Before attempting to run the NAM installer, ensure that you have extracted the contents of the .zip download into a folder. Attempting to run the installer while it is still in the .zip will cause the installation to fail.

The minimum requirements for running the Network Addon Mod are as follows:

• A compatible retail copy of SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition OR SimCity 4 with the Rush Hour Expansion Pack
  • Windows/Linux (via WINE): Any digital retail edition EXCEPT the EA App/Origin Retail Edition (see here), or any disc copy updated to at least Version 1.1.638.
  • macOS: Any recent digital edition of the Aspyr port for macOS (installation on the App Store version is more difficult, and the NAM Team is limited in our capacity to provide installation help to App Store users).
  • The now-rare non-Deluxe/non-Rush Hour copies of SimCity 4 are not supported. Attempting to run the NAM on a non-Deluxe/non-Rush Hour copy of SimCity 4 will cause the game to immediately crash to desktop (CTD).
• Java Runtime Environment (JRE), in order to run the installer--a version for 64-bit Windows is included in the download (OpenJDK11U-jre_x64_windows_hotspot_11.0.8_10.msi).
  • If you are not on 64-bit Windows and need Java, Adoptium's open-source edition is recommended, though JRE and JDK can also be acquired in proprietary/commercial (but free to download) form from Oracle at https://www.java.com.
  • The Java Development Kit, or JDK, will also work, but contains extra files not needed unless you are a Java developer.
• A system with the following specs, for each basic type of NAM installation
• NAM with a LowRAM/NoRHW Controller option: Any system built within the last 15 years, with 750MB available disk space. (Users running this option cannot install the RealHighway (RHW) features.)
• NAM with a Full 4GB Controller option: Any system with a 64-bit operating system, at least 4GB RAM, and 1.2GB available disk space. If on Windows, the 4GB Patch must be applied to the game's executable.
• NOTE: Installing the Full 4GB Controller option without meeting the specifications and without the 4GB Patch will cause the game to crash-to-desktop (CTD) upon attempting to load a city. If you experience this crash, it either means your system does not support the Full 4GB Controller option, or there was some form of failure in the 4GB Patch process.
• Additional Requirement on Mac (optional for Windows/Linux): JDatPacker by memo.
  • JDatPacker is a tool for consolidating folders of SimCity 4 plugins. This can speed up the game's performance, and on macOS, this helps alleviate issues with the Aspyr port's known "number of files limit", wherein exceeding a certain number of files/folders within the game's Plugins directory can cause the game to crash.
• Additional Requirement on Windows/Linux (if running Full 4GB Controller/RealHighway options) (not required on Mac): 4GB Patch by NTCore (included in download, automatically installed on Windows with standard installation procedure, and also available at NTCore).
  • See Step 3 (under "On Windows") or here for more details.

To install the Network Addon Mod:

1. Install the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) (if already installed, skip to Step 2).
2. Remove any existing NAM installations, if present (simply deleting the "a_Network Addon Mod Lite" and/or "Network Addon Mod" folder from the Documents\SimCity 4\Plugins directory is the easiest way).
3. Run the NAM Installer.
• On Windows:
  • If it your first time installing the NAM (or you are installing on a new system/with a new SC4 install), use NetworkAddonMod_Setup_Version47.bat. If you are upgrading from a previous version, or have manually installed the 4GB Patch already (see here), use NetworkAddonMod_Setup_Version47.jar. (The .bat file has a routine to automate the 4GB Patch installation process, necessary to avoid CTDs if running the Full 4GB Controller option, which is necessary to use the RealHighway (RHW) features.)
• On macOS:
  • Run NetworkAddonMod_Setup_Version47.jar.
  • If on the App Store version, the installer cannot directly install into the Plugins location the App Store version utilizes, which is inside the .app file (~/Library/Containers/com.aspyr.simcity4.appstore/Data/Documents/SimCity 4). Install to an alternate location first, then copy the resultant "Plugins" folder into that location. Note that the NAM Team is currently very limited in our ability to provide installation assistance to App Store users.
• On Linux:
  • Run NetworkAddonMod_Setup_Version47.jar, or, if that fails, run NetworkAddonMod_Setup_Version47.sh.
4. Follow the installer's instructions, clicking on each tab on the top bar in order.
   1. Agree to the mod's terms on the initial "welcome" tab to proceed with the installation.
   2. Select the options you would like to install under the "files" tab.
   3. Select the install location under the "location" tab. Unless you have set up an alternate location for your Plugins folder, or happen to be on the Mac App Store version of the game, this should be correct without needing to change it.
   4. Finally, move to the "install" tab. Click the "Start installation" button to begin the installation process. When the installation is complete, the progress screen will display a message, "All selected components installed!".
   5. Close the installer, using the "X" button or, on macOS, the red circular button, in the upper right corner of the window. You're all done installing the mod.
5. Additional step for Mac users (optional on Windows/Linux): run JDatPacker to consolidate the mod's files.
   • If on the App Store version, run JDatPacker over the resultant Plugins directory, then move the "Network Addon Mod_###.dat" files (wherein "###" is a three-digit number) into the container.
   • On the Steam version (or if optionally using JDatPacker on Windows), run JDatPacker on the Documents\SimCity 4\Plugins directory (this will also consolidate your other plugins as well). Make sure you remove the original directories that were consolidated, and, if upgrading or reinstalling your NAM package at any point, ensure you delete any the "Network Addon Mod_###.dat" files from your Plugins before running the new installation. It is recommended that you use a new subfolder (i.e. "Plugins\Compressed Files") instead of installing to the root of the Plugins directory, as this can help prevent mod conflicts.
6. Load the game and enjoy the NAM!
• If the game crashes on your first attempt to load a city, this means you have the Full 4GB Controller installed, but either have experienced a failure in the 4GB Patch process, or have an incompatible system (not enough RAM and/or a 32-bit operating system). Either attempt to install the 4GB Patch manually, or choose a less intensive installation option (the Low RAM/No RHW option, or download NAM Lite instead).
• Note that if you've never run the NAM before, and you've picked a fuller installation option, the initial load of the game, and of the first city tile you open may be longer--often quite noticeably. This will shorten with subsequent loads of other cities, or, if you exit and re-enter the game, subsequent re-entries will be quicker.
• If you do not see any icons in game, this most likely means your installation ended up in the wrong location. Either reinstall, making sure the files go into your Documents\SimCity 4\Plugins folder (true of Windows and the Steam Mac version), or, if you're on the Mac App Store version, make sure you copy the files into the .app container.

