
However, if you use Windows Vista, 7 or 8 use the following FAQ answer on how to get it working.
How do I get SC4Terraformer/SC4Mapper working on Windows Vista, 7 or 8?
- Spoiler:
- You will need to download a few more files.
However, you can use SC4Mapper 2013 which will work on Vista, 7 and 8 without downloading anything else.
Use this guide for links on how to download these extra files and also a tutorial on how to install a map.
However, if you are unfortunate enough for it to still not work, try using SC4Mapper. In order to get this working on a newer Windows version, use this (slightly more advanced) guide.
NOTE: If you are unable to create the .bat file yourself, I have created one to download: http://www.mediafire.com/?1q0472yn273ibcu .
Put it in the same directory as SC4Mapper.exe.
Use this guide to help you install a map with SC4Mapper.
I want moar cheats!
- Spoiler:
- Use Buggi's Extra Cheats DLL mod
You can download it from here. Type Ctrl-Alt-X ingame to bring up the cheat box, and right click it to bring up a list of available cheats.
How do I change my game from RHD to LHD, or from LHD to RHD?
- Spoiler:
- You will need to move the SimCityLocale.dat file to a relevant folder
RHD to LHD
1) Navigate to Local Disk/Program Files/Maxis/SimCity 4.
2) Create a new folder in there called UKEnglsh. Notice how I wrote UKEnglsh, missing out the 'i'. Make sure you do the same!
3) Find the SimCityLocale.dat file. CUT it from its current location into the UKEnglsh file we just created. Make sure it is not in two places at once!
4) Run the game, enjoy!
NOTE: This will change the date and spelling into the UK standard (eg, 1/7/2012 is the 1st July 2012)
LHD to RHD
1) Navigate to Local Disk/Program Files/Maxis/SimCity 4.
2) Create a new folder in there called English.
3) Find the SimCityLocale.dat file. CUT it from its current location into the English file we just created. Make sure it is not in two places at once!
4) Run the game, enjoy!
NOTE: This will change the date and spelling into the US standard (eg, 7/1/2012 is the 1st July 2012)
Where can I download the NAM?
- Spoiler:
- From the LEX
The Network Addon Mod is too large to be hosted on Simtropolis, so you can either get the latest version from the LEX (Registration is required to see the Download button)
PAY ATTENTION TO THE INSTALLER, OR THINGS CAN GO WRONG!
Is my Network Addon Mod up to date and What are the Network Addon Mod components?
- Spoiler:
- The latest Network Addon Mod is Version 31.
The Network Addon Mod and its components are now available in one package, found on SC4Devotion.com.
I downloaded the NAM but it has broken my avenues and rail!
- Spoiler:
- This usually happens when you have a LHD game but you install the NAM with RHD settings.
Uninstall the NAM and reinstall it, make sure you read each page of the installer carefully and tick any boxes that apply to you
How do I make my roads look European/with white dashed lines?
- Spoiler:
- You will need European Road Texture Mods
In order to get your roads looking European, you should tick the Euro Textures box in the Network Addon Mod installer.
How do I create buildings?
- Spoiler:
- Use the SimCity4 BAT Program
To use this program, you need Gmax, available from here.
Once you have Gmax, you can then download the SimCity 4 BAT tool.
Unfortunately, I have no idea as to how to use this, so I will have to give you another link for a tutorial on using the BAT.
In order to complete your building, you will also need the Lot Editor (LE) and the Plugin Manager which comes with it.
There is a tutorial for the Lot Editor here.
Where can I find the Maxis Files?
- Spoiler:
- Since the SimCity4 official page has been taken down, they are hard to find.
If you're missing files like bldgprop or Day of Peace, then this site has them all. Here is a complete list of the files available for free from there:
SC4 RH Deluxe Manual
SC4 Lot Editor
SC4 BAT Installer
SC4 BAT Update
Texture Problem Fix
Plugin Manager with Unicode Fix
Transportation Update
Building Prop Vol 1
Building Prop Vol 2
Day of Peace – Flag Prop
American Flag
Canadian Flag
Castle Set
Grutze House
Grutze Industries
63 Building
Brandenburg Gate
Parthenon
Schloss Schoenbrun
Temple Expiatiori
Arc Triomphe
Seoul City Hall
Seoul Soccer Stadium
Globe Arena
Airforce Base
Kunjungjon
Nam Dae Moon (Sungre Mun)
Grand Central Station
Capitol Records
Stonehenge
San Fransisco City Hall
Taipei Art Museum
Adler Planetarium
May Flower Port
Rockefeller Center
Sobchak Lanes
Shorty Burger
Lucky’s Hang Ten
Stone House
Temple of Gruntz
Living Mall
Maxis Region
U-Drive It City
How do I change the resolution and/or run SimCity 4 in Windowed Mode?
- Spoiler:
- You can edit the command line parameters
1) Right click the desktop shortcut to SimCity 4.
2) In the Shortcut tab, add the following to the end of the Target:
TO RUN IN WINDOWED MODE:
- Code:
-w
- Code:
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps\SimCity 4.exe" -w
TO RUN WITH A DIFFERENT RESOLUTION:
- Code:
-rXXXxYYYxBB
Replace BB with 16 or 32.
You can use these together if you wish. For example:
- Code:
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps\SimCity 4.exe" -w -r1024x768x32
However it is also possible to add custom resolutions, if you do not want the ones listed above.
Do this by adding:
- Code:
-CustomResolution:enabled
This is my configuration:
- Code:
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps\SimCity 4.exe" -CustomResolution:enabled -r1280x800x32 -w
If you need more information, click here.
More to come
Last edited by samerton on 2013-03-02, 15:55; edited 8 times in total
