RCI Demand Sky Rocketing

[teddyrised]

Hi all!

I have installed CAM on a pre-existing region - I haven't played it for too long, so I'm just going to give it a try. I have also made a backup copy of the entire region before CAM is installed so that I could do a rollback when I want.

The region has around 10 developed city tiles, 1 extremely urbanized (or at least, intended so) and the rest are built with a suburban sprawl and rural settings in mind. When I played in the urbanized city tile, all the demands sky rocketed, with both R and C (regardless of wealth) maxing it out at 24k except for CO$$$ which is at approximately 15k. It was a pleasant surprise, but I'm a little worried, because when I played other smaller cities, the extremely high demand ended up off-setting the residents-job balance in the smaller, surrounding tiles and causing sky scrapers to be built on medium-density tiles.

I find it harder to grow residential buildings in smaller towns, but that's probably because of the modified education (and other civic) requirements, so I guess that's a no-issue by now.

[Lowkee33]

A discusion of this problem is found here.

The basics are that CAM has the demand simulators in it, and they add to Maxis', instead of replace it.  Your demand will double with CAM installed.

The solution is to DATpack CAM into SimCity_1.dat.  Dat pack them like you would any two other files, but make sure you name the CAM files to something like zCAM (so CAM is loaded last by datpacker).  You should also backup SimCity_1.dat.

Edit: You may want to start a new region to make CAM function properly as well.

[teddyrised]

The solution is to DATpack CAM into SimCity_1.dat.  Dat pack them like you would any two other files, but make sure you name the CAM files to something like zCAM (so CAM is loaded last by datpacker).  You should also backup SimCity_1.dat.

Thanks for the help and advice! I've got an additional question for this DATpacking step - so I will create a new folder in my plugins directory, say, SC1dat, and then dump the files from the /a_CAM/ folder with the SimCity_1.dat from the SC4 program files folder? And then I'll DATpack them into a new file, rename it as SimCity_1.dat, cut and paste it to the program files directory (effectively replacing the old SimCity_1.dat). Is that right?

I understand that using CAM in a pre-existing region will cause problem, that's why I have backed the region up and installed CAM and see how it goes. If it doesn't work out well, I have no qualms about starting a new one, or playing the pre-existing one without CAM

[Lowkee33]

I will create a new folder in my plugins directory, say, SC1dat, and then dump the files from the /a_CAM/ folder with the SimCity_1.dat from the SC4 program files folder? And then I'll DATpack them into a new file, rename it as SimCity_1.dat, cut and paste it to the program files directory (effectively replacing the old SimCity_1.dat). Is that right?

Thats it.  Just know that Datpacker packs files in the same order that Sim City would load them.  You would need to change the name of the CAM files to something like zCAM (or name the SimCity_1 to aSimcity1).

Also remember to take the original SimCity_1.dat and CAMs out of your plugin folder.

The most instant effect CAM has is the way stage limits work.  The process of getting to the higher stages is slowed down by CAM, so after installing it you wont be able to get the stages that you were getting before.

[teddyrised]

Oh, okay. Thanks for the additional information! I didn't know that DATpacker packs the files in the same order of loading... whew, you just saved me hours of fretting over a buggy SimCity 4 game (I wouldn't have thought of renaming the files).

For the /z_CAM/ folder, I will just leave it as it is, right? Or do I need to DATpack it in as well?

Interestingly, I have the problem of growing skyscrapers in my region all the while. And after CAM is installed skyscrapers started sprouting everywhere, much to my delight (and annoyance, since I had to downgrade the zoning to medium or light hah - but I'm not complaining).

(Edit:) And I want to thank you for your help your help and advice have been invaluable. Have a great weekend!

[jmyers2043]

Hello Teddy

I don't have anything to add to this discussion. But I did click on the web page http://teddy-o-ted.com/ and browsed through the pictures.

The pictures make me make me want to come to your country for a visit.


- Jim

[RippleJet]

For the /z_CAM/ folder, I will just leave it as it is, right? Or do I need to DATpack it in as well?

If you've got the latest NAM installed as well, then you would probably want to remove he z_CAM folder completely.
It only contains an optional traffic plugin that came with the CAM.

Having it in the z_CAM ensures that it loads after NAM and thus overwrites NAM's traffic controller.
Since NAM has been updated several times since CAM, I would today recommend to use whichever traffic plugin you installed with NAM instead.