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Difference between revisions of "SimCity 4"

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{{infobox
+
{{Infobox game
|cover         = SimCity_4_cover.jpg‎
+
|cover       = SimCity 4 cover.jpg
|developer     = [[Wikipedia:Maxis|Maxis]]
+
|developers  =
|publisher      = [[Wikipedia:Electronic Arts|Electronic Arts]] (Microsoft Windows)<br/>[[Wikipedia:Aspyr Media|Aspyr Media]] (Mac OS X)
+
{{Infobox game/row/developer|Maxis}}
|engine        =  
+
{{Infobox game/row/porter|i5works|OS X|ref=<ref>{{Refurl|url=http://www.macworld.com/article/1024871/simcity4.html|title=Aspyr: SimCity 4 now in duplication - Macworld|date=2016-7-23}}</ref><ref>{{Refurl|url=http://www.insidemacgames.com/reviews/view.php?ID=392|title=Inside Mac Games Review: SimCity 4|date=2016-7-23}}</ref>}}
|release dates = <sup>PC</sup> January 14, 2003<br/><sup>Mac</sup> Mac June 20, 2003<br/><sup>Steam</sup> July 20, 2010
+
|publishers  =
|steam         = 24780
+
{{Infobox game/row/publisher|Electronic Arts}}
|gog            =
+
{{Infobox game/row/publisher|Aspyr Media|OS X}}
 +
|engines      =  
 +
|release dates=  
 +
{{Infobox game/row/date|Windows|January 14, 2003}}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/date|OS X|June 30, 2003}}
 +
|taxonomy    =
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/monetization      | One-time game purchase, Expansion pack, Cross-game bonus, Subscription gaming service }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/microtransactions | }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/modes            | Singleplayer }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/pacing            | Real-time }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/perspectives      | Bird's-eye view }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/controls          | Point and select }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/genres            | Building, Simulation }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/sports            | }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/vehicles          | }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/art styles        | }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/themes            | Contemporary }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/series            | SimCity }}
 +
|reception    =
 +
{{Infobox game/row/reception|Metacritic|simcity-4|84}}
 +
|steam appid  = 24780
 +
|gogcom id    = 1207664593
 +
|hltb        = 8560
 +
|igdb        = simcity-4
 +
|lutris      = simcity-4-deluxe
 +
|strategywiki = SimCity 4
 +
|mobygames    = 7999
 +
|wikipedia    = SimCity 4
 +
|winehq      = 4088
 +
|license      = commercial
 
}}
 
}}
  
Sequel to [[SimCity 3000]] (1999).
+
{{Introduction
 +
|introduction      =
  
==Issues and Fixes==
+
|release history  = The game received the '''''Rush Hour''''' expansion pack in September 2003, and the two products would be bundled as the '''''Deluxe Edition''''' in retail and digital stores. The Steam and GOG.com releases of the ''Deluxe Edition'' would receive additional compatibility tweaks, but the Origin/EA App release would use an obsolete build until June 2023, when it was synchronized with the other digital versions.<ref>{{Refurl|url=https://simtarkus.wordpress.com/2023/06/01/breaking-news-ea-updates-ea-app-ea-play-version-of-simcity-4-to-version-1-1-641/|title=Breaking News: EA Updates EA App/EA Play Version of SimCity 4 to Version 1.1.641 | SimTarkus - SimCity 4|date=2023-10-20}}</ref>
===Poor Performance on Modern Systems===
 
Some newer, modern systems may suffer performance issues if using Windows 7/Windows Vista, using multi-core CPUs, or recently released GPUs.
 
  
To try and fix this you can do the following:
+
|current state    = The game was designed only with a single processor core in mind, and running on multi-core processors [[#Crashes on multi-core systems|crashes the game on startup]] unless a [[Glossary:Command line arguments|command line argument]] forcing single-core affinity is used. Additionally, the [[#Poor performance on modern systems|hardware renderer performs poorly]] on present-day systems, requiring manual hardware recognition changes or falling back to the software renderer.
#Run Sim City 4.
+
}}
#Go to the settings menu.
+
 
 +
'''General information'''
 +
{{mm}} [http://community.simtropolis.com/ Simtropolis Forum]
 +
{{mm}} [https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/ SC4 Devotion Forum]
 +
{{mm}} [https://www.reddit.com/r/simcity4/ /r/simcity4] subreddit
 +
{{mm}} [https://simcity.fandom.com/wiki/SimCity_4 SimCity 4 on the SimCity Wiki]
 +
{{GOG.com links|1207664593|simcity_series|for game series}}
 +
{{mm}} [https://steamcommunity.com/app/24780/discussions/ Steam Community Discussions]
 +
 
 +
==Availability==
 +
{{Availability|
 +
{{Availability/row| Retail | | disc, key | {{DRM|SafeDisc}}. Released on 2 CDs. | Origin | Windows, OS X }}
 +
{{Availability/row| GOG.com | simcity_4_deluxe_edition | DRM-free | Deluxe Edition. | | Windows }}
 +
{{Availability/row| GMG | simcity-4-deluxe-edition-mac | Steam | Deluxe Edition. Incorrectly states it is incompatible with newer macOS versions.<ref>{{Refcheck|user=Mrtnptrs|date=2023-01-18|comment=As it is just a code you buy for the Steam version, which supports 64-bit and ARM now, it should fully work on macOS 10.15+. Just like on here, GMG probably has an automated system in place to add this warning when system requirements indicate it is 32-bit only. So, likely they forgot to update their system requirements after the 64-bit update in 2020.}}</ref> | | Windows, OS X }}
 +
{{Availability/row| MacApp | id804079949 | MacApp | Deluxe Edition. 2014 re-release with modifications to improve compatibility. | | OS X }}
 +
{{Availability/row| Microsoft Store | / | Microsoft Store, Origin | Deluxe Edition. Included exclusively with {{Store feature|Xbox Game Pass}} as part of its version of EA Play. | | Windows }}
 +
{{Availability/row| Origin | simcity/simcity-4 | Origin | Deluxe Edition. Included with {{Store feature|EA Play}}.<br>[https://www.ea.com/games/simcity/simcity-4 Manual link for EA App purchase]. | | Windows }}
 +
{{Availability/row| Steam | 24780 | Steam | Deluxe Edition. Includes 2014 OS X re-release. Included with {{store feature|EA Play}}. | | Windows, OS X }}
 +
{{Availability/row| Amazon | B00457VJ3G | DRM-free | Deluxe Edition. Download (DRM-free) or retail (Disk key). | | Windows | unavailable }}
 +
}}
 +
{{++}} Retail keys can be [https://www.origin.com/us/account#redeem-product redeemed on Origin].<ref>{{Refurl|url=http://answers.ea.com/t5/Miscellaneous-Issues/SimCity-4-Register-retail-copy-of-Sim-City-4-with-Origin/td-p/280612|title=answers.ea.com|date=May 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Refurl|url=http://archive.is/y7leO|title=You can actually activate some Steam games on EA Origin - Steam Users' Forums|date=May 2023}}</ref>
 +
{{ii}} A faithful, higher quality icon can be found on [https://www.steamgriddb.com/icon/47121 SteamGridDB].
 +
 
 +
===Version differences===
 +
{{ii}} The '''Deluxe Edition''' which includes the base game and the Rush Hour expansion pack, and has the highest compatibility with mods and other fixes.<ref>http://community.simtropolis.com/topic/25419-faqs-and-download-links-for-nam-rhw-and-nwm/#entry685177</ref> Steam and GOG.com versions also have additional tweaks applied.
 +
 
 +
==Monetization==
 +
{{Monetization
 +
|ad-supported          =
 +
|cross-game bonus      = Characters from [[The Sims]] 1 can be imported to fill the streets.
 +
|dlc                    =
 +
|expansion pack        = The expansion pack includes disasters, customization options, vehicle control mode and related missions, and new transportation options.
 +
|freeware              =
 +
|free-to-play          =
 +
|one-time game purchase = The game requires an upfront purchase to access.
 +
|sponsored              =
 +
|subscription          =
 +
|subscription gaming service = Available via [[EA Play]].
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
{{DLC|
 +
{{DLC/row| Rush Hour | Included in the Deluxe Edition. | Windows, OS X }}
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
==Essential improvements==
 +
===Patches===
 +
{{mm}} The latest official patches for the base game (v272) and Rush Hour (v638 and v640) are available on [https://www.gamefront.com/games/simcity-4/category/official-patches-129 GameFront] and [https://community.simtropolis.com/sc4-maxis-files/ simtropolis.com].
 +
{{--}} Patch 641 is exclusive to the digital versions of the Deluxe Edition.
 +
 
 +
===Skip intro videos===
 +
{{Fixbox|description=Run the game with the <code>-intro:off</code> [[Glossary:Command line arguments|command line argument]]|ref=<ref name="refcheck Plok">{{Refcheck|user=Plok|date=2022-02-15|comment=}}</ref>|fix=
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
===Launching game on modern systems===
 +
====[http://community.simtropolis.com/topic/54082-simcity-4-launcher-sc4launcher-updated-r5/ SC4Launcher]====
 +
{{ii}} Launcher utility that can be installed.
 +
{{++}} Combines autosaving (customisable intervals), renderer choice (DirectX, Software, OpenGL), CPU priority, [[#Single CPU affinity|single CPU affinity]], [[#Widescreen resolution|widescreen resolution]], [[#Windowed|windowed]], borderless-windowed, [[#Skip intro videos|skip intro videos]], simple mod manager and an ATI/AMD graphics card fix into a single launcher program.
 +
 
 +
====[https://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/large-address-aware.112556/ Large Address Aware]====
 +
Improves stability on systems with at least 3 GB RAM by allowing the application to use more than 2 GB RAM.
 +
 
