SIM CITY 4: Version 1.10
by thy451 ... now an experienced newbie at this game...
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Introduction:
This guide, for now, is mostly aimed at those starting out in the game. That
means that I will be dealing with how to create a city without breaking the
bank. And after that how I will be focusing on how to get hi-tech industries.
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Version History:
1.00: The original
1.10: Major additions:
(1) Added Part II
(2) Changed some layout in Part I and also added some stuff there
(3) Added Part X
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TABLE OF CONTENTS:
PART I: First city, a Slum for all
Tip 1 : Raise Taxes
Tip 2a : Tight budget control - Power
Tip 2b : Tight budget control - Water
Tip 2c : Landfills
Tip 3 : Slum Town
Tip 4 : Slum town expand sideways
Tip 5 : Mid density zones
Tip 6 : Connections
Tip 7a : Jobs from industry
Tip 7b : Export oriented economy
Tip 8a : Basic Structure: Death to the auto-roads
Tip 8bi : Basic Structure: Proper planning: Industry
- Diagram T8bi
Tip 8bii : Basic Structure: Proper planning: Breathing space
Tip 8biii: Basic Structure: Proper planning: Residential
- Diagram T8biii
Tip 8biv : Basic Structure: Proper planning: Gap down
- Diagram T8biv
Tip 9a : Amenities: When to build
Tip 9b : Amenities: Budget control
Tip 10 : Commercial Development
Tip 11a : Budget: Some figures
Tip 11b : Budget: Ordinance
Tip 11c : Budget: Rewards
Tip 12a : Potential future problems
Tip 12b : Some solutions
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PART II: Second City, a Hint of High-Tech
(A): Pre High-Tech
Hint 1 : Raise Taxes
Hint 2a : Utilities: How to get a deal
Hint 2ai : Necessary connections
Hint 2aii : Nemo dat quod non habet
Hint 2aiii: Time
Hint 2b : Utilities: To build or to deal
Hint 3 : A town in development
Hint 4 : Residential over industry
Hint 5 : Mid density to High density
Hint 6 : Connections, freight time and placement
Hint 7a : City placement of zones: Initial set up
- Diagram H7a
Hint 7b : City placement of zones: Final set up
- Diagram H7b
Hint 8 : Basic structure
Hint 9 : Amenities
Hint 10 : Commerce as a vehicle of transition
Hint 11a : Budget: Further clarification
Hint 11b : Budget: Ordinance
Hint 11c : Budget: Rewards
Hint 12a : Polluting problems
Hint 12b : Neighbours as solution
(B): High Tech Arrives
Method I : Expand
Hint 13 : Raise taxes again
Hint 14 : Placement at the free space
Method II : Urban Renewal
Hint 15 : Raise taxes to crazy European levels
Hint 16 : Placement at the old place
Analysis of Methods
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PART X: X for Extra stuff
Easter Eggs
X'tra Insights
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Concluding Words:
Comments
Copyright: Yeah right...
Mailing Info
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PART I: First city, a slum for all
Pop: 31,000 and still growing month to month
Current cash: $100,000 +++
Time: 21 years
Budget: $1600 - $1700 surplus and still growing because pop still increasing
Map: Mid size (Not a map on the edge of the region)
Neighbours: None
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Tip 1: Raise Taxes
Before the game even starts set your taxes to:
R: $: 8.3/ $$: 8 /$$$: 7.5
C: 7 for all
I: $: 9 /$$: 7.5 / $$$: 7
I think you can increase I$ to even 9.5%
Feel free to play around to get the optimum.
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Tip 2a: Tight budget control - Power
Coal power plant: Set funding all the way down such that capacity used
should ideally be around 70%. This funding is the local funding where you
click on the plant itself not the one through the budget, obviously but
just in case.
Note: If you make the plant operate at a higher % your plant will age faster.
Note: I placed the coal plant and garbage disposal all at one corner. It is
near the industrial site but i don't think it should be that close. Maybe
10 - 15 squares away.
..........................
Tip 2b: Tight budget control - Water
Water Towers: Use towers rather than pumps. Since operating cost is $50.
You should continue building water towers until 5th one, since by then a
pump could produce more and cost less. After building a pump remember to
destroy the rest of the towers.
Pipes: Since water area is six on each side, you should leave 12 squares
in between the pipes
Note 1: Do not build pipes to power plant and landfills. I read that it
pollutes the water.
Note 2: Build you water system on the opposite end of your industrial /
power plant / landfill side.
Note 3: There is no means to reduce water budget except through the budget
screen which I strongly advice you not to. Unless you want to have burst
pipes all across you city.