More details on installation and compatibility can be found starting here.

For further details on the NAM and its features, visit our new website at https://www.sc4nam.com.

• Pedestrian Revolution Mod Features:
  • The NAM Team is pleased to present the Classic Draggable Pedmalls, courtesy of Ulisse Wolf and Lucario Boricua. These come in 8 styles, 6 of which are equivalents to the Pedmall Puzzle Pieces, and introducing 2 new designs: the Retrowave Red Brick, inspired in the old brick texture used for the U-Rail in earlier NAM versions, and the Industrial Style, using the concrete surface typical of industrial lots. The initially supported features of these pedmalls include:
    • Multidirectional draggable starter pieces using the Street network, supporting all orthogonal, diagonal, intersection and roundabout configurations, with the exception of wide radius curves.
    • Intersection support (OXO T and 4-way) in the form of mid-block crosswalks. These support Road, Avenue, and all two-way Network Widening Mod override networks (TLA-3, AVE-2, ARD-3, NRD-4, TLA-5, RD-4, RD-6, TLA-7 and AVE-6). These draggable pedmalls are also compatible with the FLEX mid-block crosswalk pieces.
    • Special underground paths enable residential zone development, while crossings discourage car traffic through restricted car paths.
  • In addition, some enhancements to existing functionality have been implemented:
    • The override code for the size 3 mid-block crosswalks for TLA-7 and AVE-6 have been overhauled, enabling these to be overridden from one side.
• RealHighway (RHW) Features:
  • RHW-12S A new, 12-lane quadruple-tile RHW network (separable into two dual-tile halves, carrying 6 lanes in each direction) has been added, with the following features:
    • Three height levels are supported: L0/Ground, L1/7.5-meter elevation, and L2/15-meter elevation. Transitioning between these height levels is supported by the ramp-style FLEX Height Transitions (FLEX-HT), as well as the FLEX OnSlope Transitions (FLEX-OSTs), by connecting them to the RHW-12S networks.
    • The RHW-12S features the same network crossings presently available to the other S-Type RHW networks, including crossings in all orientations for all Maxis base networks, all other RHW networks, Draggable Ground Light Rail, and Draggable Road Viaducts (L0-under-Viaduct-only), plus Orthogonal x Orthogonal (OxO)-only support for Network Widening Mod networks, Elevated RealRailway (ERRW) Viaducts, Tram-on-Street, Tram-in-Road, and Tram-in-Avenue. Limited Hybrid Railway (HRW) support also exists.
    • Extensive ramp interface support: supported ramps using FLEXRamps and Draggable Ramp Interfaces (when applicable) include Orthogonal Type A1 (all levels), Type B1 (all levels), Type D1 (all levels), Type E1 (all levels), Type A2 (all levels), Type B2 (L0 only), Type D2 (all levels), Type E2 (L0 only), Type A1-Inside (all levels), Type B1-Inside (all levels), Type D1-Inside (L0 only), Type E1-Inside (L0 only), the new Type A3 (L0 only) and Type D3 (L0 only), plus Diagonal Type A1 (L0 only), Type B1 (L0 only), Type D1 (L0 only), and Type E1 (L0 only).
    • FLEX Width Transition (FLEX-WT) has been added, to support width transitions between RHW-12S and RHW-10S at all applicable height levels.
    • FLEXFly over and undercrossings are supported with the RHW-12S (orthogonal-only, as diagonal undercrossings for FLEXFly do not presently exist for any network).
    • Several bridges have been added (see Bridge section).
    • Support for FlexSPUI is presently limited, and Three-Level Crossings are not yet supported.
  • RHW X3 Ramps: The first two FLEX 3-lane ramps, in A3 and D3 configurations, have been provided for RHW-8S, 10S and 12S. At present, only L0 support is available.
  • General Improvements:
    • Some enhancements, courtesy of memo, have been made to facilitate FLEXFly-over-FLEXFly functionality.
    • Some enhancements, courtesy of Flann, to elevated RHW network models have been added.
    • Various adjacencies involving RHW x RHW crossings next to the base orth-diag curve on the smaller networks (RHW-6S and smaller) have been addressed.
• Bridges: A multitude of new bridges have been added, courtesy of IDS2 and Kitsune:
  • New viaduct bridges for L0 RHW-8S, L0 RHW-10S and L0-L2 RHW-12S.
  • A pair of new Steel Arch bridges for RHW-10S and RHW-12S.
• Base Network Features: A new 5x5 90° Wide Radius Curve FLEX piece has been added to the Avenue network.
• Miscellaneous: A huge number of bugfixes have been done for this release, including:
  • Various RHW situations involving "tile drops", such as the RHW-8S-to-6S FLEX Width Transitions, the RHW-8S Type D1, E1, and B2 ramps, and the RHW-10S Type D2 and E2 ramps, have received considerable stability upgrades.
  • The orientation of the Road end-T on OWR-1 intersection has been corrected.
  • The orientations of certain NWM intersections involving the OWR-1 network with Euro textures have been corrected.
  • Stability improvements have been made to the Ground Light Rail crossings with various wider RHW networks.
  • The Dual Type 230 QCXs with L1 Dual Type 230-over-RHW-8C/6C and RHW-10S/8S have been improved.
  • Issues in which lane drop arrows appeared in the wrong places on the S-to-C FLEX Width Transitions have been corrected.
  • The ramp textures for the RHW-10S Type D2 and E2 ramps, as well as for the RHW-8S Type A2-Wide and B2 ramps have been improved.
  • Orientation and stability issues have been fixed with the Avenue-based AVE-6 and its Thru-T-intersections with Street, Road, and One-Way Road (both Short-T and Long-T).
  • Orthogonal x Diagonal slip lanes involving Road and One-way Road (OWR) have been re-implemented.
  • Several hundred path files across all areas of the NAM have been fixed by memo and Tarkus.
  • More SAM Street crossings with the Rail network have received crossing gates.
  • Euro wealth textures have been added to the Avenue-based AVE-6 network.