 +
====Combined launch options====
 +
{{ii}} Single line of code to be added to 'Target' field of the shortcut or to digital client [[Glossary:Command line arguments|launch options]].
 +
{{++}} Combines [[#Widescreen resolution|widescreen resolution]], [[#Windowed|windowed]], [[#Single CPU affinity|single CPU affinity]], [[#Skip intro videos|skip intro videos]].
 +
 
 +
{{Fixbox|description=Use the following set of [[Glossary:Command line arguments|command line arguments]]: <code>-CustomResolution:enabled -r1920x1080x32 -w -CPUCount:1 -intro:off</code>|ref=<ref name="refcheck Plok"/>|fix=
 +
 
 +
'''Notes'''
 +
{{++}} Also use [http://grismar.net/shiftwindow/ ShiftWindow] in order to enable [[#Video|Borderless fullscreen windowed]] mode for seamless {{key|alt|tab}}-ing and fullscreen view.
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
===[http://www.simtropolis.com/forum/files/file/26793-network-addon-mod-for-windows/ NAM: Network Addon Mod]===
 +
{{++}} Extensively reworks the road system, improves traffic simulator, pathfinding and performance.
 +
{{ii}} Requires at least version 1.1.638; digital releases are compatible by default.<ref>[https://simtarkus.wordpress.com/2014/08/27/psa-simcity-4-deluxe-is-now-safe-to-buy-on-origin/ PSA: SimCity 4 Deluxe is now safe to buy on Origin | SimTarkus - SimCity 4]</ref>
 +
 
 +
===[https://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/30883-sc4fix-third-party-patches-for-sc4/ SC4Fix: Third Party Patches]===
 +
{{++}} A third party DLL that fixes hard-coded bugs and crashes like the infamous 'prop pox' bug<ref>{{Refurl|url=https://community.simtropolis.com/forums/topic/74667-revisiting-prop-pox-and-prop-theory/Revisiting|title=Prop Pox and Prop Theory|date=May 2023}}</ref> and crashes when hovering NAM puzzle pieces.
 +
{{++}} Helps revive and repair cities affected by the 'prop pox' bug.
 +
 
 +
====Experiencing issues on Apple ARM devices====
 +
{{mm}} When running the default variant of the game on Steam on Apple ARM hardware, users may encounter issues. Aspyr officially released a new version that added native Apple ARM support on January 12, 2023.<ref>{{Refurl|url=https://support.aspyr.com/hc/en-us/articles/5715420742541-M1-Compatibility-Updates|title=M1 Compatibility Updates|date=2023-01-18}}</ref>
 +
{{ii}} The Mac App Store version updates automatically to this new version when appropriate since update 1.2.2.<ref name=newmac>{{Refurl|url=https://apps.apple.com/nl/app/simcity-4-deluxe-edition/id804079949|title=SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition- Version History - Mac App Store|date=2023-01-18|snippet=SimCity™ 4 Deluxe Edition is now optimized for Mac with Apple Silicon.}}</ref>
 +
{{Fixbox|description=Steam: switch to Apple ARM branch|ref=<ref>{{Refurl|url=https://support.aspyr.com/hc/en-us/articles/12168615035405-How-to-access-the-Apple-Silicon-update-on-Mac-Steam-SimCity-4-Deluxe-Edition|title=How to access the Apple Silicon update on Mac Steam - SimCity 4: Deluxe Edition – Aspyr Support|date=2023-01-18}}</ref>
 +
|fix=
 +
{{ii}} Old MacOS-port is still available as the default option on Steam, requiring Apple ARM users to switch to a Steam Beta branch to acquire the update.
 +
# In the Steam Library, right-click on '''SimCity 4 Deluxe'''.
 +
# Click on '''Properties'''
 +
# Click on '''Beta'''.
 +
# Type <code>applesilicon</code> into the beta access code field.
 +
# Click on '''Check Code'''.
 +
# Click on '''Opt-in'''.
 +
# Wait for the app to update.
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
===[https://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/32812-save-warning Save Warning]===
 +
{{++}} Visually alters the UI button labels for Save and Exit (and Save and Quit), to highlight the risk of using this one-step method.
 +
{{ii}} Two options are included. The first option disables that choice completely. The second simply renames the buttons, but continues to perform the same function as before.
 +
 
 +
==Game data==
 +
===Configuration file(s) location===
 +
{{Game data|
 +
{{Game data/config|Windows|{{p|userprofile\Documents}}\SimCity 4\}}
 +
{{Game data/config|OS X|}}
 +
{{Game data/config|Mac App Store|}}
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
===Save game data location===
 +
{{Game data|
 +
{{Game data/saves|Windows|{{p|userprofile\Documents}}\SimCity 4\Regions\}}
 +
{{Game data/saves|OS X|{{p|osxhome}}/Documents/SimCity 4/Regions/}}
 +
{{Game data/saves|Mac App Store|{{p|osxhome}}/Library/Containers/com.aspyr.simcity4.appstore/Data/Documents/SimCity 4/Regions/}}
 +
}}
 +
{{--}} Beware of issues when using [[#Duplicate cities moved|multiple duplicate cities]].
 +
 
 +
===[[Glossary:Save game cloud syncing|Save game cloud syncing]]===
 +
{{Save game cloud syncing
 +
|discord                  =
 +
|discord notes            =
 +
|epic games launcher      =
 +
|epic games launcher notes =
 +
|gog galaxy                = false
 +
|gog galaxy notes          =
 +
|origin                    = false
 +
|origin notes              =
 +
|steam cloud              = false
 +
|steam cloud notes        =
 +
|ubisoft connect          =
 +
|ubisoft connect notes    =
 +
|xbox cloud                = unknown
 +
|xbox cloud notes          =
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
==Video==
 +
{{Image|SimCity 4 Graphics Settings.png|Graphics settings.}}
 +
{{Image|SimCity 4 Game Settings.png|Gameplay settings.}}
 +
{{Video
 +
|wsgf link                  = https://www.wsgf.org/dr/simcity-4
 +
|widescreen wsgf award      = silver
 +
|multimonitor wsgf award    = silver
 +
|ultrawidescreen wsgf award = incomplete
 +
|4k ultra hd wsgf award    = silver
 +
|widescreen resolution      = hackable
 +
|widescreen resolution notes= See [[#Widescreen resolution|Widescreen resolution]].
 +
|multimonitor              = hackable
 +
|multimonitor notes        = See the [https://www.wsgf.org/dr/simcity-4 WSGF entry].
 +
|ultrawidescreen            = unknown
 +
|ultrawidescreen notes      =
 +
|4k ultra hd                = hackable
 +
|4k ultra hd notes          = Hardware rendering (DirectX/OpenGL) for any resolution above 2048x1152 will cause crashing on launch. For software rendering see [[#SC4Launcher|SC4Launcher]].
 +
|fov                        = n/a
 +
|fov notes                  = Uses an Orthographic Projection camera, rendering FOV modification pointless.
 +
|windowed                  = hackable
 +
|windowed notes            = See [[#Windowed|Windowed]].
 +
|borderless windowed        = hackable
 +
|borderless windowed notes  = Working using [http://grismar.net/shiftwindow/ ShiftWindow].<ref>{{Refcheck|user=Andytizer|date=March 12, 2013|comment=}}</ref>
 +
|anisotropic                = false
 +
|anisotropic notes          =
 +
|antialiasing              = false
 +
|antialiasing notes        =
 +
|vsync                      = always on
 +
|vsync notes                =
 +
|60 fps                    = true
 +
|60 fps notes              =
 +
|120 fps                    = true
 +
|120 fps notes              =
 +
|hdr                        = false
 +
|hdr notes                  =
 +
|color blind                = false
 +
|color blind notes          =
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
===[[Glossary:Widescreen resolution|Widescreen resolution]]===
 +
{{++}} The GOG.com version has this done automatically.
 +
{{Fixbox|description=Run the game with the followind [[Glossary:Command line arguments|command line arguments]]: <code>-CustomResolution:enabled -r1920x1080x32</code>|ref=<ref>{{Refurl|url=http://www.widescreengaming.net/wiki/SimCity_4|title=widescreengaming.net|date=May 2023}}</ref>|fix=
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
{{ii}} By using [https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=18734.0 DxWrapper], it is possible to play at resolutions beyond the 2048x1152 limit that DirectX 7 has.
 +
 
 +
===[[Glossary:Windowed|Windowed]]===
 +
{{Fixbox|description=Run the game with the {{code|-w}} [[Glossary:Command line arguments|command line argument]] (or {{code|-f}} to revert)|ref=<ref name="refcheck Plok"/>|fix=
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
==Input==
 +
{{Input
 +
|key remap                = hackable
 +
|key remap notes          = See [[#Remapping|Remapping]].
 +
|acceleration option      = n/a
 +
|acceleration option notes =
 +
|mouse sensitivity        = false
 +
|mouse sensitivity notes  =
 +
|mouse menu                = true
 +
|mouse menu notes          =
 +
|invert mouse y-axis      = n/a
 +
|invert mouse y-axis notes =
 +
|touchscreen              = unknown
 +
|touchscreen notes        =
 +
|controller support        = false
 +
|controller support notes  =
 +
|full controller          = unknown
 +
|full controller notes    =
 +
|controller remap          = unknown
 +
|controller remap notes    =
 +
|controller sensitivity    = unknown
 +
|controller sensitivity notes=
 +
|invert controller y-axis  = unknown
 +
|invert controller y-axis notes=
 +
|xinput controllers        = unknown
 +
|xinput controllers notes  =
 +
|xbox prompts              = unknown
 +
|xbox prompts notes        =
 +
|impulse triggers          = unknown
 +
|impulse triggers notes    =
 +
|dualshock 4              = unknown
 +
|dualshock 4 notes        =
 +
|dualshock prompts        = unknown
 +
|dualshock prompts notes  =
 +
|light bar support        = unknown
 +
|light bar support notes  =
 +
|dualshock 4 modes        = unknown
 +
|dualshock 4 modes notes  =
 +
|tracked motion controllers= unknown
 +
|tracked motion controllers notes =
 +
|tracked motion prompts    = unknown
 +
|tracked motion prompts notes =
 +
|other controllers        = unknown
 +
|other controllers notes  =
 +
|other button prompts      = unknown
 +
|other button prompts notes=
 +
|controller hotplug        = unknown
 +
|controller hotplug notes  =
 +
|haptic feedback          = unknown
 +
|haptic feedback notes    =
 +
|simultaneous input        = unknown
 +
|simultaneous input notes  =
 +
|steam input api          = unknown
 +
|steam input api notes    =
 +
|steam hook input          = unknown
 +
|steam hook input notes    =
 +
|steam input presets      = unknown
 +
|steam input presets notes =
 +
|steam controller prompts  = unknown
 +
|steam controller prompts notes =
 +
|steam cursor detection    = unknown
 +
|steam cursor detection notes =
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
===[[Glossary:Remapping|Remapping]]===
 +
{{ii}} Hotkeys and similar key bindings are stored in plaintext {{file|KEYCFG}} files in {{file|simcity_1.dat}}. A tool like [http://sourceforge.net/projects/ilive-reader/ Ilive Reader] must be used to edit these.
 +
 
