I am having my mind blown up.

[Gefer8]

I was thinking of installing CAM. When I readed the readme, and then it leaded to the largest list of downloads I have ever seen, EACH HAS ITS OWN SET OF DOWNLOADS, and on and on it goes. 

I'm thinking: Do I have to spend my entire day downloading all of these?

I'm pretty sure that some of it that you don't need to download at all, but why can't you guys make it a all-in-one huge-ass-pack that we can download, instead of looking at the computer all day and feel bad how much work you have to do?

[BigSlark]

Click "Add to List" beneath ever dependency, get the BSC LEX Downloader, and then start it up to download them all at once. Then settle in for a long evening installing. It's worth it, I assure you.

If I was competent at finding old posts, there's a great explanation as to why there's not a CAM Mega Pack out there, it involves permissions from creators and the difficulty of updating such a file, especially after it makes it on to BitTorrent or the like.

Cheers,
Kevin

[Gefer8]

Click "Add to List" beneath ever dependency, get the BSC LEX Downloader, and then start it up to download them all at once. Then settle in for a long evening installing. It's worth it, I assure you.

If I was competent at finding old posts, there's a great explanation as to why there's not a CAM Mega Pack out there, it involves permissions from creators and the difficulty of updating such a file, especially after it makes it on to BitTorrent or the like.

Cheers,
Kevin

I can't find the "add to list" icon in this list
http://www.sc4devotion.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=48&Itemid=
Is there a list with one?

[Tarkus]

I should also add . . . the CAM does not actually require all of those files as dependencies.  It actually includes modified exemplars for numerous Maxis buildings, making them CAMpatible, meaning you can actually run it right out of the box without all that stuff.  The appendices at the end of the .pdf CAM Manual lists all in-game CAMeLots. 

The lists you are referring to are "starter packs" of additional CAMpatible custom content at the higher development stages--CAMeLots, as they are called.  That package contains exemplars for older custom buildings made before the CAM, making them CAMpatible.  It does CAMpatiblize a lot of nice stuff (i.e. some old NDEX stuff, like some of DuskTrooper's skyscrapers from the STEX circa 2005-2006), but it's not technically necessary to use the CAM.  It is strongly recommended, however, that you use CAMeLots and CAMpatible downloads (regardless of whether or not they came out of those packs--there have been plenty of CAMeLots released on the LEX since the CAM came out) when running the CAM to ensure proper balance.

-Alex

[Gefer8]

I should also add . . . the CAM does not actually require all of those files as dependencies.  It actually includes modified exemplars for numerous Maxis buildings, making them CAMpatible, meaning you can actually run it right out of the box without all that stuff.  The appendices at the end of the .pdf CAM Manual lists all in-game CAMeLots. 

The lists you are referring to are "starter packs" of additional CAMpatible custom content at the higher development stages--CAMeLots, as they are called.  That package contains exemplars for older custom buildings made before the CAM, making them CAMpatible.  It does CAMpatiblize a lot of nice stuff (i.e. some old NDEX stuff, like some of DuskTrooper's skyscrapers from the STEX circa 2005-2006), but it's not technically necessary to use the CAM.  It is strongly recommended, however, that you use CAMeLots and CAMpatible downloads (regardless of whether or not they came out of those packs--there have been plenty of CAMeLots released on the LEX since the CAM came out) when running the CAM to ensure proper balance.

-Alex

Right now (during the post of the post) I am downloading 308 files. (I just searched dependency in the category search, and add to list everything.) and I don't think it's necessary. And your saying that I never actually needed to do all this, just download the CAM download once, then play Sim City 4 and see if I can get any more buildings then I usually see? That would be a great plan, but I think I would be able to run a whole lot more plug-ins if I can get all those dependancies.

[Lowkee33]

Welcome to SC4D Gefer8

Having all of the dependencies in your plugin folder is not the best idea.  More plugins mean slower SC4.  I am jealous that you took the time to get all of the dependencies though.

SC4 has stage limits that govern when large/dense buildings appear.  CAM adds more stages to give a more fun game . As Tarkus said, you don't need any other mod for CAM to work.  The starter packs fill the gaps that Maxis Buildings could not.

My advise would be to check out this thread Cam - Stage Limits and Thresholds.  If you scroll down to the residential stage limits you will see that stage 1 is the only thing that grows with a capacity of less than 800 (Capacity would be the population if every building was filled).  Search the LEX for small buildings using the power search, and work your way up as your region develops.
 

[mightygoose]

the future is bright, the future is CAMpatible.

OK it may seem like a long slug but it is most certainly worth it in the end.

[jmyers2043]

and on and on it goes.

I beta tested the CAM from about beta version 5 through 9. When the CAM was released I ditched all those buildings and started with a fresh plugins. I saw some stage 8 buildings grow so I downloaded my favorite stage 9 and 10's at that time. When they started popping up I downloaded some stage 11 and 12's. And on and on I went. Basically the job can be broken down into small managable and more enjoyable tasks.

The advantage I had was that I didn't have a huge number of buidings downloaded from another site that are not CAMpatable. There will be some file organinzation on your part if have a lot of those and if they are scattered about.

Good Luck


- Jim

[Gefer8]

Alright guys. I finally installed all 308 files. (Most of those files have like 20 dat's and and all)

I'm about to test it. Have you guys ever thought of R$$$$? 

[Gefer8]

 
All the dependancies for nothing. I see several of my industrial buildings turning into brown boxes.
WHAT ELSE?

Where is the starter packs, by the way?

[RippleJet]

All the dependancies for nothing. I see several of my industrial buildings turning into brown boxes.

Whenever you have a brown box growing, query that box and check this thread for the needed building model.

[FrankU]

Downloading the starter packs is indeed quite a tedious job. Perfectly for a boring sunday afternoon when everybody is out of town and you need to sit at home or at a desk having nothing to do but browse around on the Internet.

Anyway, I have done it some time ago.
What I did was install all the lots, texture packs and prop packs into the plugins folder. For the models I have a separate folder next to the plugins. The models are usually the largest files and you need them for the first time when the building grows.  So when a brown box appears I know I need one of my model files. I query the box, write down the name of it. Save the game, add the model into the pluginsfolder and fire the game up again. Very convenient.
That way I don't need to carry around the 25MB large model of the Velacosma tower in my still so small rural village.