SC4 Devotion Forum Archives

Less than a week away.  Nine Years!

Who would have thunk it, way back when?


David

Yes, David, I agree with you.
Who would  dare 9 years ago, to think that today this game will bring passion and excitement of so many people. Hardly anyone imagined that this game will build a society which connects over 150 countries.

- Ivo

it was one of the reasons I got a home computer was to play SimCity 3000 and when I got SimCity 4 ... it was awesome ... and of course that meant I had to have a new computer to do it justice

&dance

nine years huh. .  and still new content is being released nearly every day. I sometimes wonder if people from EA / Maxis visit sites like these and would recognize the game any longer. It really is one of a kind.

Quote from: vortext on January 08, 2012, 11:26:29 PMI sometimes wonder if people from EA / Maxis visit sites like these and would recognize the game any longer.

I'd like to see their face now with all the new incredible contents. :D

Yeah, this game is a language that we all share  :D

Quote from: art128 on January 08, 2012, 11:32:11 PM

Quote from: vortext on January 08, 2012, 11:26:29 PMI sometimes wonder if people from EA / Maxis visit sites like these and would recognize the game any longer.

I'd like to see their face now with all the new incredible contents. :D

They would but, I dont believe they visit us, or show intress, because EA only wants profit, and they get it from FPS and RTS as not many people nowadays plays city simulation games =\

I tend to disagree, if you look at the Anno series for instance, they are massively popular (granted, it's a bit of combination of an RTS and city-building game). But the general public indeed prefers FPS and racing games to city-builders, because in my view they have the stigma of being very hard for people new to the genre. The original SC4 was by no means an easy game if you're new to city-building games, but if you persevered, it rewarded you greatly.

it's not just that city builders (business simulations in general and to a certain extend RTS) are a hard genre to new gamers, as a matter of fact they are anything but a quick fun. they demand a lot of time to be enjoyed and give good results and not everyone can put this time into it. Most gamers are looking into fastpaced fun, call it arcade if you want, and that's more a matter of FPS and racing games (sports games in general I guess).
I see it with myself, while I totally love Sim City ever since I got the SNES version of the first Sim City I guess it's the game that followed me through (almost) my entire life and I recon it will stay this way till death do us part. But the more I'm running short on time I can spent playing, the more I tend to put SC aside and play other games that are less time consuming to get decent results. I can vividly remember times when I was developing entire regions and after like 6-8 hours (god I miss school) I realized all I've done was 1 big city tile in a region i want to turn into a sprawling city.

but damn, 9 years already. and still as young as day one... thanks to loads of plastic surgery from the community  :D

What's that syndrome ruling now the entire world ? ()what() ... or something grows endlessly , or it is undeniably dying ! ( looks like SC4 has lost its AAA ! My goodness !  :D )

Future  is « undetermined events that will occur » . Frightening speculations allowed indeed ...  ::)



After all I've just read  about the future of the community , I feel necessary  to keep in mind first that  we're free since creation tools ( LE , BAT , PM ) provided by Maxis ,  without thinking about the Internet revolution ( like all of us ) , have generated the emergence of free fan sites with free creators of free Modding tools and free custom content . SC4 , which isn't a game ( Tetris is a game , Hide-and-seek is a game . Race driver GRID is a game . Build and design cities is a hobby if not a dangerous addiction ...  $%Grinno$% ) , can be considered like kidnaped by its fans since the first upload on the STEX in 2003 , and it's not going to happen again soon that another City Builder developer commits that kind of  error . See CitiesXL ... ( I remember Da Silva from Monte Cristo naming us « the gardeners ... » ) "Gloria victis !"  :party:


And no need to wish a long life to SC4 : with that kind of unstoppable asset , that's obvious .

&bis& Happy birthday SC4 !   ()flower()

Last note ; SC4Devotion in its charter of good manners asserts that « This isn't a social site ... » . I'm afraid that , just the opposite , everything there is social ; BarbyW («  Don't complain , don't explain » , H. Ford but so British finally , isn't it ? Hope you're doing well ...  ::) ) , Jeronij , Colyn , Ripplejet , Andreas ,Diggis , Wouanagaine , Ennedi and ... many many others , we miss you so !  :thumbsdown:

Cédric.

I still think SimCity 2000 for the Sega Saturn was the 2nd best version of the game because you could zone for the airports and seaports, so you could make them as large or small as you wished with zoning.

SC3000 was fun(I still have mine and have thought about installing it on my WinME PC to play it again), but SC4 took the cake when it came to the name.

And the game was made even better by modders who loked for things they could tweak and make thegame even better, or by some awesome lotters as well.