 +
==Audio==
 +
{{Image|SimCity 4 Audio Settings.png|Audio settings.}}
 +
{{Audio
 +
|separate volume          = true
 +
|separate volume notes    = Music and General Sound sliders
 +
|surround sound          = true
 +
|surround sound notes    = Up to 7.0 output.<ref>{{Refurl|url=https://satsun.org/audio/|title=PC Gaming Surround Sound Round-up|date=May 2023}}</ref>
 +
|subtitles                = n/a
 +
|subtitles notes          = No speech.
 +
|closed captions          = n/a
 +
|closed captions notes    =
 +
|mute on focus lost      = always on
 +
|mute on focus lost notes =
 +
|eax support              =
 +
|eax support notes        =
 +
|royalty free audio      = always on
 +
|royalty free audio notes =
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
{{L10n|content=
 +
{{ii}} Language choice determines display language and which side of the road cars drive on.
 +
{{ii}} The language can be forced if needed but only if the release being used includes that language (see [[#Change language|Change language]]).
 +
 
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = English
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = n/a
 +
|subtitles = n/a
 +
|notes    = Some releases also include UK English (cars drive on the left).
 +
|fan      =
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = Simplified Chinese
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = n/a
 +
|subtitles = n/a
 +
|notes    = Chinese retail only.
 +
|fan      =
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = Traditional Chinese
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = n/a
 +
|subtitles = n/a
 +
|notes    = Chinese retail only.
 +
|fan      =
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = Danish
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = n/a
 +
|subtitles = n/a
 +
|notes    =
 +
|fan      =
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = Dutch
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = n/a
 +
|subtitles = n/a
 +
|notes    =
 +
|fan      =
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = Finnish
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = n/a
 +
|subtitles = n/a
 +
|notes    = European retail and GOG.com release.
 +
|fan      =
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = French
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = n/a
 +
|subtitles = n/a
 +
|notes    =
 +
|fan      =
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = German
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = n/a
 +
|subtitles = n/a
 +
|notes    =
 +
|fan      =
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = Italian
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = n/a
 +
|subtitles = n/a
 +
|notes    =
 +
|fan      =
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = Japanese
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = n/a
 +
|subtitles = n/a
 +
|notes    = Japanese retail and Steam OS X versions only.
 +
|fan      =
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = Korean
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = n/a
 +
|subtitles = n/a
 +
|notes    = Korean retail only.
 +
|fan      =
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = Norwegian
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = n/a
 +
|subtitles = n/a
 +
|notes    = European retail and GOG.com release.
 +
|fan      =
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = Polish
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = n/a
 +
|subtitles = n/a
 +
|notes    = European retail and GOG.com release. For other releases use [https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=258003484 this guide].
 +
|fan      =
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = Brazilian Portuguese
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = n/a
 +
|subtitles = n/a
 +
|notes    = Local retail, European retail and GOG.com release.
 +
|fan      =
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = Spanish
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = n/a
 +
|subtitles = n/a
 +
|notes    =
 +
|fan      =
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = Swedish
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = n/a
 +
|subtitles = n/a
 +
|notes    =
 +
|fan      =
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = Thai
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = n/a
 +
|subtitles = n/a
 +
|notes    = Thai retail only.
 +
|fan      =
 +
}}
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
==Issues unresolved==
 +
===OS X and Intel CPU major flaws===
 +
{{--}} Major flaws when operating on computers by Apple using Intel processors.
 +
{{--}} Aspyr released a beta of a patch to fix the problems in 2007, but the patch was never finalized and many bugs remain. Some have a serious impact on playability, including frequent crashes if a city exceeds 95,000 population, flawed display of the water surface, frequent blurring or replacement of objects with random other objects, and an inability to significantly accelerate the vehicle in driving mode that prevents many gameplay features from being unlocked. Another patch arrived in 2014, followed by a patch to that in 2015.
 +
{{--}} OS X 10.9 (Mavericks) and later can render the game completely unplayable, even with the later patches. Running the Windows version in [[Wine]] or a Virtual Machine, or the original Mac release on a PowerPC Mac generally gives a more convenient and reliable result.
 +
{{ii}} It is unknown in the later patches from 2014, 2015 and 2020 (added 64-bit support) fixed the major bugs described here with this port.
 +
 
 +
===Integer overflow===
 +
An integer overflow bug is also present in the game. Under certain conditions, the Junior Sports Program and Parks and Recreation expense items will be a negative value - thus adding to the end of month balance instead of reducing it.
 +
 
 +
==Issues fixed==
 +
===Crashes on multi-core systems===
 +
{{Fixbox|description=Single CPU affinity|ref=<ref>{{Refurl|url=http://www.wikihow.com/Stop-Sim-City-4-Crashing|title=this tutorial|date=May 2023}}</ref>|fix=
 +
{{--}} May reduce performance.
 +
If running retail or Origin version, set the 'Target' field of the shortcut or add to Steam launch options:<code>-CPUCount:1</code>
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
{{Fixbox|description=Menu option to enable software renderer|ref={{cn|date=December 2016}}|fix=
 +
{{--}} May reduce performance and visual fidelity.
 +
#Run SimCity 4.
 +
#Go to the video settings menu.
 
#Under "Renderer", check "Software".
 
#Under "Renderer", check "Software".
#Restart Sim City 4.
+
#Restart SimCity 4.
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
{{Fixbox|description=Target line to enable software renderer|ref={{cn|date=December 2016}}|fix=
 +
{{--}} May reduce performance and visual fidelity.
 +
 
 +
If running retail or Origin version, set the 'Target' field of the shortcut or add to Steam launch options: <code>-d:Software</code>
 +
}}
  
===Crashes on Multi-Core Systems===
+
===Poor performance on modern systems===
When Sim City 4 crashes on a multi-core system, assign it to a single CPU according to [http://www.wikihow.com/Stop-Sim-City-4-Crashing this tutorial] or by adding -CPUCount:1 in the launch options through Steam or in the "target" field of a shortcut to SimCity4.exe (Retail or Origin version).
+
{{--}} Running SimCity 4 on modern systems may result in large performance problems.
  
===IH Missing Jobs===
+
{{Fixbox|description=Add GPU device ID to list of recognised cards|ref=<ref name="new hardware">http://community.simtropolis.com/topic/33931-how-to-configure-sc4-to-work-with-your-new-hardware/</ref><ref name="software or hardware">http://community.simtropolis.com/topic/28564-software-or-hardware/</ref>|fix=
There is a bug within the game where almost every IH lot in the game doesn't offer any high wealth jobs even though it creates a demand for high wealth residents. [http://www.simtropolis.com/forum/files/file/22771-ih-missing-jobs-fix-update/ IH Missing Jobs Fix] takes care of that and will have people filling up those IH jobs, allowing your lots to prosper and grow.  
+
{{ii}} Be sure the installation of SimCity 4 is updated to the latest version. Updating it afterwards will remove the fix.
 +
{{++}} This fix enables hardware acceleration.
 +
{{ii}} This can all by automated/simplified by using the [https://www.simsnetwork.com/tools/graphics-rules-maker Graphic Rules Maker.] (Supports Sims 2 and Simcity 4)
 +
# Download, install and run [[GPU-Z]].
 +
# Copy down what is listed as the "Device ID" as well as the card's name.
 +
## The "Device ID" is a number that identifies the card, as well as the manufacturer.
 +
## For example, if <code>10DE-1086</code> is the Device ID, 0x10DE identifies the card's vendor, and 0x1086 identifies the card.
 +
# Within the game's installation folder, open {{file|Graphics Rules.sgr}} with a text editor.
 +
# Locate the line <code>partialRule "Fast card" -any</code> within the file
 +
# Add your own card's name in the list, separating the vendor and the card with asterisks.
 +
## For example, <code>stringMatch cardIdentity "ATI*HD 4800 Series*"</code>
 +
# Save and close the file.
 +
# In the same folder, open {{file|Video Cards.sgr}} with the text editor of your choice.
 +
# Locate the header featuring the card's vendor (and vendor ID).
 +
# Add your card in under the header, preferably in numerical order.
 +
## For example, <code>card 0x1086 "Nvidia GeForce GTX 560"</code>
 +
## Don't forget to preface your card ID with the "0x"
 +
# Save and close the file.
 +
# Open SimCity 4.
 +
# Enter the video options menu.
 +
# Check "Hardware" under the "Rendering" header.
  
