Sim City 1-4: My only regret is that I cut back on funding

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Video Games > Retro Games > Sim City 1-4: My only regret is that I cut back on funding

«‹›11 »

mycophobia: May 7, 2008

HisMajestyBOB posted:

I've been playing SC3k off and on the last few years. I never played it much when it first came out (I preferred 2k), but it's grown on me. It's a nice simple city builder that I can start up and be playing in less than 10 minutes.

its one of my favorite games op. i still play it regularly. really nicely detailed sprite graphics and one of the best soundtracks ever

# ? Aug 13, 2020 17:57

Adbot: ADBOT LOVES YOU

# ? Apr 25, 2024 01:29

Eric the Mauve: May 8, 2012; Making you happy for a buck since 199X

SC3000's interface and simulation depth haven't aged well, but the production values are still the highest in the genre and it's engaging to play in a way nothing else is.

# ? Aug 13, 2020 17:58

Shibawanko: Feb 13, 2013

i think i might try sc3k again, i used to play it before 4 came out but it seems like 4 really just doesnt want to run on my pc

# ? Aug 13, 2020 19:23

Rupert Buttermilk: Apr 15, 2007; 🚣RowboatMan: ❄️Freezing time🕰️ is an old P.I. 🥧trick...

Aside from maybe missing elements from 4 that were cool, I think SC3K is the best one. I always loved the look and sound of it.

# ? Aug 13, 2020 20:40

Shibawanko: Feb 13, 2013

i dunno, theres something about 4 thats still unique i think, its just so ambitious and you can do almost anything with it, its a shame there probably wont be like an indie version of it on the same scale the way games like banished have done for smaller scale city builders, just because itd take so many assets and probably cant be made in unity or whatever

# ? Aug 13, 2020 21:02

Grand Fromage: Jan 30, 2006; L-l-look at you bar-bartender, a-a pa-pathetic creature of meat and bone, un-underestimating my l-l-liver's ability to metab-meTABolize t-toxins. How can you p-poison a perfect, immortal alcohOLIC?

NewCity is the only one with comparable ambitions. It's extremely unfinished but I can see potential in it.

# ? Aug 13, 2020 21:12

Eric the Mauve: May 8, 2012; Making you happy for a buck since 199X

This is a great time (not that there's ever a bad time) to shout out that SC3000 has one of the all time great Let's Plays, courtesy of The Deadly Hume. It really does a terrific job of showing off the game's flavor and personality.

# ? Aug 13, 2020 23:11

Rupert Buttermilk: Apr 15, 2007; 🚣RowboatMan: ❄️Freezing time🕰️ is an old P.I. 🥧trick...

Eric the Mauve posted:

This is a great time (not that there's ever a bad time) to shout out that SC3000 has one of the all time great Let's Plays, courtesy of The Deadly Hume. It really does a terrific job of showing off the game's flavor and personality.

That, and the one done for SC2K with that ending :stare:

are two of my all time favourite LPs.

Edit: Yes, Moon Slayer and Deryl's LP, mentioned in the second paragraph of part 1.

Yeah, I'm gonna have to reread the whole thing.

Rupert Buttermilk fucked around with this message at 01:00 on Aug 14, 2020

# ? Aug 14, 2020 00:58

doctorfrog: Mar 14, 2007; Great.

SimCity3000 Goodie Getting Effortpost

GOG did a pretty good job of providing a functioning SimCity 3000 Unlimited installation. Couple things are missing that I'd rather see, that, for reasons I cannot explain, I spent some time gathering links and explanations.