As far as most popular games, the sports genre(baseball, football, soccer/futbol) and war games will always be the top selling games

Quote from: mike3775 on January 09, 2012, 05:34:38 AM
As far as most popular games, the sports genre(baseball, football, soccer/futbol) and war games will always be the top selling games

That's way I believe EA wont make a Sim City 5 or other games like it. not to a scale of investment of "ModernWarfare" or something like it I mean. it is long gone the time where people had visions, dreams, and not profits only XD

I can name a few good games which got lost on History for not being profitable   :-\

anyway, happy birthday SC4 :D &dance &dance %BUd% %BUd%

A happy birthday to SC4  &hlp  My favorite number of years for my favorite game  :D

Given that I still play games as old as Master of Orion II or even Warcraft I or Civilization II occasionally, I wouldn't be surprised if I'm playing SC4 in another 9 years  ;)

Holy cow!! Go SC4!!!  &apls &apls &apls &apls &apls &apls &apls &apls &apls &apls &apls

9 years already? Wow... And EA still haven't made a better game than it :D

Quote from: noahclem on January 09, 2012, 10:09:32 AM
Given that I still play games as old as Master of Orion II or even Warcraft I or Civilization II occasionally, I wouldn't be surprised if I'm playing SC4 in another 9 years  ;)

You to?  I honestly do not like most newer video games.  I have a 360, Wii, PS3, and yet I would rather play PC games like Civ II/III/IV, Command and Conquer Red Alert II/Yuri's Revenge, SC4, SC3000.  Heck I have thought about hooking up the Saturn and play SC2000 on it(that and Daytona 500 were the only two games I ever bought for it because by the time I got that system, a few months later the original playstation came out, which I immediately bought).

Its hard to believe that I first played SimCity on a SNES, and all it consisted of was red, yellow, and blue blocks to designate the zones, and when traffic got to bad, bulldoze the roads and replace them with train tracks, then get the train station.  To beat the game(I believe it was to become a megalopolis) you had to do a grid pattern of 3 at the top and bottom and 2 on the sides with a park in the middle so that they would all join together.  Then when you were out of land, they gave you 4 landfill tiles as rewards.  Man the memories

A very happy birthday to SC4 indeed. Just the fact that this game has such a huge community of people who still play the game shows how good this game is. Games like SC4 don't come along very often. Even with other City-Builders that have come along, CityLife, CitiesXL, etc SC4 still sits comfortably at the top of the City-Building genre.

I'd also like to thank all the BATers, modders, lotters, and everyone else who contributes for making this game still so enjoyable after nearly a decade. To be honest, who needs SC5 with all you guys around? ;D I'm certain that when this game reaches its tenth birthday there will still be a huge fanbase to celebrate it, just as we are now.

Happy Birthday Sim City 4!!! :O

9 years old and my high-end-at-the-time 3-yr-old laptop still lags  $%Grinno$%

QuoteIts hard to believe that I first played SimCity on a SNES

You too?  :D  I'd have to add Dune II to my old-school PC game list too...

Nine years old, and still outrunning all of the new games that I happen to try out. Even refrained from buying Anno 2070 'cause I knew returning to SC4 would only be a matter of weeks or months.

So, thanks to all the folks making this game worthwhile over such a long period.

Really, who needs SC5 when SC4 has already been made better than the base-release of a new simulator would be.  Not that I wouldn't buy it if a real SC5 came out, but even if I did, I don't think I would allow SC4 to collect dust in the recesses of the game cabinet.  If a real SC5 were to come out, here are some likely complaints people would have about the first release:

• "There are no variable-width median highways!"
• "There's no ground light rail."
• "What do you mean there are no schools in this game?"
• "What?  This game can't even be modded!?"

At least none of that will ever be a problem with SC4.  I'm not saying this to discourage Maxis from developing a new SimCity game.  However, it would appear that no amount of encouragement has done the trick, so what's there to do but enjoy the great game we have.

Happy Birthday, SC4! :party:

Quote from: mike3775 on January 10, 2012, 01:37:58 PM
Its hard to believe that I first played SimCity on a SNES

Quote from: noahclem on January 10, 2012, 11:05:01 PM
You too?