===Cities get automatically moved from the Region folder to the Downloads folder===
+
This may fix your problems in-game. If not, try experimenting with some of the graphics options in-game. If none of these options work, use software rendering in order to achieve a playable experience.
When you have two or more copies of the same city in your Region folder upon starting SimCity 4, the game uses only one version and the other city copies are either deleted or automatically moved to the Downloads folder. SimCity 4 determines which file to use by sorting the city file names alphabetically and taking the first entry.
 
  
Example: If you have the following city copies in your region folder, then only "City - TEST 1.sc4" will be kept, the others will either get deleted or will be moved to the Downloads folder:
+
If you are using an AMD Radeon HD 7000 Series graphics card, also implement [[SimCity 4#Details disappear when scrolling|Details disappear when scrolling]].
 +
}}
  
<pre>City - TEST 1.sc4
+
===Error message: "Could not initialize graphics card"===
City - TEST 2.sc4
+
SimCity 4 may crash on startup while reporting an error that claims that SimCity 4 was unable to initialize the graphics card, this may occur when using a hardware-accelerated rendering mode and a non-standard resolution. Changing the rendering mode to "software" or changing the resolution to one of the supported resolutions (800x600, 1024x768, 1280x1024, 1600x1200) should resolve this issue.
City - TEST 3.sc4
 
City - TEST 4.sc4</pre>
 
  
===Unresolved Issues===
+
===Details disappear when scrolling===
====Integer Overflow====
+
{{--}} On some AMD/ATI graphics cards users may find that scrolling the view will cause entities and details to temporarily disappear, including lots appearing completely empty until scrolling stops.
An integer overflow bug is also present in the game. Under certain conditions, the Junior Sports Program and Parks and Recreation expense items will be a negative value - thus adding to the end of month balance instead of reducing it.
 
  
====Intel Macintoshes====
+
{{Fixbox|description=Repair Radeon 7000 Series detection|ref=<ref name="new hardware"/><ref name="software or hardware"/>|fix=
The game has major flaws when operating on computers by Apple using Intel processors. Aspyr released a beta of a patch to fix the problems in 2007, but the patch was never finalized and many bugs remain. Some have a serious impact on playability, including frequent crashes if a city exceeds 95,000 population, flawed display of the water surface, frequent blurring or replacement of objects with random other objects, and an inability to significantly accelerate the vehicle in driving mode that prevents many gameplay features from being unlocked.
+
{{ii}} Be sure the installation of SimCity 4 is updated to the latest version. Updating it afterwards will remove the fix.
 +
{{++}} This fix removes outdated compatibility options that impair performance.
 +
# Open {{file|GraphicsRules.sgr}} in the installation folder with a text editor.
 +
# Search for the line <code>stringMatch cardIdentity "*7?00*"</code>
 +
# Modify the line so it reads <code>stringMatch cardIdentity "*Radeon 7?00*"</code>
  
==Graphical Tweaks==
+
This will stop the modern card from triggering a compatibility check designed for the original Radeon 7000 series, forcing settings that make the game perform badly.
===Custom resolutions===
+
}}
Custom resolutions are possible, with caveats, as explained at [http://www.widescreengaming.net/wiki/SimCity_4 Widescreen Gaming Wiki].  
+
Alternatively, this can be resolved by installing the [http://community.simtropolis.com/topic/54082-simcity-4-launcher-updated-140b-r7/ SC4Launcher Utility]. Once installed, run the launcher and navigate to the 'Hardware & Audio' tab. Enable the option 'Force Draw on Scroll' by checking the tick box. This should resolve the issue completely and will remain fixed regardless of whether the game is started with this custom launcher or through running the normal SimCity 4 executable.
The simplest way is to put -CustomResolution:enabled -rXResolutionxYResolutionx32 in the launch options through Steam or in the "target" field of a shortcut to SimCity4.exe (Retail or Origin version). Example for 1920x1080 at 32-bit:  '''-CustomResolution:enabled -r1920x1080x32'''
 
  
===Windowed Mode===
+
==Other information==
To have SimCity 4 launch in windowed mode use the parameter -w in the launch options or the target field of the shortcut.
+
===API===
 +
{{API
 +
|direct3d versions      = 7.0
 +
|direct3d notes        =
 +
|directdraw versions    = 7.0
 +
|directdraw notes      =
 +
|opengl versions        =  
 +
|opengl notes          =
 +
|glide versions        =
 +
|glide notes            =
 +
|software mode          = true
 +
|software mode notes    =
 +
|mantle support        = false
 +
|mantle support notes  =
 +
|vulkan versions        =
 +
|vulkan notes          =
 +
|dos modes              =
 +
|dos modes notes        =
 +
|shader model versions  =
 +
|shader model notes    =
 +
|windows 32-bit exe    = true
 +
|windows 64-bit exe    = false
 +
|windows arm app        = false
 +
|windows exe notes      =
 +
|mac os x powerpc app  = true
 +
|macos intel 32-bit app = true
 +
|macos intel 64-bit app = true
 +
|macos arm app          = true
 +
|macos app notes        = Original MacOS port: a patch to support Intel chips released in 2007, but due to [[#OS X and Intel CPU major flaws|major problems]] it is not recommended.<br>2014 re-release: 64-bit support was added on February 19, 2020. [[#Experiencing issues on Apple ARM devices|Native ARM support was added on January 12, 2023.]].
 +
}}
  
===Turn off Intro===
+
===Duplicate cities moved===
To disable the intro, use the parameter -intro:off in the launch options or the target field of the shortcut.
+
{{--}} If two or more copies of the same city exist in the Region folder upon starting SimCity 4, the game uses only one version and the other city copies are either deleted or automatically moved to the Downloads folder.
 +
{{--}} SimCity 4 determines which file to use by sorting the city file names alphabetically and taking the first entry.
 +
{{--}} If copies of cities in the same region folder exist, e.g. {{file|City - TEST 1.sc4}} and {{file|City - TEST 2.sc4}}, then only {{file|City - TEST 1.sc4}} will be kept, and {{file|City - TEST 2.sc4}} will either get deleted or will be moved to the {{folder|Downloads}} folder.
  
===Further parameters===
+
===Launch options===
More parameters can be found [http://www.wiki.sc4devotion.com/index.php?title=Tutorial:Shortcut_Parameters via this link]. Please be aware that if you use the -UserDir parameter, changes made in any ingame options may not be saved properly.
+
{{mm}} More [[Glossary:Command line arguments|command line arguments]] can be found on [https://wiki.sc4devotion.com/index.php?title=Shortcut_Parameters SC4Devotion]. Please be aware that by using the {{code|-UserDir}} argument, changes made in any in-game options may not be saved properly.
  
===Multimonitor Support===
+
===Change language===
There is no multimonitor support according to [http://widescreengamingforum.com/dr/simcity-4 Widescreen Gaming Forum].
+
{{ii}} Language choice determines display language and which side of the road cars drive on.
 +
{{++}} Supported languages sets include:
 +
* English and Spanish (North American version)
 +
* UK English, French, German, Spanish, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese and Swedish (European version)
 +
* Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese (Chinese version)
 +
* Korean (Korean version)
 +
* Japanese (Japanese version)
 +
* Thai (Thailand version)
 +
The availability of these sets depends on where the game was purchased, or where the purchaser's billing address states in the case of Digital Distribution.
 +
{{Fixbox|description=Change language through launch options|ref=<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20180124135634/http://www.wiki.sc4devotion.com/index.php?title=Tutorial:Shortcut_Parameters</ref><ref>https://wiki.sc4devotion.com/index.php?title=Shortcut_Parameters</ref>|fix=
 +
<code>-l:english</code> or <code>-l:french</code>, etc.
  
===Antialiasing===
+
'''Notes'''
The game doesn't support any form of antialiasing.
+
{{ii}} UK English, Norwegian and Portuguese sets use shortened versions of their names: UKEnglsh, Norwgian and Portgese respectively.
 +
}}
 +
{{Fixbox|description=Change language through regedit|ref=<ref>http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=3961.0</ref>|fix=
 +
A detailed guide can be found on the [http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=3961.0 SimCity Devotion thread by RippleJet].
 +
}}
  
===Anisotropic Filtering===
+
{{ii}}The game also recognises Czech, Hebrew, Greek and Russian, however no official translations were ever released and no community translations have been made, possibly due to lack of compatible font sets.
There is no anisotropic filtering option available in the game.
 
  
 
==Mods==
 
==Mods==
This section is originally based on [http://www.reddit.com/r/SimCity/comments/orbt2/the_super_ultimate_awesome_essential_sc4_mod/ this reddit thread] by [http://www.reddit.com/user/remixof1983 remixof1983], used here with permission.
+
{{ii}} Mods may require dependencies.  
  
