SimCity 4

Sequel to SimCity 3000 (1999).

Patches

Only include if:

1. There is a benefit in using an older patch. For example, Diablo 2 latest patch is 1.13, but the high-res mod only supports 1.12.
2. There is a community or fan patch.

Issues and Fixes

No matter how trivial, if there is a fix for something, it means that this has been an issue at some point in time. It also means that some time after said point in time, someone put on his trusty Gloves of Typing and decided to do something about it.

This is the place to briefly introduce the various issues, some rare, others common, that have a known fix or workaround. The severity of the problems might range from benign to critical: as long as it has a know solution, this is the right section.

Do not forget to link to the place where you found the knowledge you're about to impart!

That Other Gamebreaking Thing

That one seems really, really annoying, but if you are willing to arrange a couple of small things here, and tick a box there, your GPU will be able to churn out frames like it's an arcade machine from 1989. I mean 60 fps constant, no tearing. Yeah, those were the days.

Unresolved Issues

Integer Overflow

An integer overflow bug is also present in the game. Under certain conditions, the Junior Sports Program and Parks and Recreation expense items will be a negative value - thus adding to the end of month balance instead of reducing it.

Intel Macintoshes

The game has major flaws when operating on computers by Apple using Intel processors. Aspyr released a beta of a patch to fix the problems in 2007, but the patch was never finalized and many bugs remain. Some have a serious impact on playability, including frequent crashes if a city exceeds 95,000 population, flawed display of the water surface, frequent blurring or replacement of objects with random other objects, and an inability to significantly accelerate the vehicle in driving mode that prevents many gameplay features from being unlocked.

Graphical Tweaks

A few examples might be, among other things:

Field of Vision Fix (FOV)

This is a very common one (and a Total_Biscuit favorite). There is no way to change the FOV from within the game. Unfortunately even though this FOV value is fine for a TV that is 4 feet away from you, it definitely feels wrong for a monitor that sits close to your nose. Do you happen to know the solution? Start typing!

Multimonitor Support

Link to the game page on the Widescreen Gaming Forum.

Antialiasing

The game doesn't support any form of antialiasing. How to enable it.

Anisotropic Filtering

There is no anisotropic filtering option available in the game. How to enable it.

V-sync

Any particular issue related to the use of V-sync in this game, as well as a known fix.

Performance Improvements

SSD Loading

Any particular problems or benefits with using a SSD to store the game?

Mods

Please keep in mind that some mods may require dependencies. Dependencies are files essential for properly running the mod and must be downloaded. The dependencies for each mod are listed on the respective mod's page. Also, the sites on which you will find these mods require that you create a free account in order to actually download the content.

• NAM: Network Addon Mod includes transportation related fixes such as better path-finding accuracy and performance. It also includes many improvements and additions to the existing network tools: roundabouts, turning lanes, intersections, new overpasses, a ground lightrail network, and much more.
• SAM: Street Addon Mod gives you a lot more variety when it comes to streets and roads. Gravel streets, dirt roads, parking lots, and much more. Make sure you read the instructions before trying to use this mod because placing these can be a little bit tricky at first due to the starter pieces.
• NMW: Network Widening Mod is an addition to NAM that adds a wide variety of surface networks. It provides multiple-lane avenues which are sure to come in handy when the traffic in your city becomes overbearing.
• RealHighway Mod is another optional addon for NAM. It gives you a wide variety of options when creating realistic highways including a double-decker highway.
• SPAM: SimPeg Agricultural Mod is an awesome mod that completely replaces the game's default farming system. Most players consider SimCity to be all about creating a thriving metropolis and the in-game farming system was actually unfinished at the time of the game's release. This mod changes how farms look and play and makes them a viable part of any city. you can create maps in your region dedicated to just agriculture or implement them into your larger cities as well. there is also a ton of SPAM addons that take things even further with buildings, roads, etc, dedicated to getting even more out of your farm cities.
• Paeng's Parks gives you the power to create truly beautiful parks in your city. This and this are two examples of the amazing parks you will be able to create with this mod.
• Paeng's Free Waters allows you to beautify your lakes and rivers. If you want to get more in depth, look up Paeng's Turbulences Vol. 1, Paeng's Turbulences Vol. 2 and PEG Ponds and Streams which includes waterfalls. Here is an example of what you can do with the Free Waters and the Turbulences mods.
• MAPP: Modular Amusement Parks Pack allows you to create amusement parks within your city and includes a wide variety of rides and coasters.

[rivit's Coastal Mod](http://www.simtropolis.com/forum/files/file/22358-coastal-modd/) allows you to change the color of the water and beaches in your regions/cities. there are several choices of color for both the water and the shores, giving you a nice variety to mix and match and play with. this is a major improvement over the boring old water and beaches that come with the game. i'm using inshoretropic, rippledseadkcyan, whitesandbeach, and whitesandforeshore, and it looks stunning!

