Returning CAM user confused (+ question about CAN-AM)

[shaque]

Hello,

I downloaded the CAM main files and many additional sets about a year ago, built 3 adjacent cities in a region, got population to 1.5 and moved on to another game. Can't remember which.

I reinstalled Sim City and restored my CAM backup (plugins and regions) and started playing.

I have two questions regarding this:

1) I remember an article called CAM and NAM that advised users how to use NAM with CAM, or mentioned that CAM overrides NAM. Can't remember and can't find the article. Can someone please refresh my memory?
2) My residents seem to always prefer working in the city next door. Again, I remember an explanation that game measures distances by squares and quite simple all jobs in the next city are measured only to the final square in the original. I can't remember if there was a solution or if we were just advised to put up with it? (Not a big problem for me, I build residential/industrial/commercial centers).


Finally, in a separate installation I had MikeyBear's/Barby's Med-style lots in a Venice-like city using SG's canals to create an entirely mediterranean city. I understand SG's canals have been upgraded by callagrafx, made transit enabled in NAM, and further enhanced by Diggis. I'm confused about what I should with the original SG set I have installed. Do I download the additional files on top of it? Cal's upgrade cites SG's as a dependency.


Thanks for the help.

[Tarkus]

With regards to #1, the issue was that there were Traffic Simulators that had been included in the CAM.  I'd recommend not installing the CAM simulators and use the NAM ones instead.  That's the only conflict between the two, however.

-Alex

[RippleJet]

Can't remember which.

Must have been a boring game...

1) I remember an article called CAM and NAM that advised users how to use NAM with CAM, or mentioned that CAM overrides NAM. Can't remember and can't find the article. Can someone please refresh my memory?

CAM + NAM
When installing CAM, do not opt to include any of the included pathfinders (traffic simulators).

2) My residents seem to always prefer working in the city next door. Again, I remember an explanation that game measures distances by squares and quite simple all jobs in the next city are measured only to the final square in the original. I can't remember if there was a solution or if we were just advised to put up with it? (Not a big problem for me, I build residential/industrial/commercial centers).

Just be aware of the problems with Eternal Commuters.
It's all explained in the CAM manual.

[BarbyW]

Finally, in a separate installation I had MikeyBear's/Barby's Med-style lots in a Venice-like city using SG's canals to create an entirely mediterranean city. I understand SG's canals have been upgraded by callagrafx, made transit enabled in NAM, and further enhanced by Diggis. I'm confused about what I should with the original SG set I have installed. Do I download the additional files on top of it? Cal's upgrade cites SG's as a dependency.

All the single bank SG Med style lots have been replaced with a new set - there is a Cleanitol file included to help you remove the old ones. The SG CAL canals system is a separate system completely and will not upgrade the SG set.

The CAN-AM can be used as it was first released only for the SG canals or it can be used in the Diggis mod which allows the use of different canal systems within a city. This mod uses wealth indicators to work and the original SG Med Style lots had a mix of wealth. The new set are all $$. The SG CAL set are all $$$.

If you wish to keep your old city I would suggest that you keep your current set of SG lots  and use the basic CAN-AM mod.

If you don't mind losing your original city then download the new set and the new CAN-AM.

[shaque]

Thank you for the great help.

I have some additional questions regarding the various canals but I am not sure where to ask them considering there is no dedicated topic and that they span several authors/teams. Can somebody please point me in the right direction?

[BarbyW]

You can ask them here and I will try to answer you.

[TmiguelT]

have you guys have a problem while trying to un-install the CAM mod? My anti-virus keeps alerting me of a Trojan Attack.

I got this on my computer 3 times already.

Infection Trojan Horse Generic14.BUEO and it marks the CAM Files  ...

Sorry if i am hijacking this thread but i gotta show this...

[Andreas]

Most likely, it's a false report. AntiVirus programs keep doing that, since the code looks similar to a virus, but the term "generic" alone should be sufficient to say that it's nothing more than a wild guess by your AntiVirus program.