The requirements depend on which feature set you choose to install.

• NAM with a LowRAM/NoRHW Controller option: Any system built within the last 15 years, with 750MB available disk space. (Users running this option cannot install the RealHighway (RHW) features.)
• NAM with a Full 4GB Controller option: Any system with a 64-bit operating system, at least 4GB RAM, and 1.2GB available disk space. If on Windows, the 4GB Patch must be applied to the game's executable.

Note, however, that Windows users attempting to run the "Full/4GB" Controller options without the 4GB Patch, on a 32-bit version of Windows, and/or have less than 4GB RAM, that the game will crash to desktop (CTD) upon attempting to load a city. Following the proper installation procedure and ensuring the contents of the download have been extracted from the .zip file will avoid this issue.

Additionally, the addition of any plugins to the game will have at least some effect on initial load times, when first booting the game or a city. The difference may be noticeable if you are going from an unmodded game to one with a large Plugins folder (a full NAM installation will exceed 1GB), especially on lower-end systems. Having at least 8GB RAM, running the game on a solid state drive (SSD), and/or having a CPU with a high clock speed (SimCity 4 was released in 2003, before multi-core CPUs were commonplace outside of servers) all help the game's performance.

The Network Addon Mod is compatible with the following versions of the game:

• A) Retail Windows digital copies of SimCity 4 Deluxe OR SimCity 4 with the Rush Hour Expansion Pack (Version 1.1.641), from most digital retailers (i.e. GOG.com, Steam), excluding copies from Origin, EA Play, and the EA app (which are perma-unpatched to Version 1.1.610).
• B) Retail Windows disc copies of SimCity 4 Deluxe OR SimCity 4 with the Rush Hour Expansion Pack, updated to at least Version 1.1.638 (note that disc copies generally do not run on Windows 10).
• C) Digital Windows copies of SimCity 4 Deluxe obtained by redeeming an existing CD key (not purchasing) through Origin Customer Support (Version 1.1.641).
• D) Retail Mac digital copies of SimCity 4 Deluxe, purchased through Steam or the App Store. (Note: technical support availability from the NAM Team is limited for Steam version users, and very limited for macOS Store version users.)
• E) Retail Mac disc copies of SimCity 4 Deluxe, running on macOS/OS X Version 10.6 (Snow Leopard) or earlier Note: technical support availability from the NAM Team very limited for Mac disc version users, and the ability to run Full 4GB/RHW-inclusive installation options is an unknown.).

The Network Addon Mod is NOT compatible with the following versions of the game:

• F) Retail disc copies of SimCity 4 Deluxe OR SimCity 4 with the Rush Hour Expansion Pack that have not been patched (Version 1.1.610 or 1.1.613).
• G) Retail Windows digital copies of SimCity 4 Deluxe purchased from the Origin Store or EA app (these are perma-unpatched to Version 1.1.610).
• H) Copies provided through EA Play (formerly Origin Access) or Xbox Game Pass (these are perma-unpatched to Version 1.1.610).
• I) Retail disc copies of non-Deluxe SimCity 4 (sometimes marketed later as "SimCity 4 Classic"), without the Rush Hour Expansion Pack (Version 1.0.272 or earlier)
• J) Pirated or cracked copies of SimCity 4 Deluxe OR SimCity 4 with the Rush Hour Expansion Pack.

What should I do if the NAM does not support my copy of the game?

The new NAM installer (introduced with the NAM 37 Release Candidate) no longer runs a version check. However, it is strongly recommended that users check the version they are running, as unpatched copies can be unstable. Version 1.1.610 and Version 1.1.613 are NOT supported.

In Case F, the solution is simply to install the EP1 Update 1 patch, which can be downloaded from EA (SKU 1-5), SimCity 4 Devotion (SKU 1-5), or Simtropolis (SKU 1 and 2 only). To determine the correct SKU version for your copy of SimCity 4, find the installation directory, and look in the subfolder named sku_data. Alternatively, one can simply try all the SKU versions of the patch, until one works.

For Case G and H, see the section about Origin below.

For Cases D and E, again note that the NAM Team has little experience with the Mac version of the game, mostly restricted to the Steam version, and may be very limited in any ability to provide platform-specific technical support, including with the installation process (which is more complex on the App Store version). See the section about macOS here.

For Cases G, H, I, and J, it is recommended that you purchase a digital copy of SimCity 4 Deluxe (NOT from Origin).