..........................
Tip 2c: Landfills
Build only 4 squares at a time. In my game by the time I reached 16
squares, I had enough cash to buy the garbage to waste plant. You should
really buy it at that point. You should have quite a large surplus at
that point.
Waste to power: When you build a second coal station after your garbage
plant cannot keep up with demand, you should keep funding for the waste
plant at high and lower down the funding for the coal station instead.
Alternatively, you may use the plant as an incinerator by reducing the
funding. But you will not get any power out of it. Although the garbage
will still be destroyed.
Note: Landfill clears over time. There is no need to demolish the roads
leading to it.
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Tip 3: Slum Town
Education, health, recreation, hi tech industry all sound wonderful but
really which nation in the world went immediately from third world to first.
Treat the sims as mere chattels, whose only purpose is to bring you money.
So what if they live in a bleak house and have a bleak existence.
The only time when you start building these facilities is when population
hits a barrier of some sort. Remember and I cannot stress this enough your
purpose is less of a mayor, at least at the start, and more of an evil
industrialist bent on chaining and exploiting the masses.
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Tip 4: Slum town expand sideways
Remember as long as there is space on the map and demand for Industry or
Residential expand it sideways. This means zoning more rather than zoning
denser.
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Tip 5: Mid density zones
Use mid density for industry and residential. I seem to have a problem with
high density. It simply does not develop more than the single house. I
cannot figure it out. Any advice? My mid density actually has more than my
high density residential.
After zoning mid or low density, if later in the game you wish to increase
the denisty, all you have to do is drag the higher density zone over the area.
There is no need to demolish any buildings whatsoever. However, since the
higher density only develops if there is the demand, you may not see immediate
changes.
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Tip 6: Connections
Even if you have no neighbours at all, make connections. For this shortens
the freight time, which I assume attracts industry. Besides it is free.
Note: Look at Hint 6 in Part II for some further expansion on connections
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Tip 7a: Jobs from industry
The reason why people come to a place is to find jobs. So zone as much
industry as possible.
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Tip 7b: Export oriented economy
Since any developing nation is an export-oriented economy rather than a
consumer based one, there is really no need to build that much commercial
zones at the start. A few squares here and there would be sufficient.
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Tip 8a: Basic Structure: Death to the auto-roads
Set up the road structure first rather than use the auto roads. In other
words, I have no streets at all.
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Tip 8bi: Basic Structure: Proper planning: Industry
Set industry at the edge of the map. A 4x4 or a 4x5 zone is preferred.
Any larger and it seems not to really get developed fully. Set up a road of
about 6 (across) x 33 (down). Yes 33. Build either a zone of 4 x 4 or 5 x 4
in it. Leave a space in between each zone but there is no need to build a
road. My plan is to place a rail there later on. Have yet to do it but just
in case. I had 6 such strips of industry. Look at the diagram below.
Diagram T8bi: Industrial and Breathing Space
I: Industry
R: Road
G: Gap/space
H: Residential / houses
1 2 3 4
123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678
1RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
2RIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGGRIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGRCCCCRGRH
3RIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGGRIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGRCCCCRGRH
4RIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGGRIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGRCCCCRGRH
5RIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGGRIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGRCCCCRGRH
6RIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGGRIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGRCCCCRGRR
7RGGGGRGGGGRGGGGRGGGGRGGGGRGGGGRGGGGRGGGRRRRRRGRH
8RIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGGRIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGRCCCCRGRH
9RIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGGRIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGRCCCCRGRH
10RIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGGRIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGRCCCCRGRH
1RIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGGRIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGRCCCCRGRR
2RIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGGRIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGRCCCCRGRH
3RGGGGRGGGGRGGGGRGGGGRGGGGRGGGGRGGGGRGGGRRRRRRGRH
4RIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGGRIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGRCCCCRGRH
5RIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGGRIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGRCCCCRGRH
6RIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGGRIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGRCCCCRGRR
7RIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGGRIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGRCCCCRGRG
8RIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGGRIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGRCCCCRGRG
9RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRG
20RIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGGRIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGRCCCCRGRR
1RIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGGRIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGRCCCCRGRH
2RIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGGRIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGRCCCCRGRH
3RIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGGRIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGRCCCCRGRH
4RIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGGRIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGRCCCCRGRH
5RGGGGRGGGGRGGGGRGGGGRGGGGRGGGGRGGGGRGGGRRRRRRGRR
6RIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGGRIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGRCCCCRGRH
7RIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGGRIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGRCCCCRGRH
8RIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGGRIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGRCCCCRGRH
9RIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGGRIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGRCCCCRGRH
30RGGGGRGGGGRGGGGRGGGGRGGGGRGGGGRGGGGRGGGRRRRRRGRR
1RIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGGRIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGRCCCCRGRH
2RIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGGRIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGRCCCCRGRH
3RIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGGRIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGRCCCCRGRH
4RIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGGRIIIIRIIIIRIIIIRGGGRCCCCRGRH
5RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
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Tip 8bii: Basic Structure: Proper planning: Breathing space
Leave a 3 square gap not including the road (including it would make it
5 square) and have another strip of 4 blank for future commercial expansion.