Play the soundtrack: The excellent soundtrack is missing from GOG�s expected goodies. The game is available in a bunch of .XA files, located in /Apps/res/Sound/MUSIC. These are playable with VLC, and can be transcoded with VLC to the format you wish. Or just hunt for an already-transcoded version online, I suppose.
Sadly, the above music files are lossy to begin with, and if some remastered version of the music appears anywhere, I'd like to know of it.
Slight upgrade to the game soundtrack: A GOG user with access to the original SC3K CD-ROM posted the original music files for the game on the GOG forum: https://www.gog.com/forum/simcity_series/sc3ko_complete_music_files.
The above user�s theory is that, to make room for everything on the SC3KU CD-ROM, two tracks were cut, and several others were reduced from stereo to mono. This would restore these, if so. He posted the entire sound directory from the SC3K installation, so it�s around 200MB. The actual files needing to be replaced is probably far smaller, but, .
Everyone knows about the HD hack, and GOG even supplies a version of it on its support page here: https://support.gog.com/hc/en-us/articles/214077225-SimCity-3000-Unlimited?product=gog. It�s easy to do on your own as well: https://www.wsgf.org/dr/simcity-3000/en
Side note on Windows compatibility: GOG applies a compatibility... thing to its executable so it�ll run in Windows 10 without hiccups. It applies a setting that doesn�t exist (such that I can tell) in Windows� File Properties/Compatibility. If, for some reason, you need to do this manually, you can apply this patch: https://community.pcgamingwiki.com/files/file/699-simcity-3000-compatibility-fixes/. (The mystery setting is �8And16BitAggregateBits�.) Want to see what it fixes? Rename your SC3K executable, and try to play the game with it.
Maxis/EA extras: Simtropolis has a SC3K files area, which has some files that were formerly only available on the old EA/Maxis site. These were buildings/landmarks, scenarios, terrains, and props for the building editor. Those files are preserved here: https://community.simtropolis.com/files/category/42-sc3k-maxis-files/
Newish user extras: The above is a subcategory of the SC3K downloads area, which has other usermade items, some appear to be very recent. https://community.simtropolis.com/files/category/41-simcity-3000-files/
Alternative terrain generation: You can generate your own city terrain manually with a small variety of tools. Of them, I found this one easiest to use: https://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/31734-simcity-3000-unlimited-fractal-terrain-generator/ You can then take the resultant BMP and fill it with tastefully-shaped and contoured lakes or other features.
You can then import the terrain file into SC3KU by following the directions toward the bottom of this archived page: https://web.archive.org/web/20041223184243/http://www.sc3000.com/knowledge/showarticle_print.cfm?id=167&openItemID=
You can design and import real terrain into SC3KU using this guide: https://community.simtropolis.com/omnibus/other-games/real-terrain-importation-part-i-get-convert-terrain-in-simcity-3000-r743/
The real manual: The manual that comes with the GOG version is shockingly inadequate. Here�s the real manual that came in my box: https://archive.org/details/SimCity_3000_Unlimited/
Here�s the �Prima�s Official Strategy Guide,� which weirdly looks like an alternate universe manual, aping the look and feel of the original: https://archive.org/details/SimCity_3000_Prima_Official_eGuide
The Teacher�s Guide: I love old dead Maxis so much for being such a drat 90�s software company, from their straightfaced and quality printed software manuals to this thing. Here�s a Teacher�s Guide for using SimCity 3000 in the classroom: https://studylib.net/doc/5921300/simcity-3000-teacher-s-guide (Warning: shitheel site that monetizes free PDFs harvested freely from elsewhere. But it�s not hard to isolate the frame displaying the PDF download it directly.)
SC3000.com is down, along with the dozens and dozens of user-made cities, scenarios, terrains, and other things it once hosted. It�s not clear if this is a permanent thing. I haven�t been there in at least a decade and a half so it�s hard to say how much of a loss this represents. I don�t particularly enjoy other peoples� cities, but there were probably a few good scenarios in there, and more than a few landmarks and terrain maps.

# ? Aug 14, 2020 02:36

~Coxy: Dec 9, 2003; R.I.P. Inter-OS Sass - b.2000AD d.2003AD

Meaty Ore posted:

Reading this thread makes me want to reinstall SC2k again. It can't be that difficult to get working again on a modern PC.

hmm...