What if my disc copy has simply stopped working with Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, or 10?

In 2015, Microsoft decided that secdrv.sys, the driver file used by the SafeDisc and other disc copy protection systems present in many PC games from the early 2000s, was a security threat. As a result, the driver was not included as part of Windows 10, and Microsoft issued Windows Update KB3086255, which disables secdrv.sys on Windows Vista, 7, 8, and 8.1. In the case of the older versions of Windows, secdrv.sys can be re-enabled when needed through the use of the command prompt or a batch file.

Aside from the advanced step of manually signing a device driver for Windows 10, the only viable courses of action are to either purchase a retail digital copy of the game, from a retailer who offers a fully-prepatched Version 1.1.641 copy of the game (i.e. GOG or Steam), or to get EA/Origin Customer Support to redeem your CD Key for a free digital copy of the game (unlike copies purchased via the Origin Store, the EA App, or EA Play subscriptions, CD Key Redemption copies are fully-prepatched to Version 1.1.641).

Note that cracked executables (i.e. a "No CD" .exe) are not eligible for tech support. The NAM Team does not support piracy, but understands the frustration with the game's original DRM system being blocked by Microsoft, forcing one to buy a new digital copy in order to continue playing. However, the reason why cracked executables are not eligible is for more practical reasons, namely the potential for version mismatches (i.e. a Version 1.1.638 crack with Version 1.1.610/613 .DAT files, or vice-versa), which can greatly complicate the team's efforts to provide useful technical support to users. The Origin issues played a role in our keeping the version check in place, until the recent installer change in 2020.

Please note that if you are attempting to use an older, 32-bit version of Windows (i.e. Windows XP) in order to still run your disc game, this will substantially hamper the performance of the game with the full NAM installed, and it is highly recommended that you run the game on a 64-bit operating system if you intend to take advantage of the full feature set. If you must run on a 32-bit OS, you will need to either install the new NAMLite package, or, for a mid-sized installation, select one of the "LowRAM/NoRHW" NAM Controller options. (The RealHighway (RHW) system is by far the largest part of the NAM.)

Note that the NTCore 4GB Patch is REQUIRED if you are running the Full NAM Controller ("4GB Full" options in the installer), which is required to use the RealHighway (RHW) system. If the installation procedure is begun via NetworkAddonMod_Setup_Version47.bat, as is the new recommended procedure, the 4GB Patch should be automatically applied to the game. Otherwise, the patch can be found inside the download, or downloaded directly from NTCore here, where further instructions on use of the patch can be found. Also due to this installer change, the NAM Controller Compiler is no longer run as part of the installation process. Users will have an option to install one of two pre-built NAM Controller options, the Full "4GB" option, which has a substantial size and requires the 4GB Patch and a 64-bit operating system, or a "Low RAM/No RHW" version that does not require the 4GB Patch, and does not include the code for the RealHighway (RHW) system, the most expansive fetaure in the mod. The "Low RAM/No RHW" version should be used by those with 32-bit operating systems (i.e. Windows XP), less than 4GB RAM, and/or by those not using the RHW.

Users wishing to simply use the NAM's Traffic Simulator improvements should install the NAMLite package, which offers easy setup of various minimal options.

The NAM uses a Java-based installer, designed by daeley, which is cross-platform (meaning no more separate Mac versions, and Linux support without WINE). As such, the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) is REQUIRED to run the NAM installer. It was previous recommended for users wishing to utilize the NAM Traffic Simulator Configuration Tool (TSCT), which has since been discontinued. A Windows 64-bit copy of OpenJDK 11 is included in the download (OpenJDK11U-jre_x64_windows_hotspot_11.0.8_10.msi). Other open source distributions of Java can be downloaded from here.

Users who fundamentally object to installing Java (or are unable to for other reasons) can perform a manual install, with patience. Details can be found here

With the new installer, the old NAM installation is no longer removed automatically, so users should manually remove any "a_Network Addon Mod Lite", "Network Addon Mod" and/or "z___NAM" folders from their Plugins directory. If you use the "Cleanup" option under the "Setup" tab, it is highly recommended that you select the "Backup" option upon completion, and "Delete" will in fact delete all those files, making them unrecoverable. It is recommended that you back those folders up in a location that is not in your Plugins folder. Presently, all files are now installed to the "Network Addon Mod" directory, or in the case of a NAMLite install, the "a_Network Addon Mod Lite" directory.

The RealRailway (RRW) standard for Rail is now the default and only option, unless using NAMLite. One may choose to disable the RRW's more restrictive default slope settings by unselecting the "RRW Tunnel and Slope Parameters" box in the installer, or selecting the more moderate option. The original Maxis Rail specification is available in NAMLite, and may be available to larger installs via a future Legacy Plugin, downloaded separately, at a later date. Also note that a number of cosmetic-oriented NAM plugins, such as the El-Rail Alternate Implementation, the Bullet Train Mod, and some advanced texture options (largely deprecated) have been removed from the installer since NAM 37. The Alternate El-Rail and BTM will be made available separately at a later date. Please note that, much like Maxis Rail, these Plugins are effectively in "Legacy" status, and may not be actively maintained or supported by the NAM Team going forward, though you may choose to retrieve them from a past NAM installation's "z___NAM" folder. Both the original Maxis Highways (MHW) and the "Maxis Highway Override/Project Symphony" (MHO) remain available.

The Station Locator, Updater, and Reconstruction Project (SLURP) is also no longer handled by the new installer. There is ongoing internal discussion about reimplementing SLURP. Users wishing to retain SLURPed stations should retrieve them from the "z___NAM\Mass Transit Lots\Station Overrides" folder in their existing NAM installation, where they will be found in the "Mass Transit Lots" subfolder. Note that users running the 64-bit version of SimCity 4 on macOS may wish to refrain from retrieving SLURP stations, as there have been some encoding issues with stations that cause that version of the game to CTD.