In other words there should be 10 squares from the last point of industry
to the first point of residential. This is to take into account the dirty
industry that will spring up, thus polluting the air.
Note: Refer to Diagram T8bi: Industrial and Breathing Space, which is above.
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Tip 8biii: Basic Structure: Proper planning: Residential
Super structure:
Set up the structure in the middle of the map. The super structure should
be about 35 (across) x 33 (down).
Note: You should count from the industry side. Don't be afraid to build a
long stretch of road and to make some markers through the creation of
junctions in case you loss count.
Details: Across
I selected a 4x4 residential area. All sides have to be surrounded by
roads (R:Roads). I have three 4x4 then a single space (G:Gap) in between
not including the road (RGR). Then another three more 4x4 structures across.
Details: Down
Again a three 4x4 structure down. Leave 3 spaces not including the roads
(RGGGR), then another three 4x4 structure.
Details: Centre
Leave it unoccupied. It is for your schools and other amenities. In
other words there should be 32 blocks of residential 4x4.
Diagram T8biii: Residential super Structure
Key:
H: Residential / houses
R: Road
G: Gap / empty space
1 2 3
123456789012345678901234567890123
1RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
2RHHHHRHHHHRHHHHRGRHHHHRHHHHRHHHHR
3RHHHHRHHHHRHHHHRGRHHHHRHHHHRHHHHR
4RHHHHRHHHHRHHHHRGRHHHHRHHHHRHHHHR
5RHHHHRHHHHRHHHHRGRHHHHRHHHHRHHHHR
6RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
7RHHHHRHHHHRHHHHRGRHHHHRHHHHRHHHHR
8RHHHHRHHHHRHHHHRGRHHHHRHHHHRHHHHR
9RHHHHRHHHHRHHHHRGRHHHHRHHHHRHHHHR
10RHHHHRHHHHRHHHHRGRHHHHRHHHHRHHHHR
1RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
2RHHHHRHHHHRGGGGGGGGGGGRHHHHRHHHHR
3RHHHHRHHHHRGGGGGGGGGGGRHHHHRHHHHR
4RHHHHRHHHHRGGGGGGGGGGGRHHHHRHHHHR
5RHHHHRHHHHRGGGGGGGGGGGRHHHHRHHHHR
6RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
7RGGGGGGGGGRGGGGGGGGGGGRGGGGGGGGGR
8RGGGGGGGGGRGGGGGGGGGGGRGGGGGGGGGR
9RGGGGGGGGGRGGGGGGGGGGGRGGGGGGGGGR
20RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
1RHHHHRHHHHRGGGGGGGGGGGRHHHHRHHHHR
2RHHHHRHHHHRGGGGGGGGGGGRHHHHRHHHHR
3RHHHHRHHHHRGGGGGGGGGGGRHHHHRHHHHR
4RHHHHRHHHHRGGGGGGGGGGGRHHHHRHHHHR
5RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
6RHHHHRHHHHRHHHHRGRHHHHRHHHHRHHHHR
7RHHHHRHHHHRHHHHRGRHHHHRHHHHRHHHHR
8RHHHHRHHHHRHHHHRGRHHHHRHHHHRHHHHR
9RHHHHRHHHHRHHHHRGRHHHHRHHHHRHHHHR
30RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
1RHHHHRHHHHRHHHHRGRHHHHRHHHHRHHHHR
2RHHHHRHHHHRHHHHRGRHHHHRHHHHRHHHHR
3RHHHHRHHHHRHHHHRGRHHHHRHHHHRHHHHR
4RHHHHRHHHHRHHHHRGRHHHHRHHHHRHHHHR
5RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
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Tip 8biv: Basic Structure: Proper planning: Gaps
Also after the 33 squares down, you should leave a gap of six including
road (RGGGGR) before the next industrial strip or residential area. This
is for future mass transit expansion or large amenities such as hospitals.
But there is no need to leave any gaps between the industries across the
map.
I also left three squares between the edge of the map and any roads or
structures i built.