Come to https://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3936080
And we can probably get you up and running with it on Sheepshaver!

# ? Aug 14, 2020 07:48

nielsm: Jun 1, 2009

~Coxy posted:

Come to https://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3936080
And we can probably get you up and running with it on Sheepshaver!

The diskettes clearly say Windows.
DOSbox with Windows 3.1 would be a better bet, although I think the real question Meaty Ore has is finding a diskette drive.

# ? Aug 14, 2020 08:20

~Coxy: Dec 9, 2003; R.I.P. Inter-OS Sass - b.2000AD d.2003AD

Sure, but the Mac version is clearly superior :woz:

Unless one really wants to make a project out of reading one's original diskettes then downloading a copy (for whichever platform) is going to be much more straightforward.

# ? Aug 14, 2020 08:31

Shibawanko: Feb 13, 2013

Grand Fromage posted:

NewCity is the only one with comparable ambitions. It's extremely unfinished but I can see potential in it.

i hadnt seen that one yet, it looks cool but it does seem like its a bit slanted towards transportation like all of the other recent city building games

in a proper simcity game imo public transportation should be there and you should build it sensibly but i really dont need timetables and routes and stuff, just let me plop down stations and connect them and call it a day, i also dont need traffic agents, just abstract that poo poo and let me build

# ? Aug 14, 2020 09:31

doctorfrog: Mar 14, 2007; Great.

~Coxy posted:

Sure, but the Mac version is clearly superior

Unless one really wants to make a project out of reading one's original diskettes then downloading a copy (for whichever platform) is going to be much more straightforward.

Serious question, what made the Mac version superior?

I played the Windows 95 version of SimCity 2000, and can't quite stick with the DOS version available from GOG. The Windows version had a higher resolution and I could break out all the little info windows. The DOSBox version looks and feels like a fake Mac and squeezes everything into a low resolution that blurs when you zoom out to a manageable distance.

I played on a few Macs during that era in the 90's (at school, couldn't afford one myself) and always really liked how pixel-sharp everything was with the OS, the matched monitors, etc. I miss interfaces that had stuff like borders that were precisely one pixel thick.

# ? Aug 14, 2020 17:50

Fabulousity: Dec 29, 2008; Number One I order you to take a number two.

doctorfrog posted:

Serious question, what made the Mac version superior?

It wasn't.

# ? Aug 15, 2020 00:50

Meaty Ore: Dec 17, 2011; My God, it's full of cat pictures!

nielsm posted:

The diskettes clearly say Windows.
DOSbox with Windows 3.1 would be a better bet, although I think the real question Meaty Ore has is finding a diskette drive.

That was the idea behind the post, yes. It was also meant as a bit of a joke, as I wasn't sure if Windows 10 supported floppy drives or not (I checked since posting and apparently it does).

It's also somewhat moot as my wife has the CD-based SE.

# ? Aug 15, 2020 01:08

~Coxy: Dec 9, 2003; R.I.P. Inter-OS Sass - b.2000AD d.2003AD

The music is better in the Mac version.

I assume the Win95 version has fixed graphics so they should be equal, but the DOS version is trash.

# ? Aug 15, 2020 05:53

Negostrike: Aug 15, 2015

The Win95 version of the Special Edition lets you change the graphics set DURING the game, which makes it by far the best version ever. In any other version you had to either set it in a separate program or in the main menu before loading a city.

# ? Aug 15, 2020 06:49

Pretty good: Apr 16, 2007

I always cobbled together my own custom tile set from the "future" and "2050" packs, picking my favourite buildings from each. Like, every time I reinstalled it on a friend's computer or whatever I'd go through the exact same steps to make sure I had it looking just the way I wanted. The 2050 version of the launch arco was the coolest poo poo ever to 8yo me.

Also am I misremembering, or did the windows Special Edition not require a CD key or for the disc to be in the drive?