I also had my first taste of SimCity on the SNES Classic.  It started me on a journey which began with Dr. Wright and progressed to 3RR and NAM.  Did either of you ever leave the game running all night or when you left to go somewhere, so that your population or finances would grow?  I did it a lot of times, usually to find that a plane crash had destroyed most of the city.  &mmm

Quote from: metarvo on January 12, 2012, 06:09:34 AM
I also had my first taste of SimCity on the SNES Classic.  It started me on a journey which began with Dr. Wright and progressed to 3RR and NAM.  Did either of you ever leave the game running all night or when you left to go somewhere, so that your population or finances would grow?  I did it a lot of times, usually to find that a plane crash had destroyed most of the city.  &mmm

Yes I did.  90% of the time it was fine and simply grew, but 10% of the time a fire or plane crash would occur, and it usually happened like just minutes before I would get back to the game as it would still be going on  lol

I used to think the game taunted me by knowing when I was coming back

Happy Birthday Sim City 4.
  My most favorite game is now 9 years old and I still love her as the first day which touched her. I want to congratulate all who have similar feelings as mine and to express my infinite gratitude to the creators who developed this game so much.
I want to stress my deep gratitude to Io_bg, Tage, Tarkus, Maarten, Robin, David, jeronji, Jonathan and all others who gave so much of their time and expertise to run the game still on the front.

Happy Sim City day to all of you !!!
- Ivo

Happy Ninth Birthday from Alaska, SC4!


David

Happy Birthday SimCity from Poland!  ;)
I remember when I got the game in 2005 and ran it first time, when the region, new terraforming methods, roads, streets, elementary schools, collages, etc. was something enormous. I'm not able to count how many times I opened SimCity, how many times I was watching its intro, how many times I red the paper instruction and how many hours I spent in front of the game.
I want to thank to all creators, who during the 9 years, were trying to make the game more and more enjoyable. Thank you all!  :D
What can I wish in this day? Another 9 years of SimCity community!  ;)

I think I have myself spent more than 5000~6000 hours in front of SC4 since I got it in late 2006.. Each time when I get back from school I fired it up to play until I went to bed. All the good memories that comes back.

Happy B-day SC4~!

I've been playing SC4 since '07-'08 and I still love it! On to the next 9 years!  :P

 Congratulations SC! Now let's go out and buy some cake :party:

btw, we, the community at large, really ought to do something special for the first decade, next year!

I've done something special today - I installed SC4 onto my new HD as my old one failed last Autumn.

Wow, I cannot believe that it is 9 years since I bought my first copy of SC4. Can't remember exactly when in 2003 I bought it but it was early in the year. I joined Simtrop in July 2003 and started lotting under GrampaAl's tutelage later in the year. I joined CSX and worked with both GrampaAl and Colyn on lotting and modding. Then in 2004 BSC was started and so the story really started.

I am now in the process of painfully re-installing all my SC4 toolkit and plugins but I am hoping to spend a little more time with SC4 and SC4D than I have for the last 12 months.

Two things to be greatful for today.
SC4's birthday and Barby is coming back!


(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F_N0c7S5TLfxc%2FTKknvCZSjJI%2FAAAAAAAACOM%2Fa-pMfvWwqvQ%2Fs1600%2F9thbday.jpg&hash=4e794c4daa00c531dc6386e1bb6c6d67868f551d)

Robin :thumbsup:

Wow... It's SC4's Birthday and we (the community) get the present!

Quote from: BarbyW on January 14, 2012, 05:10:39 AM
I've done something special today - I installed SC4 onto my new HD as my old one failed last Autumn.
snip
I am now in the process of painfully re-installing all my SC4 toolkit and plugins but I am hoping to spend a little more time with SC4 and SC4D than I have for the last 12 months.

Happy Birthday SC4!  &bis& and "Welcome Back!" Barby.  ()flower()  ()stsfd()

Strange date for me ...  I worked only with Tycoon Rail Roads before it ... Only SC4 today with SC4 sites ... Thanks JRJ ...   

I remember watching my cousin play SimCity on his SNES (he never let me play games, just made me watch because he was an "expert" and I was a "newbie")...there was a cheat to get a lot of money buy laying a lot of police/fire stations or something. I was hooked! Got it for my computer and loved it! Didn't know about any of this stuff until SC4 though. I don't think I'd want an SC5. Everything would have to be redone! I think the community has ably adapted to new operating systems and can continue to do so.

Quote from: rooker1 on January 14, 2012, 07:47:20 AM
and Barby is coming back!

Ohh... should I also... :) ...we'll see... ::)

Happy Birthday nevertheless! :thumbsup:

Happy birthday SC4! &apls

I've been played SC4 from 2003 and I still remember my first city! And my cities in SC3000, in SC2000, and in Simcity Classic. More than a half of my life with SC. And I remember my first time with SC Classic when I was about 13 years old and when I saw the buildings growing for the first time. Was an special and exiting day and now I'm still enjoying when the buildings grow and the live come to the city.  ()stsfd().