The new installer also no longer performs a version check. Please note, however, that for Windows users, Version 1.1.638 and above are still required, as Versions 1.1.610 and 1.1.613 have notable instabilities that may have a significant negative impact on the use of this mod. Copies purchased from the Origin Store, the EA App, or accessed via EA Play may still not meet this requirement, and support will not be offered to users with "unofficial" copies of the game.

Aside from a brief period in 2014-2015, Origin and the EA App, the digital retail platforms run by Electronic Arts (EA), have been selling copies of SimCity 4 Deluxe featuring an unpatched and unpatchable version of the game's executable file to retail customers. As of the release of NAM 47, this is still the case. Unlike the retail versions sold by GOG.com and Steam (and previously Amazon's "Thin Game Download" version), which come prepatched to Version 1.1.641, the edition sold on the Origin Store and the EA App (also used by the EA Play subscription service), features a Version 1.1.610 executable, mixed with Version 1.1.641 versions of the SimCity_1-5.dat files. By virtue of switching out the original SafeDisc copy protection for their own DRM, EA/Origin altered the checksum of the game's executable, thereby preventing EA's own EP1 Update 1 (Version 1.1.638) and BAT Nightlighting/EP1 Update 2 (Version 1.1.640) patchers from properly updating the executable. It also appears to be more difficult to apply the 4GB Patch with the EA App version, which is needed in order to run a full NAM installation.

This not only fails to meet the NAM's minimum requirements, but leaves EA App/Origin retail copies with many stability issues developers fixed in 2003, and without working nightlighting on any custom buildings. It also prevents first-party content creation tools like the Building Architect Tool (BAT) from being installed, which look for a properly-patched executable. Note that this is in spite of the curious fact that EA uses images of the NAM and other pieces of custom content to advertise SimCity 4, both on EA.com and in the EA App.

Furthermore, the EA App and Origin client are capable of actually unpatching other versions of SimCity 4 Deluxe that a user may have installed on their system, including the Steam and GOG versions, via the "Repair" process. Even if you are not playing an EA App/Origin version of the game, be aware that the EA App and Origin client can still unpatch your game.

For those who have purchased the game via EA.com, the EA App, or the Origin Store, the NAM Team recommends you contact EA/Origin Support about obtaining a refund, even after the return period has expired, as users have had success in this case. If you are among the users who are saddled with the unpatched and unpatchable EA App/Origin retail version. The team would also appreciate hearing from you, as we have a strong desire to see EA give their customers a properly-patched copy of the game, and are trying to document just how many users are affected. Those playing via EA Play/Xbox Game Pass should also let EA Play know that they are serving up an outdated executable for the game, missing key stability fixes.

Strangely, copies obtained by redeeming an existing CD key at no cost with Origin Customer Support (Case C) are properly patched, despite what the same support team routinely tells those who bought copies and received the unpatched Version 1.1.610 digital copies.

In short:

• Free copy from EA/Origin Support for CD Key Redemption: Properly patched executable (1.1.641)
• Purchased copy from EA.com, the EA App, the Origin Store, or playing via EA Play/Xbox Game Pass: Unpatched and unpatchable executable (permanently locked to Version 1.1.610)

For a more detailed assessment of the Origin situation, NAM developer Tarkus has written extensively on the subject at his blog, SimTarkus.

Aspyr issued an update to their port of SimCity 4 Deluxe for macOS, updating it from a 32-bit app to a 64-bit one on both Steam and the App Store, allowing it to be compatible with macOS Catalina (10.15) and later. This change has introduced a number of quirks, however.

Most notably, it has changed the key combination for cycling through TAB Loops under the NAM's various buttons. Instead of using TAB to move forward, and Shift-TAB to move in reverse, Mac users must now use Ctrl-TAB to move forward, and Ctrl-Shift-TAB to move in reverse. While TAB and Shift-TAB will allow one to move through the TAB Loop, these keys/combinations will cause some pieces under the buttons to be skipped.

Furthermore, the changes have also broken simmaster07's SC4MacInjector, which allowed DLL plugins--including SC4Fix.dll (which addressed the puzzle piece/TE Lot CTDs)--to run on macOS. As such, these fixes no longer work on Mac, and users should exercise caution when placing stations in the vicinity of static puzzle pieces.

Additionally, the installation procedure for the NAM varies depending on if one is using the Steam version or the App Store version.

With the Steam version, the NAM will install into the correct location by default: /Users/{username}/Documents/SimCity 4/Plugins/. For the App Store version, install the mod into a temporary location (the one suggested for the Steam version should suffice), then move the "Plugins" folder inside the .app file's container (~/Library/Containers/com.aspyr.simcity4.appstore/Data/Documents/SimCity 4). Any additional mods, buildings, or other plugins you wish to install can go inside this Plugins folder as well.

The NAM Team is not familiar enough with the App Store version at present to give reliable installation instructions, and we would instead refer users to the SC4 Mac Users board at Simtropolis for assistance.

The Mac port also has a "number of files" limit, wherein if a certain number of files/folders exist within the Plugins directory, the game will crash. In order to prevent this, you will need to run the JDatPacker utility mentioned in the installation instructions to consolidate the files (see Step 5).

If you are upgrading from a previous version of the NAM, MANUALLY MOVE YOUR OLD NAM INSTALLATION OUT FROM YOUR PLUGINS FOLDER, INTO A SAFE LOCATION (note that this has changed from previous NAM releases).. The current version of the NAM installer cannot detect your previous installation options by reading the existing folder structure. It is recommended that you check your existing installation, to determine which features you presently have installed.

