CAM - General Discussions

[z]

What is the ideal spacing of MT stations (specifically bus and subway) in CAM?  I realize that there is no simple answer to this question, but if someone at least has some general guidelines, that would be helpful.  Right now, I am using the CAM traffic simulator with the "Promote Biking" setting, but I assume I will be using one of the new simulators when CAM 1.1 comes out.  In any case, it would be very helpful to know, based on the traffic simulator in use, what the optimal spacing of these stations would be, and how it varies from one zone type to another (if it does).

[xxdita]

No need to wait for a new CAM before trying out the latest NAM traffic simulators. But your best bet is to download the MAC version, which has all of the files in a zip, rather than installer. This way, you can figure out which one is right for you.
As for spacing of transit stations, it really depends on the growth of your city, and the capacity of the stations themselves.
As congested traffic can put a damper on growth in CAM, I tend to put my subway stations in roughly every 4 to 6 grid tiles, then connect everything up to allow as many subway lines as possible, in every direction. A lot of stations are over capacity, but that's allowed. I also add a station directly across from any major employer, such as Stage 15 CO's, in order to enable everyone to get to work.

[z]

Firstly, as a suggestion: I don't think I recall seeing in the manual regarding wich growth stages grow on which zone density. Maybe this should be added?

The reason this isn't in the manual is that it isn't a fixed relationship.  There's a separate property for each building for which growth stage they are and which density zone(s) they grow in.  So it's really up to the building's creator what the correlation is, although you'll get a good feeling over time for which growth stages grow in which zones.

It's possible that the X Tool may standardize this, but then again, it may not.  I really don't know.

Although as xxdita says, most existing regions cannot be converted to CAM, some can.  I had a large New York metropolitan region with millions of Sims that converted to CAM seamlessly.  The best thing to do is try it out.  Make a backup copy of your region (essential!), and then try running the region with CAM.  See what happens!

Of course, for this to have even a chance of working, you have to follow xxdita's instructions completely.

[jmyers2043]

I was wondering how "compatible" the CAM is with existing regions. I have a well established region and would like to continue using it if possible.

Well first of all, Z gives good advise. Make of copy of your favorite region to a back up folder if you are uncertain about the results.

Regarding compatibility? One thing to keep in mind is the make up of your region.

I got involved with the CAM at beta 5. I was easily able to continue RUSH HOUR cities using the CAM. I'd switch to CAM beta 5, back to Rush Hour, then CAM beta 6, etc. . .  I should say that I am a bit of a rural player and my largest city was 150,000 Sims and I can't speak directly about cities of 1 Million. But other players such as Z have been able to integrate the CAM into their large cities with no problems. A lot depends on how you've fashioned your city to begin with. Do you have a lot of NDEX plop CO$$$'s? Then you'll have a tougher time making a go of it. If on the other hand, your 1 million Sim city has grown to its current size with few plops, then, your experience will be more rewarding I think. That's not saying that it will be perfect. It is possible that your city will be in for a bit of a roller coaster ride for the first 20 years or so as the game adjusts and finds balance to its 'new set of rules. But it will not be made unplayable with CTD's.

XXdita also give good advise. I would probably begin the process of weeding out those old stage 8 commercials that you've collected over the years and begin to put together a collection of updated stage 9 through 15's. You don't have to do it over night. The CAM will play just fine and dandy with a mixer of old and new. But be aware that a lot of those stage 8 NDEX offices (either having been grown or plopped) will have a negative impact on the growth of buildings stage 9 and upwards. One of the goals of the CAM? Let's try to grow the Empire State building as a stage 15 rather than have a bunch of giant stage 8's. 

Regarding Pegasus - He's actually done a good job through the years of modding reasonable stats for his buildings. Most of his things are reward/landmark/park type stuff that offer sensible numbers of jobs and are designed to make your city look pretty. So there is no conflict between Peg and the CAM.

A lot of SimGoobers buildings have been CAM'ed. Once again. You should probably think about systematically weeding out the old and replace them with the new. 

Hope this helps.

[b22rian]

Hi all...

I'm currently using the CAM in my region and my largest city especially is starting to really get some nice
development   It has a population of 725 K and Ive reached some of the higher growth stages now in it..
1- stage 10 industrial..  a few stage 15 commercial sky scrapers and I recently got my first stage 14
residential.. Anyways , one problem I have is i sometimes fall into a rut with my zoning.. meaning i too
often zone out the same old zoning dimensions.. like 3 X 3 or a lot of 4 X 3 zones.. thus your more likely
to end up with duplicate buildings that way  Its too bad because i know how to use the control key to make
the zones any dimension I want them to be..When I was looking over the list of CAM buildings and their zones
from the CAMeLots linking all available lots thread and i saw all the wonderful different zone dimensions and cool
buildings it has finally broke my rut of zoning the same ole zone dimensions..

   but I have a question about the previous areas I've already zoned .. most having already development on them..
I think a specific example might best explain my question..:

   OK, lets say I had  a residential zoning block of the same density, lets say high density for instance..
In this residential  zoning block let's say i originally zoned out using the control key some of those same old
zone dimensions .. say a 3 X 2 zone.. maybe a 4 X 4 zone and a 3 X 3 zone in there too.. we will also assume I zoned this still as one continuous zoning block of the same density- High..

Over time i was able
to get a few stage 8 and 9 residential high rises in there and they corresponded to those original zone sizes..
so i had a stage 8 - 3 X 2 evolve in there and maybe the 4 X 4 and the 3 X 3 eventually evolved into stage
9- high rises..