# ? Aug 15, 2020 07:12

nielsm: Jun 1, 2009

~Coxy posted:

The music is better in the Mac version.

Is it? I'm listening to a recording of it now, and I'd definitely prefer the DOS version's on either a SoundCanvas or an MT-32. (Of course most people didn't have those.)
The Mac version music is just noisy and crackly, some not-great samples mixed poorly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFZwCVd6P90
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ag08x1p__do
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4gkAcj7GhU&t=126s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDQY3zGEbQU

# ? Aug 15, 2020 08:33

excellent bird guy: Jan 1, 2020; by Cyrano4747

I was playing Sim City 2000 from GOG last night, on the mac. First of all, this game isn't nearly as approachable as it was when I was 9 and using the cheat codes to have infinite money. I'm basically dead by the time the coal mine blows up, and let the giant monster kill everything. It was kind of fun though. I think this is a game you need a mouse, personally I had a hard time getting around on the trackpad.
Now Sim City 4, with some mods I can waste way, way too much time. It's one of those games that I will disappear and never come out from.

# ? Aug 15, 2020 14:16

nielsm: Jun 1, 2009

I had massive problems making money in SC2k when I was 10, but it's quite easy now. Low density zoning is a trap, only ever zone high density until you can afford the extended infrastructure low density requires.

Making about $3k a year, although that's also cheesing it with hydro power. I think the city is using about 1000 MW of power right now, producing 3100 MW. To cover that comfortably I'd need 7 coal plants (cost 24k every 50 years) or a microwave receiver (cost 28k every 50 years). Yeah I can comfortably cover that, but the "power plants explode every 50 years" is a dumb game mechanic after all.

# ? Aug 15, 2020 16:02

Eric the Mauve: May 8, 2012; Making you happy for a buck since 199X

nielsm posted:

I had massive problems making money in SC2k when I was 10, but it's quite easy now. Low density zoning is a trap, only ever zone high density until you can afford the extended infrastructure low density requires.

It's also rear end-ugly. It wasn't until SC4 that you could make low density neighborhoods and strip malls that actually look good.

# ? Aug 15, 2020 16:32

Shibawanko: Feb 13, 2013

i played sc2000 a year or two ago and got a really big city, as i recall its the same as sc4 where you have to defund stuff to the minimum level required

# ? Aug 15, 2020 16:46

Selenephos: Jul 9, 2010

Negostrike posted:

The Win95 version of the Special Edition lets you change the graphics set DURING the game, which makes it by far the best version ever. In any other version you had to either set it in a separate program or in the main menu before loading a city.

Yup.

It also runs without issues on Windows 10 too. The only issue is that it's a 16 bit installer, but there's workarounds for that to install the game. Running the actual game itself works perfect though.

# ? Aug 15, 2020 20:50

RoboChrist 9000: Dec 14, 2006; Mater Dolorosa

EDIT: Derp. I read good. Missed this page. Good to know I'm not insane and that yeah there's a Windows version I grew up with and that's why the GOG 2K felt so odd.

# ? Aug 15, 2020 22:16

FuturePastNow: May 19, 2014

My favorite thing about SC3K is it let me import cities from 2K, which meant I could use the double fund glitch to get $2 billion and copy the map over

# ? Aug 16, 2020 00:14

Eric the Mauve: May 8, 2012; Making you happy for a buck since 199X

It's just as easy to pop your city file open in a hex editor and toss a few ff's in there

# ? Aug 16, 2020 00:24

doctorfrog: Mar 14, 2007; Great.

I liked the Easter egg in SC2K that sent a launch arco �dancing� across your screen in a top hat and cane.

# ? Aug 16, 2020 05:09

Pretty good: Apr 16, 2007

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3tLHWFSFLM

Heh heh heh

# ? Aug 16, 2020 05:26

Rupert Buttermilk: Apr 15, 2007; 🚣RowboatMan: ❄️Freezing time🕰️ is an old P.I. 🥧trick...

Wow.

That's a new one for me.