Please keep in mind that some mods may require dependencies. Dependencies are files essential for properly running the mod and must be downloaded. The dependencies for each mod are listed on the respective mod's page. Also, the sites on which you will find these mods require that you create a free account in order to actually download the content.
+
===Mod resources===
 +
{{mm}} [http://www.simtropolis.com Simtropolis] - an ''extremely'' active modding community, hosts the [http://community.simtropolis.com/files/category/1-simcity-4/ ST/Exchange] (SimTropolisEXchange).
 +
{{mm}} [http://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/ SC4 Devotion] - a very active modding community, hosts the [http://sc4devotion.com/csxlex/Default.htm LEX] (Lot Exchange).
 +
{{mm}} [http://community.simtropolis.com/topic/25918-all-you-can-modify-in-simcity-4-poll-inside/ Thread listing all possible settings and customisations]
  
Some of these mods, and many others, can be found on the site [http://www.simtropolis.com Simtropolis].
+
===Mod recommendations===
 +
{{mm}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20211014084109/https://sites.google.com/site/sc4modds/ sc4modds] - full list of mods from [https://www.reddit.com/r/SimCity/ /r/SimCity] community.
 +
{{mm}} [https://www.reddit.com/r/SimCity/comments/102cuf/awesome_essential_sc4_mods_updated/ Reddit thread - September 17, 2012]
 +
{{mm}} [https://www.reddit.com/r/SimCity/comments/orbt2/the_super_ultimate_awesome_essential_sc4_mod/ Reddit thread - January 22, 2012]
  
*[http://www.simtropolis.com/forum/files/file/26793-network-addon-mod-for-windows/ NAM: Network Addon Mod] includes transportation related fixes such as better path-finding accuracy and performance. It also includes many improvements and additions to the existing network tools: roundabouts, turning lanes, intersections, new overpasses, a ground lightrail network, and much more.
+
===[https://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/30956-colossus-addon-mod Colossus Addon Mod (CAM)]===
*[http://www.simtropolis.com/forum/files/file/19734-sam-street-addon-mod-version-3/ SAM: Street Addon Mod] gives you a lot more variety when it comes to streets and roads. Gravel streets, dirt roads, parking lots, and much more. Make sure you read the instructions before trying to use this mod because placing these can be a little bit tricky at first due to the starter pieces.
+
{{ii}} A significant and popular mod developed by the community at [http://sc4devotion.com SC4 Devotion].
*[http://www.simtropolis.com/forum/files/file/26793-network-addon-mod-for-windows/ NMW: Network Widening Mod] is an addition to NAM that adds a wide variety of surface networks. It provides multiple-lane avenues which are sure to come in handy when the traffic in your city becomes overbearing.
+
{{++}} Rewrites and improves how cities and regions grow by including more 'lots' or building transition stages, and increases population density.
*[http://www.simtropolis.com/forum/files/file/19188-realhighway-mod-for-windows/ RealHighway Mod] is another optional addon for NAM. It gives you a wide variety of options when creating realistic highways including a double-decker highway.
+
{{++}} Compatible with [[#NAM:_Network_Addon_Mod|NAM: Network Addon Mod]].
*[http://www.simpeg.com/forum/index.php?action=downloads;sa=view;down=614 SPAM: SimPeg Agricultural Mod] is an awesome mod that completely replaces the game's default farming system. Most players consider SimCity to be all about creating a thriving metropolis and the in-game farming system was actually unfinished at the time of the game's release. This mod changes how farms look and play and makes them a viable part of any city. you can create maps in your region dedicated to just agriculture or implement them into your larger cities as well. there is also a ton of [http://www.simpeg.com/forum/index.php?action=downloads;cat=51 SPAM addons] that take things even further with buildings, roads, etc, dedicated to getting even more out of your farm cities.
 
*[http://www.simtropolis.com/forum/files/file/26923-paengs-parks-revisited/ Paeng's Parks] gives you the power to create truly beautiful parks in your city. [http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5012419/Plex/centralpark/central03.jpg This] and [http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5012419/Plex/centralpark/central04.jpg this] are two examples of the amazing parks you will be able to create with this mod.
 
*[http://www.simpeg.com/forum/index.php?action=downloads;sa=view;down=611 Paeng's Free Waters] allows you to beautify your lakes and rivers. If you want to get more in depth, look up [http://www.simpeg.com/forum/index.php?action=downloads;sa=view;down=598 Paeng's Turbulences Vol. 1], [http://www.simtropolis.com/forum/files/file/26557-paengs-turbulences-vol-02/ Paeng's Turbulences Vol. 2] and [http://www.simpeg.com/forum/index.php?action=downloads;sa=view;down=25 PEG Ponds and Streams] which includes waterfalls. [http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5012419/niteowl/turb_v2/turb_full01.jpg Here] is an example of what you can do with the Free Waters and the Turbulences mods.
 
*[http://www.simpeg.com/forum/index.php?action=downloads;cat=2 MAPP: Modular Amusement Parks Pack] allows you to create amusement parks within your city and includes a wide variety of rides and coasters.
 
*[http://www.simtropolis.com/forum/files/file/22358-coastal-modd/ rivit's Coastal Mod] allows you to change the color of the water and beaches in your regions/cities. There are several choices of color for both the water and the shores, giving you a variety to mix and match.
 
*[http://www.simtropolis.com/forum/files/file/26340-beach-extend-mod/ Beach Extend Mod] gives you bigger beaches, making your beaches a lot more realistic by simple extending them slightly further onto the land.
 
*[http://www.simtropolis.com/forum/files/file/15604-rmip-2-small-airport-edition-vol-1/ RMIP: Runway Making Improvement Project] allows for the creation of unique airports. Although it won't be out for quite a while, the team behind this are already working on the next mod in this series which you can follow here: [RMIP-3 Large Airport Edition](http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=6985.0).
 
*[http://sc4devotion.com/csxlex/lex_filedesc.php?lotGET=36 JRJ Sidewalk Mod] is an older mod that allows you to change the sidewalks from the maxis default in your cities. There are several styles to choose from.
 
*[http://www.simpeg.com/forum/index.php?action=downloads;cat=35 CDK3: Marina] is a part of the Coastal Development Kit, which is a series of mods and lots to liven up your coasts. This is a part of the [http://www.simpeg.com/forum/index.php?action=downloads;cat=12 CDK collection] which includes seaports, seaport villages and boardwalks (OWW2: Old Wooden Waterfronts). They give you an entirely new marina for your game and allow you to actually expend the marina along the entire coast with additional buildings such as boat storage, a yacht club, a sport fishing club, a marina parking lot, and more. [http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/7186/marina6.jpg This image] shows you what you can create with a combination of the CDK3: Marina and the OWW2.
 
*[http://www.simpeg.com/forum/index.php?action=downloads;cat=36 CDK3: OWW2: Old Wooden Waterfront] is a part of the aforementioned Coastal Development Kit. Not only does this feature boardwalks and tons of accessories for them (piers, plazas, parking lots, food courts, fisherman's wharf, and more) but it also features a Beach Development Kit which lets you create cool realistic beaches in place of the standard dull beaches the game provides.
 
*[http://www.simpeg.com/forum/index.php?action=downloads;cat=1 MTP: Mountain Theme Pack] will allow you to create entire communities in the mountains and forests, with many unique lots and buildings, such as trails, a lumber yard, a saw mill, unique roads, parking lots, and parks for your new community, lodges, cabins, and much, much more. This mod comes from PEG, the same crew behind CDK3, Ponds and Streams, and several other mods.
 
*the industry doubler gives you industry zones more jobs per lot so that you don't have to clutter your city with these buildings.
 
*[http://www.simtropolis.com/forum/files/file/13696-radius-doubler-mod/ Radius Doubler Mod] increases the coverage of your in game services. All the schools, police stations, fire departments along with the clinic and hospital will have increased coverage. Allows for lower density cities.
 
*[http://www.simtropolis.com/forum/files/file/21335-toll-booth-booster-v2-0/ Toll Booth Boster V2.0] increases the capacity of your toll booths, letting traffic flow smoothly through your toll booths. Optionally, you can also have higher toll booth charges for some extra income.
 
*there are several slope mods which create smoother transitions when it comes to building networks and cities on a slope.
 
*[http://www.simpeg.com/forum/index.php?action=downloads;cat=29 PEG Snow Mods] allow you to create a winter wonderland! Allows the building of ski resorts.
 
*[http://sc4devotion.com/csxlex/lex_filedesc.php?lotGET=887 BSC Canals] is one of many canal sets available, featuring a lot of different pieces to play with. Additionally, [http://sc4devotion.com/csxlex/lex_filedesc.php?lotGET=916 BSC Brick Canals Bridge Pack], [http://sc4devotion.com/csxlex/lex_filedesc.php?lotGET=2263 Urban Canal Set] and [http://sc4devotion.com/csxlex/lex_filedesc.php?lotGET=944 BSC Canals Narrow Set] give you some more choices when building your canal network. Also, check out [http://sc4devotion.com/csxlex/lex_lotsearch_lview.php?UPLOADER=simgoober&UPSEARCH=Creator simgoober's page on the LEX] for more custom bats and lots.
 
*[http://www.simpeg.com/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=8a8441cf3b5daa655111b30e1e0ea0c5&action=downloads;cat=22 PEG CSK: Channel Stream Kit] is another canal mod, this one has some cool addons like restaurants, water taxi, docks, and more.
 
*[http://www.simtropolis.com/forum/files/file/11466-canal-set/ oppie's Canal Set] is just what it sounds like. yet another set of canals for your Simcity.
 
  
===Content===
+
===Tools===
*[http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=2039.0 CAM: Colossus Addon Mod] allows you to use CAMeLots, which completely redefine the look of the game. If you're tired of the same old buildings popping up in your city, CAM alters the stage growth of in-game buildings for better development. The lots spice up the game by adding a ton of new buildings. With this mod, you can create an entirely different look and feel for your city. note: lots of dependencies will be needed in order access all the lots!
+
{{mm}} [http://www.thehobbykingdom.com/forum/default.aspx?g=posts&t=3621 SimCity 4 Auto Saver] - autosave program for SimCity 4 that will automatically save the game while playing; superseded by the [[#SC4Launcher|SC4Launcher]].
*[http://sc4devotion.com/csxlex/lex_lotsearch_lview.php?UPLOADER=Mattb325&UPSEARCH=Creator mattb235's bats and lots] features wide variety of beautiful buildings to download here essential for building nice suburbs, including mansions.
+
{{mm}} [http://sc4devotion.com/csxlex/lex_filedesc.php?lotGET=731 SC4Terraformer] - this is a widely used tool that can render custom maps designed and built within the program.
 +
{{mm}} [http://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/27675-sc4datanode/ SC4DataNode] - this is a tool that checks the plugins folder, analyzes it, and reports if any mods are missing dependencies.
  
