Vehicles and sims disappeared from roads after a video card change

[adfiver]

I played SC4 Deluxe using an old motherboard-integrated video card of 2005, with the latest NAM and its updates, all was OK (graphics were not top notch, of course, but that's not the issue).
I had a better video card installed today (GeForce 7300 GT), and now all the vehicles and sims that would usually move along the roads/streets/etc have just disappeared... 
I didn't re-install the game, just changed the card (I would not like to revert to the old one or re-install the game). I have tried different settings and resolutions, even thought the 'Persistent Automata Mod Version 2' plugin might be the cause and removed it, but nothing changes, the roads/streets/etc are empty.
Did anybody have a problem like that, when vehicles/sims disappeared from roads/streets/etc after a video card change?
Help me, please...

[Tarkus]

You may want to check your graphical settings in game.  It's possible they may have defaulted to a lower setting after installing the new graphics card.

-Alex

[adfiver]

You may want to check your graphical settings in game.  It's possible they may have defaulted to a lower setting after installing the new graphics card. -Alex

Thank you for trying to help me!
My previous graphical settings were lower, because the graphics card was more simple. After the newer card was installed and I ran the game, all the settings were automatically set higher - the game did that, I assume. And then I saw that all automatas and sims which were supposed to run around were gone. The only sims and vehicles I see are those used by Jeronij's (sorry if I misspell the name) street side mode and those used in some lots (like people on squares, etc).
I tried to use default settings, then all high settings, then 2 low, 2 medium and 2 high, but nothing changes.
Might it be something related to NAM automata controllers? When I installed NAM the first time, I used 'standard' or 'low' options only. Should I deinstall and then re-install NAM? If so, which options should I check then - higher, or lower and standard again? I prefer standard or lower options for automatas, because I don't like too many vehicles around and too fast.
I hoped someone might have had a similar problem and could share experience... 

[NCGAIO]

My previous graphical settings were lower, because the graphics card was more simple. After the newer card was installed and I ran the game, all the settings were automatically set higher - the game did that, I assume.

I find it highly unlikely that the game has automatically updated by changing the board. It seems far more likely to reinstall original settings.


To begin with .... find out if is the installation  the game.


- Rename your plugins folder and make another plugins.bak empty.
- Get into the game and change its graphic details and conditions for high automatons.
- Open a new town.
- Build a road forming a square of 5 x 5 tiles and build a complete deluxe police station along one of the sides. Plop any power station next to the station


You should have automatons running on the square. If this happens will have to analyze the plugins replacing them one by one .... if it does happen then it may be the installation of the game or problems with 3D graphics card settings.


Try and rewrite.

[adfiver]

Thank you, NCGAIO!

I find it highly unlikely that the game has automatically updated by changing the board. It seems far more likely to reinstall original settings.

You might be right. Now that you told me... I did not install the new graphics card myself, the guy(s) at the computer service I applied to could try running the game to check it - because the game was the reason I asked for a bew card - so they could set the higher settings, and I thought it might be the game itself :-) 

To begin with .... find out if is the installation  the game.
- Rename your plugins folder and make another plugins.bak empty.
- Get into the game and change its graphic details and conditions for high automatons.
- Open a new town.
- Build a road forming a square of 5 x 5 tiles and build a complete deluxe police station along one of the sides. Plop any power station next to the station

"change its graphic details and conditions for high automatons" - you mean I should set "# of cars & sims" to 'high'?

You should have automatons running on the square. If this happens will have to analyze the plugins replacing them one by one .... if it does happen then it may be the installation of the game or problems with 3D graphics card settings.
Try and rewrite.

I will try to do that, thank you!

[adfiver]

Seems the problem indeed was caused by setting '# of cars & sims' to 'low'. I just didn't expect that 'low' would make all the cars/sims disappear completely, I thought some would still remain visible.

BTW, I've noticed another unexpected change after I switched to a better graphics card - all the automata now freeze when I click 'pause'. I remember they kept running before when I used an old card even when the game was paused. Strange... Though, I don't mind them freeze because it's logical for them to freeze when paused.

Thanks to all for help!

[threestooges]

If they freeze when you click "pause" see if they speed up when you hit one of the higher game speeds. If that's the case, then you likely have "Variable Speed Automata" selected in the options. Not selecting that will mean that all automata move the same speed without regard to the game speed.

[adfiver]

If they freeze when you click "pause" see if they speed up when you hit one of the higher game speeds. If that's the case, then you likely have "Variable Speed Automata" selected in the options. Not selecting that will mean that all automata move the same speed without regard to the game speed.

Aha, THAT is what has been bothering me too - I've been wondering whether I did or didn't have that setting selected before. Now I think I didn't. I will turn it off again. THANKS!