Generally speaking, the NAM Team makes every effort to ensure that new versions at least retain some form of "legacy support", such that cities built with any previous NAM version will continue to function well with the latest version.

If you have consolidated your NAM files using a tool such as SC4DatPacker or JDatPacker, please read here.

Programs to consolidate folders worth of SimCity 4 .DAT files, such as SC4DatPacker (Windows) and JDatPacker (cross-platform), are popular options known to improve game performance, given SimCity 4's preference to read a smaller number of larger files, instead of a larger number of small files--a fact determined by the BSC Team's "Miramba Experiment" of 2006. The use of "DatPacking" programs on one's NAM installation, however, is a controversial topic. The NAM Team's general advice is for Windows users to avoid DatPacking (unless one is extremely careful, while for Mac users, the use of JDatPacker is essentially required.

In general, if one plans to DatPack one's NAM installation, they should also save the pre-DatPacked NAM folder in a safe place, outside the Plugins folder beforehand. The reason for this is to avoid potential conflicts and issues, such as the "dual icon bug" and Controller file conflicts between new and old installations, as well as to make it such that one knows which options they have installed when upgrading to a new version, or re-installing the same version with different options.

In the case of the Aspyr port for the Mac platform (both App Store and Steam versions), it possesses a strange quirk in which exceeding a certain number of files or folders (regardless of size) in the Plugins folder can cause game slowdowns or even crashing-to-desktop (CTD). To this end, using JDatPacker after installing the NAM on a Mac is a necessity, in order to ensure proper game performance. Again, however, one should save their pre-DatPacked NAM installation in a safe place, outside the Plugins folder, to make for easy upgrades.

While the NAM Installer, as noted above, has a series of checkboxes in Custom Installation relating to drive side, it is worth re-iterating that these boxes only change the compatibility files installed with the NAM, and do NOT change drive side. If you have an installation with Right-Hand Driving (RHD, vehicles driving on the right side of roads--this concept is NOT the same as the side one sits on when driving a vehicle) and wish to switch to Left-Hand Driving (LHD, vehicles driving on the left side of roads), this generally needs to be done either by adjusting the game's locale files, and then either editing the game's Windows registry entries, or by modifying the game's shortcut.

The new NAM Installer cannot determine default drive side of your installation, so make note of which side vehicles drive on in your game prior to installation. If you have changed your drive side by modifying the game's shortcut, instead of editing the Windows registry, then this would be the one and only case when changing the box checked here would be needed.

If you are needing to manually install the 4GB Patch (i.e. if your game still CTDs while loading a city tile after installing the NAM on Windows using the .bat file method), see MGB NAM's tutorial on YouTube.

Due to changes in computer systems, and continued expansions of the NAM's main Controller file, in 2013, it was determined that many newer systems, particularly those with more than 4GB of RAM, and running 64-bit versions of Windows, need additional accommodation. To that end, the NAM includes a "4GB Patch", also known as a "Large Address Aware (LAA) Patch", which allows the game to access the full 4GB of RAM that a 32-bit application can read, instead of the default 2GB. The NAM's patch was designed by NTCore, and built into the NAM with permission, and users with systems that need the patch will receive a prompt during NAM installation to install it. The original patch can be found here.

The only thing this patch does is to switch the Large Address Aware switch, an accessible switch present in all Windows executables, from "off" to "on" for the game's executable. Patches like this are common in game modding communities, including those associated with The Elder Scrolls series (i.e. Skyrim), and Fallout, and can be used to enhance any 32-bit application's performance on systems with 64-bit operating systems and a suitable amount of RAM.

The new installation starting point for Windows users--NetworkAddonMod_Setup_Version47.bat--should ensure that your game is automatically patched as needed.

Note that the 4GB Patch is NOT required for users on macOS, as that version of the game is 64-bit and can access more RAM than the Windows version (even with the 4GB Patch!) by default.

The default directory for where SimCity 4.exe may be located depends on how and where you purchased your copy of the game.

• GOG.com: C:\GOG Games\SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition\Apps
• Steam: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps
• Original Disc: C:\Program Files (x86)\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps
• Origin*: C:\Program Files (x86)\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps

*Note that only Origin copies acquired through Free CD Key Redemption (Version 1.1.641) are compatible with the NAM. Copies purchased through the Origin Store, the EA App or accessed via EA Play/Xbox Game Pass (Version 1.1.610) ARE NOT COMPATIBLE. See here for more details.

To uninstall the files, simply bulldoze every NAM item from this download in your cities and remove the files from the Plugins folder afterwards, which will be contained in Plugins\Network Addon Mod by default.

The NAM is a very expansive mod, with a substantial number of features, which may initially prove overwhelming to those not well-versed in its workings. The NAM Team anticipates that users, particularly those new to the NAM, may want to change the feature set they have installed, as they learn more about the mod's contents and capabilities.

To that end, we encourage users to keep the installer for the current version handy after initial installation. If you plan to change your particular set of options, you will need to remove your current installation. Moving it out of Plugins to a safe location is recommended, in case you want to keep your existing settings as a backup.

Users who are unable or unwilling to install Java can perform a manual installation of the NAM, something which the new file architecture introduced in 2020 makes far more possible than the previous "Monolithic" releases.

This method requires a file decompression tool capable of opening .jar files, such as 7-zip (Windows) or Keka (macOS). To begin, open NetworkAddonMod_Setup_Version47.jar using your file decompression tool.