===Visual===
+
===Fixes===
Graphical overhauls, etc.
+
{{mm}} [https://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/33601-texture-fix-of-jenkins-consulting-maxis Texture Fix of Jenkins Consulting] - fixes invisible textures on the sides of "Jenkins Consulting" building.
 +
{{mm}} [https://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/33277-r-traffic-noise-fix-v1 R$$ Traffic Noise Fix] - fixes a bug where R$$ buildings show "High" Traffic Noise although very little traffic is nearby.
 +
{{mm}} [https://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/31023-michiyls-uv-map-fix-for-maxis-monorail-models UV Map Fix for Maxis Monorail Models] - fixes texture positioning for the Maxis monorail models.
 +
{{mm}} [https://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/28810-fire-plane-udi-mission-fix Fire Plane UDI Mission Fix] - fixes Fire Plane UDI mission so it is possible to obtain a Zoo as reward as it should be from start.
 +
{{mm}} [https://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/11154-all-3-cityhalls-modd-reward-fix All 3 CityHalls Modd Reward Fix] - fixes all CityHalls to appear in the game at separate intervals as rewards. It is an older mod that may be superseded by a [https://community.simtropolis.com/forums/topic/761100-2nd-beta-all-3-city-halls-fixes-1-for-modpacc-zero much more recent one].
 +
{{mm}} [https://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/28786-carpool-incentive-program-ordinance-fix Carpool Incentive Program Ordinance Fix] - fixes bugged ordinance (which, unmodded, has no effect on pollution or traffic) by applying a 10% reduction in pollution caused by traffic.
 +
{{mm}} [https://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/28618-piggyback-freight-car-fix Piggyback Freight Car Fix] - fixes positioning for the Freights on the rails.
 +
{{mm}} [https://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/27340-space-port-fix-mod Space Port Fix] - fixes a problem with the default Maxis Space Port, which claims it "Provides a boost to high-tech industry" however, it does not. Maxis forgot to include this boost, therefore it boosts nothing but costs and some slight commercial desirability.
 +
{{mm}} [https://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/30836-hippotank-demand-fix HippoTank Demand Fix] - fixes the demand values for the Medical Clinic, Solar Power Plant, Nuclear Power Plant.
 +
{{mm}} [https://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/22771-ih-missing-jobs-fix-update IH Missing $$$ Jobs Fix] - fixes IH lots, so they offer 12% $$$ jobs instead of the originally designed but missing 10% $$$ jobs, reducing $$ jobs by 2% to 78% at the same time so the sum remains 100%. Comes with the [[#Colossus Addon Mod (CAM)|CAM]] mod.
 +
{{mm}} [https://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/15048-diagonal-jagged-edges-mod Diagonal Jagged Edges Fix] - changes the way the game renders cliffs to make certain diagonal roads look more natural. The tradeoff is that more "cliffs" will show in the terrain. When installing this mod, only use one of the provided .dat files. This mod may conflict with other terrain mods.
 +
{{mm}} [https://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/13478-area-51-air-force-base-no-exclusion Area 5.1 Air Force Base No Exclusion Fix] - allows both Area 5.1 and the Air Force Base to be built in the same city. (This may have been an intentional restriction, and may not technically be a bug.) Requires the appropriate [https://community.simtropolis.com/sc4-maxis-files/ Maxis Landmark Building] to be installed.
 +
{{mm}} [https://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/21342-opera-house-fix Opera House Fix] - fixes the Opera House's capacity.
  
==Third Party Software==
+
==System requirements==
Is there a fan-made utility that makes the game just that much easier to work with? Something that's simply too cool to not use? That would go here.
+
{{System requirements
 +
|OSfamily = Windows
  
==Save Game Data==
+
|minOS    = 98, ME, 2000, XP
===Folder Location===
+
|minCPU  = Intel Pentium III 500 MHz or equivalent
*Windows 7:
+
|minRAM  = 128 MB <br /> 256 MB (XP)
<pre>C:\Users\%USERNAME%\Documents\SimCity 4\Regions\</pre>
+
|minHD    = 1 GB
*Mac OSX: unknown
+
|minGPU  =  
 +
|minDX    = 7.0
 +
|minVRAM  = 32 MB
  
===SC4 Autosaver===
+
|recCPU  = 1 GHz or faster
http://www.thehobbykingdom.com/forum/default.aspx?g=posts&t=3621
+
|recRAM  = 256 MB
 +
}}
  
==System Requirements==
+
{{System requirements
{{SysReq
+
|OSfamily = OS X
|minOS = Windows XP/Windows Me/Windows 2000/Windows 98 (Windows NT and Windows 95 NOT supported)
+
|ref      = <ref>{{Refurl|url=https://www.aspyr.com/games/simcity-4-deluxe-edition|title=SimCity™ 4: Deluxe Edition - Aspyr|date=9 June 2023}}</ref>
|recOS =  
 
|minproc = Pentium III 500 MHz or equivalent
 
|recproc =  
 
|minmem = 128 MB RAM for Windows Me/Windows 2000/Windows 98, 256 MB RAM for Windows XP
 
|recmem =
 
|minHD = 1 GB hard drive space
 
|minGPU1 = DirectX 7.0 compatible
 
|minVRAM =  32
 
|recGPU1 =
 
|recGPU2 =  
 
|recVRAM =
 
}}
 
  
==Useful Links==
+
|minOS    = 10.8.5
*[http://store.origin.com/store/easa/en_IN/pd/productID.198095500 Origin]
+
|minCPU  = Intel Core 2 Duo 2.2 GHz
*[http://www.gamersgate.com/DD-SC4DEUS/simcity-4-deluxe-edition Gamersgate]
+
|minRAM  = 4 GB
*[http://impulsedriven.com/simcity4 Impulse]
+
|minHD    = 2 GB
*[http://store.steampowered.com/app/24780/ Steam]
+
|minGPU  = Nvidia GeForce 8800 series
*[http://www.simcity.com/en_US/product/simcity4 Official patch]
+
|minGPU2  = ATI Radeon HD 3870
 +
|minGPU3  = Intel HD Graphics 3000
 +
|minVRAM  = 256 MB
  
==See Also==
+
|recOS    =  
*[[SimCity]]
+
|recCPU  =  
*[[SimCity 2000]]
+
|recRAM  =  
*[[SimCity 3000]]
+
|recHD    =  
 +
|recGPU  =
 +
}}
  
[[Category:Game]]
+
{{References}}
[[Category:Mac]]
 
[[Category:Windows]]
 

Revision as of 22:31, 7 March 2024

SimCity 4
SimCity 4 cover
Developers
Maxis
macOS (OS X) i5works[1][2]
Publishers
Electronic Arts
OS X Aspyr Media
Release dates
Windows January 14, 2003
macOS (OS X) June 30, 2003
Reception
Metacritic 84
Taxonomy
Monetization One-time game purchase, Expansion pack, Cross-game bonus, Subscription gaming service
Modes Singleplayer
Pacing Real-time
Perspectives Bird's-eye view
Controls Point and select
Genres Building, Simulation
Themes Contemporary
Series SimCity
SimCity 4 on HowLongToBeat
SimCity 4 on IGDB
SimCity 4 guide on StrategyWiki
SimCity 4 on MobyGames
SimCity 4 on Wikipedia
SimCity
Subseries of Sim
SimCity (1989) 1989
SimCity 2000 1994
SimCity 2000 Network Edition 1996
SimCopter 1996
Streets of SimCity 1997
SimCity 3000 1999
SimCity 4 2003
SimCity Societies 2007
SimCity (2013) 2013

SimCity 4 is a singleplayer bird's-eye view building and simulation game in the SimCity series.

The game received the Rush Hour expansion pack in September 2003, and the two products would be bundled as the Deluxe Edition in retail and digital stores. The Steam and GOG.com releases of the Deluxe Edition would receive additional compatibility tweaks, but the Origin/EA App release would use an obsolete build until June 2023, when it was synchronized with the other digital versions.[3]

The game was designed only with a single processor core in mind, and running on multi-core processors crashes the game on startup unless a command line argument forcing single-core affinity is used. Additionally, the hardware renderer performs poorly on present-day systems, requiring manual hardware recognition changes or falling back to the software renderer.

General information

Simtropolis Forum
SC4 Devotion Forum
/r/simcity4 subreddit
SimCity 4 on the SimCity Wiki
GOG.com Community Discussions for game series
GOG.com Support Page
Steam Community Discussions

Availability

Source DRM Notes Keys OS
Retail
Disc check (requires the CD/DVD in the drive to play)
CD key
SafeDisc DRM[Note 1]. Released on 2 CDs.
Icon overlay.png
Windows
macOS (OS X)
GOG.com
DRM-free
Deluxe Edition.
Windows
Green Man Gaming
Icon overlay.png
Deluxe Edition. Incorrectly states it is incompatible with newer macOS versions.[6]
Windows
macOS (OS X)
Mac App Store
Icon overlay.png
Deluxe Edition. 2014 re-release with modifications to improve compatibility.
macOS (OS X)
Microsoft Store
Microsoft Store
Origin
Deluxe Edition. Included exclusively with Xbox Game Pass for PC as part of its version of EA Play.
Windows
Origin
Origin
Deluxe Edition. Included with EA Play.
Manual link for EA App purchase.
Windows
Steam
Icon overlay.png
Deluxe Edition. Includes 2014 OS X re-release. Included with EA Play (Steam).
Windows
macOS (OS X)
Amazon.com (unavailable)
DRM-free
Deluxe Edition. Download (DRM-free) or retail (Disk key).
Windows
SafeDisc retail DRM does not work on Windows Vista and later (see above for affected versions).
Retail keys can be redeemed on Origin.[7][8]
A faithful, higher quality icon can be found on SteamGridDB.

