Now that there are so many mods, I would like to know if it's possible for any coder to change the programm code of SimCity 4 to enable bigger cities than 4x4 fields?
The computer power nowadays should be enough for cities with the size of 8x8 or even 16x16 fields.
I know - changinge the programm code is not that easy but some coders chage programm codes to get rid of copy protections - so why not to enable bigger cities.
Anyone an idea who can do something like this?
Getting rid of CP is one thing, usueally imply only modify a little line in code. Changing the max city size is a totally different thing, and unless someone get the source code, don't count on it at any rate
Is there wo one knowing someone who knows the source code? I guess this would only need a small patch.
I'm pretty sure this won't take a 'small' patch
I'm not a coder - but somewhere in the code has to be written what size the cities are allowed to have. I think to chance for example the size of the 1x1 cities to 8x8 shouldnt be that problem for a coder. Who the heck needs those 1x1 cities. No one will miss them.
Hstop, Wou is a coder, and has written most of the Big programmes available. If he says is a big deal, is probably is.
;)
I just though that you maybe thought that I would like to add a new city size and I just wanted to emphasize that it may be possible to change the size and to keep the grid color. So that there are not great changes necessary.
Well the patch itself would probably be "little" (in terms of the download size), the weeks/months/years to fully work out the code to change this and take care of all the bugs would be anything but simple. And thats assuming there was direct access to the source code. Its a little more difficult then sticking the disk in and clicking a button that says "Read source code".
I'm sure its not an impossible feat (custom submenus anyone?), but would by no means be something easy. The only way I could realistically see 8x8 happening would be if EA did it for us or released the source, and well, I wont hold my breath.
Quote from: XiahouDun on November 25, 2007, 05:04:53 AM
I'm sure its not an impossible feat (custom submenus anyone?), but would by no means be something easy.
Well on the subject of submenus daeley is working on something like this, use the news pop-up (http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=2958.0).
Quote from: vester on November 25, 2007, 05:20:44 AM
Well on the subject of submenus daeley is working on something like this, use the news pop-up (http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=2958.0).
Can't access the board, and I know, was why I mentioned it. When I first got involved in the community, I remember people mentioning it was impossible. Thus, no upgrade to change gameplay is impossible, just improbable :D
I think vester meant to link you here: http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=2917.0 ::)
And as you can see, it is not submenu in the 'menu', which is still 'impossible'. GoaSkin may find something on the mac version, but it will be very difficult to patch the PC version.
I hope I can shed some light here. If you look at a picture in the manual of the SC4 Rush Hour. You'll notice that on page 10, there's a pic showing irregular shaped cities. As in I see rectangular shaped cities. No. I don't know how to make those but it is possible and if we ask the right people, they might shed some light as well.
This pic btw, I've seen this in the internet a long time ago but I forgot where it was. I think I saw this in simcity.ea.com when SC4 was the main page.
I don't have my manual here but if you show me the pic I may believe you. :P
Unfortunately I don't know how to post a picture, but here is a link. I think this was a long time ago. I don't know why people did not become curious about this pic. Anyway this is the exact same pic that I have in the manual, only it is colored ;D. Funny, I just searched this in Google and immediately came out :P.
http://static4.filefront.com/images/cayeupajbb.jpg
Yeah it might be because people realised that there were no rectangular cities, only square cities cut by roads, which are the same colour as the city boundaries.
Oh yeah. Oh well thats too bad. Lol, all these years. Now I know. :D
unless EA releases the source code (which no way they will) it will be very difficult.
What I would really like to see someday, maybe on next SC game is an infinite city. I mean you will have a region/country what ever and it will not be divided instead you will scroll side ways and as you go the game will load and unload parts of the metropolis.
In all reality, they would still be divided, only you'd have the ability to jump from one city to the next, with out going back to region view.
The only way to change the city size is to get EA to give out the source code (which will never happen, unless you bribe EA with loads of cash), or get a modder, or a group to do it, which will take months or years, or get a professional program hacker to hack into SC4 to get the source code (you will have to find and pay a professional program hacker to find the source code).
It is not as simple as finding the source code. The exe file is actually compiled version of the source code, so it would take someone who could read, and program in the compiled code.
There could be parts of the dat files that have yet to be figured out, that could open up new possibilities, but I am not sure about that.
Is after all this years of modding still not possible to change the enlarge the maximum size of the regions?
And concerning the source code problem, don't forget that for example by cracking games the coders also modify the already compiled files to get rid of the copy protection.
So why shouldn't it be possible with changing the size of the regions?
Mate, I would suggest you forget about it. It's almost certainly coded into the EXE, which is not only encrypted, but also covered by the EULA so even if we were able to create larger city tiles it would be illegal for it to be distributed.
well, cracking games to remove the copy protection is also illegal but it is done everyday. I would say this is worse than editing the .exe for this purpose. I think it wouldn't even bother EA after all this years.
The
EULA (hover the mouse over that, by the way - I just learned that trick!) Which you agreed to when installing the game is a legally binding contract, which states that basically we can do what we like in terms of MODding the game, but not alter the EXE
(and other things not related to this, such as distribute or copy) - for that reason, no major site will allow that type of discussion on it's forums, and few serious players/modders will be interested in trying it.
Quote from: hstop on July 18, 2009, 04:07:30 AM
well, cracking games to remove the copy protection is also illegal but it is done everyday. I would say this is worse than editing the .exe for this purpose. I think it wouldn't even bother EA after all this years.
Point is, if it's illegal, we don't do it here, thus take Diggis' advice:
Quote from: Diggis on July 17, 2009, 06:37:41 AM
Mate, I would suggest you forget about it.
Quote from: hstop on July 18, 2009, 04:07:30 AM
well, cracking games to remove the copy protection is also illegal but it is done everyday. I would say this is worse than editing the .exe for this purpose. I think it wouldn't even bother EA after all this years.
You're a brave man for thinking this. EA are the biggest game publisher in the world, if you think they wouldn't take it seriously you are dreaming. They HAVE to otherwise everyone would do it.
I just realized that he's the same one posting over at ST.
Like I said over there...
Quote from: hstop on July 18, 2009, 04:07:30 AM
well, cracking games to remove the copy protection is also illegal but it is done everyday. I would say this is worse than editing the .exe for this purpose. I think it wouldn't even bother EA after all this years.
Yeah,but nobody wants to find out!
Jayson