# ? Aug 16, 2020 12:08

Meaty Ore: Dec 17, 2011; My God, it's full of cat pictures!

Launch Arcology? More like Crash Arcology!

# ? Aug 16, 2020 21:00

excellent bird guy: Jan 1, 2020; by Cyrano4747

Thanks for the tip. Using high density my money hovered right between $10g-$20g. Weird yea low density is worthless. Then the game got really boring so I let it burn. I was at the year 2150 or something steady at 25,000 population. Those highways are a pain to make.
Playing on a trackpad is the worst, terrible experience. You have to have a mouse.

# ? Aug 16, 2020 21:20

Shibawanko: Feb 13, 2013

most simcity games are like that. utilities are always too expensive unless you make them count and fill their coverage to capacity with stuff, especially high density commercial zones

# ? Aug 16, 2020 21:25

Fargin Icehole: Feb 19, 2011; Pet me.

I played 1 and 2 briefly when i was younger when they launched, but i played SC3k the most. The Graphics, transition from MIDI music to the great jazz/Synthesizer music, and exaggerated cartoony advisors won me over. I still have no loving clue how to create highways though. It wasn't until Cities Skylines where i finally understood how to create a proper one.

Every once in a while i go back to SC 2 then forget that getting power to places is so outdated, it's the QOL changes throughout that get me. It's a little like how Caesar III holds a special place in my heart, but every once in a while i forget that a lack of a resource due to the AI market pathing going crazy, can cause an entire swath of the city to go poor and the mass exodus begins.

# ? Aug 17, 2020 00:28

Meaty Ore: Dec 17, 2011; My God, it's full of cat pictures!

Fargin Icehole posted:

Every once in a while I go back to SC 2 then forget that getting power to places is so outdated, it's the QOL changes throughout that get me. It's a little like how Caesar III holds a special place in my heart, but every once in a while I forget that a lack of a resource due to the AI market pathing going crazy, can cause an entire swath of the city to go poor and the mass exodus begins.

This is what has kept me from completing the Caesar III campaign all these years. I can tell the Carthaginian invaders to stuff it in the scenario they appear in, but getting wine distributed consistently enough to attract patricians? lol.

# ? Aug 17, 2020 18:16

Shibawanko: Feb 13, 2013

yeah thats what sucked about pharaoh too, you had to basically build blocks with just a single road so the pathing ai cant gently caress it all up, which looks boring and ugly. immortal cities fixes this stuff though

# ? Aug 17, 2020 18:19

Selenephos: Jul 9, 2010

I think, a fork of the Julius Caesar 3 source port fixes issues like that.

https://github.com/Keriew/augustus

# ? Aug 18, 2020 11:12

Retrograde: Jan 22, 2007; Strange game-- the only winning move is not to play.

This thread had me go through some old files I had up on google drive and well:

Atlantis.jpg must have been a custom map for SC3k

# ? Aug 24, 2020 22:25

Adbot: ADBOT LOVES YOU

# ? Apr 25, 2024 01:29

Grifter: Jul 24, 2003; I do this technique called a suplex. You probably haven't heard of it, it's pretty obscure.

Mister Bates posted:

e: and here it is: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/18uDbtc1TvyHjtosOC6BFcjCzsIIL6Py8?usp=sharing

This should be ready to play as-is. Note that it was made in 2012 so it uses very out-of-date versions of the mods, but they were perfectly playable even back then, and if you know what you're doing it's trivially easy to update, say, NAM.

I installed Simcity 4 and put these in the plugins folder. I can see from SC4 launcher that I have a giant pile of mods now, which is cool. But at least one of these mods is making it so dark that I have a hard time actually doing anything in my city. I can't mayor at midnight! Any idea which mod might be causing this, or if there is a setting I can change to turn off the day/night cycle?

# ? Nov 30, 2020 01:53

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Video Games > Retro Games > Sim City 1-4: My only regret is that I cut back on funding

«‹›11 »