Diagram T8biv: Middle section for perspective
This is a small middle cross section taking into account the industry,
breathing space, commercial district and the gap down.
I: Industry
R: Road
G: Gap/space
H: Residential / houses
30RGGGGRGGGRRRRRRGRRRRRRRRRRR
1RIIIIRGGGRCCCCRGRHHHHRHHHHR
2RIIIIRGGGRCCCCRGRHHHHRHHHHR
3RIIIIRGGGRCCCCRGRHHHHRHHHHR
4RIIIIRGGGRCCCCRGRHHHHRHHHHR
5RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRHHHHR
6GGGGGGGGGRGGGGRGGGGGGGGGGGG
7GGGGGGGGGRGGGGRGGGGGGGGGGGG
8GGGGGGGGGRGGGGRGGGGGGGGGGGG
9GGGGGGGGGRGGGGRGGGGGGGGGGGG
40RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
1RIIIIRGGGRCCCCRGRHHHHRHHHHR
2RIIIIRGGGRCCCCRGRHHHHRHHHHR
3RIIIIRGGGRCCCCRGRHHHHRHHHHR
4RIIIIRGGGRCCCCRGRHHHHRHHHHR
5RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRHHHHR
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Tip 9a: Amenities: When to build
Fire station: Unless you like to save and reload I recommend you build
this as your first structure. It should be built maybe after the population
reaches 5000 or more. Or you could save your game and money every year and
you could build it after you first fire.
Education: I started my first elementary school at the pop of around
12000-14000. That was when demand for everything seems stagnant and the
pop was not growing. Pop started increasing again. I had three residential
super structures before my first school.
Health. I built the large hospital in the middle of the two super structures.
Again this was slightly after the elementary construction.
Recreation: I built about 8 beaches all side by side. Not quite sure if
it actually attracted people but I had enough surplus for a $5 ($40)
increase.
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Tip 9b: Amenities: Budget control
Again scale accordingly to demand through the buildings itself.
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Tip 10: Commercial Development
I started producing large areas of commercial squares around 20,000 pop.
You can see its demand rising. By year 21, I had 9100 commercial jobs
contrasted to 8900 industrial jobs.
I think that my population growth from 20000 to 30000 was fuelled by the
commerce because by then I ran out of places for industry, the left side
of the map is used up. My commerce is on the right.
Again I use a 4x4 sometimes 4 x 5 structure. I placed both mid and high
density structures. I do not have any fixed structure for it, simply
because the map square does not allow any more huge super structure areas.
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Tip 11a: Budget: Some figures
At the peak of my surplus, which is around the time before I built any
amenities I was pulling in as much as $4000 surplus a month.
The lowest point was during the time the pop was between 18000-24000
when I had 'all' the amenities. 'All' meaning just education
(5 elementary, 1 high school), health (1 large hospital), fire
(1 small station) and recreation (8 beaches). I was making about $800
surplus. Really as you can then see the people are really living quite
badly. Also ignore the population's request for water treatment and all
other stuff other than the basics needed to expand.
But when the commercial area starts kicking in, the surplus started
increasing again to $1600.
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Tip 11b: Budget: Ordinance
Tourism ordinance: only $50. I think that is what also helped spark the
commercial demand.
Smoke detector: After getting too much outbreaks of fire. Remember you
should pause after the fire crew put out the fire to allow them to return.
Because I did not and another fire started when the fire crew was so far
away.
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Tip 11c: Budget: Rewards
Government buildings: Yes, the mayor’s house, three statutes and the town
hall all looks very nice but I have yet to build them because they require
maintenance.
University: I have this reward but have yet to build it. It is my opinion
that I could save more money by not building the community college and
just build this reward later on when my budget surplus further increases.
But that has yet to be proved to be a money saving device.
Free upkeeps: Of course feel free to place the worship sites, graves,
radio station down since they cost nothing to maintain. I placed my grave
site next to the power plants and landfill.
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Tip 12a: Potential future problems
Industry changes: Despite still not having a college, my demand for high
tech is increasing while that of dirty is falling. The problem is how can
I clear the huge brown cloud over the industrial area so that the high
tech can move in.
Urban renewal: For further increase in pop I may have to put more
facilities, which might add greater pressure on the budget.
..........................
Tip 12b: Some solutions
Creating another city or more in another map may help. Additional cities
helps to increase demand and also spur the growth of the pop.
................................END OF PART I.................................