BarbyW and Ripplejet! Great news :)

Happy Birthday SC4!! :sunny:

I don't believe my eyes!  Barby and RippleJet have returned to us.  Not only that, but it sounds like Barby's getting ready to play SC4 once again.  Welcome back! :) ;)

Now that the day is here (or already over in some locales), Happy Birthday SC4!  I've been playing around with the BAT again over the past two weeks, and I started the game once, so who knows what will happen this year.  ()stsfd()

Funny, i´ve bought SC4 2003 for the first time, still have the copy, but it was some boring stuff. In 2009 i rediscovered the game, it was pretty cheap and so i tried again. And the game failed again. Then - i´ve made some little cosmetical changes in Vampires Bloodlines i thought: why not also looking for mods in SimCity - maybe there is something...
First i found the SimKurier, some churches, some W2W, all this incredible European BATs, and... the NAM. After installing and a first "give it a try" it was the initial of a great love affair, grown since then and will do so furthermore.
So i give my congrats to a really good "game", but more to the community who transformed this simulation to what it is now. Thanks a lot for this endless work and passion, You people made me an addicted to this program, not Maxis or EA.  &apls &apls &apls
Again i only can say, this is a new game every year, last year NAM-day was a little bit like my personal childish christmas, never before i was as eager...

So i think i don´t need a new simcity 5, like Grneyes and other said. There is so much movement, this incredible work on MMPs and seasonal stuff last year for example...
Wich company would be able to compete against this?  $%Grinno$%

Greetz, Carl

And Legends are coming back... must be a good sign...

Wow- nine years  &apls . I have been a member of this amazing site for 5 years thanks to BarbyW (and welcome back by the way!). I never seem to have enough time to spend the time I would like to be a more active member. I am in awe of the talented users and the fantastic creations they have generously shared with all of us. I wish to thank the people who encouraged me and had the patience to provide help over the years:
jeronij, BarbyW, Swamper77, jacqulina, TheTeaCat, sebes, Bobbo, Tarkus (I'm sure I forgot a few names...  &mmm ). Eric

It's crazy to think this game is 9 years old.  I myself picked up SC4 Deluxe just about 8 years ago.  I'm a relative newb in that regard, I suppose. :D  Definitely got my bang for the buck, I'd say.

-Alex

Quote from: Tarkus on January 14, 2012, 05:51:37 PM
I myself picked up SC4 Deluxe just about 8 years ago.

You too?  I picked mine up in early 2004.  I shelled out the $49.99 it took to buy the Deluxe Edition.  At first, I thought, "What a waste of money," because of how boring the game seemed.  I actually went back to SC3K Unlimited for a while believing that SC4 was inferior to that game.  In late '06, though, I discovered SC4 fan sites and the NAM (my first download), along with RHW 1.3 (or 13 as it was called at the time).  The rest, they say, is history!

Quote from: metarvo on January 15, 2012, 06:40:55 AM

Quote from: Tarkus on January 14, 2012, 05:51:37 PM
I myself picked up SC4 Deluxe just about 8 years ago.

You too?  I picked mine up in early 2004.  I shelled out the $49.99 it took to buy the Deluxe Edition.  At first, I thought, "What a waste of money," because of how boring the game seemed.  I actually went back to SC3K Unlimited for a while believing that SC4 was inferior to that game.  In late '06, though, I discovered SC4 fan sites and the NAM (my first download), along with RHW 1.3 (or 13 as it was called at the time).  The rest, they say, is history!

I think I got it on sale at my local Fred Meyer as I recall . . . $44.99.  Before that, I had primarily been toying around with Streets of SimCity and the copy of SCURK (basically a sandbox version of SC2000) that came with it.  I was kind of trying to do regions with SCURK, so when I saw that SC4 had incorporated that as part of the actual gameplay, and some of the transportation options, I jumped at it.  Played it vanilla for almost 2 years (I hadn't yet discovered the community) and just about fell out of my chair when I ran across ST and found the NAM.  Never thought that a year after discovering the NAM, I'd be contributing to it.

And I remember RHW "13" quite well.  That was my first real transit mod release ever.

-Alex

I bought the original SC4 then waited anxiously for Rush Hour. Watched Simtrop and was very envious when some of the US members had it. I've never BATted - well I did try but no one at BSC wanted a green floating ball - but have always enjoyed the lotting and lot modding. I have a project just about to start but as I have not yet re-installed all my tools yet I won't say anything about what I am about to do. IWBRWIIR

I apologize for coming back to the topic ... I hope it is the ninth anniversary of the tenth on the way too.

  I'm seriously thinking about breaking up my rule of not spending money on the web without specific purpose and transform them into a signature of Devotion.