[Beach Extend Mod](http://www.simtropolis.com/forum/files/file/26340-beach-extend-mod/) gives you bigger beaches! this is a really simple mod but to me it makes your beaches a lot more realistic by simple extending them slightly further onto the land.

[IH Missing Jobs Fix](http://www.simtropolis.com/forum/files/file/22771-ih-missing-jobs-fix-update/) is a mod i consider truly essential. apparently there is a bug within the game where almost every IH lot in the game doesn't offer any high wealth jobs even though it creates a demand for high wealth residents. this fix takes care of that and will have people filling up those IH jobs, allowing your lots to prosper and grow.

there are some other mods that i use that i haven't listed but can be easily found on simtropolis. the industry doubler gives you industry zones more jobs per lot so that you don't have to clutter your city with these buildings. there is also a radius doubler, which increases the range of coverage for your schools, hospitals, fire stations, etc. tollboothboost is a fix for toll booth traffic and allows you to charge more for the use of the toll booths, giving you some additional income. there are several slope mods which create smoother transitions when it comes to building networks and cities on a slope.

again, i encourage all of you to list your favorite mods. there are some canal and snow mods that i want to check out, but there seem to be quite a few of those and i haven't yet found out which are the best. i look forward to hearing from the community!

[CAM: Colossus Addon Mod](http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=2039.0) as suggested by XtcWorkout. the CAM allows you to use CAMeLots, which completely redefine the look of the game. if you're tired of the same old buildings popping up in your city, this is the mod to use. the CAM itself alterns the stage growth of in-game buildings for better development and the lots spice up the game by adding a ton of new buildings. with this mod, you can create an entirely different look and feel for your city. note: lots of dependencies will be needed in order access all the lots!

[RMIP: Runway Making Improvement Project](http://www.reddit.com/user/XtcWorkout) as suggested by Canadave. with this mod, you will be able to create your own unique airports. although it won't be out for quite a while, the guys behind this are already working on the next mod in this series which you can follow here: [RMIP-3 Large Airport Edition](http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=6985.0).

[JRJ Sidewalk Mod](http://sc4devotion.com/csxlex/lex_filedesc.php?lotGET=36) is an older mod that allows you to change the sidewalks from the maxis default in your cities. there are several styles to choose from, allowing you to give your city a fresh look.

[CDK3: Marina](http://www.simpeg.com/forum/index.php?action=downloads;cat=35) this is a part of the Coastal Development Kit, which is a series of mods and lots to liven up your coasts. you can also check out the entire [CDK collection](http://www.simpeg.com/forum/index.php?action=downloads;cat=12) which includes seaports, seaport villages and boardwalks (OWW2: Old Wooden Waterfronts). i've chosen to focus on the marina because i've really come to love these lots since downloading them recently. they give you an entirely new marina for your game and allow you to actually expend the marina along the entire coast with additional buildings such as boat storage, a yatch club, a sport fishing club, a marina parking lot, and more. [this image](http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/7186/marina6.jpg) shows you what you can create with a combination of the CDK3: Marina and the OWW2.

[MTP: Mountain Theme Pack](http://www.simpeg.com/forum/index.php?action=downloads;cat=1) is the collection for anybody who's tired of the city life and in need of a getaway to the mountain side. this mod comes from PEG, the same crew behind CDK3, Ponds and Streams, and several other mods. their work is really amazing and it really shows here. these downloads will allow you to create entire communities in the mountains and forests, with many unique lots and buildings. trails, a lumber yard, a saw mill, unique roads, parking lots, and parks for your new community, lodges, cabins, and much, much more!

Content

Additional gameplay content.

Visual

Graphical overhauls, etc.

Third Party Software

Is there a fan-made utility that makes the game just that much easier to work with? Something that's simply too cool to not use? That would go here.

Save Game Data

Folder Location

Use <pre> tags to lay out save locations:

• Windows 7:

  %user%\Documents\Game - Article Layout\saves

• Mac OSX:

  ~/Library/Application Support/game

Repeat for more operating systems.

Cloud Support

Steam Cloud

Mention what data it does acutally save to the cloud. Some games only store settings, some others store complete actual save files.

Origin

Etc.

Save Game Quirks

Problems, fixes, etc. for example, problems with transferring save game to another computer.

Other Technical Information

This section should be used if a certain game stores a lot of user data. Games such as Starcraft 2 come to mind. It can be useful to know how the profiles, hotkey settings, replays are organized and where they are stored.

Improvements

Skip Introductions, Cutscenes and Videos

After a few simple file operations, the multiple and rather lengthy intro videos can now be skipped, or won't even show at all.

Borderless Fullscreen Windowed

Is this enabled natively? Which hacks work?

Useful Links

Some Steam forum thread happens to contain useful information.

Official page of the Game. Deep, deep insight to be gained reading these words, man.

The underground layout page that started it all, always helpful.

See Also

• The Game 2: A Prettier Info Box