Version differences

The Deluxe Edition which includes the base game and the Rush Hour expansion pack, and has the highest compatibility with mods and other fixes.[9] Steam and GOG.com versions also have additional tweaks applied.

Monetization

Type Notes
Cross-game bonus Characters from The Sims 1 can be imported to fill the streets.
Expansion pack The expansion pack includes disasters, customization options, vehicle control mode and related missions, and new transportation options.
One-time game purchase The game requires an upfront purchase to access.
Subscription gaming service Available via EA Play.

DLC and expansion packs

Name Notes
Rush Hour Included in the Deluxe Edition.
Windows
macOS (OS X)

Essential improvements

Patches

The latest official patches for the base game (v272) and Rush Hour (v638 and v640) are available on GameFront and simtropolis.com.
Patch 641 is exclusive to the digital versions of the Deluxe Edition.

Skip intro videos

Run the game with the -intro:off command line argument[10]

Launching game on modern systems

SC4Launcher

Launcher utility that can be installed.
Combines autosaving (customisable intervals), renderer choice (DirectX, Software, OpenGL), CPU priority, single CPU affinity, widescreen resolution, windowed, borderless-windowed, skip intro videos, simple mod manager and an ATI/AMD graphics card fix into a single launcher program.

Large Address Aware

Improves stability on systems with at least 3 GB RAM by allowing the application to use more than 2 GB RAM.

Combined launch options

Single line of code to be added to 'Target' field of the shortcut or to digital client launch options.
Combines widescreen resolution, windowed, single CPU affinity, skip intro videos.
Use the following set of command line arguments: -CustomResolution:enabled -r1920x1080x32 -w -CPUCount:1 -intro:off[10]

Notes

Also use ShiftWindow in order to enable Borderless fullscreen windowed mode for seamless Alt+Tab -ing and fullscreen view.

NAM: Network Addon Mod

Extensively reworks the road system, improves traffic simulator, pathfinding and performance.
Requires at least version 1.1.638; digital releases are compatible by default.[11]

SC4Fix: Third Party Patches

A third party DLL that fixes hard-coded bugs and crashes like the infamous 'prop pox' bug[12] and crashes when hovering NAM puzzle pieces.
Helps revive and repair cities affected by the 'prop pox' bug.

Experiencing issues on Apple ARM devices

When running the default variant of the game on Steam on Apple ARM hardware, users may encounter issues. Aspyr officially released a new version that added native Apple ARM support on January 12, 2023.[13]
The Mac App Store version updates automatically to this new version when appropriate since update 1.2.2.[14]
Steam: switch to Apple ARM branch[15]
Old MacOS-port is still available as the default option on Steam, requiring Apple ARM users to switch to a Steam Beta branch to acquire the update.
  1. In the Steam Library, right-click on SimCity 4 Deluxe.
  2. Click on Properties
  3. Click on Beta.
  4. Type applesilicon into the beta access code field.
  5. Click on Check Code.
  6. Click on Opt-in.
  7. Wait for the app to update.

Save Warning

Visually alters the UI button labels for Save and Exit (and Save and Quit), to highlight the risk of using this one-step method.
Two options are included. The first option disables that choice completely. The second simply renames the buttons, but continues to perform the same function as before.

Game data

Configuration file(s) location

System Location
Windows %USERPROFILE%\Documents\SimCity 4\
macOS (OS X)
Mac App Store
Steam Play (Linux) <SteamLibrary-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/24780/pfx/[Note 2]

Save game data location

System Location
Windows %USERPROFILE%\Documents\SimCity 4\Regions\
macOS (OS X) $HOME/Documents/SimCity 4/Regions/
Mac App Store $HOME/Library/Containers/com.aspyr.simcity4.appstore/Data/Documents/SimCity 4/Regions/
Steam Play (Linux) <SteamLibrary-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/24780/pfx/[Note 2]
Beware of issues when using multiple duplicate cities.

Save game cloud syncing

System Native Notes
GOG Galaxy
Origin
OneDrive
Requires enabling backup of the Documents folder in OneDrive on all computers.
Steam Cloud
Xbox Cloud

Video

Graphics settings.
Graphics settings.
Gameplay settings.
Gameplay settings.

Graphics feature State WSGF Notes
Widescreen resolution
See Widescreen resolution.
Multi-monitor
See the WSGF entry.
Ultra-widescreen
4K Ultra HD
Hardware rendering (DirectX/OpenGL) for any resolution above 2048x1152 will cause crashing on launch. For software rendering see SC4Launcher.
Field of view (FOV)
Uses an Orthographic Projection camera, rendering FOV modification pointless.
Windowed
See Windowed.
Borderless fullscreen windowed
Working using ShiftWindow.[16]
Anisotropic filtering (AF)
See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
Anti-aliasing (AA)
See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
Vertical sync (Vsync)
See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
60 FPS and 120+ FPS
High dynamic range display (HDR)

Widescreen resolution

The GOG.com version has this done automatically.
Run the game with the followind command line arguments: -CustomResolution:enabled -r1920x1080x32[17]
By using DxWrapper, it is possible to play at resolutions beyond the 2048x1152 limit that DirectX 7 has.

Windowed

Run the game with the -w command line argument (or -f to revert)[10]

Input

Remapping

Hotkeys and similar key bindings are stored in plaintext KEYCFG files in simcity_1.dat. A tool like Ilive Reader must be used to edit these.

Audio

Audio settings.
Audio settings.

Audio feature State Notes
Separate volume controls
Music and General Sound sliders
Surround sound
Up to 7.0 output.[18]
Subtitles
No speech.
Closed captions
Mute on focus lost
Royalty free audio

Localizations

Language choice determines display language and which side of the road cars drive on.
The language can be forced if needed but only if the release being used includes that language (see Change language).
Language UI Audio Sub Notes
English
Some releases also include UK English (cars drive on the left).
Simplified Chinese
Chinese retail only.
Traditional Chinese
Chinese retail only.
Danish
Dutch
Finnish
European retail and GOG.com release.
French
German
Italian
Japanese
Japanese retail and Steam OS X versions only.
Korean
Korean retail only.
Norwegian
European retail and GOG.com release.
Polish
European retail and GOG.com release. For other releases use this guide.
Brazilian Portuguese
Local retail, European retail and GOG.com release.
Spanish
Swedish
Thai
Thai retail only.

Issues unresolved

OS X and Intel CPU major flaws

Major flaws when operating on computers by Apple using Intel processors.
Aspyr released a beta of a patch to fix the problems in 2007, but the patch was never finalized and many bugs remain. Some have a serious impact on playability, including frequent crashes if a city exceeds 95,000 population, flawed display of the water surface, frequent blurring or replacement of objects with random other objects, and an inability to significantly accelerate the vehicle in driving mode that prevents many gameplay features from being unlocked. Another patch arrived in 2014, followed by a patch to that in 2015.
OS X 10.9 (Mavericks) and later can render the game completely unplayable, even with the later patches. Running the Windows version in Wine or a Virtual Machine, or the original Mac release on a PowerPC Mac generally gives a more convenient and reliable result.
It is unknown in the later patches from 2014, 2015 and 2020 (added 64-bit support) fixed the major bugs described here with this port.

Integer overflow

An integer overflow bug is also present in the game. Under certain conditions, the Junior Sports Program and Parks and Recreation expense items will be a negative value - thus adding to the end of month balance instead of reducing it.

Issues fixed

Crashes on multi-core systems

Single CPU affinity[19]
May reduce performance.

If running retail or Origin version, set the 'Target' field of the shortcut or add to Steam launch options:-CPUCount:1

Menu option to enable software renderer[citation needed]
May reduce performance and visual fidelity.
  1. Run SimCity 4.
  2. Go to the video settings menu.
  3. Under "Renderer", check "Software".
  4. Restart SimCity 4.
Target line to enable software renderer[citation needed]
May reduce performance and visual fidelity.

If running retail or Origin version, set the 'Target' field of the shortcut or add to Steam launch options: -d:Software

Poor performance on modern systems

Running SimCity 4 on modern systems may result in large performance problems.
Add GPU device ID to list of recognised cards[20][21]
Be sure the installation of SimCity 4 is updated to the latest version. Updating it afterwards will remove the fix.
This fix enables hardware acceleration.
This can all by automated/simplified by using the Graphic Rules Maker. (Supports Sims 2 and Simcity 4)
  1. Download, install and run GPU-Z.
  2. Copy down what is listed as the "Device ID" as well as the card's name.
    1. The "Device ID" is a number that identifies the card, as well as the manufacturer.
    2. For example, if 10DE-1086 is the Device ID, 0x10DE identifies the card's vendor, and 0x1086 identifies the card.
  3. Within the game's installation folder, open Graphics Rules.sgr with a text editor.
  4. Locate the line partialRule "Fast card" -any within the file
  5. Add your own card's name in the list, separating the vendor and the card with asterisks.
    1. For example, stringMatch cardIdentity "ATI*HD 4800 Series*"
  6. Save and close the file.
  7. In the same folder, open Video Cards.sgr with the text editor of your choice.
  8. Locate the header featuring the card's vendor (and vendor ID).
  9. Add your card in under the header, preferably in numerical order.
    1. For example, card 0x1086 "Nvidia GeForce GTX 560"
    2. Don't forget to preface your card ID with the "0x"
  10. Save and close the file.
  11. Open SimCity 4.
  12. Enter the video options menu.
  13. Check "Hardware" under the "Rendering" header.

This may fix your problems in-game. If not, try experimenting with some of the graphics options in-game. If none of these options work, use software rendering in order to achieve a playable experience.

If you are using an AMD Radeon HD 7000 Series graphics card, also implement Details disappear when scrolling.