The NAM's contents are located in the "installation" subfolder. The current installer uses a series of character flags at the start of directory names, in order to instruct the installer how to order the options, whether they're mandatory or optional, etc.

Numbers preceded by the at sign ("@"), i.e. "@1", "@2", etc., are merely being ordered with this flag.

Any directory with the caret ("^") in front of the name (or behind a "@" ordering flag) is mandatory.

Any directory with the exclamation mark ("!") in front of the name (or behind a "@" ordering flag) is not installed by default.

Any options where the equal sign ("=") and the dash ("-") are present are mutually exclusive--only one should be installed (the "=" option is the default).

The "@1^Core" directory is required. All other folders have options within them. At least one of the folders starting with "0 NAM Controller" must be installed. With "4 Automata Controller#", and "9 Traffic Simulator#", simply select one of the options inside and discard the rest, as these are straight up mutually exclusive one another. Within "8 Texture and Drive Side Support", keep "z_Common Files", then select either "-EU" (for EU textures) or "=US" (for US textures), and within "-EU" or "=US", get rid of the "_RightSide" or "_LeftSide" (whichever does not coincide with the side the vehicles in your game drive), and decide if you want any (or none) of the other subfolder options (i.e. Cul-De-Sacs).

The Automata Controller basically affects the display of the visual traffic in-game--Standard is going to be the lightest, while Radical is going to be the heaviest, Persistent makes the automata visuals last longer, and the 24-Hour modifiers handle whether the display is constant, or follows the data for the 24-Hour clock in-game.

The Texture and Drive Side Support includes four options, depending on whether you want to use US/North American textures or Euro/International Textures, and the drive side of your game (RHD or LHD, which should match your selection for the NAM Controller).

With the Traffic Simulator, these are ordered by the "@1" and the like in order of lowest capacity option to highest. Medium is the default.

With 5 DataView Options#, there's two subfolders. Both are just straight up options, with nothing mutually exclusive. You can probably just leave this one as is, unless you really don't like the Data View changes.

With 6 Miscellaneous, the two mutually exclusive options to watch out for are Extended Station Queries (there's four options in there--very subtle differences between them), and Maxis Transit Lots\Airport Capacity Adjustment#, which has three options (Default, Medium, and Large). And the Hole Diggers and Raisers are very much recommended--they have lots of use outside regular NAM usage, too.

With 3 Additional Transit Stations, this depends on if you want more transit stations beyond the game's default, and what the NAM adds by default for certain additional override networks. There should be no harm in either adding this one in whole, or leaving it out altogether, and if there's certain added stations you like/don't like, you can go in and customize this later.

2 Additional Network Features is by far the biggest area of the installer. This contains all the actual network feature addons in the mod. Most networks/network groups will have a "Base Features" folder, which really ought to be mandatory, as it contains a lot of the NAM's basic additions to each network, along with any Wide Radius/Multi Radius Curves and Fractional Angles, as well as Roundabout options for the various road-type networks.

The main "mutually exclusive" option to look out for here is with the Maxis Highways (there's two options--@1=Default Style, which keeps the Maxis Highways' default look and adds the NAM's additions for it, or @2-Maxis Highway Override (RHW-Style), which completely reskins the Maxis Highways, removes access to the default interchanges, and replaces them with RHW-style modular interchange functionality and a few new ploppable interchanges. Using the RealHighway (RHW) option is pretty much mandatory if you're going this route).

The other ones to watch out for are in Water Transport, where the Canal Addon Mod (CAN-AM) has two mutually-exclusive styles (@1=Callagrafx Style and @2-SimGoober Style), and there's also quite a few "non-default" options in Roads, One-Way Roads, and Avenues.

Those three non-default options are !Legacy Auto Avenue Turn Lanes (these are the old auto-turn lanes that appear on Avenue x Avenue intersections--largely considered "deprecated" now, as they can interfere with some newer functionality), !Legacy Semi-Auto Road Turn Lanes (the "semi-auto" replacement for the old auto-turn lanes on Road x Road intersections, which now appear by clicking over Road x Road + and T-intersections with the One-Way Road tool, also somewhat "deprecated" now), and !One-Way Road Arrow Plugins. These Arrow Plugins are mostly just a matter of taste, and, despite the folder naming, actually supposed to be mutually exclusive. "Elimination" gets rid of the arrows entirely, "Reduction" hides some of them (and actually impacts the base functionality of the OWR network to some degree), while "Single Arrows" replaces the default double arrows with just a single arrow (which looks nicer on the NWM networks).

The rest of 2 Additional Network Features is pretty self-explanatory, though micromanagement of these options is not recommended, since it is possible to produce a broken installation this way. RealRailway is the only/default option for Rail now, it's best to go all or nothing on RealHighways (RHW) and the Road, One-Way Road, and Avenue folder's "Additional Widths and Turn Lanes" option (which contains the Network Widening Mod and FLEX Turn Lanes). And if something says "Legacy" but it's not prefixed with "!", it's probably safest to install it, as it pertains to being able to keep certain older, deprecated content working, if you've built it with previous versions.

Users attempting to run the NAM as installed by default with the full NAM Controller, on systems with 32-bit Windows and/or less than 4GB RAM, will not be able to make use of the required 4GB Patch, and will encounter Crash-to-Desktop (CTD) errors with that default Controller. The only solution to this is to either install NAMLite, or select one of the "Low RAM/No RHW" options in the installer. Note that the "Low RAM/No RHW" options do not include ANY code for the RealHighway (RHW) plugin, so attempting to build RHW systems will result in everything reverting to the base RHW-2 network. The single biggest contributor to the Controller's size is the RealHighway (RHW) plugin, so not having it installed helps keep things under control on lower-end systems. Note that the NAM Controller is one of the most critical files in the entire mod; without a NAM Controller, none of the NAM's menu buttons will function, instead resulting in a "red arrow" when clicked.