[TmiguelT]

thank you andreas  .... now i'm off to install the CAM mod again 

[shaque]

Thanks for the offer of help, I originally decided to rebuild my Med Style city with functional canals now but now I realize I'll need a different strategy altogether.

It's less urgent now but for future reference:
- The CAN-AM tiles included in NAM exclude sidewalls, terminals, locks, etc... so I will still have to use the original set from SimGoober alongside transit tiles?
- Most canal extras have been remade by Barby to be compatible with the CAN-AM updates so I only need the ones that weren't updated from the original sets, and those will not be TE (such as double bank Med lots). Placing these lots between TE lots will disrupt my functional network. Is this correct?
- With the Diggs mod CAN-AM pieces will default to the wealth level of the pieces adjacent to them, thus plopping CAL pieces next to CAN-AM pieces will change the CAN-AM pieces. This is the point I am least sure about.

Back to the topic of the thread since I decided to proceed with my CAM-enabled Sim City.
- Can someone please suggest which NAM simulator to best use with CAM since the one included is now outdated?
- Would connecting my cities in the middle rather than at the corner help solve my eternal commuter problem? From the CAM manual I understand that I can only connect two cities at a time, it doesn't address non-corner situations. Can I daisy chain cities with highways? How about if I only use rail and MT?
-Finally I would really appreciate it if someone could point me to a decent rail tutorial. My sims won't ride them, my industries throw their cargo onboard midway and never use stations.

Really appreciated

[WC_EEND]

here's a tutorial, mostly about realistic rail layout

[BarbyW]

It's less urgent now but for future reference:
- The CAN-AM tiles included in NAM exclude sidewalls, terminals, locks, etc... so I will still have to use the original set from SimGoober alongside transit tiles?
- Most canal extras have been remade by Barby to be compatible with the CAN-AM updates so I only need the ones that weren't updated from the original sets, and those will not be TE (such as double bank Med lots). Placing these lots between TE lots will disrupt my functional network. Is this correct?
- With the Diggs mod CAN-AM pieces will default to the wealth level of the pieces adjacent to them, thus plopping CAL pieces next to CAN-AM pieces will change the CAN-AM pieces. This is the point I am least sure about.

The CAN-AM installation in NAM does not include any lots.
You will need to use EITHER the original set of SG only lots OR The ones for the Diggis CAN-AM mod.
If you want to use the original Venetian set then you will need to only use the original CAN-AM terminals as many of the original lots are not suitable for the Diggs mod.
So far as the Venetian lots are concerned the single bank ones are the only ones that can allow a functional canal system as there is nowhere to place the required transit water tile in the centre. The old double banked ones can be used in conjunction with the new functional set but you will not have the functional canal through the double banked set.
You are correct with your comment re the Diggis mod and wealth level.
I hope this helps.

[RippleJet]

- Can someone please suggest which NAM simulator to best use with CAM since the one included is now outdated?

Uuuuhhhh...

That's a discussion that might start a heat wave here...
It mostly depends on how difficult (or realistic) you want your traffic simulation to be...

If you want it to be really simple, choose simulator Z Ultra, and you will barely experience any congestion...
If you want it to be a challenge (with congested roads etc.), choose Simulator A Hard.

All the other A's, B's and Z's fall in between those two (there are really too many to choose from)...
The hardest challenge of them all, would be to choose C or D, with normal capacities.
Those have the lowest capacities of them all (the same as that of Maxis' own simulator).

For more detailed information about the traffic plugins, I would have to direct you to the NAM board...

- Would connecting my cities in the middle rather than at the corner help solve my eternal commuter problem? From the CAM manual I understand that I can only connect two cities at a time, it doesn't address non-corner situations.

It should be fairly safe, especially if the commuters would have to travel through the centre of that city, before finding a road going out of town again.

Can I daisy chain cities with highways?

Yes, as long as the daisy chain doesn't pass too close to corners.

How about if I only use rail and MT?

If residents can board the trains or other MT, then the same problem with eternal commuters may occur.
Freight trains can safely leave your city in a corner though, since they won't appear in the neighbouring city.