Error message: "Could not initialize graphics card"

SimCity 4 may crash on startup while reporting an error that claims that SimCity 4 was unable to initialize the graphics card, this may occur when using a hardware-accelerated rendering mode and a non-standard resolution. Changing the rendering mode to "software" or changing the resolution to one of the supported resolutions (800x600, 1024x768, 1280x1024, 1600x1200) should resolve this issue.

Details disappear when scrolling

On some AMD/ATI graphics cards users may find that scrolling the view will cause entities and details to temporarily disappear, including lots appearing completely empty until scrolling stops.
Repair Radeon 7000 Series detection[20][21]
Be sure the installation of SimCity 4 is updated to the latest version. Updating it afterwards will remove the fix.
This fix removes outdated compatibility options that impair performance.
  1. Open GraphicsRules.sgr in the installation folder with a text editor.
  2. Search for the line stringMatch cardIdentity "*7?00*"
  3. Modify the line so it reads stringMatch cardIdentity "*Radeon 7?00*"

This will stop the modern card from triggering a compatibility check designed for the original Radeon 7000 series, forcing settings that make the game perform badly.

Alternatively, this can be resolved by installing the SC4Launcher Utility. Once installed, run the launcher and navigate to the 'Hardware & Audio' tab. Enable the option 'Force Draw on Scroll' by checking the tick box. This should resolve the issue completely and will remain fixed regardless of whether the game is started with this custom launcher or through running the normal SimCity 4 executable.

Other information

API

Technical specs Supported Notes
Direct3D 7
DirectDraw 7.0
Software renderer
ExecutablePPC 32-bit 64-bitARM Notes
Windows
macOS (OS X)
Original MacOS port: a patch to support Intel chips released in 2007, but due to major problems it is not recommended.
2014 re-release: 64-bit support was added on February 19, 2020. Native ARM support was added on January 12, 2023..

Duplicate cities moved

If two or more copies of the same city exist in the Region folder upon starting SimCity 4, the game uses only one version and the other city copies are either deleted or automatically moved to the Downloads folder.
SimCity 4 determines which file to use by sorting the city file names alphabetically and taking the first entry.
If copies of cities in the same region folder exist, e.g. City - TEST 1.sc4 and City - TEST 2.sc4, then only City - TEST 1.sc4 will be kept, and City - TEST 2.sc4 will either get deleted or will be moved to the Downloads folder.

Launch options

More command line arguments can be found on SC4Devotion. Please be aware that by using the -UserDir argument, changes made in any in-game options may not be saved properly.

Change language

Language choice determines display language and which side of the road cars drive on.
Supported languages sets include:
  • English and Spanish (North American version)
  • UK English, French, German, Spanish, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese and Swedish (European version)
  • Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese (Chinese version)
  • Korean (Korean version)
  • Japanese (Japanese version)
  • Thai (Thailand version)

The availability of these sets depends on where the game was purchased, or where the purchaser's billing address states in the case of Digital Distribution.

Change language through launch options[22][23]

-l:english or -l:french, etc.

Notes

UK English, Norwegian and Portuguese sets use shortened versions of their names: UKEnglsh, Norwgian and Portgese respectively.
Change language through regedit[24]

A detailed guide can be found on the SimCity Devotion thread by RippleJet.

The game also recognises Czech, Hebrew, Greek and Russian, however no official translations were ever released and no community translations have been made, possibly due to lack of compatible font sets.

Mods

Mods may require dependencies.

Mod resources

Simtropolis - an extremely active modding community, hosts the ST/Exchange (SimTropolisEXchange).
SC4 Devotion - a very active modding community, hosts the LEX (Lot Exchange).
Thread listing all possible settings and customisations

Mod recommendations

sc4modds - full list of mods from /r/SimCity community.
Reddit thread - September 17, 2012
Reddit thread - January 22, 2012

Colossus Addon Mod (CAM)

A significant and popular mod developed by the community at SC4 Devotion.
Rewrites and improves how cities and regions grow by including more 'lots' or building transition stages, and increases population density.
Compatible with NAM: Network Addon Mod.

Tools

SimCity 4 Auto Saver - autosave program for SimCity 4 that will automatically save the game while playing; superseded by the SC4Launcher.
SC4Terraformer - this is a widely used tool that can render custom maps designed and built within the program.
SC4DataNode - this is a tool that checks the plugins folder, analyzes it, and reports if any mods are missing dependencies.

Fixes

Texture Fix of Jenkins Consulting - fixes invisible textures on the sides of "Jenkins Consulting" building.
R$$ Traffic Noise Fix - fixes a bug where R$$ buildings show "High" Traffic Noise although very little traffic is nearby.
UV Map Fix for Maxis Monorail Models - fixes texture positioning for the Maxis monorail models.
Fire Plane UDI Mission Fix - fixes Fire Plane UDI mission so it is possible to obtain a Zoo as reward as it should be from start.
All 3 CityHalls Modd Reward Fix - fixes all CityHalls to appear in the game at separate intervals as rewards. It is an older mod that may be superseded by a much more recent one.
Carpool Incentive Program Ordinance Fix - fixes bugged ordinance (which, unmodded, has no effect on pollution or traffic) by applying a 10% reduction in pollution caused by traffic.
Piggyback Freight Car Fix - fixes positioning for the Freights on the rails.
Space Port Fix - fixes a problem with the default Maxis Space Port, which claims it "Provides a boost to high-tech industry" however, it does not. Maxis forgot to include this boost, therefore it boosts nothing but costs and some slight commercial desirability.
HippoTank Demand Fix - fixes the demand values for the Medical Clinic, Solar Power Plant, Nuclear Power Plant.
IH Missing $$$ Jobs Fix - fixes IH lots, so they offer 12% $$$ jobs instead of the originally designed but missing 10% $$$ jobs, reducing $$ jobs by 2% to 78% at the same time so the sum remains 100%. Comes with the CAM mod.
Diagonal Jagged Edges Fix - changes the way the game renders cliffs to make certain diagonal roads look more natural. The tradeoff is that more "cliffs" will show in the terrain. When installing this mod, only use one of the provided .dat files. This mod may conflict with other terrain mods.
Area 5.1 Air Force Base No Exclusion Fix - allows both Area 5.1 and the Air Force Base to be built in the same city. (This may have been an intentional restriction, and may not technically be a bug.) Requires the appropriate Maxis Landmark Building to be installed.
Opera House Fix - fixes the Opera House's capacity.

System requirements

Windows
Minimum Recommended
Operating system (OS) 98, ME, 2000, XP
Processor (CPU) Intel Pentium III 500 MHz or equivalent
System memory (RAM) 128 MB
256 MB (XP)
Hard disk drive (HDD) 1 GB
Video card (GPU) 32 MB of VRAM
DirectX 7.0 compatible
macOS (OS X)
Minimum[25]
Operating system (OS) 10.8.5
Processor (CPU) Intel Core 2 Duo 2.2 GHz
System memory (RAM) 4 GB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 2 GB
Video card (GPU) Nvidia GeForce 8800 series
ATI Radeon HD 3870
Intel HD Graphics 3000
256 MB of VRAM


Notes

  1. SafeDisc retail DRM does not work on Windows 10[4] or Windows 11 and is disabled by default on Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1 when the KB3086255 update is installed.[5]
  2. 2.0 2.1 Notes regarding Steam Play (Linux) data:

References

  1. Aspyr: SimCity 4 now in duplication - Macworld - last accessed on 2016-7-23
  2. Inside Mac Games Review: SimCity 4 - last accessed on 2016-7-23
  3. Breaking News: EA Updates EA App/EA Play Version of SimCity 4 to Version 1.1.641 - last accessed on 2023-10-20
  4. Not Loading in Windows 10; this will break thousands of - Microsoft Community - last accessed on 2017-01-16
  5. Microsoft - MS15-097: Description of the security update for the graphics component in Windows: September 8, 2015 - last accessed on 2018-02-16
  6. Verified by User:Mrtnptrs on 2023-01-18
    As it is just a code you buy for the Steam version, which supports 64-bit and ARM now, it should fully work on macOS 10.15+. Just like on here, GMG probably has an automated system in place to add this warning when system requirements indicate it is 32-bit only. So, likely they forgot to update their system requirements after the 64-bit update in 2020.
  7. answers.ea.com - last accessed on May 2023
  8. You can actually activate some Steam games on EA Origin - Steam Users' Forums - last accessed on May 2023
  9. http://community.simtropolis.com/topic/25419-faqs-and-download-links-for-nam-rhw-and-nwm/#entry685177
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 Verified by User:Plok on 2022-02-15
  11. PSA: SimCity 4 Deluxe is now safe to buy on Origin | SimTarkus - SimCity 4
  12. Prop Pox and Prop Theory - last accessed on May 2023
  13. M1 Compatibility Updates - last accessed on 2023-01-18
  14. SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition- Version History - Mac App Store - last accessed on 2023-01-18
    "SimCity™ 4 Deluxe Edition is now optimized for Mac with Apple Silicon."
  15. How to access the Apple Silicon update on Mac Steam - SimCity 4: Deluxe Edition – Aspyr Support - last accessed on 2023-01-18
  16. Verified by User:Andytizer on March 12, 2013
  17. widescreengaming.net - last accessed on May 2023
  18. PC Gaming Surround Sound Round-up - last accessed on May 2023
  19. this tutorial - last accessed on May 2023
  20. 20.0 20.1 http://community.simtropolis.com/topic/33931-how-to-configure-sc4-to-work-with-your-new-hardware/
  21. 21.0 21.1 http://community.simtropolis.com/topic/28564-software-or-hardware/
  22. https://web.archive.org/web/20180124135634/http://www.wiki.sc4devotion.com/index.php?title=Tutorial:Shortcut_Parameters
  23. https://wiki.sc4devotion.com/index.php?title=Shortcut_Parameters
  24. http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=3961.0
  25. SimCity™ 4: Deluxe Edition - Aspyr - last accessed on 9 June 2023