  Now , lets say over time as the city evolved.. perhaps i planted some trees and placed some new parks in that
same area and this area was now ready to evolve into the higher CAM stages of stages 9-10.. 11 later on..
Since its still a continuous high density zoning block although it was originally zoned with the dimensions I
mentioned above.. would it still be possible to get buildings of a different dimesion say.. 5 X 4 or even a 6 X 2
building.. or do to get those types of building dimensions would I have to rezone the area into blocks of 5 X 4
or 6 X 2 blocks ?

I hope I explained this well enough..

and Id like to thank every person out there involved with the development of the CAM,, it has added more enjoyment to playing SC 4 , than i could have ever hoped for..

Thanks Much,  Brian

[RippleJet]

It's never easy to predict how a block will develop, but the following scenarios are possible:

- A large lot gets split up into two (or more) smaller ones, as long as at least one of the smaller ones can develop a building of a higher growth stage than the replaced one.

- Two adjecent lots get merged into a larger lot, if there is a building available of a higher growth stage than the highest one in the two lots being replaced.

- Two (or more) adjecent lots get merged and resplit into another configuration, as long as at least one of the new lots can develop a building of a higher growth stage than all the replaced ones.

The building(s) that develop right away in the tract also need to have a higher occupancy than all those buildings being replaced.

Thus, it's fully possible for two adjecent lots of sizes 4x4 and 3x4 to merge and split up unto e.g. a 6x4 and a 1x4, if there is a suitable higher stage building that can develop on the 6x4 lot. The 1x4 lot doesn't necessarily have to develop at the same time if the occupancy of the building on the 6x4 lot is greater than the combined occupancy of the 4x4 and 3x4 lots.

[b22rian]

thanks for your prompt reply Ripple..
That was the reply I was hoping for 

Brian

[gallard0_inc]

Hi everyone...
I got a question,
How much the region population needed to have a stage 15 CO$$$?
I already have 3 million region population, but still no stage 15 CO$$$...
And is it really the I-HT Somy 1 or 2 with 22k can develop?
Because I don't have any one of those in my cities...
It always I-HT Somy with 14k that is grow in my cities...

[z]

It's not the regional population, but the regional commercial capacity (CO + CS) that counts.  For Stage 15 CO$$$, it's 788,720.  See the CAM Manual for further details on this.

Also, merely hitting the necessary capacity threshold does not guarantee the growth of a particular stage of building.  Many other factors are involved as well.  See RippleJet's excellent post for more details on this.

As for the Somy 1 and 2 buildings, they're too big to grow in CAM 1.0.  I think this is being fixed in CAM 1.1, though I'm not completely sure.

[gallard0_inc]

Oh yes Z, I mean regional comercial capacity
I see, so the Somy 1 and 2 doesn't grow...
Well then, thanks Z for the information
Helps me a lot!

[papab2000]

My question is since the CAM Essentials file is locked is this going to cause any issues with
me installing CAMlot files? I have installed the CAM and am working on installing CAMpadables lots.

Thank you,
Rich

[BarbyW]

You need to install BSC Essentials as the CAM Essentials is combined into that.

[papab2000]

Great, thanks for the quick response.

Rich

[phillosopherp]

but what about a cam disk. I figure the most the have contributed to the CAM are still active. Those that aren't that you are still using their stuff why not include a cleanitol file to grab those from the various sites. I would pay good money for something like that. As I am fairly new to custom content in SC4 I don't have most of these files. I also made the mistake of not paying the best of attention the first time around, ended up with doubles and triples I think and had SC4 CTD too much and had to reinstall. This of course made me wipe it all and now I am going back to get it all. I figure that most would pay for a service like this at least to have it as a backup disc. I don't know if it has been discussed before but what say you fearless admins. Is this something that would be possible?

[callagrafx]

patience is a virtue 

[BarbyW]

The permission of one person whose BATs were extensively used for CAMelots has already been sought to put the models into a pack for the LEX. The permission was refused.  We cannot put anything on a disk without the permission of the creator and I am almost certain that permission would be refused for some of the older BATs that were used.

[DanFraser]

I get this (below) when trying to click the download link, and it doesn't appear in the downloads stuff on the left hand side of the LEX.

Sorry ...I have a problem ...

I have a problem with the data you entered.

You have entered invalid data !
The following seems incorrect ...
Download Quota for this lot has been exceeded ...
The System Quality Controller ... (picture above) ... is having problems with the data you entered..

Click the BACK button in your BROWSER and try again.

[Diggis]

Are you using a download manager?  They can start multiple downloads which trip the max downloads.

[RippleJet]

Or maybe you haven't registered at the LEX yet?
Note that you have to register separately for the LEX (it's not the same as registering to SC4D).
Go to the main page and register first, before clicking any link leading directly to a download.

Sorry, I didn't read what you said carefully enough...

If the download quota is filled, you will have to wait till tomorrow before retrying.
However, before retrying, please empty your internet file cache.

You've probably got an incomplete download the first time your tried.
And each successive download takes that incomplete one from the cache...

[mon7]

Hi guys
I'm getting more and more lost and confused
I'v got boxes with R$ stage 9 Insufficient arms and inferior arms carch.
i don't know where i got it from or where to find the dependency. I love this game and love all the things u guys make  . I am sorry for the inconvenience