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PART II: Second City, a hint of hi-tech
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(A): Pre hi-tech
Pop: 37,000 and still growing month to month
Current cash: $88,000 +++
Time: 16 years
Budget: $2200 surplus and growing rapidly
Map: Mid size
Neighbours: One
Deals: None at year 16 although there was some deals along the way
Note:
I have tried several attempts on the creation of a second city. I was
hoping to create a completely hi-tech hub. But it was not successful. That
is why this part consists of two sections pre hi-tech and hi-tech. However,
if you know of any method to create a hi-tech city immediately please advice.
I have crafted the layout of this part similar to that of part I. Therefore
the hints would, but not always, correlate to the tips, so, Hint 1: Tip 1,
Hint 2: Tip 2 and so forth. That way you can see the different or similar
approach I take for the construction of the second city. There are some
hints, which are completely different from the tips such as Hint 7 and
Tip 7.
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Hint 1: Raise Taxes
Set your taxes to:
R: $: 8.3/ $$: 8 /$$$: 7.5
C: 7 for all
I: $: 9.5 /$$: 7.5 / $$$: 7
Note:
While you wish to discourage dirty industries, I found I still needed them,
at least for the start to bring in the cash and develop the city.
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Hint 2a: Utilities: How to get a deal
I have read the forums and seem to find this question appearing quite a few
times. There are three pre-requisites.
..........................
Hint 2ai: Necessary connections
That is power line for power, pipes for water and road I assume for garbage.
Just drag whatever is needed to the edge of the map and reply in the
affirmative when asked to make a connection. You should know that building
or zoning on a power line would destroy the connection.
..........................
Hint 2aii: Nemo dat quod non habet
This little Latin phrase simply means no one can give what she does not
have. So applying that (in a manner totally out of the phrase's context),
before you wish to buy or sell, you have to make sure that the relevant
neighbour has the supply and you the money and demand. For power deals,
I have read that you need to have an excess of a 1500 units. Anyway, since
power comes in a batch of a 1000, what is for certain is that you do need
at least an excess of a 1000 units.
..........................
Hint 2aiii: Time
You should not need to wait long, a few days of game time should suffice,
before a deal is offered. It will appear in your little message box. A
little trick I do if I do not want the deal but want to preserve such an
offer is not to clear that particular message offering the deal.
While the message may seem to suggest only one deal is on offer such as
trash, power or water, in reality once you click on the underlined words,
all possible deals appear. After accepting one deal you can control your
deals through the budget screen.
..........................
Hint 2b: Utilities: To build or to deal
There may be times where you will find it to your advantage to purchase
either power or export garbage. However, I find any such deals, at least in
this stage, to be merely transitional.
Power: Again I used a coal power plant. I did this because it eventually
will be cheaper and the amount of power needed would be more than what my
first city can offer at this point.
Power deals: I did do one power deal when my coal plant was near capacity
but I did not want to construct another. However this deal did not last
long.
Water: Since in my first city I continuously had this message that green
stuff was coming out of the water, I choose not to make any water deals.
Garbage: Landfills at the start, deals in between and trash to power at
the end. You should have no more than 16 squares of trash.
Garbage deals: I started doing the deal when I was into my third landfill
and by the fourth, 12 – 16 squares, I was spending more than $400 a month.
By then I cut the deal and built my own trash burner.
Note: Remember everything that I stated in the tips of the first city
relating tight budget controls still applies.
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Hint 3: A town in development
Your goal, I assume, would be the creation of the hi-tech industrial park.
So that means while education is important, budget controls are still the
number one priority. Remember while deficit spending may be the American
way, this is not the Sims way.
What changes is that instead of waiting until you hit a barrier to build
schools, you should start earlier. It should preferably be before your
population hits 10,000. I started mine at about 8,000. Some may state
that this is too late, but I placed four elementary schools and one high
school down all at the same time. Anyway I suppose it is your preference.
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Hint 4: Residential over industry
I do have one initial industrial park filled with dirty industries but
since our goal is for hi-tech, we should restrict our construction of
industry for the moment. This first industry is to act to increase the
population and provide some income. I zoned 30 4x4 mid density industry.
Looking back it seems a bit too much but I am not quite certain. Anyway
I placed these near my power plant and landfill, so no harm done.
I suppose if you are willing to wait, there is no reason not to carry on
zoning industrial parks. Then when there is sufficient hi-tech demand,
simply bulldoze and tax all the dirty industry away. But that means
wasting either a lot of money to clear an area or a substantial amount
of time, a few months, for the pollution to clear.
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Hint 5: Mid density to High density
Again I used mid-density for all my residential areas.
But I have tried placing high density zoning for industrial and
commercial areas when the population reaches about 20,000. The commercial
buildings seem taller but I cannot tell is it because it is a more
desirable location or because of the density.