Users wishing to run just the NAM's Traffic Simulator improvements should instead download and install NAM Lite.

The NAM Team only provides support and allows distribution of the most recent NAM version. With the exception of older non-English language versions (which are supported by their respective sites, not the NAM Team), no technical support will be provided to users of prior versions of the NAM, nor will any past versions of the NAM be made available for download, by request or otherwise. The team does not keep an official archive of past releases, and does not have the resources to answer questions regarding them. Each release includes improvements across the board to features new and old, is designed to be as compatible with cities built with previous versions as is humanly possible, and is also intended to improve the end user experience. Old releases are inherently inferior, and not "simpler" or "easier" to use.

Users wanting a smaller feature set, due to technical limitations, or unfamiliarity with the NAM's vast options, should instead seek to install NAM Lite, or fewer options in the current NAM, potentially coupled with the "Low RAM/No RHW" option, .

Users wishing to hold onto old versions should back them up in their personal archives. Note again that no technical support will be provided for this, nor may any user or site redistribute any old versions.

The following named members of Simtropolis, SC4 Devotion, SimCityPlaza, and the SC4 Devotion Discord have, for whatever particular reason, been specifically included here for their special contributions during the NAM's history. Very special thanks goes towards them in the making, supplying, &/or supporting of this mod &/or its contents possible in one way shape or another:

The NAM Team and Associates (Active Members as of NAM 47)

• Bipin
• bladeberkman
• b22rian
• CaptCity
• compdude787
• DebussyMan
• Durfsurn
• eggman121
• Eric Blair
• EstGuy/Cheese
• Flann
• Girafe
• Haljackey
• IDS2
• Indiana Joe
• Junspud
• KaenOkami
• Kitsune
• Lucario Boricua
• matias93
• McDuell
• memo
• metarvo
• mgb204
• MushyMushy
• Naomi57
• noahclem
• pierreh
• Ramona Brie
• ReLynx/RemRinka
• rivit
• Ryan B.
• saus tartar
• Shadow Assassin
• Simizen
• Tarkus
• TheCouncill0r/dicko6
• TheMurderousCricket
• Tyberius06
• Ulisse Wolf
• z

NAM Founders

• Redlotus
• the7trumpets
• Tropod

NAM Team Lead

• Tarkus

NAM Technology Evangelist

• Haljackey

NAM Logo

• MadSim (original design)
• Ramona Brie (updated design)

Tool Programmers

• cjmarshall
• CorinaMarie
• DarkMatter
• daeley
• fafalone
• GoaSkin
• Ilive
• jondor
• memo
• null45
• rivit
• simrolle
• Stefan79
• Tropod
• wouanagaine

NAM Installer

• Andreas Roth
• daeley
• frimi2
• Tarkus
• wouanagaine
• z

NAM Controller Compiler

• memo

NAM Partner Program Members

• FoxieHikari
• robmtl (Rob's Red Hot Spot)
• saus tartar

Contributors & Testers

• 3ddz
• Alidonkey
• Andreas Roth
• andreharv
• Andy80586
• AngryMozart
• Anthracite
• APSMS
• ardecila
• ArkenbergeJoe
• BigSlark
• blahdy
• Blue Lightning
• brenda_xne
• buddybud
• CasperVg
• choco
• Chrisim
• Chrno
• Ciuu96
• Colyn
• CorinaMarie
• CryinG.FreeM4n
• daeley
• deathtopumpkins
• DebussyMan
• DuskTrooper
• dedgren
• Dexter
• Diggis
• DJPTiger
• Dragonshardz
• Droric
• ebina
• elgoalio_29
• Filasimo
• frimi2
• fukuda
• Ganaram Inukshuk
• Generalcamo
• gizmo28
• Glenni
• GoaSkin
• Ill Tonkso
• isii94
• J-dub
• jdenm8
• jeronij
• Jiwoahn
• jmvl
• joelyboy911
• Jonathan
• jondor
• jplumbley
• Karybdis
• kes5219
• Khiyana
• manchou
• MandelSoft
• Mero90
• michi_cc
• MIncroabl
• moonlinght
• morifari
• mott
• mtg
• Murakumon
• Nardo69
• nooneatall
• north country dude
• paulvmontfort
• plunderer
• praiodan
• Olasz
• qurlix
• rickmastfan67
• riiga
• Ripptide
• RogerRon91
• royal
• Sabretooth78
• samerton
• Schleicher68
• Seaman
• Simmer2
• sithlrd98
• smoncrie
• Spocky
• squidi
• Stefan79
• superhands
• swamp_ig
• Swamper77
• Swordmaster
• Teirusu
• The_Great_Chozo
• Thorvin
• threestooges
• titanicbuff
• toja
• Tropod
• vester
• vil
• vortext
• woodb3kmaster
• wouanagaine
• xannepan
• xxdita
• Xyloxadoria

Special Thanks

Webmaster & administration staff at Simtropolis, SC4Devotion, ModDB, and SimCityPlaza.

All (other) members of original Simtropolis Modd Squad, especially the Modd Squad founders.

And possibly others who may not have been mentioned. If your name has been forgotten or you're not on the list, then drop us a line, as it has been difficult to keep track of anyone/everyone that may of helped somewhere along the lines.

And to the community itself, we would also like to thank you for your support, making mods such as this possible too. We're still at it after almost 19 years thanks to you!

And last but not least, a thanks for the Maxis individuals too, for the [paid] work that they did and released 20 years ago. Here's to 20 more. ;-)