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Hint 6: Connections, freight time and placement
In case you have not realised it, if your industry is next to a connection
to a neighbouring city then the freight time will be lowered.
Therefore you should place your industry at the edge of the map. No only
will it reduce freight time, which increases desirability, but it also
means that you have only to worry about one side of the pollution.
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Hint 7a: City placement of zones: Initial set up
Mode of viewing: All the following discussion takes place by viewing the
screen in the default mode, which is with north facing the top of your
monitor.
Taking advantage of your first city:
If you recall in the first city, I placed my industry on the left side
of the map. Therefore since the second city is to the left of the first
city, it obviously means that what is on the right of the map is closer
to the first city.
Taking into consideration that people can travel between cities for work.
You should start your residential zones on the right of the map. That
way the people can go to the first city to get jobs. After all you are
not building that much industrial zones at the start.
Confining pollution:
However, for the first industrial zone and the power stations and other
polluting contraptions, I placed them on the top right hand of the city.
Initially I wanted to place a residential area there but I realised that
by shifting this polluting zone to another area would just result in
greater pollution. This is because as this zone is on the edge, the
borders of the map negate the effects of any pollution going in their
direction.
This little diagram below, which is not representative of the actual
proportion I used, illustrates what I meant by placing the residential
area to the right of the city. Please note that each R represents one
residential super structure akin to the one I mentioned in Part I
relating to my first city. However, I do not have specific structure
in mind for the industry and the commercial areas since they do not
require that much services.
Diagram H7a:
Key:
I: Industrial zone
R: Residential zone
2nd City |1st City
I|I
R|I
R|I
..........................
Hint 7b: City placement of zones: Final set up
Commercial:
I placed a whole strip of commercial zone in the middle. It is about 17
squares wide. You should be able to build three residential super
structures and the commercial zone across the map. My placement is RCRR.
Industry:
I did create another two more industrial zones but they are much smaller
and consists of manufacturing mainly which though polluting is not as
polluting.
Breathing space:
The reason why I placed a commercial area on the left of the dirty
industry is so as to act as a buffer.
However, thinking back, perhaps it might be better place another
industrial zone there instead. This is because while hi-tech abhors
pollution, manufacturing it seems is fine with it. Therefore, perhaps
you might further raise $I taxes at this point so instead of dirty
manufacturing coming into this new zone, manufacturing would enter.
But I did not do it because at that point I did not foresee the need to
build another non-hi-tech park. Also thinking about it, this might be
dangerous because the reason for the additional manufacturing zones was
to bring in more cash, which I needed. So an increase of $I taxes might
backfire on my financial plans.
Again the little diagram below merely illustrates the layout of the city.
Diagram H7b:
Key:
I: Industrial zone
R: Residential zone
C: Commercial zone
M: Partially mixed zoning where the top part is industry (manufacturing
mainly) and the bottom is commercial. This is so that the pollution
does not get into the residential area
F: Free space left to start your first hi-tech zone
2nd City |1st City
MMCI|I
RCRR|I
FCRR|I
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Hint 8: Basic structure
Everything that I stated in relation to auto-roads, residential areas and
leaving breathing space for future development still applies. I believe I
will keep the residential super structure plan for the foreseeable future
because it is the best means to optimise the services.
However, as I have stated earlier, since industrial and commercial zones
requires less structures, it really does not matter what structure you
choose as long as you leave space for future development such as mass
transit. I am undecided as to whether is a 4x4 zone for commercial and
industrial area is better or a 4x(S) zone better. Where (S) represents
the maximum length you can drag the zone before a street appears.
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Hint 9: Amenities
Fire Station: Again it should be the first structure you build
Education and Health:
As I have explained in Hint 3, the time you build these facilities should
be earlier then the first town.
Hospitals not clinics:
Personally, I feel that you should always build a hospital rather than a
clinic and then scale accordingly. I find the clinic reaches its maximum
capacity too fast thus resulting in strikes. Thus unless you wish to build
other nearby surrounding clinics, it seem more suitable to build a hospital
and have a larger service area.
Recreation:
You should build more of these to attract wealthier people to come to your
city. So plazas for commercial districts, tennis courts I assume for my
richer area, beside my private school, and small parks in my residential
areas. I have about ten parks, a few plazas and one tennis court. Remember
build these only if you have cash to splash. My total budget for recreation
is still small, about $100.
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Hint 10: Commerce as a vehicle of transition
Again I only started commercial construction when the population went
close to 20,000. It really does spur new population growth. Also at this
point, your hi-tech demand while present may not be high enough. Therefore
you need to bid your time and build commercial zones to bring in the cash.
Just as a point to note, by year 16, I had 11,000 commercial jobs compared
to 10,000 industrial jobs.
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Hint 11a: Budgets: Further clarification
Peak profits:
The peak profits for this second city, pre hi-tech, is again prior to any
amenities construction. However since I started on education expenditure
faster, my top profits is only about $3,000. It fell to about $600 after
the first wave of construction, 4 elementary schools and one high school.
Close to the edge:
Because I was less patient, I started on my second wave of city
improvements, which included the hospital, library, garbage to power
plant, sooner rather than later. What this means is that at this point, I
was only making less than a $100 profit a month. So do not panic when you
see your profits falling drastically.
You should realise by now, by the number of times I have repeated this, the
way out of this is the construction a new commercial zones. My population
was also close of the 20,000 at this point.
Because of the close budget call, there are three important things you have
to take note of during or rather before this phase development.
(1) Save game:
Remember to save before this second wave of expansion. Try not to save over
this until you start seeing clear and rising profits, preferably several
hundred dollars of profits. This is just in case things do not go as
planned.
(2) Large reserves:
Because there might be a possibility of loss making coupled with the need
for the expenditure of large cash to develop large commercial zones, I
used hi-density zoning, you need to have a large reserve. $70,000 to
$80,000 in the bank should be more than enough. At the lowest point, my
reserves hit $39,000 but prior to hitting that amount, I already was
starting to make a few hundred dollars profit. I just wanted to accelerate
the rate of increase in profitability.
(3) Timing:
Try not to start the second wave too early. Wait until your population
reaches a sizeable amount. That way you can use the commercial demand
increase method. But you do not need to worry too much about this since
by the time you accumulate the requisite amount of reserves, your
population should be at the very least in the 15,000.
Note 1: If you are willing to wait for you reserves to build up greatly and
more people to move in after the first wave, the second wave improvements
will not be as dicey.
Note 2: Check out Hint 11c for further expansion on what not to do during a
deficit.
..........................
Hint 11b: Budget: Ordinance
Clean Air: I checked this box immediately after starting the city. It, I
assume reduces pollution and also dirty industry, $I, demand.
Smoke detector: I got a bit irritated at the number of times that I, as a
mayor, had to double as dispatch for the fire fighters.
Tourism ordinance: In Tip 11b, I suggested that this might be the reason
for the commercial boom. I now do not think that is so, at least with
regards to the second city. I believe it is more to relate to the size of
the city (20,000), and the amount of wealthy people in it. Well the
wealthier you are the more you would spend, thus the increase in commerce.
However, another reason for not placing the ordinance was that my
commercial demand seems to be quite high. So I did not see a point in
increasing demand further, since I do have limited space in my city.
..........................
Hint 11c: Budget: Rewards
Even in my second city, at the year 16 where my profits is at $2,200, I
still have yet to build the mayor’s house. Actually, this has more to do
with finding a nice location. But remember build only if you can afford
the upkeep.
Private School: Place it wisely to relieve the burden of your education
system. Taking into account that since only the wealthy goes there, it
should be placed where it is or it is very likely to be a somewhat
desirable location. At the very least it should be away from the polluting
industries.
While it may increase desirability, I do not think an entire neighbourhood
will become wealthy upon placement. Therefore, it is in my opinion that if
you place it in an undesirable location, you will have very little
students in the school thus defeating its purpose. I placed it near the
centre of my 4 residential super structures because that offers the best
coverage and also my wealthier residents are there and it is also very
likely that further improvements would cover these areas.
Country Club: I got this slightly after the creation of my hi-tech industry.
I wonder whether is it me but, according to the data map, the country club
is a den of crime. Anybody know why this is so? This has nothing to do with
police stations by the way, if you are wondering.
Budget deficit rewards: These refer to military bases, prisons and so
forth. If you have not realised by now, fiscal restraint is one of my key
aspects of running the city. Therefore usually I do not go into deficit
spending. And even if there is deficit such as in a situation as described
in Hint 11a, I do not think you should accept these sugar coated poison pill
rewards. Furthermore, I believe they only appear when you are running out of
money which really should not occur. Besides, on top of the negative impact
to the city, it takes up valuable space.
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Hint 12a: Polluting problems
Again there is the issue of pollution. But because of confinement of the
dirty industry, it should only affect a small portion of the city. The
other two smaller industrial zones are manufacturing areas. So while there
is pollution it should not be as bad.
..........................
Hint 12b: Neighbours as solution
While a neighbouring city is not a panacea for all city problems, what it
does do is help increase demand greatly. That is also another reason why I
could reach a higher population with greater desirability and have more
profits on hand in a shorter amount of time as compared to my first city.
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(B): High Tech Arrives
I have two methods to bring in your first high tech industry. I personally
prefer method I but method II will result in your city becoming cleaner.
Actually I prefer method III but it is slower and you will not really get
your high-tech industry now. It simply is creating other cities first before
coming back to build the high-tech. But since I promised high-tech, I shall
attempt to deliver.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Method I: Expand
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Hint 13: Raise taxes again
As you should realise, high tech abhors pollution. Therefore the key is not
to let the dirty industries enter the high-tech park. YOu should only raise
the taxes for dity industries.
I: $: 10-11 /$$: 7.5 / $$$: 7
There is an alternative to raising taxes and that is through placement. Look
at Hint 14.
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Hint 14: Placement at the free space
If you recall from my Diagram H7b, you will realise that there is still one
very large free space to the bottom left of the map. YOu can place your high-
tech over here.
Since Hi-tech does not pollute you can place this industry nearer your
residential areas. An added advantage of this is that the land nearer your
residential area would, I hope, have a higher desirability value, the other
industries would not want to move in. This is to a certain extent a means of
building hi-tech without actively raising taxes to kick out the polluting
industries.
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Method II : Urban Renewal
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Hint 15: Raise taxes to crazy European levels
As the key to this method is the building of hi-tech industries on old
polluting levels, you first task at hand is to kick the polluting industries
out and make sure they stay out.
I: $: 12.5-13 or even more / $$: 7.5 / $$$: 7
One might ask why do not I raise taxes for the dirty indutries even higher.
The simply reason is that I believe every city needs some dirty industry or
at least some manufacturing. Whenever I try to kick all of them out the pop
really falls drastically.
Hint 16: Placement at the old place
The industry on the top right should really now look like an abandoned
industrial park. YOu however, have to demolish all the pre-existing buildings,
wait for a few months for the pollution to clear before the Kane and his
hi-tech tiberium brotherhood moves in.
Fire Disaster demolition:
This seems to me like a cheat of some sort but ass long as you enjoy the game
which you bought with your own money, who am I to say anything.
Since it is going to cost quite a bit to demolish the buildings, this method
simply requires you to go into god mode, select the fire disaster button and
click on the desired building. You have to click and hold on the same
location especially if you have smoke detectors and fire coverage.
By the way ever wonder why when you try to set fire to your own city the
fire gets extinguished so fast yet when a real fire breaks out nothing like
that occurs.
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Analysis of methods
Method II definitely gets you a better and more beautiful city. My pollution
index fell by more than a half. But and this is a big but, the potential of
a disaster occuring is quite high. YOu may end up with a city of a much
lower population, making less money and yet only a miniscule amount of hi-
tech appears.
As I have stated earlier, I prefer creating more regions prior to starting on
the hi-tech. But this is really up to you.
I will still be trying out other methods of creating hi-tech to see which
is the best method.
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Easter Eggs:
Undead comes forth:
I have seen this once and initially I thought undead walk the cemetry every
night. But upon reading the message boards, I realised that the zombies only
appear during October. Anybody with me that EA or Maxis should tie up with
whatever the company that is doing Buffy so that we can have a "Buffy" reward
once we have three cemetries? Or maybe they could also team up with fox and
create an X files division in the local police station.
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X'tra Insights:
Save Games:
For those of you who complain about the lack of save games slot, you could
always just copy the region to another folder. All you have to do is to go to
my documents and copy the region that you want to another file and now you
have an effectively backup of the region. This is what I do when I was trying
out the various means of creating hi-tech.
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Concluding Words:
..........................
Comment 1:
Well, I actually submitted PART I of this FAQ at the message boards but
lShadowzl recommended that I create an FAQ from it. So here it is
Comment 2:
I suppose if you have anything to add you could post it to me. But please
no flames if my views are different from you views.
..........................
Copyright: Yeah right...
Honestly, even if you copied the entire thing and claim it as your own,
do you think I would get a writ of summons against you. Most probably not.
Anyway, if you wish to improve on this feel free to do so. In fact you
can even cut and paste the whole thing and add you own comments. Really,
I am serious, I mean I am not here to start a guide writing company.
I am sure all comments will improve the guide. Think open source. All I ask
from you is to give me credit.
I suppose I am to say something about you not selling this for profits but
hey if you somehow managed to ... perhaps you could give me a share of it,
haha.
..........................
Mailing Info:
thy451
thy451451@yahoo.com
..........................
Well, that is all I have to offer. It is definitely not the best but I hope
it helped.
